THERAPEUTIC COMBINATIONS OF DRUGS FOR TREATING, PREVENTING, AMELIORATING OR PREVENTING CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

In alternative embodiments, provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising combinations of drugs, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods for using them, for treating, preventing, ameliorating, slowing the progress of, decreasing the severity of or preventing a coronavirus infection, or a COVID-19 or a 2019-nCoV (or so-called Wuhan coronavirus) infection, or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales. In alternative embodiments, combinations, or cocktails, of a drug or drugs as provided herein are administered either enterally, parenterally and/or by inhalation. In alternative embodiments, combinations, or cocktails, of drugs as provided herein are used to block intracellular metabolic pathways and prevent progression of the infection to clinical illness and death. In alternative embodiments, novel aerosol or powder formulations for inhalation are provided. In alternative embodiments, provided are therapeutic combinations of drugs or a drug, a pharmaceutical dosage form, a drug delivery device, or a product of manufacture, comprising: opaganib or YELIVA™, or opaganib or YELIVA™ and oral and/or inhaled chloroquine (or ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate and/or hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™), wherein optionally each or both of the opaganib and the chloroquine (or ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate and/or hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) are in or formulated as a formulation for inhalation, for example, formulated as an aerosol, liquid or powder.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A therapeutic combination of drugs comprising: (a) chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate or hydroxychloroquine; (b) an antibiotic or a macrolide drug; and (c) zinc.

18. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 17, wherein the therapeutic combination of drugs comprises: (a) hydroxychloroquine; (b) azithromycin; and (c) zinc.

19. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 17, comprising between about 250 mg to about 0.5 gm of chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate or hydroxychloroquine.

20. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 19, comprising between about 50 mg to about 1000 mg of chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate or hydroxychloroquine.

21. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 20, comprising between about 100 mg to about 500 mg of chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate or hydroxychloroquine.

22. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 17, wherein the antibiotic or the macrolide drug comprises azithromycin.

23. The therapeutic combination of drugs of claim 22, comprising between about 50 mg to about 500 mg azithromycin.

24. The therapeutic combination of claim 23, comprising about 100 gm to 250 mg azithromycin.

25. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising a vitamin.

26. The therapeutic combination of claim 26, wherein the vitamin comprises vitamin C.

27. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, formulated as a liquid or an aerosol or a formula for inhalation.

28. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, formulated as a powder.

29. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, formulated as a tablet, pill, capsule, tablet or geltab.

30. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, formulated as an injectable formulation, or an intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) formulation.

31. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising oseltamivir.

32. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising ritonavir.

33. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising lopinavir.

34. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising opaganib.

35. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising niclosamide.

36. The therapeutic combination of claim 17, further comprising an additional antibiotic selected from the group consisting of: clarithromycin, erythromycin, fidaxomicin, troleandomycin, tylosin, solithromycin, oleandomycin, midecamycin, roxithromycin, kitasamycin or turimycin, josamycin, carbomycin, magnamycin and spiramycin.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0131] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0132] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary product of manufacture of the invention, an exemplary blister pack. As illustrated the “oseltamivir”, or yellow highlighted, section of the blister pack is intended to be taken by the a patient who may have been in contact with an individual infected with Coronavirus, such as an individual having a history of meeting or coming into contact with an infected person, or who may have been in contact with an individual already having a fever and/or a symptom of a respiratory illness such as cough or shortness of breath, but the patient as yet has not received the results of a blood test (or any diagnostic test) for Coronavirus. The patient given the exemplary blister pack, and while waiting for his or her test result immediately begins taking a high dose 5 times daily of oseltamivir (which should have few adverse effects on the patient), which should begin slowing the spread and/or replication of the virus in the patient (assuming the patient is in fact infected). As soon as the patient if confirmed by a blood test (or any diagnostic test) to be infected with Coronavirus, or after five days on treatment with oseltamivir, the patient immediately moves on to the next part (section) of the blister pack, which in alternative embodiment has three or more drugs, for example: lopinavir, ritonavir and oseltamivir; lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or lopinavir and ritonavir separately formulated; lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, and oseltamivir; lopinavir and oseltamivir; ritonavir and oseltamivir; oseltamivir and remdesivir, and the like as provided herein. A doctor can decide the frequency of dosing based on the clinical presentation of the patient and test results. If the blood (or other) test is negative for coronavirus, the patient may return the blister pack or keep it (or keep taking the oseltamivir, until a second 2.sup.nd test (which can be the same or a different test) is also negative.

