Methods of treating chronic pain

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-CGRP antibody for use in the prevention and/or treatment of chronic pain and/or symptoms of chronic pain, and to a method of treating and/or preventing chronic pain and/or symptoms of chronic pain using an anti-CGRP antibody.

1 . A method of reducing incidence of or treating chronic pain or symptoms of chronic pain in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-CGRP antagonist antibody. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is prepared to be peripherally administered. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is administered peripherally. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is prepared to be administered orally, sublingually, via inhalation, transdermally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intra-arterially, intra-articularly, peri-articularly, locally or intramuscularly. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the medicament is prepared to be administered subcutaneously or intravenously. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antagonist antibody acts peripherally on administration. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chronic pain is cancer pain, and the cancer pain is not pain due to head cancer or bone cancer. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antagonist antibody has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) binds to CGRP;   (b) blocks CGRP from binding to its receptor;   (c) blocks or decreases CGRP receptor activation;   (d) inhibits blocks, suppresses or reduces CGRP biological activity;   (e) increases clearance of CGRP; or   (g) inhibits CGRP synthesis, production or release.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antagonist antibody has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (i) is a human antibody,   (ii) is a humanized antibody,   (iii) is a monoclonal antibody,   (iv) binds CGRP with a Kd of 50 nM or less (as measured by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C.); or   (v) has a half life in-vivo of at least 7 days.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antagonist antibody specifically binds to the C-terminal region of CGRP. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the anti-CGRP antagonist antibody specifically recognises the epitope defined by the sequence GSKAF. 
     
     
         15 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antibody comprises a heavy chain produced by the expression vector with ATCC Accession No. PTA-6867. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antibody comprises a light chain produced by the expression vector with ATCC Accession No. PTA-6866. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antibody is produced by the expression vectors with ATCC Accession Nos. PTA-6867 and PTA-6866. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is prepared for peripheral administration by sub-cutaneous or intra-venous injection between once, twice, three or four times per month. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is prepared for peripheral administration with an antibody concentration of between 5 to 100 mg/ml 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is prepared for peripheral administration with an antibody concentration of between 1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight. 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CGRP antibody is administered separately, sequentially or simultaneously in combination with one or more further pharmacologically active compounds. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A pharmaceutical composition for reducing incidence of or treating chronic pain or symptoms of chronic pain in an individual, comprising an anti-CGRP antagonist antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier wherein the composition is prepared to be peripherally administered. 
     
     
         34 . A kit comprising:
 (a) a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 33 , and   (b) instructions for the peripheral administration of an therapeutically effective amount of said pharmaceutical composition to an individual for reducing incidence of or treating chronic pain or symptoms of chronic pain.