TREATMENT OF EXCESS CERUMEN SECRETION

• US 20100028385A1
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allergan Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: NASSIF, Claude L.
• Application Number:
  US12/185,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20100028385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/239.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/4893 Botulinum neurotoxin (3.4.24.69)
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/16 Otologicals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

Presently descibed are methods useful in treating outer ear conditions generally associated with the secretion of cerumen. The methods comprise the step of locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of neurotoxin such as a botulinum toxin to the ear canal of a patient. The conditions to be treated are generally associated with excess secretion of cerumen or the build-up of cerumen in the ear canal of a patient. Such conditions can include, but are not limited to, conductive hearing loss, pain and cough, for example.

Claims

1. A method for treating excessive cerumen secretion in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin to or at least a portion of an ear canal surface of the patient, thereby treating the excessive cerumen secretion.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said excessive cerumen secretion results in conductive hearing loss.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said excessive cerumen secretion elicits pain as a result of excessive build-up of cerumen in the ear canal of said patient.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of types A, B, C₁, D, E, F and G.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A and is administered in an amount between about 1 to about 2500 units.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said botulinum toxin type B is administered at between about 50 units and about 20,000 units.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said local administration is transdermal administration.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said local administration is subcutaneous administration.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said local administration is intradermal administration.

11. A method for reducing cerumen secreted in at least a portion of an ear canal in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin to least a portion of an ear canal of the patient, thereby reducing the amount of cerumen secreted.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of types A, B, C₁, D, E, F and G.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A or type B.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said botulinum toxin type A is administered at between about 1 unit and about 2500 units.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein said local administration is selected from the group consisting of transdermal, subcutaneous and intradermal administration.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of irrigating the ear canal of the patient.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of administering an antibiotic to the ear canal.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of administering an anesthetic to the ear canal.

19. A method for treating conductive hearing loss in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of locally administering between about 1 unit and about 2000 units of botulinum toxin type A or about 50 to about 5000 units of botulinum toxin type B to at least a portion of an ear canal of said patient, thereby reducing cerumen secretion and resultant build-up and treating conductive hearing loss.

20. A method for reducing outer ear pain as a result of excess cerumen build-up in at least a portion of an ear canal of a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of locally administering between about 1 unit and about 2000 units of botulinum toxin type A to the ear canal of said patient, thereby reducing the outer ear pain.