[0133] The drawings set forth herein are illustrative of exemplary embodiments provided herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

[0134] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0135] In alternative embodiments, provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising combinations of drugs, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods for using them, for treating, preventing (as a prophylaxis), ameliorating, slowing the progress of, decreasing the severity of or preventing a coronavirus infection, or a COVID-19 or a 2019-nCoV (or so-called Wuhan coronavirus) infection, or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales. In alternative embodiments, combinations, or cocktails, of drugs as provided herein are used to block intracellular metabolic pathways and intracellular viral replication, and prevent progression of the infection to clinical illness and death.

[0136] In alternative embodiments, provided are combinations of different medications which are used together can treat, ameliorate, slow the progress of, decrease the severity of or prevent the current (2019-nCoV) infections. In alternative embodiments, provided are novel methods of administration dosing to cover the period of exposure, diagnosis, and treatment.

[0137] In alternative embodiments, provided is combination of drugs comprising lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or KALETRA™, ALTERA™, ALUVIA™, KALMELTREX, LOPIMUNE™ or LOPINAVIR™, and oseltamivir (or TAMIFLU™). In alternative embodiments, provided is combination of drugs comprising lopinavir, ritonavir and oseltamivir (or TAMIFLU™).

[0138] In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture such as blister packs or equivalents (e.g., a clamshell, a tray, a shrink wrap and the like) comprising lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir and oseltamivir, or lopinavir, ritonavir and oseltamivir. In alternative embodiments, the products of manufacture, e.g., blister pack, a clamshell, a tray, a shrink wrap and the like, arranges the drugs such that all drugs are taken together, or the oseltamivir is taken before the lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or lopinavir and ritonavir.

[0139] In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for using combination of drugs and products of manufacture as provided herein comprising first administering to an individual (e.g., an individual suspected of being exposed to the coronavirus, e.g., an individual having a history of meeting or coming into contact with an infected person, or an individual already having a fever and/or a symptom of a respiratory illness such as cough or shortness of breath), oseltamivir (or TAMIFLU™) immediately and tests sent off for the coronavirus, with addition of (at least) lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or lopinavir and ritonavir (separate formulations) to the administered drug regime when the test is positive for coronavirus (which can be within one, two, three or four or more days); and optionally also administering this regimen if the individual continues to have symptoms and is clinically judged to have coronavirus albeit (even if there is a) negative test.

[0140] Alternatively these drugs can be administered in the reverse order, i.e., first administer lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or lopinavir and ritonavir (separate formulations), followed by (within one, two, three or four days, optionally if the individual continues to have symptoms) addition of administration of at least a third agent oseltamivir (or TAMIFLU™).

[0141] In alternative embodiments, dosing can be in the ratio of 25:100:75 of lopinavir: ritonavir: oseltamivir. For example, 25 mg (lopinavir), 100 mg (ritonavir), 75 mg (oseltamivir) respectively, or in multiples thereof, are administered one to ten times per day (e.g., bid, tid, or 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or more times a day) depending on the stage of the condition (for example, exposed to infection, positivity in blood but asymptomatic, or symptomatic, mild or severe. In alternative embodiments, oseltamivir, lopinavir and ritonavir are administered in increased amounts, e.g., if the individuals condition does not improve, or does not improve quickly.

[0142] In alternative embodiments, products of manufacture as provided herein further comprise, or methods as provided herein further comprise use (administration of) efavirenz (e.g., SUSTIVA™), nevirapine (or the combination efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir, or ATRIPLA™), amprenavir (e.g., AGENERASE™) nelfinavir (e.g., VIRACEPT™) and/or remdesivir (e.g., GS-5734™, Gilead Sciences). In alternative embodiments, one, several or all of these are concomitantly used in medications, e.g., one, several or all of these can also be used in (formulated with) a drug composition or formulation or product of manufacture as provided herein, or can be used or administered separately, alone or altogether, depending on the severity of the patient's illness.

