Low dose methods for treating disorders in which tnf-alpha activity is detrimental

Abstract

A method of treating TNFα disorders is described, wherein the method comprises administering a low dose amount of a TNFα inhibitor.

1 . A human anti-TNFα antibody which is either D2E7, or a human anti-TNFα antibody with equivalent properties to D2E7 which dissociates from human TNFα with a K d  of 1×10 −8  M or less and a keg rate constant of 1×10 −3  s −1  or less, both determined by surface plasmon resonance, and neutralizes human TNFα cytotoxicity in a standard in vitro L929 assay with an IC 50  of 1×10 −7  M or less, for use in the treatment or alleviation of arthritis, wherein the anti-TNFα antibody is to be administered in a low dose of 0.01-0.11 mg/kg, such that the arthritis is treated or alleviated. 
     
     
         2 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , for use in the treatment or alleviation of rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         3 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein symptoms associated with the arthritis are alleviated. 
     
     
         4 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein symptoms selected from the group consisting of bone erosion, cartilage erosion, inflammation, and vascularity are alleviated. 
     
     
         5 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein the arthritis is treated by alleviating symptoms selected from the group consisting of joint distortion, swelling, joint deformation, ankylosis on felxion, and severely impaired movement. 
     
     
         6 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody sequesters TNFα into complexes in a subject suffering from said arthritis. 
     
     
         7 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 6 , wherein the serum level of TNFα is higher than the serum level of TNFα a subject not suffering from said arthritis. 
     
     
         8 . The human anti-TNFα antibody according to  claim 1 , which is D2E7.