Use of A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of an A 3 adenosine receptor agonist (A 3 AR agonist) for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a mammal subject having osteoarthritis (OA), as well as to a method for the treatment of OA in a mammal subject, the method comprises administering to said subject in need of said treatment an amount of an A 3 AR agonist, the amount being effective to treat or prevent the development of OA. Preferred but not exclusive A 3 AR agonists in accordance with the invention are IB-MECA and Cl—IB-MECA. The A 3 AR agonist may be administered in combination with another drug, such as, Methotrexate (MTX). The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of osteoarthritis comprising an amount of an A 3 AR agonist.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A method for the treatment of osteoarthritis in a mammal subject, the method comprises administering to said subject in need of said treatment an amount of an A 3  adenosine receptor agonist (A 3 AR agonist), the amount being effective to treat or prevent the development of osteoarthritis. 
   
   
       25 . The method of the  claim 24 , wherein said mammal is a human subject. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claims 24 , wherein said treatment comprises oral administration of A 3 AR agonist to said subject in need. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said treatment comprises administration of A 3 RA agonist to said subject once or twice daily. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said A 3 AR agonist is selected from IB-MECA and Cl—IB-MECA. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said A 3 AR agonist is administered in the range between about 1 to about 1000 μg/kg body weight. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the administration dose of said A 3 AR agonist is less than 400 μg/kg body weight. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the administration dose of said A 3 AR agonist is less than 200 μg/kg body weight 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the administration dose of said A 3 AR agonist is in the range between about 1 to about 100 μg/kg body weight. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising administering the A 3 AR agonist in combination with another drug. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the other drug is Methotrexate.