[0143] In alternative embodiments, individuals or patients to whom a drug combination or composition or formulation as provided herein can be: (1) individuals or patients having been in contact with an infected person but are asymptomatic, or (2) individuals or patients that have been diagnosed by a blood test (i.e., are positive for virus) but are asymptomatic, or (3) individuals or patients that are symptomatic, for example, that have fever, sore throat, cough, chest pain, dyspnea and/or diarrhea, or are severely ill with high fever, aches and pains, unable to breathe to walk and/or barely maintaining consciousness.

[0144] In alternative embodiments, a drug combination or composition or formulation as provided herein is administered prophylactically, e.g., to individuals who should or want to take the medication with them when travelling to prevent falling ill, e.g., to prevent acquiring the infection when away from their doctor, country, or language.

[0145] In alternative embodiments, a drug combination or composition or formulation as provided herein is packaged and/or administered as a product of manufacture such as a blister pack or equivalent. In alternative embodiments, the blister pack or equivalent is designed to cover various stages of the infection, or to be for prophylactic purposes.

[0146] Alternatively the compounds may be solubilized, and then filtered with 22 micron filters or equivalents, suspended in a sterile fashion in saline or water or equivalents and administered intravenously, e.g., in emergencies.

[0147] In alternative embodiments, methods comprise formulating and/or administering chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) intravenously at about 300 mg, or between 100 mg and 500 mg, in single dosages, or the equivalent thereof as an infusion.

[0148] In alternative embodiments, methods comprise formulating and/or administering chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) at about 2.5 mg/kg intramuscularly (IM) at e.g., 0, 1, 12, 23, 24 and 25 hours, or e.g., at one or multiple dosages for between about one to two days or one day to two weeks.

[0149] In alternative embodiments, methods comprise formulating and/or administering chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) at about 5 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC), e.g., at 0, 12 and 24 hours, or e.g., at one or multiple dosages for between about one to two days or one day to two weeks.

[0150] In alternative embodiments, oral administration of chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) follows or complements (e.g., is delivered together with) the IM or SC administration, or with the aerosol or powder administration of chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™), as described below. In alternative embodiments, oral administration is dosaged at about 5 mg/kg, e.g., for between about 12 and 72 hours (h), or for between about 36 and 48 h.

[0151] In alternative embodiments, methods comprise first administering (alone) for about 7 days (or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 or more days) oseltamivir (or TAMIFLU™) at 3 times per day (tid) (or alternatively twice a day (bid) or four times a day or more), followed by a blood sample to be taken for virus testing; this initial administration dampens or slows a possible virus infection developing in the individual, so possibly ending up with a milder disease course, e.g., where the side effects would be milder.

[0152] If and when virus blood positivity is confirmed, or viral infection is otherwise confirmed, the osteltamivir is supplemented by the lopinavir and ritonavir (which can be administered together or separately) three times daily (tid) (or alternatively twice a day (bid) or four times a day or more), while continuing the osteltamivir, for example, all three medications three (or two or four or more) times daily or 9 (or more) medications daily.

[0153] In alternative embodiments, the duration of the combined drug therapy as provided herein is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or more days, which can be prolonged in those whose blood coronavirus remains positive longer with daily blood tests (or equivalent tests to confirm continued active infection), until the infection is shown to be gone or substantially diminished, particularly when the patient has symptomatically otherwise substantially recovered.

[0154] In alternative embodiments, other anti-coronavirus medications e.g., listed above (e.g., efavirenz (e.g., SUSTIVA™), nevirapine (or the combination efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir, or ATRIPLA™), amprenavir (e.g., AGENERASE™), nelfinavir (e.g., VIRACEPT™) and/or remdesivir (e.g., GS-5734™, Gilead Sciences)) are added or mixed into the ‘cocktail’, e.g., are mixed into osteltamivir, lopinavir and/or ritonavir formulations or one, several or all are administered separately.

[0155] In alternative embodiments, the contents of a blister pack or equivalent as provided herein have arranged thereof a combination of drugs (e.g., as pill, capsules, tablets) to facilitate the patient's self-administration of a drug regimen as provided herein.

