Nebulization of monoclonal antibodies for treating pulmonary diseases

Abstract

The present application relates to methods and compositions employing an antibody that inhibits activation of the complement system and can be used to prevent or treat a pulmonary disease or condition.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 655,861, filed Sep. 5, 2003, which claims priority to and benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 469,189, filed May 9, 2003 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 408,571, filed Sep. 6, 2002, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND [0002] Asthma, bronchitis and emphysema are known collectively as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. These diseases are characterized as generalized airways obstruction, especially of small airways, associated with varying degrees of symptoms of chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. These diseases may often coexist in an individual, and it may be difficult to determine the primary cause of an airway obstruction. Airway obstruction is defined as an increased resistance to airflow during forced expiration. Obstruction of large airways may also occur in these ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] Accordingly, this application provides compositions and methods suitable for delivering antibody-based therapeutics. These antibody-based therapeutics can be particularly useful in preventing or treating pulmonary diseases or conditions such as for example asthma. Examples of antibodies useful in this application include anti-C5 antibody or antibodies that inhibit activation of the complement cascade, for example, the antibodies as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,245. In addition to antibodies, other therapeutics are also contemplated to be employed with the compositions and methods of the present application, for example, the chimeric complement inhibitor proteins as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,264. Certain preferred embodiments employ pexelizumab or eculizumab as the antibody therapeutic. In certain embodiments, the methods suitable for delivering antibody-based therapeutics for treating or preventing pulmonary diseases are not designed for systemic delivery of the therapeutics, and therefore, systemic effect of the therapeutics may not be observed using these methods.

Problems solved by technology

In certain embodiments, the methods suitable for delivering antibody-based therapeutics for treating or preventing pulmonary diseases are not designed for systemic delivery of the therapeutics, and therefore, systemic effect of the therapeutics may not be observed using these methods.

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