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 . A medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a modified fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the modified 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 a total carbohydrate content of between about 31 to 71%; an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl: fucos 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 solutions results in a solution with a pH of about 4 to 8. 
     
     
         2 - 27  (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The medical composition of  claim 1  wherein the modified 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 %. 
     
     
         29 . The medical composition of  claim 28  wherein the modified 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. 
     
     
         30 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 10%. 
     
     
         31 . The medical composition of  claim 30  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 5%. 
     
     
         32 . The medical composition of  claim 31  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 2%. 
     
     
         33 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 10% w/w. 
     
     
         34 . The medical composition of  claim 33  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 5% w/w. 
     
     
         35 . The medical composition of  claim 34  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 2% w/w. 
     
     
         36 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the composition is a solution, gel, sol or suspension with a modified fucan concentration of between about 0.001 to 10% w/v. 
     
     
         37 . The medical composition of  claim 36  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 5% w/v. 
     
     
         38 . The medical composition of  claim 36  wherein the modified fucan concentration is between about 0.001 and 1% w/v. 
     
     
         39 . The medical composition of  claim 38  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 0.05% w/v. 
     
     
         40 . The medical composition of  claim 39  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 0.03% w/v. 
     
     
         41 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria hyperborean.    
     
     
         42 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria japonica.    
     
     
         43 . The medical composition of any one of  claim 1 ,  28  or  29  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Undaria pinnatifida.    
     
     
         44 . A medical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a modified fucan in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, filler, carrier or diluent, wherein the modified 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. 
     
     
         45 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan has a fucose content as a percentage of total carbohydrate content of between about 90 to 100%. 
     
     
         46 . The medical composition of  claim 45  wherein the modified 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 %. 
     
     
         47 . The medical composition of  claim 46  wherein the modified 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. 
     
     
         48 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 10%. 
     
     
         49 . The medical composition of  claim 48  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 5%. 
     
     
         50 . The medical composition of  claim 49  wherein the modified fucan has an acetyl content as a ratio of acetyl:fucose of between about 0 to 2%. 
     
     
         51 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 10% w/w. 
     
     
         52 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 5% w/w. 
     
     
         53 . The medical composition of  claim 52  wherein the modified fucan has a protein content of between about 0 to 2% w/w. 
     
     
         54 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the composition is a solution, gel, sol or suspension with a modified fucan concentration of between about 0.001 to 10% w/v. 
     
     
         55 . The medical composition of  claim 54  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 5% w/v. 
     
     
         56 . The medical composition of  claim 54  wherein the modified fucan concentration is between about 0.001 and 1% w/v. 
     
     
         57 . The medical composition of  claim 56  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 0.05% w/v. 
     
     
         58 . The medical composition of  claim 57  wherein the modified fucan concentration is about 0.03% w/v. 
     
     
         59 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria hyperborean.    
     
     
         60 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Laminaria japonica.    
     
     
         61 . The medical composition of  claim 44  wherein the modified fucan is prepared from the brown marine algae  Undaria pinnatifida.