Claims for Patent: 7,906,481

Summary for Patent: 7,906,481

Title:	Specific TNF-A inhibitors for treating spinal disorders mediated by nucleous pulposus
Abstract:	The present invention relates to a method for treating nerve disorders in a mammal or a vertebrate by administering a TNF-alpha inhibitor. The invention also relates to the use of a TNF-alpha inhibitor in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of nerve root injury and other nerve disorders.
Inventor(s):	Olmarker; Kjell (Molndal, SE), Rydevik; Bjorn (Goteborg, SE)
Assignee:	Sciaticon AB (Molndal, SE)
Application Number:	11/648,957
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 7,906,481
Patent Claims:	1. A method for treating or alleviating one or more symptoms of a spinal disorder mediated by nucleus pulposus, which spinal disorder is not arthritis or a related inflammatory disorder, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitors to a patient in need of the treatment. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is administered epidurally. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a soluble cytokine receptor, an antibody, and a receptor antagonist. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder involves one or more symptoms of pain. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder is a disc disorder or sciatica. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder involves structural or functional damage to nerves. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder involves structural or functional damage to nerves which are situated close to a disc and/or to nucleus pulposus. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder involves reduced nerve root conduction. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder is disc herniation. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disorder is sciatica. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is a soluble cytokine receptor. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cytokine is TNF-.alpha.. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor is selected from etanercept, lenercept, pegylated TNF-receptor type I, and TBP-1. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor is etanercept. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is administered in a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a liquid solution, an emulsion, or a suspension. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a carrier selected from gum Arabic, xanthan gum, agar, sodium alginate, pectin, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylalcohol, ethyl oleate, a glycol, a polyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, and lecithin. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises lidocaine hydrochloride. 19. A method for treating or alleviating one or more symptoms of a disc herniation in a patient, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a patient exhibiting one or more symptoms of a disc herniation. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is administered epidurally. 21. A method of treating or alleviating one or more symptoms of sciatica in a patient, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a patient exhibiting one or more symptoms of sciatica. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is administered epidurally. 23. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a soluble cytokine receptor, an antibody, and a receptor antagonist. 24. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the one or more symptoms include symptoms of pain. 25. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a liquid solution, an emulsion, or a suspension. 26. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a carrier selected from gum Arabic, xanthan gum, agar, sodium alginate, pectin, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylalcohol, ethyl oleate, a glycol, a polyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, and lecithin. 27. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises lidocaine hydrochloride. 28. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is a soluble cytokine receptor. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the cytokine is TNF-.alpha.. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor is selected from etanercept, lenercept, pegylated TNF-receptor type I, and TBP-1. 31. The method of claim 28, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor is etanercept. 32. The method of claim 1, 19, or 21, wherein the specific TNF-.alpha. inhibitor is administered locally.

Details for Patent 7,906,481

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL	etanercept	For Injection	103795	11/02/1998		2018-09-25
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL	etanercept	For Injection	103795	05/27/1999		2018-09-25
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL	etanercept	Injection	103795	09/27/2004		2018-09-25
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL	etanercept	Injection	103795	02/01/2007		2018-09-25
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL MINI	etanercept	Injection	103795	09/14/2017		2018-09-25
Immunex Corporation	ENBREL	etanercept	Injection	103795			2018-09-25