[0156] In alternative embodiments, an individual (e.g., a patient) is given one, several or all of these medications (as provided in drug combinations or formulations as provided herein or used in methods as provided herein) in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a liquid, a spray, a powder, via an enema, as a suppository, administered subcutaneously or intravenously where available. When the patient is on a life support system the drug combination can be given parenterally.

Products of Manufacture and Kits

[0157] Provided are products of manufacture and kits for practicing methods as provided herein; and optionally, products of manufacture and kits can further comprise instructions for practicing methods as provided herein.

[0158] Provided are compositions, including preparations, formulations and/or kits, comprising combinations of ingredients, e.g., therapeutic combinations as described herein. In alternative embodiments, therapeutic combination can be mixed and administered together, or alternatively, they can be an individual member of a packaged combination of ingredients, e.g., a liquid component and a solid product component manufactured in a separate compartment, package, kit or container; e.g., where all or a subset of the combinations of ingredients are manufactured in a separate compartment, package or container. In alternative aspects, the package, kit or container comprises a blister package, a clamshell, a tray, a shrink wrap and the like.

[0159] In one aspect, the package, kit or container comprises a “blister package” (also called a blister pack, or bubble pack). In one aspect, the blister package is made up of two separate elements: a transparent plastic cavity shaped to the product and its blister board backing. These two elements are then joined together with a heat sealing process which allows the product to be hung or displayed. Exemplary types of “blister packages” include: Face seal blister packages, gang run blister packages, mock blister packages, interactive blister packages, slide blister packages.

[0160] Blister packs, clamshells or trays are forms of packaging used for goods; thus, provided are for blister packs, clamshells or trays comprising a drug combination or formulation as provided herein, or a drug combination, pharmaceutical preparations or pharmaceutical compositions used to practice methods as provided herein. Blister packs, clamshells or trays can be designed to be non-reclosable, so consumers can tell if a package has already opened. They are used to package for sale goods where product tampering is a consideration, such as the pharmaceuticals as provided herein. In one aspect, a blister pack comprises a moulded PVC base, with raised areas (the “blisters”) to contain the tablets, pills, etc. comprising the combinations of drugs drug combination, or formulations, pharmaceutical preparations or pharmaceutical compositions used in methods as provided herein, covered by a foil laminate. Tablets, pills, etc. can be removed from the pack either by peeling the foil back or by pushing the blister to force the tablet to break the foil. In one aspect, a specialized form of a blister pack is a strip pack. In one aspect, in the United Kingdom, blister packs adhere to British Standard 8404.

[0161] In one embodiment, provided is a method of packaging wherein the compositions comprising combinations of ingredients are contained in-between a card and a clear PVC. The PVC can be transparent so the item (pill, tablet, geltab, etc.) can be seen and examined easily; and in one aspect, can be vacuum-formed around a mould so it can contain the item snugly and have room to be opened upon purchase. In one aspect, the card is brightly colored and designed depending on the item (pill, tablet, geltab, etc.) inside, and the PVC is affixed to the card using pre-formed tabs where the adhesive is placed. The adhesive can be strong enough so that the pack may hang on a peg, but weak enough so that this way one can tear open the join and access the item. Sometimes with large items or multiple enclosed pills, tablets, geltabs, etc., the card has a perforated window for access. In one aspect, more secure blister packs, e.g., for items such as pills, tablets, geltabs, etc. are used, and they can comprise of two vacuum-formed PVC sheets meshed together at the edges, with the informative card inside. These can be hard to open by hand, so a pair of scissors or a sharp knife may be required to open.

[0162] In one aspect, blister packaging comprises at least two or three or more components: a thermoformed “blister” which houses multi-ingredient combination as provided herein, and then a “blister card” that is a printed card with an adhesive coating on the front surface. During the assembly process, the blister component, which is most commonly made out of PVC, is attached to the blister card using a blister machine. This machine introduces heat to the flange area of the blister which activates the glue on the card in that specific area and ultimately secures the PVG blister to the printed blister card. The thermoformed PVG blister and the printed blister card can be as small or as large as you would like, but there are limitations and cost considerations in going to an oversized blister card. Conventional blister packs can also be sealed (e.g., using an AERGO 8 DUO™, SCA Consumer Packaging, Inc., DeKalb Ill.) using regular heat seal tooling. This alternative aspect, using heat seal tooling, can seal common types of thermoformed packaging.

