Use of sex steroid function modulators to treat wounds and fibrotic disorders

Abstract

The present application relates to the use of compounds that influence the sex hormone system for the treatment of wounds and/or fibrotic disorders. Preferred compounds for use in such treatments are steroid hormones and especially the oestrogens.

1 - 39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . A method of accelerating the healing of wounds comprising administering to a person in need thereof a compound that promotes androgenic activity.  
   
   
       41 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the wound is a skin wound.  
   
   
       42 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said compound is an androgen hormone or androgen receptor agonist selected from the group consisting of: 
 testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstanediol, testosterone undecanoate, testosterone enanthate, testosterone esters, testosterone proprionate, mesterolone, danazol and gesttrinone.    
   
   
       43 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of: an inhibitor of androgen breakdown or an inhibitor of androgen receptor agonist breakdown; a modulator of the activity of luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone or chorionic gonadotrophin.  
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein said compound is an inhibitor of androgen breakdown or an inhibitor of androgen receptor agonist breakdown and is aminoglutethamide.  
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said compound is applied non-systemically.  
   
   
       46 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said compound is formulated as a liquid, ointment, cream, gel, hydrogel, powder, aerosol or implant.  
   
   
       47 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said compound is formulated as eye drops.  
   
   
       48 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein a medicament comprising 0.001% to 4% by weight of said compound is administered to the person.  
   
   
       49 . A method of inhibiting fibrosis comprising administering to a person in need thereof a compound that inhibits androgenic activity.  
   
   
       50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said compound is an androgen receptor antagonist.  
   
   
       51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50  wherein said compound is cyproterone acetate or flutamide.  
   
   
       52 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said compound is an inhibitor of androgen production.  
   
   
       53 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said compound is applied non-systemically.  
   
   
       54 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said compound is formulated as a liquid, ointment, cream, gel, hydrogel, powder, aerosol or implant.  
   
   
       55 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said compound is formulated as eye drops.  
   
   
       56 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein a medicament comprising 0.001% to 4% by weight of said compound is administered to the person.  
   
   
       57 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  for reducing or preventing scarring.  
   
   
       58 . A method of inhibiting fibrosis comprising administering to a person in need thereof a compound that promotes progesterone activity.  
   
   
       59 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said compound is progesterone or a progesterone receptor agonist selected from the group of compounds consisting of: allyoestrenol, desogestrel, dydrogesterone, ethynodiol diacetate, gestodene, gestranol hexanoate, hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate, levonorgestrel, megestrol acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethisterone, norethisterone acetate, norethisterone enanthate, norgestimate or norgesterel.  
   
   
       60 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein the compound is selected from the group of compounds consisting of: an inhibitor of progesterone breakdown or an inhibitor of progesterone receptor agonist breakdown; or a modulator of the activity of luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone or chorionic gonadotrophin.  
   
   
       61 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said compound is applied non-systemically.  
   
   
       62 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said compound is formulated as a liquid, ointment, cream, gel, hydrogel, powder, aerosol or implant.  
   
   
       63 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said compound is formulated as eye drops.  
   
   
       64 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  wherein a medicament comprising 0.001% to 4% by weight of said compound is administered to the person.  
   
   
       65 . The method as claimed in  claim 58  for reducing or preventing scarring.  
   
   
       66 . A method of accelerating the healing of wounds comprising administering to a person in need thereof a sex steroid hormone precursor.  
   
   
       67 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said compound is a precursor of an oestrogen or androgenic sex steroid hormone.  
   
   
       68 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said compound is Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or DHEA sulphate (DHEAS).  
   
   
       69 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said compound is applied non-systemically.  
   
   
       70 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said compound is formulated as a liquid, ointment, cream, gel, hydrogel, powder, aerosol or implant.  
   
   
       71 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said compound is formulated as eye drops.  
   
   
       72 . The method as claimed in  claim 66  wherein a medicament comprising 0.001% to 4% by weight of said compound is administered to the person.