Transdiscal administration of high affinity anti-MMP inhibitors

1. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) into an intervertebral disc, wherein the TIMP-1 is a recombinant TIMP-1, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle.

2. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein the TIMP is present in an autologous concentrated form, and wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle.

3. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation is administered in a volume of between 0.03 ml and 0.3 ml.

4. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle in an amount effective to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) present in the nucleus pulposus and help arrest degradation of an extracellular matrix, and wherein the concentration of TIMP in the formulation is at least 100 mg/ml.

5. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation further comprises at least one additional therapeutic agent.

6. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation is administered in an amount of less than 1 cc.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the concentration of TIMP in the formulation is at least 100 mg/ml.

8. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation further comprises a sustained release device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device comprises a hydrogel.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device provides controlled release.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device provides continuous release.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device provides intermittent release.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device comprises a biosensor.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device comprises microspheres.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the TIMP is predominantly released from the sustained delivery device by diffusion through the sustained delivery device or by biodegradation of the sustained delivery device.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the sustained release device comprises an inflammatory-responsive delivery system.

17. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, and wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the TIMP is present in the formulation in a maximum amount of about 0.5 mg.

18. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation further comprises a growth factor is provided by platelet concentrate, said growth factor present in an amount effective to repair disc tissue.

19. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation further comprises viable mesenchymal stem cells.

20. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation is injected into the nucleus pulposus.

21. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the formulation is injected into the annulus fibrosus.

22. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein a portion of the nucleus pulposus is removed prior to administering the formulation into the intervertebral disc.

23. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the degenerating disc is an intact disc.

24. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the degenerating disc is a ruptured disc.

25. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the degenerating disc is delaminated.

26. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the degenerating disc has fissures.

27. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) into an intervertebral disc, wherein said TIMP is selected from the group consisting of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle, and wherein the TIMP is predominantly released from a sustained delivery device by diffusion of the TIMP through the sustained delivery device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the sustained delivery device is a polymer.

29. A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising transdiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) into an intervertebral disc, wherein the TIMP-2 is a recombinant TIMP-2, and wherein said administering is performed through a needle.