Botulinum neurotoxin for treatment of disorders associated with melanocyte hyperactivity and/or excess melanin

Abstract

Methods for treating melanin-related afflictions of the skin, such as hyperpigmentation, are provided. The methods comprise administering a composition comprising BoNT/DC.

1 . A method of treating a melanin-related affliction in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a clostridial toxin, thereby treating the melanin-related affliction in the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clostridial toxin is a mosaic botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mosaic botulinum toxin is BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises administering a liquid composition comprising BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid composition comprises one or more of a tonicity agent and a surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises administering a solid composition comprising BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is topically administering. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is via dermal injection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the melanin-related affliction is selected from the group consisting of hyper melanogenesis, hyperpigmentation, melasma, solar lentigos, nevi, and melanoma. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the clostridial toxin is a mosaic botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mosaic botulinum toxin is BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said administering is via dermal injection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said administering comprises administering a liquid composition comprising BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said administering comprises administering a solid composition comprising BoNT/DC. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said administering is topically administering. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid composition comprises one or more of a tonicity agent and a surfactant. 
     
     
         17 . The mehod of  claim 16 , wherein the tonicity agent is selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a polyalcohol, and a salt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the tonicity agent comprises a disaccharide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clostridial toxin is a variant toxin which has been modified by the replacement, modification, addition or deletion of at least one amino acid relative to a native clostridial toxin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the variant toxin retains at least one biological activity of the native clostridial toxin.