TREATMENT USING NEUBLASTIN POLYPEPTIDES
The invention relates to treatments of neuropathic pain, including tactile allodynia, and to treatments for reducing loss of pain sensitivity associated with neuropathy. The present treatments involve the use of neublastin (NBN) polypeptides.
1 . A method for treating neuropathic pain in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a neublastin polypeptide, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the subject via systemic delivery.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is associated with post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, or sciatica.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via intravenous delivery.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via subcutaneous delivery.
6 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neublastin polypeptide is modified with a derivative moiety to have an extended residence time or increased concentration in body fluids.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the derivative moiety is a polyethylene glycol moiety.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the derivative moiety is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic esters, amides, N-acyl-derivatives, or O-acyl derivatives.
13 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is associated with infection of said subject by a virus.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein said virus is selected from the group consisting of a herpes virus, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and a papilloma virus.
29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is neuropathic pain associated with administration of a therapeutic agent.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said therapeutic agent is an anti-cancer agent.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the anti-cancer agent is selected from the group consisting of taxol, taxotere, cisplatin, nocodazole, vincristine, vindesine and vinblastine.
32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said therapeutic agent is an anti-viral agent.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein said anti-viral agent is selected from the group consisting of ddI, DDC, d4T, foscarnet, dapsone, metronidazole, and isoniazid.
34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is due to injury associated with trauma.
35 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is characterized by allodynia.
36 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is hyperalgesic pain.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the hyperalgesic pain is thermal hyperalgesic pain.
38 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuropathic pain is phantom pain.
39 - 56 . (canceled)
57 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the allodynia is tactile allodynia.
58 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via subcutaneous delivery.
59 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via intravenous delivery.
60 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via subcutaneous delivery.
61 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via intravenous delivery.
62 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via subcutaneous delivery.
63 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via intravenous delivery.
64 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via subcutaneous delivery.
65 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered via intravenous delivery.
66 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neublastin polypeptide exhibits neurotrophic activity and comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to amino acids 28-140 of SEQ ID NO:2.
67 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neublastin polypeptide exhibits neurotrophic activity and comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to amino acids 28-140 of SEQ ID NO:2.
68 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neublastin polypeptide exhibits neurotrophic activity and comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to amino acids 28-140 of SEQ ID NO:2.
69 . A method for treating allodynia in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a neublastin polypeptide.
70 . A method for treating hyperalgesic pain in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a neublastin polypeptide.