Protease compositions for the treatment of damaged tissue
The invention is directed to compositions containing one or more proteases that are beneficial in the treatment of damaged tissue, wounds and inflammation. The compositions of the invention modulate the levels and activity of proteins that are present at wound and inflammation sites and promote the repair of damaged tissue.
1 . A composition comprising at least one protease; and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient, wherein the protease can modulates the action or level of at least one protein in a physiological environment.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said protein is a wound-related protein or an inflammation-related protein.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said physiological environment is a tissue.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said protease is selected from one or more of aminopeptidase, aspartic endopeptidase, cysteine endopeptidase, cysteine-type carboxypeptidase, dipeptidase, dipeptidyl-peptidase, metallocarboxypeptidase, metalloendopeptidase, omega peptidase, peptidyl-dipeptidase, serine endopeptidase, serine-type carboxypeptidase, tripeptidyl-peptidase, threonine endopeptidase or active variants, homologues, derivatives or fragments thereof.
5 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein said wound-related protein or inflammation-related protein is present in a damaged tissue.
6 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein said wound-related protein or inflammation-related protein is present in or near cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.
7 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein said damaged tissue is a wound.
8 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein said wound is an acute wound or a chronic wound.
9 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein said damaged tissue is an ulcer.
10 . The composition of claim 2 , further comprising additional ingredients.
11 . The composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 for use in medicine, cosmetics or prescription drugs.
12 . Use of a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical to treat damaged tissue, such as wounds.
13 . Use of a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical to treat ulcers.
14 . A method of therapy, said method comprising administering to a subject a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and in an amount to treat damaged tissue.
15 . A method according to claim 14 wherein said damaged tissue is the result of a wound.
16 . A method according to claim 14 wherein said damaged tissue is the result of an ulcer.
17 . A method according to claim 14 wherein said damaged tissue is the result of a cancer.
18 . A process for preparing a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 ; said process comprising the steps of: (i) performing an assay to identify one or more agents that are capable of acting as a protease as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 ; (ii) admixing one or more of said agent(s) with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
19 . A process according to claim 18 wherein said process also includes the subsequent step of: (iii) administering said composition to a subject in need of same.
20 . A process for preparing a pharmaceutical for use in treating damaged tissue, the process comprising forming a composition by admixing (a) at least one protease with (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient; wherein the protease can modulate the action of at least one protein, wherein said protein is a wound-related protein or an inflammation-related protein.
21 . Use of a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical to treat a subject that is being treated with a protease as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 .
22 . A method of therapy, said method comprising administering to a subject a composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and in an amount to treat damaged tissue, wherein all or some of said protease as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 is administered topically, orally, parenterally, intravenously, intramuscularly, by inhalation, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, by infusion or by injection.
23 . A method for repairing damaged tissue comprising,
identifying an area of tissue damage in a subject; and
administering a composition comprising at least one protease to the area of tissue damage.