Pharmaceutical removal of neuronal extensions from a degenerating disc

摘要

The invention provides a method for alleviating discogenic pain by administering a therapeutic agent that disrupts neuronal and/or vascular elements in the disc, which is typically a degenerated disc. Disruption of neuronal elements in the disk includes destroying nerve endings without substantially affecting the central body of the nerve, suppressing activation of the nerve endings, and inhibiting the growth of nerve endings into the disk. Disruption of vascular elements includes causing the vascular extensions to retract from the disk, or suppressing the formation of such extensions. The therapeutic agent may be administered locally via an interbody pump, a bolus or a depot, or may be administered systemically.

主权项

1. A method for treating back or neck pain with or without radiculopathy comprising locally delivering a depot, wherein the depot comprises a bolus of microbubbles comprising a biopolymer containing polylactide and a therapeutic agent to a disc region comprising a disc, the therapeutic agent adapted to disrupt a neuronal element in the disc region, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises 2,3,4-Trihydroxy-6-methyl-5-[(2E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl]benzaldehyde (Scutigeral); ReN-1820 for reducing the levels of NGF that can bind to NGF receptors found on neuronal elements; and a synthetic neurotoxin; and subjecting the bolus of microbubbles to sonic energy to activate the therapeutic agent within the disc region.