Method for treating diabetes using neurturin

• US 8,399,408 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evotec International GmbH (Evotec SE)
• Original Assignee: Develogen Aktiegesellschaft
• Inventors: Austen, Matthias, Burk, Ulrike
• Primary Examiner(s): Chandra, Gyan
• Application Number:
  US13/028,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20110256113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 514/6.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/1709 from mammals
• 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: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/08 for glucose homeostasis pancreatic hormones A61P5/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/13 Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Cilliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins [NT]; Neuregulins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2506/02 from embryonic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0676 Pancreatic cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/507 Pancreatic cells

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to methods for preventing and/or treating pancreatic disorders, particularly those related to diabetes, by administering a neurturin protein product.

Claims

1. A method for lowering blood glucose levels in a mammal having impaired beta cell function, comprising administering neurturin product to the mammal in an amount sufficient to increase neurturin concentration relative to an untreated mammal having impaired beta cell function, wherein blood glucose levels in the mammal administered the neurturin product are lowered;

wherein the biologically active neurturin product comprises a biologically active neurturin polypeptide;

wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide is capable of dimerizing with another neurturin polypeptide; and

wherein the neurturin polypeptide shares at least 90% sequence identity with;

a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7;

or

b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurturin product is administered directly to a pancreas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares at least 95% sequence identity with:

a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7;

or

b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares 100% sequence identity with:

a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7;

or

b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

7.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mammal having impaired beta cell function suffers from diabetes type I.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mammal having impaired beta cell function suffers from diabetes type II.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mammal having impaired beta cell function suffers from latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.