USE OF BOTULINUM NEUROTOXIN TO TREAT SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS

• US 20120231034A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toxcure LLC
• Original Assignee: Toxcure LLC
• Inventors: Shaari, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/239.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/4893 Botulinum neurotoxin (3.4.24.69)
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/30 for treating abuse or dependence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/34 Tobacco-abuse

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for treating a substance addiction- related behavior in a patient with a substance addiction, comprising the step of locally administering a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum neurotoxin to a location on the patient'"'"'s body or in the vicinity of the area which comes into contact with a smoking tool or addictive substance, thereby altering, reducing or eliminating sensations associated with behaviors associated with substance addiction. Botulinum neurotoxin may be administered to a dermal, subdermal, mucosal or submucosal location or to a muscle area or in the vicinity of the location to which a smoking tool or addictive substance contacts.

Claims

1. A method of treating substance addiction-related behaviors in a patient, comprising the step of locally administering a therapeutically effective dose of a botulinum neurotoxin to a location on the patient'"'"'s body or in the vicinity of the location which comes into contact with a smoking tool or addictive substance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body location is inside of or around the opening of the mouth or nasal cavity of the patient or to a location on the hand or hands of the patient, thereby altering peripheral sensation of the body area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the body location inside of the patient'"'"'s mouth is the mucosal lining or salivary gland.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said therapeutically effective dose is sufficient to reduce mucosal/salivary secretions of the mouth, thereby having a drying effect on the mouth.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the body location around the opening of the patient'"'"'s mouth is the lips or area immediately surrounding the lips.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the body location is within an about 1 cm² area surrounding the patient'"'"'s lips.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the body location is on a patient'"'"'s hand or hands.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the hand location is selected from the group consisting of:

thumb, index finger, middle finger, and a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the local administration of the botulinum neurotoxin is to a dermal, subdermal, mucosal or submucosal location or to a muscle with which a smoking tool or addictive substance contacts.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the local administration to the dermal location is by transdermal or transmucosal delivery.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transdermal or transmucosal delivery is via a patch, cream, ointment or lotion vehicle comprising botulinum neurotoxin.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the local administration to the muscle is by intramuscular injection.

13. The method of any of claims 9-12, wherein said therapeutically effective dose is sufficient to alter the sensation of the dermal, subdermal, mucosal, submucosal or muscle location but less that a dose necessary to produce a substantial muscle weakness within the affected location.

14. The method of any one of claim 2 or 4, wherein the alteration in sensation or mucosal/salivary secretion persists for between about 1 month and about 6 months.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the smoking tool is selected from the group consisting of:

a cigarette, a cigar, a pipe, a hookah, a bong and any tool from which tobacco, marijuana, cocaine and any addictive substance may be smoked.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum neurotoxin serotype A.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum neurotoxin serotype B.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is administered in an amount of between about 0.25 unit and about 1,500 units of serotype A toxin, such that a therapeutically effective amount acts on the neurons or muscles of interest to induce a change in substance addiction-related behavior.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is administered in an amount of 1 unit and 50,000 units of serotype B toxin, such that a therapeutically effective amount acts on the neurons or muscles of interest to induce a change in substance addiction-related behavior.