Pharmaceutical compositions comprising modified fucans and methods relating thereto

Abstract

Compositions and methods relating to fucan agents useful for the treatment, prevention, inhibition, etc., of fibrous adhesions or other diseases.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of inhibiting a fibrous adhesion in an animal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the fucan has a sulphate content between about 14 to 40% w/w; a total carbohydrate content between about 37 to 75% w/w; a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content of between about 31 to 71%; an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 20% w/w; a protein content of about 0 to 12% w/w; an appearance of white, off-white, light yellow, light orange, light green or light brown; and when made up to a 0.1% w/v solution results in a solution with a pH of about 4 to 8. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution such that the portion from about 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 25% w/w, the portion from about 5,000 to 60,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 55% w/w, the portion from about 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between about 5 to 35% w/w, the portion from about 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 50% w/w, and the portion from more than about 1,600,000 g/mol comprises about 0 to 50% w/w %. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution such that the portion from about 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 25% w/w, the portion from about 5,000 to 60,000 g/mol comprises between about 5 to 38% w/w, the portion from about 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between about 10 to 30% w/w, the portion from about 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 8 to 43% w/w, and the portion from more than about 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 1 to 33% w/w. 
     
     
         31 . A method of inhibiting a fibrous adhesion in an animal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the fucan has a sulphate content of between about 14 to 40% w/w; a total carbohydrate content of between about 37 to 75% w/w; a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content of between about 70 to 100%; an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 20% w/w; a protein content of about 0 to 12% w/w; an appearance of white, off-white, light yellow, light orange, light green or light brown; and when made up to a 0.1% w/v solution results in a solution with a pH of about 4 to 8. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the fucan has a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content of between about 90 to 100%. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution such that the portion from about 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 25% w/w, the portion from about 5,000 to 60,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 55% w/w, the portion from about 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between about 5 to 35% w/w, the portion from about 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 50% w/w, and the portion from more than about 1,600,000 g/mol comprises about 0 to 50% w/w %. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the fucan has a molecular weight distribution such that the portion from about 0 to 5,000 g/mol comprises between about 0 to 25% w/w, the portion from about 5,000 to 60,000 g/mol comprises between about 5 to 38% w/w, the portion from about 60,000 to 200,000 g/mol comprises between about 10 to 30% w/w, the portion from about 200,000 to 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 8 to 43% w/w, and the portion from more than about 1,600,000 g/mol comprises between about 1 to 33% w/w. 
     
     
         35 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 10%. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 5%. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 2%. 
     
     
         38 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 10% w/w. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 5% w/w. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 2% w/w. 
     
     
         41 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the composition is a solution, gel, sol or suspension with a fucan concentration of between about 0.001 to 10% w/v. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the fucan concentration is about 5% w/v. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the fucan concentration is between about 0.001 and 1% w/v. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the fucan concentration is about 0.05% w/v. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the fucan concentration is about 0.03% w/v. 
     
     
         46 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria hyperborean.    
     
     
         47 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria japonica.    
     
     
         48 . The method of any one of  claims 28  to  34  wherein the fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Undaria pinnatifida.    
     
     
         49 . A kit comprising the medical composition according to any of  claims 28  to  34  in a vessel configured to administer at least one dose of the composition to an animal, the kit further comprising at least one label comprising instructions for inhibiting a fibrous adhesion according to any of  claims 28  to  34 .