Reduction of adipose tissue

Abstract

The amount of adipose tissue, including lipomas, at selected locations in the body is reduced by introducing collagenase or collagenase plus another proteinase into the tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue at selected locations in the body which consists of introducing into said tissue effective amounts of an enzyme and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the enzyme is purified collagenase in the substantial absence of another proteinase. 
     
     
         2 . A method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue at selected locations in the body wherein said method comprises introducing into said tissue a composition consisting of an effective amount of an enzyme and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the enzyme is purified collagenase. 
     
     
         3 . A method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue at selected locations in the body consisting of introducing into said tissue a composition consisting of an effective amount of purified collagenase and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said collagenase is injected into said adipose tissue. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said carrier is a liquid. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said carrier is aqueous. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said adipose tissue is injected at a multiplicity of closely spaced sites. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the collagenase is introduced in the amount of from about 5 to about 150 ABC units collagenase per gram of adipose tissue treated. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said amount of collagenase is from about 10 to about 100 ABC units collagenase per gram of adipose tissue treated. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the collagenase is injected in a liquid pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a concentration of from 50 to about 5,000 ABC units per mL. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the collagenase is injected in a liquid pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a concentration of at least 1,000 ABC units per mL.