Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against C5 that inhibits terminal complement activation, showed activity in a preliminary 12-week open-label trial in a small cohort of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The present study examined whether chronic eculizumab therapy could reduce intravascular hemolysis, stabilize hemoglobin levels, reduce transfusion requirements, and improve quality of life in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center global Phase III trial. It has been found that eculizumab stabilized hemoglobin levels, decreased the need for transfusions, and improved quality of life in PNH patients via reduced intravascular hemolysis. Chronic eculizumab treatment appears to be a safe and effective therapy for PNH.

The invention is directed to compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

and salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of kinase activity, in particular PI3-kinase activity.

The present invention provides new methods and kits for treating IBS; treating IBS in females; treating IBS in older subjects; and treating IBS in non-white subjects.

The present invention relates to compositions providing improved preservative efficacy. The present invention further relates to polyquaternium compound containing compositions having improved the antifungal activity. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to ophthalmic compositions comprising a polyquaternium compound, a polyol or combination of polyols, borate compound, and an antimicrobial mixture comprising electrolytes and nutrients.

The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of pain, such as joint pain, using capsaicin in a procedure that attenuates transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration. The methods desirably provide relief from joint pain, such as osteoarthritic knee joint pain, for an extended duration, such as at least about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 1 year. To attenuate the adverse side effect of a transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin-induced neuronal excitation, the methods utilize a cooling article, such as a material wrap cooled via a circulating fluid, to reduce the temperature of tissue to be exposed to capsaicin to within a certain range for certain durations of time, optionally in combination with administering a local anesthetic agent, resulting in the substantial reduction or even elimination of transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin.

Methods and compositions are provided which comprise effective amounts of an analgesic to treat a subject, including reducing or eliminating an adverse effect associated with the analgesic.

Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I)

##STR00001##

and therapeutic methods of treatment with compounds of formula (I), wherein L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.4, R.sup.1, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and s are as defined in the specification. Compounds of formula (I) are EP4 agonists useful in the treatment of glaucoma, neuropathic pain, and related disorders.

The invention relates to a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS), comprising a backing layer, which is permeable to the active ingredient, at least one matrix layer, comprising fentanyl or an active agent analogous to fentanyl, based on polyacrylate and a protective layer to be removed before usage, characterized in that the polyacrylate polymer is self-adhesive, free of carboxyl groups, has a saturation solubility for fentanyl of 3 to 20 wt. %, preferably of 4 to 12 and particularly of 5 to 10 wt. % and the layers contain at least 80% of the included active ingredient in a molecularly-dispersed, dissolved form.

Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against C5 that inhibits terminal complement activation, showed activity in a preliminary 12-week open-label trial in a small cohort of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The present study examined whether chronic eculizumab therapy could reduce intravascular hemolysis, stabilize hemoglobin levels, reduce transfusion requirements, and improve quality of life in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center global Phase III trial. It has been found that eculizumab stabilized hemoglobin levels, decreased the need for transfusions, and improved quality of life in PNH patients via reduced intravascular hemolysis. Chronic eculizumab treatment appears to be a safe and effective therapy for PNH.

The invention relates to bromhexine or a salt thereof for treating acute or chronic pain in a patient. In particular, the invention relates to bromhexine or a salt thereof for use in treating nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain and or dysfunctional pain. The invention further relates to a topical pharmaceutical composition comprising bromhexine or a salt thereof and to a composition or a topical pharmaceutical composition comprising bromhexine or a salt thereof for treating acute or chronic pain.