Use of the polypeptide compound

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a polypeptide of the formula: <IMAGE> wherein R1 is hydrogen or an acyl group, R2 is hydroxy or an acyloxy group, R3 is hydrogen, hydroxy or hydroxysulfonyloxy, R4 is hydrogen or carbamoyl, and R5 and R6 are each hydrogen or hydroxy, with the proviso that (i) R2 is acyloxy when R3 is hydrogen, and (ii) R5 is hydrogen when R6 is hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is useful in the prevention or treatment of Pneumocystis carinii infection.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A method for the prevention or the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which comprises administering an effective amount of a polypeptide compound of the formula (SEQ ID NO: 1): ##STR64## wherein R 1  is hydrogen or an acyl group, R 2  is hydroxy or acyloxy group,   R 3  is hydroxy or hydroxysulfonyloxy,   R 4  is hydrogen or carbamoyl, and   R 5  and R 6  are each hydrogen or hydroxy, with the proviso that R 5  is hydrogen when R 6  is hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a human being or an animal in need thereof.