Prevention and treatment of pain using antibodies to lysophosphatidic acid

Abstract

Methods for preventing or treating pain are provided. Such methods comprise administering to a subject (e.g., a human subject) an antibody or antibody fragment that binds LPA. The antibody may be a humanized monoclonal antibody.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing recurrence of pain in a subject, comprising administering to a subject having or having had pain a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment that binds lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), thereby effecting treatment or prevention of recurrence of pain in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment of a monoclonal antibody that binds LPA. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is a humanized antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment of a humanized antibody that binds LPA. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the pain is selected from the group consisting of neuropathic pain; pain due to injury, trauma, or damage to the central or peripheral nervous system; and pain due to inflammation, arthritis, drug exposure, diabetes, viral disease, metabolic disease, ischemic insult, nutrient deficiency, toxin exposure, cancer, or cancer treatment. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is administered parenterally. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of an intracranial, intrathecal, intra-cerebrospinal, subcutaneous, intra-articular, intrasynovial, oral, topical, intratracheal, and inhalation route. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment is administered intravenously, intra-arterially, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, or by infusion.