Compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic disorders of humans or animals. The present compositions and methods are highly suitable for intraocular administration into the interior of an eye and provide therapeutic effects to the eye as they are effective in stabilizing, enhancing and/or improving a patient's vision. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic diseases or disorders with exudative, hemorrhagic and/or inflammatory conditions. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating retinal diseases or disorders, and more specifically ophthalmic diseases or disorders related to impaired retinal vessel permeability and/or integrity.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating an exudative or inflammatory ophthalmic disorder, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an ophthalmic composition which comprises a plasma kallikrein inhibitor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plasma kallikrein inhibitor is a peptide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plasma kallikrein inhibitor is an antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the antibody is an immunoglobulin molecule or an immunologically active portion thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the immunologically active portion is a Fab fragment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ophthalmic disorder is associated with impaired retinal vessel permeability or integrity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ophthalmic disorder is an back-of-eye disease. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the back-of-eye disease is age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal ischemia, choroidal neovascularization, or a retinal disease. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the back-of-eye disease is diabetic retinopathy, diabetic retinal edema, or diabetic macular edema. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ophthalmic composition is administered to a site of the ophthalmic disorder. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ophthalmic composition is administered by an ocular route. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ocular route is intraocular injection. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the intraocular injection is intravitreal injection. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the ophthalmic composition further comprises a biocompatible polymeric component in an amount effective to delay release of the plasma kallikrein inhibitor into the interior of the eye after the composition is administered by the intraocular injection.