Modulation of Wnt5a to Treat Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma or pathogenic intraocular pressure is treated by locally administering to an eye in need thereof formulations of a Wnt5a inhibitor.

1 . A method of treating glaucoma or pathogenic intraocular pressure, comprising locally administering to an eye in need thereof a Wnt5a inhibitor. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the administering step comprises delivery by eye drop or by intracameral, subconjuctival injection or intravitreal injection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the administration is topical, and the inhibitor is administered in form of a topical ophthalmic gel, ointment, suspension or solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is selected from an antibody, an siRNA, an small interfering peptide, and a small molecule inhibitor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the inhibitor is selected from an antibody, an siRNA, an small interfering peptide, and a small molecule inhibitor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the inhibitor is selected from an antibody, an siRNA, an small interfering peptide, and a small molecule inhibitor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an anti-Wnt5a antibody. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an anti-Wnt5a siRNA 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an anti-Wnt5a small interfering peptide 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an anti-Wnt5a small molecule inhibitor selected from t-butyloxycarbonyl-modified Wnt5A hexapeptide (Box5) and 6,7-dihydro-10alpha-hydroxy radicicol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning Para 31. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising detecting a resultant decrease in the eye of a parameter of glaucoma selected from pathogenic intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. 
     
     
         21 . An ophthalmic formulation of a Wnt5a-specific inhibitor selected from an antibody, an siRNA, an small interfering peptide, and a small molecule inhibitor, in unit dosage form for treating glaucoma or pathogenic intraocular pressure, wherein optionally:
 in the form of a topical ophthalmic gel, ointment, suspension or solution;   the dosage form is an inhibitor-loaded contact lens, eye drop, depot or bollus;   packaged in an eye drop dispenser;   loaded in a syringe configured for intracameral injection, subconjuctival injection or intravitreal injection; and/or   further comprising excipients and features suitable for direct, topical delivery to the eye, selected from the group consisting of opthalmically suitable clarity, pH buffer, tonicity, viscosity, stability and sterility.