Use of botulinum neurotoxin to treat substance addictions

• US 9,125,907 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher Shaari
• Original Assignee: Christopher Shaari
• Inventors: Shaari, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Navarro, Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Portner, Ginny
• Application Number:
  US13/499,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20120231034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 424/247.1, 424/239.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 a substance addiction-related behavior in a patient, comprising

administering by a non-systemic route a therapeutically effective dose of a botulinum neurotoxin to a location on the patient'"'"'s body which comes into contact with a smoking tool or addictive substance,

wherein the location is selected from the group consisting of:

thumb, index finger, middle finger and a combination thereof, thereby altering peripheral sensation of the body location,

wherein said therapeutically effective dose is sufficient to inhibit a sensory output from a muscle to the central nervous system such that generation of a premonitory urge or motor output associated with the substance addiction-related behavior in the body location is reduced but is less than a dose necessary to produce a substantial muscle weakness within the affected location.

2. The method of claim:

1, further comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a botulinum neurotoxin to an additional body location that comes in contact with a smoking tool or addictive substance 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 2, wherein administration of the botulinum neurotoxin is to a dermal, subdermal, mucosal, or submucosal location or to a muscle that a smoking tool or addictive substance contacts.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein administration to the dermal location is by transdermal or transmucosal delivery.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transdermal or transmucosal delivery is via a patch, cream, ointment or lotion vehicle comprising botulinum neurotoxin.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein administration to the muscle is by intramuscular injection.

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

13. 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.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A, B, C₁, D, E, F and G.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum neurotoxin serotype A.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum neurotoxin serotype B.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is topically administered in an amount of between about 0.25 units and about 1,500 units of serotype A toxin.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is administered in an amount of between about 1 unit and about 50,000 units.

19. A method of treating a substance addiction-related behavior in a patient, comprising

administering by a non-systemic route a therapeutically effective dose of a botulinum neurotoxin to the nasal cavity of the patient'"'"'s body which comes into contact with a smoking tool or addictive substance thereby altering peripheral sensation of the body location,

wherein said therapeutically effective dose is sufficient to inhibit a sensory output from a muscle to the central nervous system such that generation of a premonitory urge or motor output associated with the substance addiction-related behavior in the body location is reduced but is less than a dose necessary to produce a substantial muscle weakness within the affected location.