Treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases using laquinimod

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for treating an ocular inflammatory disease (OID), e.g., uveitis or conjunctivitis, comprising periodic administration of a therapeutically effective amount of laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in treating a subject suffering from an OID, uveitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the orbital tissue, the lacrimal apparatus, the eyelid, the cornea, the retina or the optic pathway. This application also provides a method for treating a subject suffering from an autoimmune disease-associated ocular inflammation comprising periodic ocular administration to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and an ocular pharmaceutical composition comprising laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in treating an autoimmune disease-associated ocular inflammation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the treatment of a subject suffering from uveitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, or an inflammation of the orbital tissue, the lacrimal apparatus, the eyelid, the cornea, the retina or the optic pathway, by administration to the subject of a pharmaceutical composition comprising laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from uveitis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a liquid solution or a gel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition in the form of a tablet or capsule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition in the form of a gel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is ocular administration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is oral administration. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of laquinimod is laquinimod sodium. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject does not have Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject suffers from an autoimmune disorder. 
     
     
         12 . A method for the treatment of a subject suffering from uveitis, by administration to the subject of a pharmaceutical composition comprising laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the subject does not have Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a liquid solution or a gel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition in the form of a tablet or capsule. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition in the form of a gel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the administration is ocular administration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the administration is oral administration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of laquinimod is laquinimod sodium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subject is suffering from an autoimmune disorder.