U.S. patent application number 11/570833 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for package for at least two different products to be sold and used together.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIGMA-TAU INDUSTRIE FARMACEUTICHE RIUNITE S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Claudio Cavazza.
Application Number | 20080272021 11/570833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34960445 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080272021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cavazza; Claudio |
November 6, 2008 |
Package for at Least Two Different Products to be Sold and Used
Together
Abstract
The invention concerns a package (1) for at least two different
products, to be sold (and used) together, said package providing at
lease one first housing (2) for a first pre-packaged product and
second housing for a pre-packages product, said first and second
housing being coupled to each other.
Inventors: |
Cavazza; Claudio; (Pomezia
(RM), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUCAS & MERCANTI, LLP
475 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, 15TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10016
US
|
Assignee: |
SIGMA-TAU INDUSTRIE FARMACEUTICHE
RIUNITE S.P.A.
Pomezia (RM)
IT
|
Family ID: |
34960445 |
Appl. No.: |
11/570833 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
January 31, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT05/00044 |
371 Date: |
February 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/528 ;
206/459.5; 229/120.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4229 20130101;
B65D 5/5495 20130101; B65D 77/042 20130101; B65D 5/427
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/528 ;
206/459.5; 229/120.03 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00; B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 23, 2004 |
IT |
RM2004A000307 |
Claims
1. Package for at least two different products, to be sold and used
together, said package comprising a first housing for a first
pre-packaged product and a second housing for a second pre-packaged
product, said first and said second housings being coupled to each
other.
2. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second
housings provide a first and a second pre-packaged product for
completing therapeutical or nutritional cycle.
3. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second
pre-packaged products are pharmaceutical or dietetic products.
4. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second
pre-packaged products are selected from the group consisting of
liquid, solid, hemi-solid, and pressurized forms.
5. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first pre-packaged
product comprises a statin selected from the group consisting of
simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin,
their derivatives and functional analogs thereof, and is inserted
within the first housing, and wherein said second pre-packaged
product comprises one or more compounds selected from the group
consisting of L-carnitine, alcanoil L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and
functional derivatives thereof, and is inserted within the second
housing.
6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein said first and second
housings are oriented side-by-side, head by head, juxtaposed, or
the shoulder opposed.
7. Package according to claim 6, wherein said first and said second
housings oriented side-by-side or head by head can be juxtaposed
during their use.
8. Package according to claim 7, wherein a strip of glue protected
by a removable coating is provided as means for fixing said
juxtaposed first and second housings.
9. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and second
housings are provided with means for allowing the removal of a
price tag thereon.
10. Package according to claim 9, wherein a slit is provided above
the price tag on said first and said second housings.
11. Package according to claim 9, wherein lower resistance lines
are adjacent to the price tag on said first and said second
housings.
12. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and said
second housings are equal each to other.
13. Package according to claim 1, wherein said first and said
second housings have different shapes and dimensions.
14. Package according to claim 1, wherein said package is made of a
transparent or net a non-transparent material.
15. Package according to claim 1, wherein the material of said
package is rigid, hemi-rigid, soft, or elastic.
16. Package according to claim 1, wherein said package provides
openings to reach said first and said second pre-packaged
products.
17. Package according to claim 16, wherein said openings for said
first and said second housings are independent from the opening of
the product package.
18. Package according to claim 16, wherein said opens for said
first and said second housings are structurally and spatially
co-ordinated with the opening of the product package.
19. Package according to claim 16, wherein said openings for said
first and said second housings are comprised of a tab foldable and
fixable to said first and said second housings.
20. Package according to claim 1, wherein said package is openable
in conjunction with the opening of said first and said second
housings contained therein.
21. Package according to claim 1, further comprising instructions
for use.
22-24. (canceled)
25. Package according to claim 3, wherein said pharmaceutical or
dietetic products are in the form of liquids, solids, hemi-solids
and pressurized forms.
26. Package according to claim 4, wherein said solid is a
granulate, gum, tablet, capsule or bougie.
27. Package according to claim 5, wherein said alcanoil L-carnitine
is selected from the group consisting of acetyl L-carnitine,
propionyl L-carnitine, valeryl L-carnitine, isovaleryl L-carnitine,
butyrril L-carnitine, and functional derivatives thereof.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a package for at least two
different products to be sold and used together.
