Use of one or more elements from the group containing yttrium, neodymium and zirconium and pharmaceutical compositions containing said elements

Abstract

A method of treating a patient includes the medical use of one or more of the elements from the group yttrium, neodymium and zirconium, pharmaceutical formulations which contain said elements and implants which are at least region-wise made up of such formulations. It has been found inter alia that a formulation containing one or more of the elements has an action of inhibiting the proliferation of human smooth muscle cells.

1 . A method of treating a patient comprising use of one or more of the elements from the group yttrium (Y), neodymium (Nd) or zirconium (Zr) for the production of a pharmaceutical formulation for inhibiting the proliferation of human smooth muscle cells.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inhibition of the proliferation of human smooth muscle cells is directed to the region of an atherosclerotic lesion.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  comprising local restenosis prophylaxis after stent implantation.  
   
   
       4 . A pharmaceutical formulation containing one or more of the elements from the group yttrium (Y), neodymium (Nd) or zirconium (Zr) for inhibiting the proliferation of human smooth muscle cells wherein the formulation is adapted for intravascular liberation after implantation in a vascular vessel and the formulation includes an at least very substantially biodegradable carrier.  
   
   
       5 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the carrier is an alloy, selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron and tungsten alloys.  
   
   
       8 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the carrier is a bioresorbable polymer and one or more of the elements selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd or Zr is embedded in the form of a powder or microparticles in the polymer.  
   
   
       9 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Y in a quantitative proportion of between 0.1 and 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.  
   
   
       10 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Nd in a quantitative proportion of between 0.1 and 5% by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.  
   
   
       11 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Zr in a quantitative proportion of between 0.1 and 3% by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.  
   
   
       12 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the formulation is a magnesium alloy and contains Y in the range of between 3.7 and 5.5%, rare earths without Y in the range of between 1.5 and 4.4% by weight and remaining elements<1%.  
   
   
       13 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the formulation is a magnesium alloy and contains Y in the range of between 3.7 and 5.5% by weight, Nd in the range of between 1.8 and 2.7% by weight, and Zr in the range of between 0.2 and 1.2% by weight.  
   
   
       14 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the magnesium alloy is WE43 (W25/EP5M).  
   
   
       15 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Y and is so adapted that there is an yttrium concentration in the region of the human smooth muscle cells to be treated of between 200 μM and 2 mM, in particular between 800 μM and 1 mM.  
   
   
       16 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Nd and is so adapted that there is a neodymium concentration in the region of the smooth muscle cells to be treated of between 600 μM and 2 mM, in particular between 800 μM and 1 mM.  
   
   
       17 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Zr and is so adapted that there is a zirconium concentration in the region of the smooth muscle cells to be treated of between 200 μM and 2 mM, in particular between 200 μM and 1 mM.  
   
   
       18 . A formulation as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the formulation contains Y, Nd and Zr and is so adapted that there is an yttrium concentration of between 350 and 550 μM, a neodymium concentration of between 100 and 200 μM and a zirconium concentration of between 10 and 30 μM in the region of the smooth muscle cells to be treated.  
   
   
       19 . An implant with a coating or a constituent of a formulation as set forth in  claim 4 .  
   
   
       20 . An implant as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the implant is an endovascular support device.  
   
   
       21 . An implant as set forth in  claim 20  wherein there is between about 5 and 30 μg of yttrium, in relation to 1 mm stent length.  
   
   
       22 . An implant as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein there is between about 2 and 20 μg of neodymium, in relation to 1 mm stent length.  
   
   
       23 . An implant as set forth in  claim 20  wherein there is between about 0.05 and 10 μg of zirconium, in relation to 1 mm stent length.  
   
   
       24 - 25 . (canceled)