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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature in a mammal, the choroidal neovasculature comprising endothelial cells, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) administering to the mammal an anti-FasL factor in an amount sufficient to permit an effective amount to localize in the choroidal neovasculature;   (b) administering to the mammal an amount of photosensitizer sufficient to permit an effective amount to localize in the choroidal neovasculature; and   (c) irradiating the choroidal neovasculature with laser light such that the light is absorbed by the photosensitizer so as to occlude the choroidal neovasculature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a primate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the primate is a human. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-FasL factor is administered to the mammal prior to administration of the photosensitizer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizer is an amino acid derivative, an azo dye, a xanthene derivative, a chlorin, a tetrapyrrole derivative, or a phthalocyanine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the photosensitizer is lutetium texaphyrin, a benzoporphyrin, a benzoporphyrin derivative, a hematoporphyrin, or a hematoporphyrin derivative. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-FasL factor comprises an anti-FasL antibody. 
     
     
         8 . An improved method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature in a mammal, the improvement comprising:
 administering to the mammal an effective amount of an anti-FasL factor so as to mitigate side effects associated with a method for treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-FasL factor comprises an anti-FasL antibody. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the side effects include photoreceptor cell death. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-FasL factor reduces apoptotic cell death of photoreceptor cells during the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature comprises photodynamic therapy using a benzoporphyrin derivative photosensitizer, 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature comprises administering an effective amount of an anti-VEGF aptamer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature comprises administering an effective amount of an anti-VEGF antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature comprises administering an effective amount of an anti-VEGF siRNA. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method of treating unwanted choroidal neovasculature ameliorates the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration.