Anti-NGF Antibodies for Treatment of Various Disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to methods of using anti-NGF antibodies in the treatment of various NGF-related disorders, including pain, asthma, arthritis and psoriasis. The methods are effective in treating these disorders in a patient without having a significant adverse effect on the immune system of the patient.

1 . A method of controlling an NGF-related disorder in a human patient, comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of an anti-human NGF (anti-hNGF) monoclonal antibody capable of binding hNGF with an affinity in the nanomolar range, and inhibiting the binding of hNGF to human TrkA (hTrkA) in vivo, wherein said antibody has no significant adverse effect on the immune system of said patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the binding affinity of said antibody to hNGF is about 0.10 to about 0.80 nM. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the binding affinity of said antibody to hNGF is about 0.15 to about 0.75 nM. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the binding affinity of said antibody to hNGF is about 0.18 to about 0.72 nM. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody binds essentially the same hNGF epitope as an antibody selected from the group consisting of MAb 911, MAb 912, and MAb 938. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said antibody binds essentially the same hNGF epitope as the antibody MAb 911. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is also able to bind murine NGF (muNGF). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is an antibody fragment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′) 2 , Fv fragments, diabodies, single-chain antibody molecules, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said single-chain antibody molecule is a single-chain Fv (scFv) molecule. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a chimeric. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is humanized. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is human. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a bispecific antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said bispecific antibody has an anti-IgE specificity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said NGF-related disorder is other than a disorder associated with the effect of NGF on the neuronal system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said NGF-related disorder is an inflammatory condition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said inflammatory condition is selected from the group consisting of asthma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis. 
     
     
         19 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a chimeric, humanized or human anti-human NGF (anti-hNGF) monoclonal antibody capable of binding hNGF with an affinity in the nanomolar range, and inhibiting the binding of hNGF to human TrkA (hTrkA) in vivo, wherein said antibody has no significant adverse effect on the immune system of a patient, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         31 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a container;   a pharmaceutical composition of  claim 30 ; and   instructions for using the composition of matter to control an NGF-related disorder in a human patient.   
     
     
         44 .- 47 . (canceled)