Treatment Method For Lung Remodeling Diseases

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and medicaments useful for pretreatment, treatment, or amelioration of lung remodeling disease. Methods and medicaments for reducing, preventing, or reversing increased lung density, improving lung function, and increasing survivability in subjects having lung remodeling disease are also provided.

1 . A method of treating a lung remodeling disease in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an anti connective tissue growth factor (anti-CTGF) agent, wherein the lung remodeling disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and emphysema, thereby treating the lung remodeling disease. 
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-CTGF antibodies, antibody fragments, antibody mimetics, antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA, miRNA, ribozymes, aptamers and small molecules. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is an anti-CTGF antibody that binds specifically to CTGF. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-CTGF antibody has the same amino acid sequence as the antibody produced by the cell line identified by ATCC Accession No, PTA-6006. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-CTGF antibody binds to CTGF competitively with an antibody produced by the cell line identified by ATCC Accession No PTA-6006. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a lung function parameter prior to treatment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a lung function parameter after treatment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the measured lung function parameter is compared to a standard lung function parameter and wherein the administration of the anti-CTGF agent is repeated if measured lung function parameter is outside of the standard lung function parameter. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the standard lung function parameter is selected from the group consisting of vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV), forced expiratory volume (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow (FEF), maximum flow (Vmax), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), functional residual capacity (FRC), inspiratory capacity, total lung capacity (TLC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), tidal volume and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is administered systemically, aerosolized or nebulized. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method improves the subject's lung function. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the improvement in lung function is determined by a decrease in lung density in the subject. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the improvement in lung function is an increase in a lung function parameter selected from forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory flow, peak expiratory flow, tidal volume, forced vital capacity, inspiratory capacity, inspiratory vital capacity, vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume and total lung capacity. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the improvement in lung function produces an increase in the subject's PaO 2  or DLCO value. 
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the administration of an additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, bronchodilators, anticholinergics, vasodilators, diuretics, anti-hypertensive agents, acetazolamide, antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs, surfactants, supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein treating a lung remodeling disease comprises reducing lung inflammation.