Wound healing

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors and p38 MAP kinase inhibition to promote wound healing.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of promoting wound healing in a patient the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is a direct inhibitor. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is an indirect inhibitor. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is lyophilized or incorporated in a gel, cream, biomaterial or sustained release delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the gel, cream, biomaterial, or sustained release delivery vehicle further comprises an additional wound healing agent, the wound healing agent preferably being selected from the group consisting of: growth factors, peptides, proteolytic inhibitors, extracellular matrix components, fragments and peptides, steroids, cytokines, oxygen donators or vitamins. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein an additional wound healing agent is administered separately, simultaneously or sequentially with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to claim wherein the additional wound healing agent is selected from the group consisting of: growth factors, peptides, proteolytic inhibitors, extracellular matrix components, fragments and peptides, steroids, cytokines, oxygen donators or vitamins. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein an additional wound healing agent is administered to the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the additional wound healing agent is administered to the patient in a composition comprising the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor and the additional wound healing agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the additional wound healing agent is administered to the patient in a composition which is separate from the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is provided in the form of a wound dressing. 
     
     
         18 . A wound dressing comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is administered systemically. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is a direct inhibitor. 
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is an indirect inhibitor. 
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is lyophilized or incorporated in a gel, cream, biomaterial or sustained release delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 3 , wherein an additional wound healing agent is administered separately, simultaneously or sequentially with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 28 , wherein the additional wound healing agent is selected from the group consisting of: growth factors, peptides, proteolytic inhibitors, extracellular matrix components, fragments and peptides, steroids, cytokines, oxygen donators or vitamins. 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is provided in the form of a wound dressing. 
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 27 , wherein the gel, cream, biomaterial or sustained release delivery vehicle includes one of the following carriers: hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, caboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and hydrogels containing polyacrylic acid. 
     
     
         32 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is dispersed in a slow release solid matrix selected from the group consisting of a matrix of alginate, a matrix of collagen, and a synthetic bioabsorbable polymer.