Treatment of joint conditions

Abstract

The invention provides a method of treating a joint condition. The method comprises administering a multi-dose regimen of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP). The invention also provides a method of treating osteoarthritis with multiple doses of a low-molecular weight fraction of human serum albumin.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of treating a joint condition comprising administering a composition comprising DA-DKP in a multi-dose regimen. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the joint condition is a degenerative joint disease. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the degenerative joint disease is osteoarthritis. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the joint condition is inflammation. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the composition is administered by injection. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the concentration of DA-DKP in the composition is selected from about 50 μM to about 350 μM and about 110 μM to about 200 μM. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the composition further comprises N-acetyl-tryptophan (NAT), caprylic acid, caprylate or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the concentration of each of NAT, caprylic acid, caprylate or combinations thereof in the composition is independently selected from about 1 mM to about 20 mM and about 1 mM to about 4 mM. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the number of doses in the multi-dose regimen is between 2 and 6 doses per 52 weeks. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the amount of each dose is between about 2 mL and about 6 mL. 
     
     
         44 . A method of treating osteoarthritis in a joint, comprising administering a composition comprising DA-DKP, N-acetyl-tryptophan (NAT) and caprylate in a multi-dose regimen. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the composition is administered by injection. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the injection is intra-articular. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the concentration of DA-DKP in the composition is selected from about 50 μM to about 350 μM and about 110 μM to about 200 μM. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the concentration of each of NAT and caprylate is independently selected from about 1 mM to about 20 mM and about 1 mM to about 4 mM. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the number of doses in the multi-dose regimen is between 2 and 6 doses per 52 weeks. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the amount of each dose is between about 2 mL and about 6 mL. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the amount of each dose is about 4 mL. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the osteoarthritis is accompanied with pain. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the joint is a knee.