Treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions

Abstract

A method for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient which comprises administration to the patient of an agent which blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in the patient.

1 . A method for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient in need thereof, which comprises administration to the patient of an agent which blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent blocks or inhibits IL-3/IL-3R or IL-3/IL-3R alpha interactions in the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an antigen binding molecule which binds selectively to IL-3, or to IL-3R, IL-3R alpha or IL-3R beta. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen-binding and/or variable-domain-comprising fragment thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody which binds selectively to IL-3. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody which binds selectively to IL-3R alpha. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises an anti-cellular moiety. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the anti-cellular moiety is a radioisotope selected from the group consisting of an α-emitter, a β-emitter, and an Auger emitter. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an IL-3 mutein which binds IL-3R but does not lead to IL-3 signal activation. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a soluble receptor which is capable of binding to IL-3. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the agent is an extracellular portion of IL-3R alpha or a fusion polypeptide comprising an extracellular portion of IL-3R alpha fused to an extracellular portion of IL-3R beta. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chronic inflammatory condition is arthritis. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the chronic inflammatory condition is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
         15 . Use of an agent which blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in, or in the manufacture of a medicament for, the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient. 
     
     
         16 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An agent for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient, wherein said agent blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the agent blocks or inhibits IL-3/IL-3R or IL-3/IL-3R alpha interactions in the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the agent is an antigen binding molecule which binds selectively to IL-3, or to IL-3R, IL-3R alpha or IL-3R beta. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 28 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen-binding and/or variable-domain-comprising fragment thereof 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody which binds selectively to IL-3. 
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the antigen binding molecule is a monoclonal antibody which binds selectively to IL-3R alpha. 
     
     
         32 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the agent comprises an anti-cellular moiety. 
     
     
         33 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 32 , wherein the anti-cellular moiety is a radioisotope selected from the group consisting of an α-emitter, a β-emitter, and an Auger emitter. 
     
     
         34 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the agent is an IL-3 mutein which binds IL-3R but does not lead to IL-3 signal activation. 
     
     
         35 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the agent is a soluble receptor which is capable of binding to IL-3. 
     
     
         36 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the agent is an extracellular portion of IL-3R alpha or a fusion polypeptide comprising an extracellular portion of IL-3R alpha fused to an extracellular portion of IL-3R beta. 
     
     
         37 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient, wherein said agent blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in the patient, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and/or diluents. 
     
     
         38 . A kit comprising (i) an agent for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient, wherein said agent blocks or inhibits IL-3 signalling events in the patient, and optionally (ii) instructions to use said agent in accordance with a method for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory condition in a patient in need thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the anti-cellular moiety is a radioisotope selected from 211Astatine and 131Iodine. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chronic inflammatory condition is inflammatory arthritis. 
     
     
         41 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-cellular moiety is a radioisotope selected from 211Astatine and 131Iodine.