Thiazolide compounds for treating viral infections

Abstract

Thiazolide compounds, such as nitazoxanide and/or tizoxanide, may be used against viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family or the Paramyxoviridae family.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a disease, which has a human respiratory syncytial virus as a sole cause of the disease, in a subject suffering from the disease, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a thiazolide compound, which is at least one of nitazoxanide, tizoxanide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the effective amount is an amount that blocks in the subject maturation of the fusion (F) glycoprotein. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 250 mg to 1100 mg. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 300 mg to 900 mg. 
     
     
         4 . A method of treating a disease, which has a human respiratory syncytial virus as a solve cause of the disease, in a subject suffering from the disease, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a thiazolide compound which is at least one nitazoxanide, tizoxanide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said composition alleviates at least one symptom selected from rhinitis, coughing, decreased appetite, wheezing, difficulty breathing, fever, bronchiolitis and pneumonia. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the effective amount is an amount that blocks in the subject maturation of the fusion (F) glycoprotein. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 250 mg to 1100 mg. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 300 mg to 900 mg. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating a disease, which has a human respiratory syncytial virus as a sole cause of the disease, in a subject suffering from the disease, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a thiazolide compound, which is at least one nitazoxanide, tizoxanide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the administering reduces a duration of at least one symptom of the disease in the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 36 hours. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 48 hours. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 60 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the administering reduces the duration of the at least one symptom of the disease by at least 72 hours. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one symptom are selected from fever, cough, sore throat, nasal obstruction, feverishness, headache and myalgia. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one symptom comprise (a) fever and (b) at least one respiratory symptom selected from cough, sore throat and nasal obstruction and (c) at least one constitutional symptom selected from headache, myalgia and fatigue. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 250 mg to 1100 mg. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the effective amount provides a daily dose of the thiazolide compound from 300 mg to 900 mg. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said administering comprises administering an extended release tablet comprising the thiazolide compound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject is a human being.