[0002] More specifically, the invention concerns a package of the
above kind allowing to put on the market and to use together two or
more products, said products having already been packaged
singularly.
[0003] In the following the specification will be particularly
addressed to pharmaceutical products, but it also evident that said
use cannot be intended as limitative of the scope of the
invention.
[0004] Particularly, the solution suggested according to the
present invention can be used for each kind of use in the
pharmaceutical, dietetic, ecc. Fields (nutraceutical, dietary
supplements, ecc.), such as liquid, solid (granulates, gums,
tablets, capsules, bougies), hemi-solid, pressurised pharmaceutical
forms, ecc.
[0005] It is known that some pharmaceutical products and not exist,
the intake of which can cause beside the main effect also a
collateral effect. Although the collateral effect can be deemed
acceptable, mainly in view of advantages obtained by the main
effect, in any case the user must then intake another product for
preventing or reducing the above collateral effect.
[0006] At present, the general practitioner, when the main therapy
is indicated or afterwards, when the collateral reveals generally
prescribes the user of the product for preventing or annulling the
collateral effect.
[0007] Moreover, two products are sold separately with the
pharmacy, both at the same time and separately.
[0008] Particularly, making reference to some pharmaceutical
products, it is for example known the importance of combining a
statine with a carnitine, or any other useful drug for
counterbalancing, treating or preventing the collateral effects of
statine; as well as the combination of a vitamin or of a
poli-vitaminic complex with an antibiotic therapy; as well as
combining an anti-ulcer product with an anti-inflammatory
product.
[0009] Making particularly reference to some specific works and
scientific publications (including patents and patent
applications), it is known that statine (simvastatin, lovastatin,
pravastatin, fluvastatin, and their analogues) are inhibitors of
hidroxi-methy-glutaril coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA). By the
inhibition of this enzyme, they reduce the synthesis of cholesterol
at the hepatic level (Lancet 1994; 334: 1383-1389). In order to
compensating the reduction of intracellular cholesterol, hepatic
cells express more receptors for lipoproteins of series LDL and
VLDL, so that they are removed from the blood circulation.
[0010] Furthermore, statines induce a lower absorption at the
intestinal level of cholesterol deriving from the diet and a
reduced expression of apoproteine B present in low-density
lipoproteins (LDL).
[0011] Statine are better tolerated with respect to other
hypocholesterolising agents, but they have some disadvantages: the
more frequent collateral effects caused by these drugs are
gastrointestinal disturbs, cutaneous rushes and hemicranias.
[0012] Some patients had sleep disturbs (E J Schaffer, N Engl J
Med, 319: 1222, 1988; Lancet, 339: 547, 29 Feb. 1992), while
meaningful increase of basal values have been observed in patients
subjected to treatment with statine doses of 40 mg (Kg (Schweiz Med
Wochenschr 1991 Jun. 29; 121 (26):977-83).
[0013] Furthermore, in patients subjected to treatment with
simvastatin collateral effects have been noticed, associated with
myopathia, rhabdomyolisys, muscular pain and increase of serumal SK
and of activity of LDH [Dedlypere j. P. & Vermeulen A. (1991)
Ann. Intern. Med. 114: 342; Bizzarro N. et al. (1992) Clin. Chem.
38:1504].
[0014] In EP Patent 0 383 432 it is described the combination of an
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor with coenzyme Q10 for treatment of
myopathia of skeletal musculature caused by statine.
[0015] It has demonstrated that statine cause a reduction of
mortality due to coronary cardiac pathologies, but, on the other
hand, it has been registered an increase of mortality caused by
other events, such as tumour or traumas, in patients subjected to
the above therapy (Davey-Smith G., Song F., Sheldon T. A.,
Cholesterol lowering and mortality: the importance of considering
initial level at risk. BMJ 1993; 306:1367-1373; Ravnshov U.;
Cholesterol lowering trials in coronary heart disease: frequency of
citation and outcome. BMJ 1992; 305:15-19). Young rats were
subjected to treatment with different hypocholesterolising agents
(simvastatin, lovastatin e pravastatin) show symptoms of myopathia,
when high doses of simvastatin are used (Reijneveld J. C. et al.,
1976 Pediatr. Res. 39: 1028-1035). Furthermore, Bhuiyan et al.
(Bhuiyan J. & Soccombe D. W. 1996 Lipids 31:867-870) have
demonstrated that administering of lovastatin to rabbits causes a
noticeable diminution of hepatic, cardiac and of skeletal
musculature L-carnitine.