[0163] In alternative embodiments, therapeutic combinations and formulations drug combination, or pharmaceutical preparations or pharmaceutical compositions used in methods drug combination, are formulated, e.g., as a powder, e.g., as lyophilised material, e.g., a lyophilized encapsulated product, e.g., for practicing methods as provided herein, can be packaged alone or in combinations, e.g., as “blister packages” or as a plurality of packettes, including as lidded blister packages, lidded blister or blister card or packets or packettes, or a shrink wrap.

[0164] In alternative embodiments, laminated aluminium foil blister packs are used, e.g., for the preparation of therapeutic combinations or formulations as provided herein, or for pharmaceutical preparations or pharmaceutical compositions used in methods as provided herein. Products or kits comprise an aqueous solution(s) which are dispensed (e.g., by measured dose) into containers. Trays can be freeze-dried to form tablets which take the shape of the blister pockets. The alufoil laminate of both the tray and lid fully protects any highly hygroscopic and/or sensitive individual doses. In one aspect, the pack incorporates a child-proof peel open security laminate. In one aspect, the system give tablets an identification mark by embossing a design into the alufoil pocket that is taken up by the tablets when they change from aqueous to solid state. In one aspect, individual ‘push-through’ blister packs/packettes are used, e.g., using hard temper aluminium (e.g., alufoil) lidding material. In one aspect, hermetically-sealed high barrier aluminium (e.g., alufoil) laminates are used. In one aspect, products of manufacture include kits or blister packs, use foil laminations and strip packs, stick packs, sachets and pouches, peelable and non-peelable laminations combining foil, paper, or film for high barrier packaging.

[0165] In alternative embodiments, multi-component products of manufacture, including kits or blister packs as provided herein, include memory aids to help remind patients when and how to take the therapeutic combination. This safeguards the therapeutic combination's efficacy by protecting each tablet, geltab or pill until it's taken; gives the product or kit portability, makes it easy to take a dose anytime or anywhere.

[0166] Inhalers and Nasal Sprays

[0167] In alternative embodiments, provided are drug delivery devices comprising an inhalation device or inhaler or a nasal spray device for the delivery of a therapeutic combination of drugs, a pharmaceutical dosage form or a formulation as provided herein. In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for administering a therapeutic combination of drugs, a pharmaceutical dosage form or a formulation as provided herein using an inhalation device or inhaler or a nasal spray device, e.g., for the delivery of chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™), lopinavir, ritonavir and/or oseltamivir, and/or an anti-viral drug or medication or an anti-microbial drug as provided herein, or an anti-viral or an anti-microbial drug as used to practice methods as provided herein.

[0168] In alternative embodiments, the inhaler or the nasal spray device is a hand-held or otherwise portable inhaler or a nasal spray device, and optionally the inhaler or a nasal spray device is a metered or dose-counting inhaler or a nasal spray device. In alternative embodiments, the inhaler or the nasal spray device is a device as described in e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 10,583,261, or 10,561,809 (describing a breath actuated dry powder inhaler with a single air circulation chamber for de-agglomeration of entrained powdered medicament), or U.S. Pat. No. 10,561,807 (describing inhaler devices configured for consuming a defined capacity and generate an aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor, a sensor configured to detect a predefined variable, an interface configured to make a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol, and a controller), or U.S. Pat. No. 10,463,815 (describing a dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage region, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel); or U.S. patent application publication no. 20200069897 (describing inhalers having a breath actuated trigger mechanism reactive to an inhalation flow to trigger the release of a substance to be inhaled); or 20200061314 (describing a smart inhaler device having a flow pathway comprising a cartridge receptacle that is able to house a cartridge, flow meter, pump, and vaporizer; a wireless communication module; and at least one sensor that captures identifying information related to the cartridge); or 2020004691 (describing dry powder inhalers having replaceable cartridges containing a dry powder for local or systemic delivery through the pulmonary tract and lungs); or 20200046916 (describing an inhaler having a refill assembly comprising: a patient port; a canister actuable by the reusable assembly to deliver a dose of medicament to the patient port, a sleeve which is selectively actuable by a user independently of the reusable assembly so as to act on the canister to deliver a dose of medicament); or 20200046029 (describing an apparatus for generating an aerosol and/or a vapour in an inhaler device includes a reservoir for storing a supply of a liquid; a heating system fluidly connected with the reservoir for receiving the liquid and configured to heat the liquid to generate the aerosol and/or vapor therefrom; a pumping system configured to pump the liquid from the reservoir to the heating system; and a valve arrangement for regulating flow from the pumping system to the heating system); or 20200016345 (describing a dry powder inhaler having a first chamber having an orifice for holding a dry powder and a gas, and a second chamber directly connected to the first chamber by at least one passageway for receiving an aerosolized form of the dry powder from in the first chamber and delivering the aerosolized dry powder to a user). An inhaler as provided herein, or as used in methods as provided herein, can comprise use of a dose counter, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,561,808.

