Method of inhibiting choroidal neovascuarization

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting unwanted angiogenesis, particularly those of ocular tissues. The treatment, inhibition, and/or prevention of choroidal neovasculature (CNV) is provided, along with an animal model for CNV and imaging techniques that permit the screening of potential agents as anti-angiogenesis and anti-CNV agents.

1 . A method to treat a disease affecting the choroid or retina of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy or age related macular degeneration, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.25% (w/w) to 2.5% (w/w) of rapamycin in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of rapamycin in the choroid or retina sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.25% (w/w) of rapamycin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 2.5% (w/w) of rapamycin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         10 . A method to treat a disease affecting the choroid or retina of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy or age related macular degeneration, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.1% (w/w) to 2.5% (w/w) of rapamycin in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of rapamycin in the choroid or retina sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1% (w/w) of rapamycin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises 1% (w/w) of rapamycin. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         19 . A method to treat a disease affecting the choroid or retina of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy or age related macular degeneration, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.1% (w/w) to 5% (w/w) of rapamycin in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of rapamycin in the choroid or retina sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises 2% of rapamycin. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         25 . A method to treat a disease affecting at least one of the choroid, retina, or uvea of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, or retinitis pigmentosa, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.1% (w/w) to 5% (w/w) of rapamycin in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of rapamycin in the choroid, retina, or uvea sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises 2% of rapamycin. 
     
     
         27 . A method to treat a disease affecting the choroid or retina of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy or age related macular degeneration, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.1% (w/w) to 5% (w/w) of a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of immunophilin binding compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of the therapeutic agent in the choroid or retina sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of rapamycin, tacrolimus, everolimus, pimecrolimus, SDZ-RAD, CCl-779, AP23841, ABT-578, and analogs and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of rapamycin and tacrolimus. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         36 . The method of any of  claims 27 ,  30  or  33 , wherein the composition comprises 2% of the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the therapeutic agent is tacrolimus and the composition comprises 1% of the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the patient has age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the patient has diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         42 . A method to treat a disease affecting at least one of the choroid, retina, or uvea of an eye in a patient having diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, or retinitis pigmentosa, the method comprising administering to the eye a composition comprising between 0.1% (w/w) to 5% (w/w) of a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of immunophilin binding compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical formulation for a duration to achieve an amount of therapeutic agent in the choroid, retina, or uvea sufficient to treat the disease. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of rapamycin, tacrolimus, everolimus, pimecrolimus, SDZ-RAD, CCl-779, AP23841, ABT-578, and analogs and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of rapamycin and tacrolimus. 
     
     
         45 . The method of any of  claims 42 ,  43  or  44 , wherein the composition comprises 2% of the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the therapeutic agent is tacrolimus and the composition comprises 1% of the therapeutic agent.