[0016] Results of experiments carried out on animals and human
beings suggest that, in order to reduce the cholesterol levels,
pharmacological treatment with statine should be adopted only for
high-risk patients for short-term coronary pathologies (JAMA, 1996;
275: 55-60).
[0017] They are also known the hypo-cholesterolising and
hypo-tri-glycerimising effects of some alcanoil carnitines,
particularly of acetyl L-carnitine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,524
describes a therapeutical method for increasing the high density
lipoprotein (HDL) levels in such a way to selectively reduce the
ratio LDL+VLDL:HDL in plasma of cardiovascular pathology risk
patients, having a particularly high ratio. This method provides
the daily administering of a dose of 5-50 mg/kg of
alcanoil-carnitine or of one of its pharmaceutically acceptable
salts.
[0018] International Patent Application WO 099/01126 describes the
use of alcanoil-carnitine in combination with statine for treatment
of pathologies correlate with lipidic metabolism disorders. WO
099/01126 does not describe or suggest that L-carnitine or alcanoil
L-carnitine can exert a protective action on collateral effects or
on toxicity induced by statine.
[0019] It has been surprisingly found that the coordinated use of
L-carnitine and one between alcanoil L-carnitine, wherein linear or
branched alcanoil has between 2 and 6 carbon atoms, or one of their
pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and of one statine exerts a
protective action against collateral effects or toxicity caused by
statine.
[0020] Known absence of collateral effects and toxicity of
L-carnitine and of alcanoil L-carnitine and protective action of
the same for toxicity and unwished effects caused by statine,
allows using higher doses of statine with respect to those usually
administered (10/20 mg/day).
[0021] Co-ordinated use is particularly useful and safe for
treatment of iper-cholesterolemic and/or iper-triglyceridemic
patients with high-risk f cardiovascular pathologies either within
short, medium or long term.
[0022] In fact, thanks to the protective effect exerted by
L-carnitine or by alcanoil L-carnitine, it has been revealed the
possibility of using high doses of statine with respect to those
usually employed for human therapy, while dose of L-carnitine or of
alcanoil L-carnitine can be between 100 and 3000 mg/day.
[0023] By "co-ordinated use" of the above compounds it is meant,
indifferently, (i) the co-administering, i.e. administering at the
same time of L-carnitine and of one of the above alcanoil
L-carnitine or of one of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts
and of a statine, or (ii) administering of one composition
comprising the above active principles in combination and mixed,
along with suitable excipients. Said co-administering implies also
the packaged or manufactured product, in such a way to comprise the
different administered forms of L-carnitine or of one of the above
alcanoil L-carnitine or of one of their pharmaceutically acceptable
salts and of a statine, with specific instructions for coordinated
and simultaneous intake of the active principles according to a
dosage regime set by a treatment indicated by the doctor on the
basis of the patient conditions.
[0024] Thus, the invention aims to provide a package allowing to
sell and use together two (or more) different products, such as
those mentioned in the above, in such a way that the user does not
have the risk of not properly coupling at the moment of the
purchase or during the treatment said two (or more) different
products.
[0025] It is therefore specific object of the present invention a
package for at least two different products, to be sold (and used)
together, said package providing at least one first housing for a
first pre-packaged product and a second housing for a pre-packaged
product, said first and second housing being coupled each
other.
[0026] Preferably, according to the invention, said first and
second housings provide a first and a second product for completing
the particular therapeutical or nutritional cycle.
[0027] Particularly, according to the invention, said products can
be liquid, solid, pharmaceutical and/or dietetic liquid, solid
(granulates, gums, tablets, capsules, bougies), hemi-solid,
pressurised forms, ecc.
[0028] Still according to the invention, said housings are provided
in such a way that the packages of the single products are
presented side-by-side, head by head, juxtaposed, or the shoulder
opposed.
