Therapeutic molecules

Abstract

The present invention relates to effective pain therapies in companion animals. In particular, an isolated companion animal p75NTR protein or a fusion protein containing the same or portions thereof are contemplated. Nucleic acids encoding the proteins are also encompassed in the invention as well as methods of using the same.

1 . A fusion protein comprising an isolated companion animal p75NTR protein or a portion thereof such as the extracellular domain or a portion thereof and a half-life extending moiety. 
     
     
         2 . A fusion protein according to  claim 1  wherein the half-life extending moiety is an Fc domain, a serum albumin binder or PEG. 
     
     
         3 . A fusion protein according to  claim 2  wherein the half-life extending moiety is a wild type or mutant Fc domain. 
     
     
         4 . A fusion protein according to  claim 1  wherein the half-life extending moiety is an Fc domain and the p75NTR extracellular domain or portion thereof and the Fc domain are linked with a linker. 
     
     
         5 . A fusion protein according to  claim 4  wherein the linker is a peptide linker optionally where the peptide linker is (G 4 S) n  wherein n is 1 to 4. 
     
     
         6 . A fusion protein according to  claim 1  wherein the companion animal is a cat, dog, cow or horse. 
     
     
         7 . A fusion protein according to  claim 6  wherein the p75NTR extracellular domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 7 or a portion thereof such as SEQ ID NO: 34. 
     
     
         8 . A fusion protein according to  claim 1  wherein the Fc domain is a canine Fc domain. 
     
     
         9 . A fusion protein according to  claim 8  comprising SEQ ID NO: 11 or 13. 
     
     
         10 . A nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         13 . An isolated companion animal p75NTR protein or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An isolated companion animal p75NTR protein or a portion thereof according to  claim 13  wherein the companion animal is a cat, dog or horse. 
     
     
         15 . An isolated companion animal p75NTR protein according to  claim 14  comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a companion animal p75NTR protein or a portion thereof according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         17 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the fusion protein according to  claim 1  or the isolated companion animal p75NTR protein according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         20 . A method for treating an NGF-related disorder in a companion animal comprising administering an effective amount of the fusion protein according to  claim 1  or the isolated companion animal p75NTR protein according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the NGF-related disorder is cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, pain and inflammation. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the NGF-related disorder is a pain related disorder. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein pain is selected from osteoarthritis pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain, surgical and postsurgical pain, incisional pain, general inflammatory pain, cancer pain, pain from trauma, neuropathic pain, neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy pain, pain associated with rheumatic diseases, pain associated with musculoskeletal diseases, visceral pain, and gastrointestinal pain. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  comprising administration of a second compound that treats pain.