Compositions and methods for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/999,571, filed Oct. 19, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Worldwide, one of the most significant causes of blindness is diabetic retinopathy (DR) which often includes an associated disorder, diabetic macular edema (DME), which is one of the complications of diabetes resulting in microvasculature insult, injury and degeneration in the body, and in particular, the eye. The loss of workplace and personal function subsequent to such loss of visual function can have devastating impact upon the individual and on the community surrounding that individual as a whole. Nearly all individuals with diabetes demonstrate some degree of diabetic retinopathy, and the numbers of diabetic patients are increasing, therefore there is need for more effective treatments for vision loss and the symptoms of DR and associated macular edema.

In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of treating a subject suffering from diabetic retinopathy comprising administering to said subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent which inhibits the interaction of LFA-1 and an ICAM.

In a second aspect a method is provided of treating a subject suffering from macular edema comprising administering to said subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent which inhibits the interaction of LFA-1 and an ICAM, thereby reducing and/or preventing macular edema in an eye of said subject.

In an third aspect of the invention, a method is provided to treat diabetic retinopathy in a subject comprising performing a diabetic retinopathy diagnostic test on said subject; determining whether said subject suffers from diabetic retinopathy based on the results of said diagnostic test; and upon diagnosis of said diabetic retinopathy, administering to said subject an effective amount of a (LFA-1) antagonist in a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for reducing and/or preventing post-operative ocular inflammation in a subject suffering from diabetes comprising administering to said subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a LFA-1 antagonist, thereby reducing and/or preventing post-operative inflammation in an eye of said subject.

In some embodiments, post-operative inflammation is the result of vitrectomy, laser photocoagulation therapy, photodynamic therapy, or LASIK. In other embodiments, the diagnostic step is performed by imaging an eye of said subject or analysis of a biological sample of an eye of said subject.

In some of the embodiments of the invention, the ICAM is ICAM-1, ICAM-2, or ICAM-3. In some embodiments, the ICAM is ICAM-1. In some embodiments of the invention, the therapeutic agent is an LFA-1 antagonist. In some of the embodiments of the invention, the LFA-1 antagonist binds to a high affinity binding site in the αL subunit of LFA-1 overlapping the ICAM-1 binding site. In other embodiments of the invention, the LFA-1 antagonist is directly competitive with the binding of ICAM-1 at the αL subunit of LFA-1. In some embodiments of the invention, the LFA-1 antagonist is a competitive inhibitor of the interaction between LFA-1 and ICAM-1. In some embodiments of the invention, the LFA-1 antagonist is an allosteric antagonist of the binding of ICAM-1 at the αL subunit of LFA-1.

In some of the embodiments of the invention, the diabetic retinopathy is non-proliferative. In some of the inventions, the diabetic retinopathy is proliferative. In some embodiments of the invention, damage resulting from diabetic retinopathy is macular edema, retinal neovascularization, fibrovascular growth over a retina, loss of vision, basement membrane thickening, retinal edema, or retinal ischemia.

In some of the embodiments of the invention, an LFA antagonist is provided which is an antibody. In some of the embodiments of the invention, an LFA antagonist is provided which is a compound of Formula I, II, III, IV, V or VI.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula II is provided which contains a stereochemistry as in Formula II′.

Continue reading about Compositions and methods for treatment of diabetic retinopathy...
Full patent description for Compositions and methods for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Compositions and methods for treatment of diabetic retinopathy patent application.

Patent Applications in related categories:

20090297449 - Metalloproteinase 9 and metalloproteinase 2 binding proteins - Proteins that bind to matrix metalloproteinase 9 and to matrix metalloproteinase 2 and methods of using such proteins are described. ...

20090297448 - Quantum dot barcode structures and uses thereof - The present invention provides novel barcode microstructures and methods for making and using the microstructures for molecular recognition, and/or delivery of therapeutic, diagnostic, contrast, and imaging agents. ...


###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Compositions and methods for treatment of diabetic retinopathy or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Antibodies to magmas and uses thereof
Next Patent Application:
Lipidated glycosaminoglycan particles and their use in drug and gene delivery for diagnosis and therapy
Industry Class:
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

###