Treatment of osteoarthritis by administering poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine

Abstract

The methods of the present invention relate to administering to a mammal afflicted with osteoarthritis an effective amount of poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), partially depolimerized poly-NAG, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of poly-NAG, or mixtures thereof, to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain, joint tenderness and swelling and impaired joint mobility. The present invention also comprises solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising poly-NAG, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and mixtures thereof. These dosage forms may be administered orally and by-injection to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating osteoarthritis in mammals comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount for treatment of osteoarthritis of a member selected from the group consisting of a poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein said material is said poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG).  
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, a salt of carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, lower alkyl poly-NAG, poly-NAG acetate, poly-NAG nitrate, poly-NAG citrate, and poly-NAG phosphate.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 1   , which comprises administering said effective amount orally.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 1   , which comprises administering said effective amount by injection.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 4   , wherein said effective amount is between about 100 and about 10,000 mg/day.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 5   , wherein said effective amount is between about 100 and about 10,000 mg/day.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein said mammal is a human.  
     
     
         9 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of osteoarthritis in mammals comprising administering to a mammal suffering from such symptoms a therapeutically effective amount of a material selected from the group consisting of a poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG, and mixtures thereof, to alleviate at least one of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 9   , wherein said material is said poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG).  
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 9   , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, a salt of carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, lower alkyl poly-NAG, poly-NAG acetate, poly-NAG nitrate, poly-NAG citrate, and poly-NAG phosphate.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 9   , which comprises administering said effective amount via the oral route.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 12   , wherein said effective amount is between about 100 and about 10,000 mg/day.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 9   , which comprises administering said effective amount in a solid dosage form.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 9   , which comprises administering said effective amount by injection.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 9   , wherein said mammal is a human.  
     
     
         17 . A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical dosage form according to    claim 17   , wherein said material is said poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG).  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical dosage form according to    claim 17   , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of poly-NAG is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, a salt of carboxy lower alkyl poly-NAG, lower alkyl poly-NAG, poly-NAG acetate, poly-NAG nitrate, poly-NAG citrate, and poly-NAG phosphate.  
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical dosage form of    claim 17   , wherein said dosage form is a solid oral dosage form selected from the group consisting of a tablet, a capsule, a pellet and a powder.  
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical dosage form of    claim 17   , wherein said dosage form is a suspension for oral administration.  
     
     
         22 . The pharmaceutical dosage form of    claim 17   , wherein said dosage form is an injection.