Medical use of interferon-lambda for the treatment of fibrosis

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of fibrosis. The invention discloses new research which demonstrates that interferon-lambda has directly acting anti-fibrotic effects both in vitro and in vivo and may be used to provide effective new therapies for the treatment of multiple types of fibrosis.

1 . Interferon-lambda for use in the treatment of fibrosis. 
     
     
         2 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 1 , wherein the interferon-lambda is IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4, or a functional mimetic thereof. 
     
     
         3 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 2 , wherein the functional mimetic is a fragment, variant or derivative of IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4. 
     
     
         4 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 3 , wherein the functional mimetic is pegylated. 
     
     
         5 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 4 , wherein the functional mimetic is Peg-interferon Lambda-1a. 
     
     
         6 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 2 , wherein the functional mimetic is an antibody. 
     
     
         7 . Interferon-lambda according to  claim 2 , wherein the functional mimetic is a small chemical entity. 
     
     
         8 . Interferon-lambda according to any preceding claim, wherein the interferon-lambda or functional mimetic activates the interferon-lambda receptor. 
     
     
         9 . Interferon-lambda according to any preceding claim, wherein the fibrosis is kidney fibrosis. 
     
     
         10 . Interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the fibrosis is lung fibrosis. 
     
     
         11 . Interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the fibrosis is small intestine fibrosis. 
     
     
         12 . Interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the fibrosis is skin fibrosis. 
     
     
         13 . Interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the fibrosis is liver fibrosis. 
     
     
         14 . Use of interferon-lambda for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of fibrosis. 
     
     
         15 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 14 , wherein the interferon-lambda is IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4, or a functional mimetic thereof. 
     
     
         16 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 15 , wherein the functional mimetic is a fragment, variant or derivative of IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4. 
     
     
         17 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 16 , wherein the functional mimetic is pegylated. 
     
     
         18 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 17 , wherein the functional mimetic is Peg-interferon Lambda-1a. 
     
     
         19 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 15 , wherein the functional mimetic is an antibody. 
     
     
         20 . Use of interferon-lambda according to  claim 15 , wherein the functional mimetic is a small chemical entity. 
     
     
         21 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 20 , wherein the interferon-lambda or functional mimetic activates the interferon-lambda receptor. 
     
     
         22 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 21 , wherein the fibrosis is kidney fibrosis. 
     
     
         23 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 21 , wherein the fibrosis is lung fibrosis. 
     
     
         24 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 21 , wherein the fibrosis is small intestine fibrosis. 
     
     
         25 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 21 , wherein the fibrosis is skin fibrosis. 
     
     
         26 . Use of interferon-lambda according to any of  claims 14 - 21 , wherein the fibrosis is liver fibrosis. 
     
     
         27 . A method for the treatment of fibrosis comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of interferon-lambda. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the interferon-lambda is IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4, or a functional mimetic thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the functional mimetic is a fragment, variant or derivative of IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, or IFN-λ4. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the functional mimetic is pegylated. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the functional mimetic is Peg-interferon Lambda-1a. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the functional mimetic is an antibody. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the functional mimetic is a small chemical entity. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 33 , wherein the interferon-lambda or functional mimetic activates the interferon-lambda receptor. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the fibrosis is kidney fibrosis. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the fibrosis is lung fibrosis. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the fibrosis is small intestine fibrosis. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the fibrosis is skin fibrosis. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the fibrosis is liver fibrosis. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to any of  claims 27 - 39 , wherein the interferon-lambda or functional mimetic is administered in combination with another therapeutically active compound. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the other therapeutically active compound is another anti-fibrotic therapeutic agent.