Prophylactic protection against viral infections, particularly hiv

Abstract

An experiment has shown that ranpirnase is a microbicide. It is believed that topical application of a topical pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of a prophylactically effective concentration of an enzymatically-active ribonuclease (e.g. ranpirnase) and a viscous vehicle that does not unacceptably interfere with the enzymatic activity (e.g. K-Y® Brand Jelly) will prophylactically protect an individual from a sexually-transmitted viral infection, particularly HIV. It is also believed that e.g. ranpirnase can be delivered to tissues of an individual who is to be prophylactically protected against viral infections by transfecting ranpirnase DNA into human microbiota and exposing the individual to the thus-modified human microbiota. It is also believed that ranpirnase can be delivered to a woman who is to be prophylactically protected against a sexually-transmitted viral infection by use of an intravaginal ring that has been impregnated with ranpirnase.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of prophylactically protecting an individual from transmission of a sexually-transmitted infection, comprising the step of topically applying to the individual a topical pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of a prophylactically effective concentration of an enzymatically-active ribonuclease and a viscous vehicle that does not unacceptably interfere with the enzymatic activity, wherein the infection is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) or Herpesviridae. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infection is HPV infection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the infection is selected from the group consisting of anogenital warts, epidermodysplasia verrucciformis, Buschke-Lowenstein disease, Bowenoid papulosis, and dysplasia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infection is Herpesviridae infection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzymatically-active ribonuclease is a member of the ribonuclease A superfamily. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the enzymatically-active ribonuclease is selected from the group consisting of ranpirnase and the '805 ranpirnase variant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the enzymatically-active ribonuclease is ranpirnase. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the enzymatically-active ribonuclease is selected from the group consisting of Amphinase 2 and rAmphinase 2. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aqueous vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is a gel, a serum, or a lotion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is an approved sexual lubricant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is compatible with latex condoms. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical contains between 0.06 and 66 μg of enzymatically-active ribonuclease per ml of vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutical contains between 6 and 66 μg of enzymatically-active ribonuclease per ml of vehicle.