Oral treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The present invention relates to treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease by simultaneous or successive parental and oral administration of a mammalian beta defensin.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 506,437, filed on Jul. 11, 2011 as well as priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 or 365 to European Application No. 11173351.5, filed Jul. 8, 2011.[0002]The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL IN ASCII TEXT FILE[0003]This application incorporates by reference the Sequence Listing contained in the following ASCII text file being submitted concurrently herewith:[0004]a) File name: Sequence Listing.txt; 3 KB in size.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHuman Defensins[0005]Among many other elements, key components of innate immunity are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that individually show considerable selectivity, but collectively are able to rapidly kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses and fungi. The biological significance of AMPs is emphasized by their ubiquitous distribution in nature and they are probably pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent claims the benefit of two provisional applications, one filed in July 2011 and one filed in July 2012. The patent describes the use of human defensins, which are small cationic peptides with antimicrobial properties, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. The patent also discusses the immunomodulatory properties of human defensins and their potential use in wound healing, skin inflammation, and other inflammatory and infectious diseases. The patent is incorporated by reference to the Sequence Listing contained in the provisional applications.

Problems solved by technology

In patients with IBD, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the intestines lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

In those with more extensive disease, blood loss from the inflamed intestines can lead to anemia, and may require treatment with iron supplements or even blood transfusions.

Patients with toxic megacolon are extremely ill with fever, abdominal pain and distention, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Azulfidine can cause upset stomach when taken in high doses, and rare cases of mild kidney inflammation have been reported with some salicylate preparations.

Corticosteroids are more potent and faster-acting than salicylates in the treatment of IBD, but potentially serious side effects limit the use of corticosteroids to patients with more severe disease.

Side effects of corticosteroids usually occur with long term use.

However, immunosuppressants render the patient immuno-compromised and susceptible to many other diseases.

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