Michael J. Iadarola - Washington DC Robert M. Caudle - Gainesville FL Alan A. Finegold - Bethesda MD Andrew J. Mannes - Chevy Chase MD Zoltan Olah - Kensington MD
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC
International Classification:
A61K 4800
US Classification:
424 932, 4241991, 4353201, 4352351
Abstract:
This invention pertains to the surprising discovery of novel compositions and methods which selectively treat chronic pain while not significantly affecting basal nociceptive, acute pain, responses. The invention provides for compositions and methods of treating chronic pain by administering beta-endorphin-expressing recombinant expression systems such as adenovirus or adeno-associated virus into a subarachnoid or epidural space. The recombinant virus infects the pia mater connectve tissue cells and the infected cells express the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is secreted into the spinal cord parenchymal tissue in an amount effective to treat the chronic pain but not significantly affecting basal nociceptive responses.
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