[0169] In alternative embodiments, the inhaler or the nasal spray device is a hand-held or otherwise portable inhaler or a nasal spray device is used or intended for use on public transport such as buses, trams, trains, aircraft and/or boats, or in places of commerce such as stores, bars, sporting events, movies theaters, theater, musical events, or any gathering of people.

[0170] In alternative embodiments, the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) lopinavir, ritonavir and/or oseltamivir, and/or the anti-viral drug or drug combination or medication as provided herein, or anti-microbial drug as provided herein, is formulated as a powder (e.g., a dry powder), a microparticle or a nanoparticle, or an aerosol. In alternative embodiments, the powder can be an agglomeration of powder particles or an agglomerate having irregular geometries such as width, diameter, and length. In alternative embodiments, the dry powder can be formulated as a granule of a physiologically acceptable excipient to be used as a carrier for a dry powder formulation for inhalation as described e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 10,583,085.

[0171] In alternative embodiments, the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) is formulated at between about 50% to 100% concentration as a liquid or aqueous formulation. In alternative embodiments, the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™) chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) is formulated and delivered at a dosage regimen of about 0.2 mg/kg to about 150 mg/kg per dose.

[0172] In alternative embodiments, methods of delivery of the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™), lopinavir, ritonavir and/or oseltamivir, and/or the anti-viral drug or medication, or anti-microbial drug, comprise treatment regimens where the drug, medication or combination of drugs are administered every hour, every other hour, once, twice, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve times a day. In alternative embodiments, the length of time of treatment, or the exact dosaging or dosage regimen, is determined by the clinician, or the administration is to begin immediately after possible exposure to an individual having (or exposed to another individual having) a coronavirus infection, or a COVID-19 or a 2019-nCoV (or so-called Wuhan coronavirus) infection, or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.

[0173] In alternative embodiments, the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) is formulated at between about 50% to 100% concentration as a liquid or aqueous formulation, which can be used either as an aerosol and/or given orally. In alternative embodiments, the chloroquine (e.g., ARALEN™), chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate, hydroxychloroquine (e.g., PLAQUENIL™) is formulated and delivered (e.g., by inhalation and/or orally) at a dosage regimen of about 0.2 mg/kg to about 150 mg/kg per dose.

[0174] Any of the above aspects and embodiments can be combined with any other aspect or embodiment as disclosed here in the Summary, Figures and/or Detailed Description sections.

[0175] As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0176] Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive and covers both “or” and “and”.

[0177] Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. About can be understood as within 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12% 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term “about.”

[0178] Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “substantially all”, “substantially most of”, “substantially all of” or “majority of” encompass at least about 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5%, or more of a referenced amount of a composition.

[0179] The entirety of each patent, patent application, publication and document referenced herein hereby is incorporated by reference. Citation of the above patents, patent applications, publications and documents is not an admission that any of the foregoing is pertinent prior art, nor does it constitute any admission as to the contents or date of these publications or documents. Incorporation by reference of these documents, standing alone, should not be construed as an assertion or admission that any portion of the contents of any document is considered to be essential material for satisfying any national or regional statutory disclosure requirement for patent applications. Notwithstanding, the right is reserved for relying upon any of such documents, where appropriate, for providing material deemed essential to the claimed subject matter by an examining authority or court.

