US4960408A — Treatment methods and vaccines for stimulating an…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

A method for treating a patient having an HIV retrovirus infection, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering to an infected patient's blood a psoralen compound; and b. treating at least a portion of the patient's blood to which the psoralen compound has been administered, said treatment comprising subjecting the portion of blood to photopheresis using electro-magnetic radiation of a spectrum which activates the psoralen compound, whereby the activated psoralen compound reacts with the HIV retrovirus and/or HIV retrovirus infected cells in the portion of blood undergoing photopheresis, the psoralen compound and electro-magnetic radiation being administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 106 words

A method for treating a patient having an HIV retrovirus infection, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering to an infected patient's blood a psoralen compound; and b. treating at least a portion of the patient's blood to which the psoralen compound has been administered, said treatment comprising subjecting the portion of blood to photopheresis using electro-magnetic radiation of a spectrum which activates the psoralen compound, whereby the activated psoralen compound reacts with the HIV retrovirus and/or HIV retrovirus infected cells in the portion of blood undergoing photopheresis, the psoralen compound and electro-magnetic radiation being administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the administration of the psoralen compound is performed in vitro.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the administration of the psoralen compound is performed in vivo.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step (b) is conducted extracorporeally and wherein said method further comprises the step of returning the treated portion of blood to the patient following step (b).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 3, wherein the step (b) is conducted extracorporeally and wherein said method further comprises the step of returning the treated portion of the blood to the patient following step (b).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the electro-magnetic radiation is ultraviolet light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the psoralen compound is selected from the group consisting of, psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, 4,5', 8-trimethylpsoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen, 4methylpsoralen, 4,4-dimethylpsoralen, 4,5'-dimethylpsoralen, and 4', 8-dimethylpsoralen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the psoralen compound is selected from the group consisting of 8-methoxypsoralen, psoralen and 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 8, wherein the psoralen compound is 8-methoxypsoralen.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen is administered in a dosage of at least about 0.6 mg/kg.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 10, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen is administered orally.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 10, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen is administered intravenously.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 9, wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out twice, once on each of two successive days, said two day treatment being repeated at an interval of between about one to four weeks.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 10, wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out twice, once on each of two successive days, said two day treatment being repeated at an interval of between about one to four weeks.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for treating an infected patient who has been diagnosed as either being in AIDS carrier or who has AIDS or AIDS Related Complex, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering 8-methoxypsoralen to at least a portion of the infected patient's leukocytes; b. then subjecting at least a portion of the infected patient's leukocytes to which the 8-methoxypsoralen has been administered to extracorporeal photopheresis using UVA light, whereby the 8-methoxypsoralen is activated and reacts with the infected patient's leukocytes in the portion thereof undergoing photopheresis; and c. infusing the leukocytes treated in steps (a) and (b) back into the patient, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA light are administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for treating an infected patient who has been diagnosed as either being in AIDS carrier or who has AIDS or AIDS Related Complex, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering 8-methoxypsoralen to at least a portion of the infected patient's leukocytes; b. then subjecting at least a portion of the infected patient's leukocytes to which the 8-methoxypsoralen has been administered to extracorporeal photopheresis using UVA light, whereby the 8-methoxypsoralen is activated and reacts with the infected patient's leukocytes in the portion thereof undergoing photopheresis; and c. infusing the leukocytes treated in steps (a) and (b) back into the patient, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA light are administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the dosage of 8-methoxypsoralen which is used in step (a) is about 0.6 mg/kg administered orally to the infected patient no more than about 3 hours prior to photopheresis.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the 8-methoxypsoralen used in step (a) is administered intravenously to an enriched fraction of the infected patient's leukocytes at a dosage which is equivalent to about 0.6 mg/kg and is administered no more than about 3 hours prior to photopheresis.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for treating an infected patient who has been diagnosed as an AIDS carrier or who has AIDS or AIDS Related Complex, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering to the infected patient's leukocytes a psoralen compound; and b. then treating at least a portion of the infected patient's leulocytes to which the psoralen compound has been administered by subjecting the portion of leukocytes to photopheresis using ultraviolet light, whereby the psoralen compound is activated and reacts with the infected leukocytes undergoing photopheresis, the psoralen compound and ultraviolet light being administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for treating an infected patient who has been diagnosed as an AIDS carrier or who has AIDS or AIDS Related Complex, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering to the infected patient's leukocytes a psoralen compound; and b. then treating at least a portion of the infected patient's leulocytes to which the psoralen compound has been administered by subjecting the portion of leukocytes to photopheresis using ultraviolet light, whereby the psoralen compound is activated and reacts with the infected leukocytes undergoing photopheresis, the psoralen compound and ultraviolet light being administered in doses which are effective for controlling the infection.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the psoralen compound is 8-methoxypsoralen.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 84 words

A method for increasing the number of a patient's non-infected CD 4 lymphocytes in a patient suffering from an abnormally low number of CD 4 lymphocytes due to a retrovirus infection, such as an HIV infection, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering 8-methoxypsoralen to at least a portion of the patient's infected CD 4 lymphocytes in a dosage range of about 0.3-0.7 mg/kg; and b. then exposing at least a fraction of the portion of infected CD 4 lymphocytes to UVA light.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 84 words

A method for increasing the number of a patient's non-infected CD 4 lymphocytes in a patient suffering from an abnormally low number of CD 4 lymphocytes due to a retrovirus infection, such as an HIV infection, said method comprising the steps of: a. administering 8-methoxypsoralen to at least a portion of the patient's infected CD 4 lymphocytes in a dosage range of about 0.3-0.7 mg/kg; and b. then exposing at least a fraction of the portion of infected CD 4 lymphocytes to UVA light.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 20 wherein the dosage of 8-methoxypsoralen is about 0.6 mg/kg.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-10-01	1994-04-02	1994-10-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-10-01	1998-04-02	1998-10-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-10-01	2002-04-02	2002-10-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Treatment methods and vaccines for stimulating an immunological response against retroviruses

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