Methods and compositions for treating platelet-related disorders

Abstract

Pharmaceutical preparations comprising one or more agents that reduce the number of circulating platelets to low normal or below normal levels formulated in a delivery system are provided. The pharmaceutical preparations are useful in the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of subjects for the purpose of inhibiting vaso-occlusive events, including embolism, by reducing the number of circulating platelets to low normal to below normal levels.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 603,401, filed Jun. 25, 2003, to Stephen R. Hanson, entitled “METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PLATELET-RELATED DISORDERS,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 666,223, filed Sep. 21, 2000, to Stephen R. Hanson, entitled “METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PLATELET-RELATED DISORDERS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,995, which issued Jul. 1, 2003, and which claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 19(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 154,929 to Stephen R. Hanson, filed Sep. 21, 1999, entitled “METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PLATELET-RELATED DISORDERS.” The benefit of priority is claimed to each of these applications. The disclosure of each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to methods and products for treatment and / or prevention of p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The invention in a broad aspect involves the surprising discovery that subjects, including those with normal levels of circulating platelets, can unexpectedly derive medical benefit from a reduction in platelet count to below normal levels, without serious adverse consequences as a result of the platelet count reduction. The benefit may be proportional or correlative to the reduction in platelet count in a broad safety range. Thus in situations where it is desirable to inhibit a pathological condition or process mediated in part by normal levels of circulating platelets, subjects can be treated to lower platelet count preferably to a below normal level, thereby inhibiting the development, progression or propagation of the condition or accelerating or enhancing its regression. The methods of the invention are also useful for reducing the incidence of abnormal vessel growth induced by the presence of platelets.

[0007] In one aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a subject to inhibit a vaso-occlusive event. Inhibiting a vaso-occlusive event means to prevent the formation of a vaso-occlusive event, to reduce progression and consequences of an already established vaso-occlusive event or to induce regression of a vaso-occlusive event. The invention also provides other methods aimed at reducing morbidity or mortality of subjects from vaso-occlusive events such as but not limited to thrombotic events which may lead to total or partial vessel blockage by thrombus, or arterial stenosis due to excessive cell proliferation.

[0008] The methods of the invention comprise administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that reduces platelet count in the subject. The agent is administered in an amount effective to reduce platelet count in the subject to at least a low normal level. Such reductions in platelet count will reduce morbidity and / or mortality and thereby provide patient outcome benefit.

Problems solved by technology

Conditions resulting from thrombotic or thromboembolic events are the leading causes of illness and death in adults in western civilization.

Notwithstanding the effort and financial resources that have been invested, these conditions still account for the vast majority of illness and death in the adult populations of developed nations.