Treatment of moderate to severe influenza

Abstract

The invention provides a compound, namely acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising ASA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in the treatment of a patient, e.g. a human being, suffering from a severe influenza virus infection and/or a symptom or condition associated therewith (namely, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue, headache and myalgias), wherein said use comprises the administration of a composition comprising ASA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the patient by inhalation.

1 . A method for treating a patient suffering from a moderate to severe influenza virus infection and/or a symptom or condition associated therewith, wherein the method comprises administration of a composition comprising acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the patient by inhalation at a daily dose of ASA of at least 600 mg. 
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of a patient suffering from a moderate to severe influenza virus infection and/or a symptom or condition associated therewith, wherein the use comprises the administration of the composition by inhalation at a daily dose of ASA of at least 600 mg. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the daily dose of ASA is from 960 mg to 1440 mg, or from 1080 mg to 1320 mg, or 1200 mg. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administration of the daily dose comprises administration of up to four single doses at a dosing interval of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a total of at least 9 single doses are administrated over a treatment course of at least 3 days, and wherein a single dose is 400 mg ASA. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ASA is provided in the form of its D,L-lysine acetylsalicylate glycine salt (LASAG). 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition is provided in the form of a powder for reconstitution into an aqueous solution with a LASAG concentration of 100 mg/mL to 400 mg/mL, or with an ASA concentration of 50 mg/mL to 200 mg/mL. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the single dose of the aqueous solution has a volume of 3 mL to 5 mL, preferably 4 mL, a LASAG concentration of 200 mg/mL, and an ASA concentration of 100 mg/mL. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered using a jet nebulizer or a vibrating mesh nebulizer. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the jet nebulizer or the vibrating mesh nebulizer is adapted to deliver the aqueous solution at a controlled inspiratory flow and/or a controlled inspiratory volume. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the inspiratory flow is 200 mL/sec and/or the inspiratory volume is 800 mL. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the jet nebulizer or the vibrating mesh nebulizer is adapted to deliver a single dose over the course of 90 to 105 breaths within an administration time of 12 to 14 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is hospitalized due to the influenza virus infection and/or a symptom or condition associated therewith. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the influenza infection is caused by an influenza A virus or an influenza B virus. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the symptom or condition associated with the influenza virus infected is selected from nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue, headache and myalgias.