Methods for treating photoreceptors using glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein protein

• US 5,736,516 A
• Filed: 02/06/1997
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amgen Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amgen Inc.
• Inventors: Louis, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Cecilia J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Touzeku, Phynn
• Application Number:
  US08/795,628
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 514/12, 435/69.1, 435/69.4, 530/399, 530/391.9
• US Class Current: 514/8.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/185 Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins, e.g. NT-3
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/00 Drugs for disorders of the senses
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to methods for treating injury or degeneration of retinal neurons, and in particular photoreceptors, by administering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The invention relates specifically to methods for treating retinal conditions or diseases in which vision is lost such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral vitreoretinopathies, photic retinopathies, surgery-induced retinopathies, viral retinopathies, ischemic retinopathies, retinal detachment and traumatic retinopathy.

Claims

1. A composition comprising photoreceptor cells and a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein product comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

1, or a variant or a derivative thereof, wherein said GDNF protein product promotes the survival of said photoreceptor cells.

2. A composition of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

1.

3. A composition of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is Met^-1 !GDNF.

4. A composition of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product comprises GDNF attached to a water soluble polymer.

5. A composition of claim 4 wherein the water soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol.

6. A composition of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product comprises a truncated GDNF protein product.

7. A composition of claim 1 further comprising an effective amount of a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of brain derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, neurotrophin-4/5, neurotrophin-6, insulin-like growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, fibroblast growth factor-5, transforming growth factor-β

, and cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript.