Methods for treating osteoarthristis pain by administering a nerve growth factor antagonist and compositions containing the same

Abstract

The invention concerns anti-NGF antibodies (such as anti-NGF antagonist antibodies), and polynucleotides encoding the same. The invention further concerns use of such antibodies and/or polynucleotides in the treatment and/or prevention of pain, including post-surgical pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain, and osteoarthritis pain.

1 - 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . A method for treating pain, improving physical function and improving stiffness in an individual having osteoarthritis comprising administering an effective amount of an NGF antagonist to the individual. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the individual is a human. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the NGF antagonist is an anti-NGF antagonist antibody. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered at a dosing frequency in a range from once every week to once every twelve weeks. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered once every month, once every two months, once every three months, once every four months, once every five months, or once every six months. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered once every three months. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered at a dose in a range from about 3 μg/kg to about 1 mg/kg. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered at a dose of about 100 μg/kg. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered at a dose of about 300 μg/kg. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody binds human NGF. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody further binds rodent NGF. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody:
 (a) binds NGF with a K D  of less than about 2 nM;   (b) inhibits human NGF-dependent survival of mouse E13.5 trigeminal neurons with an IC50 of about 100 pM or less, wherein the IC50 is measured in the presence of about 15 pM human NGF; and   (c) inhibits human NGF-dependent survival of mouse E13.5 trigeminal neurons with an IC50 of about 10 pM or less, wherein the IC50 is measured in the presence of about 1.5 pM of NGF.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising:
 (a) a CDR1 region shown in SEQ ID NO: 3;   (b) a CDR2 region shown in SEQ ID NO:4; and   (c) a CDR3 region shown in SEQ ID NO: 5.   
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody comprises a light chain variable region comprising:
 (a) a CDR1 region shown in SEQ ID NO:6;   (b) a CDR2 region shown in SEQ ID NO:7; and   (c) a CDR3 region shown in SEQ ID NO:8.   
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody further comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising:
 (a) a CDR1 region shown in SEQ ID NO: 3;   (b) a CDR2 region shown in SEQ ID NO:4; and   (c) a CDR3 region shown in SEQ ID NO:5.   
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is an antibody comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the anti-NGF antagonist antibody is an antibody comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 16 and 17.