Method for treating atrophic age related macular degeneration

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating dry age related macular degeneration (dry AMO) by administration to an intraocular location of an anti-neovascular agent (such as bevacizumab) in either a liquid or solid polymeric vehicle (or both), such as a biodegradable hyaluronic acid or PLGA (or PLA).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A low dose method for preventing development of ocular neovascularization, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) preparing a biocompatible, sustained release drug delivery system comprising an anti-neovascular drug, wherein the anti-neovascular drug is associated with a polymeric vehicle, and;   (b) injecting the drug delivery system into an intraocular location in a patient in need thereof, thereby preventing the development of ocular neovascularization.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric lactic acid, a polymeric glycolic acid, a lactic acid-glycolic acid co-polymer (PLGA), a polymeric hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and a polymeric hyaluronic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric hyaluronic acid is a cross-linked hyaluronic acid, a non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight between about 1 million Daltons and about 2 million Daltons. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-neovascular drug comprises an anti-VEGF agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intraocular location comprises a sub-tenon, subconjunctival, suprachoroidal, intrascleral, intravitreal or retrobulbar intraocular locations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has an ocular condition selected from the ocular conditions: central retinal vein occlusion without neovascularization and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric vehicle comprises collagen, a polysaccharide, a hyaluronic acid or a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has dry AMD in one eye and wet AMD in the other eye, wherein the method further comprises injecting the biocompatible drug delivery system comprising the anti-neovascular agent and the polymeric vehicle associated with the anti-neovascular agent into a vitreous cavity of the eye of the patient with dry AMD, thereby treating the dry AMD by preventing or by delaying the progression of the dry AMD to wet AMD in the eye with dry AMD. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has dry AMD in one eye, and wherein the method further comprises injecting the biocompatible drug delivery system comprising the anti-neovascular agent and the polymeric vehicle associated with the anti-neovascular agent into a vitreous cavity of both eyes of the patient, thereby treating the dry AMD in one eye and preventing or delaying AMD in the other eye. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has wet AMD in one eye and no neovascularization in the other eye, and wherein the method further comprises injecting the biocompatible drug delivery system comprising the anti-neovascular agent and the polymeric vehicle associated with the anti-neovascular agent into a vitreous cavity of second eye and preventing or delaying AMD in the other eye. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is at high risk for developing AMD in both eyes, wherein the method further comprises injecting the anti-neovascular agent and the polymeric vehicle associated with the anti-neovascular agent into a vitreous cavity of both eyes, thereby preventing or delaying the progression of AMD in both eyes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has a mutation in a gene encoding complement factor H.