Methods and Compositions for Treating Conditions of the Eye

Abstract

Provided are methods and compositions for treating ocular conditions characterized by the presence of unwanted choroidal neovasculature, for example, neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The selectivity and sensitivity of, for example, a photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based approach can be enhanced by combining the PDT with an anti-FasL factor, for example, an anti-FasL neutralizing antibody.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for reducing photoreceptor cell death associated with a photodynamic-therapy-based method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature in a mammal, the method comprising
 administering to the mammal an amount of an anti-FasL factor sufficient to reduce photoreceptor cell death associated with photodynamic therapy relative to photodynamic therapy without the anti-FasL factor,   wherein the anti-FasL factor is selected from the group consisting of an anti-FasL antibody, an anti-Fas antibody, decoy receptor 3, and a decoy receptor 3 analog.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mammal is a primate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the primate is human. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the photodynamic therapy comprises using a photosensitizer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the photosensitizer is an amino acid derivative, an azo dye, a xanthene derivative, a chlorin, a tetrapyrrole derivative, or a phthalocyanine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the photosensitizer is lutetium texaphyrin, a benzoporphyrin, a benzoporphyrin derivative, a hematoporphyrin, or a hematoporphyrin derivative. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the photosensitizer is lutetium texaphyrin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the photosensitizer is a benzoporphyrin. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the photosensitizer is a benzoporphyrin derivative. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is an anti-FasL antibody. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is an anti-Fas antibody. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is decoy receptor-3. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is a decoy receptor-3 analog. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is administered to the mammal prior to photodynamic therapy. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is administered to the mammal during photodynamic therapy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method ameliorates the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the photoreceptor cell death is apoptotic cell death.