Method of treating leukopenia with adenosine

Patent Number: 6911435

Lack of leukocyte production, leukopenia, is a major morbidity and mortality factor in patients recieving high dose chemotherapy, as well as after bone marrow transplant. This patent is very useful since it teaches how to expand hematopoietic stem cell production of leukocytes through administration of adenosine, a compound that is already clinically used.

The patent has two independent claims:

A method of treating or preventing drug-induced leukopenia in an individual, comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of adenosine, wherein said effective amount is no more than 10 mg/kg body weight.

A method for increasing the therapeutic index of a drug, said drug having toxic side effects manifested in leukopenia, the method comprising: administering to an individual treated with said drug an effective amount of adenosine for increasing the therapeutic index of a drug, said drug having toxic side effects manifested in leukopenia, said amount being no more than 10 mg/kg.

View this patent on the USPTO website.