[0180] Modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the basic aspects of the invention. Although the invention has been described in substantial detail with reference to one or more specific embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments specifically disclosed in this application, and yet these modifications and improvements are within the scope and spirit of the invention. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element(s) not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of”, and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. Thus, the terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, are not excluded, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

[0181] The invention will be further described with reference to the examples described herein; however, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such examples.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Exemplary Treatment Regimens

[0182] This example demonstrates that methods and products of manufacture as provided are effective for treating, preventing, ameliorating, slowing the progress of, decreasing the severity of or preventing a coronavirus infection, or a COVID-19 (or so-called Wuhan coronavirus) infection, or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.

[0183] A 42 year (y) old female patient is first treated with osteltamivir (or TAMIFLU™) from the time she was in contact with a patient from China later found to be positive for a coronavirus, in particular, the COVID-19 virus (or so-called Wuhan coronavirus). She is treated for 4 days but then develops fever, cough, aches and some dyspnea, with blood result coming back positive for COVID-19 virus.

[0184] Because the patient remains positive for 2019-nCoV virus, treatment with lopinavir and ritonavir, or KALETRA™, ALTERA™, ALUVIA™, KALMELTREX, LOPIMUNE™ or LOPINAVIR™, is now added to the osteltamivir treatment, and within 48 hours her blood test becomes negative for the coronavirus.

[0185] This patient was quite ill reaching the dyspnoea phase and difficulty walking, and but for this new drug combination treatment would have been expected to die. The combination of drugs as provided herein can rapidly clear the coronavirus from the patient's blood, thereby terminating or significantly ameliorating an otherwise life-threatening illness.

Example 2: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0186] A 47-year-old male returning from a trip develops draggles and muscle pains and a temperature of 37.5 C. He is tested for coronavirus and is found positive for COVID-19 on a swab test. He is commenced on a combination of twice-daily chloroquine to 250 mg, lopinavir 200 mg bid, retinovir 50 mg bid. together with 75 mg bid oseltamivir (e.g., TAMIFLU™).

[0187] His condition is further resolved within three days and he is negative on the swab test on day six. Muscle pains also disappear and he feels well with and is able to be released to go home from hospital on day seven.

Example 3: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0188] A group of elderly travelers board a ship on a cruise, whereupon numerous individuals on the ship contract coronavirus COVID-19 on testing. This group is administered as a prophylactic therapy/treatment inhalant agents comprising two inhaled doses, or twice daily, of 125 mg of chloroquine. None contract COVID-19 coronavirus and test negative for the virus upon arrival home after the cruise.

Example 4: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0189] A 65-year-old female patient develops a very spiritual section with shortness of breath, and is admitted to a hospital, and is tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus. She is treated with intravenous (IV) remdesivir 10 mg per kilogram, chloroquine 250 mg twice daily, inhaled interferon, and KALETRA™ (a lopinavir/ritonavir combination) 50/200 mg.

[0190] Over the next week the patient's shortness of breath first worsens, but then improves, having fewer muscle aches and shortness of breath. By day 8 her viral detection is negative for COVID-19. The patient is discharged on day 12 fully cured of the coronavirus using this exemplary drug combination.

Example 5: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0191] Two Italian patients (one female, one male 69 years old with previous pulmonary disease) traveling in India tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19; they were administered lopinavir 200 mg twice daily, ritonavir 50 mg twice daily, chloroquine 250 mg twice daily, 75 mg oseltamivir (TAMIFLU™) twice daily, and the female patient tested negative after 7 days of this combined drug therapy, and the male patient showed significant improvement, with COVID-19 viral load diminished. No significant side effects from the administered drug combination were seen.

Example 6: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0192] A 32-year-old male patient acquires nose swab positive coronavirus COVID-19 infection, possibly at a party. Symptoms include loss of the sense of taste, muscle aches, fever of 38.9 C, sore throat cough and difficulty with breathing. He is seen by a COVID-19 specialist, who commences patient on a combination of opaganib or YELIVA™ tid at 200 mg or 300 mg per dose; hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice daily; lopinavir 200 mg three times per day; ritonavir 50 mg three times per day, and oseltamivir 75 mg tid, where one, several or all of these drugs are administered orally, IM, IV and/or by inhalation individually or in combination (e.g., as a single formulation where applicable). The patient progressively loses his fever, regains the sense of taste, and after further five days the cough and sore throat improve. Shortness of breath progressively improves but this requires more than 20 days (d) of continued treatment, yet the swabs are negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days by day 8.

Example 7: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0193] A 72-year-old gentleman with a chronic cough suddenly develops fever, worsening of cough and shortness of breath walking up hills. He goes to the emergency room but the antibiotic that is given does not stop the progression of the illness. He sees a specialist who deals with respiratory disease and is found to be positive for COVID-19. He is commenced on opaganib or YELIVA™ tid at 200 mg or 300 mg per dose; and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tid. He continues on this therapy and notices improvement within two days; a swab is negative on day seven and he is completely asymptomatic by day 20.

Example 8: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0194] A 27-year-old female patient has a nose swab positive coronavirus COVID-19 infection. Symptoms include myalgia, sore throat cough and difficulty with breathing. She also complains of marked fatigue. The doctor commences her on a combination of hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice daily (bid), lopinavir 200 mg three times per day (tid), ritonavir 50 mg tid, and oseltamivir 75 mg tid. The patient loses her fever after four days although the cough and sore throat continues for another two days. Shortness of breath progressively improves and after 12 days of treatment the swabs become negative on consecutive days.

Example 9: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0195] A 73-year-old male develops loss of sense of smell and taste, followed by muscle aches and pains fever of 38.5° C. cough and a sore throat. He then notices he was short of breath and saw his doctor. The doctor commences him on hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice daily increasing after three days to 3 times daily, together with azithromycin 50 mg three times a day, and within three days the patient's fever improves, then disappears. The patient continues on this composition of the two drugs for a total of 12 days and subsequent swabs are negative for coronavirus COVID-19.

Example 10: Exemplary Treatment Regimen

[0196] A 49-year-old patient with nasopharyngeal swab proving an infection with coronavirus COVID-19, is treated to reduce symptoms using a combination of opaganib or YELIVA™ tid at 200 mg or 300 mg per dose, hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tid, azithromycin 50 mg bid. On day 4 of the treatment nasal swabs show an absence of the coronavirus, and this is also shown daily until day 14 showing a cure is achieved. The patient's symptoms abate fairly rapidly and he eventually becomes completely normal and asymptomatic.

Example 11: Exemplary Prophylactic Treatment Regimens

[0197] Individuals are given an initial loading dosage of chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate and/or hydroxychloroquine, which is administered or started at a high dose (e.g., the so-called “loading dose”) for example, an oral (e.g., a single dose such as a single tablet, capsule or pill), IV or IM dosage of between about 250 mg, 300 mg, 350 mg, 300 mg or 0.5 gram (gm) (500 mg) and 1.5 gm, or between about 400 mg and 1 gm, optionally with follow up administrations every 4 to 10 days, or every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 days, at a lower dosage of between about 50 gm to 200 mg, or about 100 mg, total daily dosage, optionally continuing for between about one week to one month,

[0198] and the chloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine diphosphate and/or hydroxychloroquine is administered together with: [0199] a macrolide drug, optionally azithromycin, and optionally the macrolide drug is started with a high dose (e.g., a so-called “loading dose”), optionally an oral (e.g., a single dose such as a single tablet, capsule or pill), IV or IM dosage of between about 400 mg to 0.5 gram (gm) (500 mg) and 1 gm, or at about 500 mg, optionally with follow up administrations every 4 to 10 days, or every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 days, at a lower dosage of between about 100 gm to 300 mg, or about 250 mg, total daily dosage, optionally continuing for between about one week to one month, and/or [0200] opaganib or YELIVA™, wherein optionally the opaganib is administered at a dosage of QD (once a day), bid (twice a day) or tid (three times a day) at a dosage of between about 100 to 600 mg per day or per dosage, or at about 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 or 600 mg per day or per dosage, and/or [0201] lopinavir combined (formulated) with ritonavir, or KALETRA™, ALTERA™, ALUVIA™, KALMELTREX, LOPIMUNE™ or LOPINAVIR™.

[0202] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it can be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.