Amitriptyline

Is refractory cough a neuropathy?

Client:
PPG
Category:
Respiratory

Cutting-edge science and differentiation

Following intensive mining, CEME outcomes generate new teachings that support case studies which suggest that chronic cough is a neuropathy that is amenable to treatment by intrapulmonary amitriptyline.

Clinical implications of new teachings

McCormack’s methods reveal previously-unknown relationships that indicate that the capacity of amitriptyline to inhibit the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase in some part explains the efficacy of amitriptyline in managing chronic cough, and that additionally a synergy with L-arginine can be expected. Accordingly, patents were filed for the combination of amitriptyline plus L-arginine for intrapulmonary therapy of airways disorders that include chronic cough, emphysema and cystic fibrosis (PCT/GB2010/050769; WO/2010/035047).

Young woman coughing in a pharmacy
© Shutterstock

Key outcomes

  • Creation of new IP in a new indication

Prior to filing of the patent application these new teachings were not made known within the public domain.