Method of promoting angiogenesis using relaxin

• US 6,780,836 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corthera, Inc. (Novartis Ag)
• Original Assignee: Cellfor, Inc. (ArborGen Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Unemori, Elaine
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector, Lorraine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Claire M.
• Application Number:
  US09/780,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 514/2, 514/12, 435/69.1, 530/399
• US Class Current: 512/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/2221 Relaxins
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/00 Drugs for disorders of the metabolism of the blood or the extracellular fluid A61P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 41/00 Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

Relaxin is useful for promoting angiogenesis and the treatment of infections or ischemic wounds where the injury results from lack of oxygen due to poor circulation.

Claims

1. A method of treating a condition amenable to treatment by promoting angiogenesis, the method comprising:

administering recombinant human relaxin (H2) to a patient at a predetermined rate so as to maintain a serum concentration of at least about 1 ng/ml;

continuing the administratior over a period sufficient to promote angiogenesis and treat the condition, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of an infection, and an ischemic wound.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein relaxin is administered from an osmotic pump.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the osmotic pump is a multi-chamber osmotic pump system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined rate comprises sequentially timed dispensing from an osmotic pump.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering is at a progressively diminishing rate.

6. A method of inducing secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a patient, comprising the steps of:

administering recombinant human relaxin (H2) to the patient, wherein the administering induces VEGF secretion, and wherein the relaxin is administered at a predetermined rate, so as to maintain a serum concentration of at least about 1 ng/ml of relaxin for at least 72 hours in the patient.

7. A method of inducing secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), comprising the steps of:

administering recombinant human relaxin (H2) to a patient wherein the administering is in a sufficient amount and over a sufficient period of time so as to induce VEGF secretion, wherein the administering is at a progressively diminishing rate.