[0029] Particularly, said side-by-side or head by head can be
juxtaposed during their use.
[0030] Preferably, it will be possible providing means, such as a
strip of glue, protected by a removable coating, for fixing said
housings juxtaposed.
[0031] Always according to the invention, one or all said housings
are provided with means for allowing the removal of price tag
within the relevant packaged product, preferably a slit
substantially realised in correspondence of the zone of the price
tag on the product package, or lower resistance lines substantially
realised in correspondence of the zone of the price tag on the
product package.
[0032] Further, according to the invention, said housings can be
equal each other, or they can have different shape and
dimensions.
[0033] Still according to the invention, said package can be
comprised of transparent or not transparent material.
[0034] Preferably, according to the invention, said package can be
comprised of each rigid, hemi-rigid, soft, elastic, ecc.
material.
[0035] Furthermore, according to the invention, said package can
provide an opening to reach the packaged product, said opening
being independent from the opening of the product package, and
structurally and spatially coordinated with the opening of the
product package, or it can be comprised of a tab foldable and
fixable outside each single housing.
[0036] Further, said package can be open in correspondence of the
opening of the product package contained inside the same.
[0037] Still according to the invention, it is possible providing
instructions for using the package, said instructions being placed
within a suitable pocket, or printed on the same package.
[0038] The present invention will be now described, for
illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its
preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of
the enclosed drawings, wherein:
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
package according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of
the package according to the invention;
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
package according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the package of FIG.
2;
[0043] FIGS. 5a-5c show the steps for folding the package according
to the invention shown in FIG. 2;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a fourth embodiment
of the package according to the invention; and
[0045] FIGS. 7a-7c show the steps for folding the package according
to the invention shown in FIG. 6.
[0046] Observing first FIG. 1, it is shown a package according to
the invention, indicated generically by reference number 1,
providing two housings 2, 3, each having an opening similar to the
opening of a standard package for drugs.
[0047] In embodiment of FIG. 1, two housings are equal, realised
for two equal packaged products, being it well evident that shape
and dimensions of housings 2, 3 can be of any kind, this is not a
feature limiting the present invention.
[0048] Within package 1, in each one of the two housings 2, 3, a
package 4 is introduced (only one is shown in FIG. 1).
[0049] The portion 5, so as to allow the contemporaneous selling of
the two products, and consequently the coordinated consumption of
the same products, couples two housings.
[0050] A package 11 is shown in FIG. 2, provided as well with two
housings 12, 13, for receiving two packaged products 14, and
coupled by a part 15.
[0051] In this case, the two housings 12, 13 are frontally opened
to allow the direct insertion of the products 14. To reach what is
contained within the packages, it will be sufficient opening the
product 14 packages in a traditional way.
[0052] In FIG. 3 it is shown a package 21, provided with two
housings 22, 23, for receiving two packaged products 24, said
housings 22, 23 being coupled by a part 25.
[0053] In this case, the two housings 12, 13 are frontally provided
with a foldable limbo 26, having a tab 7, the end of which is
coated with low adhesivity glue allowing closing and opening many
times the package.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of package 11. However, it must be
noted that the features that will be illustrated can be provided
also in the embodiments shown in the other figures.
[0055] Particularly, it is provided a part 16, at the bottom of
each one of the housings 12, 13, removable for allowing the removal
of price tag.
[0056] Further, at the bottom of one (12) of housings 12, 13, an
adhesive strip 17 is provided, covered by a removable tab 18.
[0057] Observing further FIGS. 5a-5c, it can be noted that, after
having removed the tab 18, the two housings 12, 13, with the
relevant products 14, can be folded, until reaching the
configuration shown in FIG. 5c. Adhesive 17 will allow fixing this
position.
[0058] In this way, a configuration of the package 11 is obtained,
allowing an easier use of the two products 14, with reduced
dimensions. Further, being it possible modifying the configuration
of the package afterwards, pharmacist has the possibility of
removing the price tag from part 16.
[0059] A solution analogous to the one described in the above is
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7a-7c, with the sole difference that coupling
between the two housings 12, 13 is obtained on the head side, and
not laterally.
[0060] The present invention has been described for illustrative
but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred
embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or
changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without
departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed
claims.
* * * * *