Transdiscal administration of specific inhibitors of pro-inflammatory cytokines
The present invention relates to injecting a high specificity cytokine antagonist into a diseased intervertebral disc.
1 . A formulation for treating degenerative disc disease, comprising:
a) a high specificity cytokine antagonist, and
b) a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of:
i) a growth factor, and
ii) viable cells,
wherein the high specificity cytokine antagonist inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
2 . The formulation of claim 1 wherein the second therapeutic agent is viable cells.
3 . The formulation of claim 2 wherein the viable cells comprise mesenchymal stem cells.
4 . The formulation of claim 3 wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are autologous.
5 . The formulation of claim 4 wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are provided in a concentrated form.
6 . The formulation of claim 1 wherein the second therapeutic agent is a growth factor.
7 . The formulation of claim 6 wherein the growth factor is transforming growth factor (TGF-β) or a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP).
8 . The formulation of claim 1 wherein the antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits TNF-α.
9 . The formulation of claim 8 wherein the monoclonal antibody is infliximab.
10 . The formulation of claim 1 wherein the antagonist is etanercept.
11 . The formulation of claim 1 wherein the high specificity cytokine antagonist is present in the formulation in a concentration of at least 100 mg/ml.