Use of R-(+)-.alpha.-lipoic acid, R-(-)-dihydrolipoic acid and metabolites in the form of the free acid or as salts or esters or amides for the preparation of drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus as well as its sequelae

US6117899A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Asta Medica Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Wessel · Frankfurt, DE
• Harald Borbe · Mainz, DE
• Heinz Ulrich · Niedernberg, DE
• Helmut Hettche · Dietzenbach, DE
• Hans Bisswanger · Bodelshausen, DE
• Lester Packer · Berkeley, US
• Amira Klip · Toronto, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 2, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 2, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61P3/10
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of R-(+)-.alpha.-lipoic acid, R-(-)-dihydrolipoic acid or their metabolites, salts, esters and amides for the synthesis of drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus of types I and II, compensated and decompensated insulin resistance and sequelae or late complications of diabetes mellitus, such as cataracts, polyneuropathy, nephropathy, as well as sequelae or late complications of insulin resistance. These drugs mentioned can also be used advantageously in combination with other antidiabetic drugs, particularly with insulin, and/or other additives or stabilizers or adjuvants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, NADH, NADPH and ubiquinone. The invention furthermore relates to the use of R-(+)-.alpha.-lipoic acid, R-(-)-dihydrolipoic acid or their metabolites, as well as their salts, esters and amides for the preparation of drugs for the treatment of diseases with limited function of or a lowered content of the glucose transporters.