Pharmaceutical compositions comprising modified fucans and methods relating thereto

1. A medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the fucan has a sulphate content between 14 to 40% w/w and a total carbohydrate content between 37 to 75% w/w, wherein the carbohydrate comprises each of fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose; and wherein the fucan comprises a molecular weight distribution wherein the portion from 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between 0 to 25% w/w, the portion from 5,000 to 60,000 g/mol comprises between 5 to 38% w/w, the portion from 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between 10 to 30% w/w, the portion from 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 8 to 43% w/w, and the portion from more than 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 1 to 33% w/w.

2. The medical composition of claim 1 wherein the fucan has a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content between 31 to 71% w/w.

3. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan has a galactose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content between 9 to 46% w/w.

4. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan has a sugar content excluding fucose and galactose as a percentage of total carbohydrate content between 0 to 59% w/w.

5. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose between 0 to 36%.

6. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan when prepared as a 0.1% w/v solution has a pH of 4 to 8.

7. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan has a protein content between 0 to 12% w/w.

8. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fucan has an appearance of white, off-white, light yellow, light orange, or light green.

9. The medical composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the composition is a solution, gel, sol or suspension with a fucan concentration between 0.001 to 10% w/v.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the fucan concentration is 5% w/v.

11. The composition of claim 9 wherein the fucan concentration is between 0.001 and 1% w/v.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the fucan concentration is 0.05% w/v.

13. The composition of claim 11 wherein the fucan concentration is 0.03% w/v.

14. A kit comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of any one of claims 1 to 2 in a vessel configured to administer at least one dose of the composition to an animal, the kit further comprising at least one label comprising instructions for the administration.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the instructions direct treatment of at least one of fibrous adhesions, peritonitis, ischemia, reperfusion injury, endotoxemia, keloid trait scarring, keloids, dermatitis, and rosacea.

16. An isolated and purified composition according to any one of claims 1 to 2 for use in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting or treating a proliferative or inflammatory disease in a human patient.

17. The composition of claim 16 wherein the disease is at least one of fibrous adhesions, peritonitis, ischemia, reperfusion injury, endotoxemia, keloid trait scarring, keloids, dermatitis, and rosacea.

18. The composition of claim 16 wherein the composition is a solution, gel, sol, suspension, spray, mousse, lotion, cream, ointment, paste, slurry, particulate, microparticulate, microsphere, film, slab, wrap, barrier or implant.

19. The medical composition of claim 1 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria hyperborean.

20. The medical composition of claim 1 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria japonica.

21. The medical composition of claim 1 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Undaria pinnatifida.

22. A medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the fucan has a sulphate content between 0.001 to 60% w/w and a total carbohydrate content between 37 to 75% w/w; a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content between 31 to 71% w/w; an acetyl group content of 0.001 to 2% w/w; a protein content of 0.001 to 2% w/w; and an appearance of white to off-white or white to light brown; and when made up to a 0.1% w/v solution result in a solution with a pH of 4 to 8, wherein the carbohydrate comprises each of fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose.

23. The medical composition of claim 22 wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution wherein the portion from 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 25% w/w, the portion from 5,000 to 60,000 g/ml comprises between 0.001 to 55% w/w, the portion from 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 40% w/w, the portion from 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 60% w/w and the portion from more than 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 0.1 to 50% w/w.

24. The medical composition of claim 22 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria hyperborean.

25. The medical composition of claim 22 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria japonica.

26. The medical composition of claim 22 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Undaria pinnatifida.

27. A medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the fucan has a sulphate content between 0.001 to 60% w/w and a total carbohydrate content between 37 to 75% w/w; a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content between 31 to 71% w/w; an acetyl group content of 0% w/w; and a protein content of 0% w/w; an appearance of white to off-white or white to light brown; and when made up to a 0.1% w/v solution result in a solution with a pH of 4 to 8, wherein the carbohydrate comprises each of fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose.

28. The medical composition of claim 27 wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution wherein the portion from 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 25% w/w, the portion from 5,000 to 60,000 g/ml comprises between 0.001 to 55% w/w, the portion from 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 40% w/w, the portion from 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 60% w/w and the portion from more than 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between 0.001 to 50% w/w.

29. The medical composition of claim 27 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria hyperborean.

30. The medical composition of claim 27 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Laminaria japonica.

31. The medical composition of claim 27 wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae Undaria pinnatifida.