TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ANTAGONISTS AND THEIR USE IN ENDOMETRIOSIS

摘要

1. Use of a TNF antagonist which is the TNF antagonists or a TNF receptor signaling as an active carrier of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of endometriosis. 2. The use of the TNF antagonist which is the TNF antagonists or a TNF receptor signaling as an active carrier of a pharmaceutical composition to improve the implantation and fertility rate by reducing endometriotic lesions. 3. The use of Claim 1 or 2 wherein the TNF antagonist is a receptor molecule, derivative or a fragment thereof which binds to TNF. 4. The use of Claim 3 wherein the receptor molecule is selected from the group consisting of: TNF-RI and TNF-RII. 5. The use of Claim 3 wherein the receptor molecule is the extracellular domain of TNF-RI. 6. The use of Claim 3 wherein the receptor molecule is human soluble recombinant TNF-RI. 7. The use of Claim 3 wherein the receptor molecule is a TNF receptor multimeric molecule or a functional portion thereof. 8. The use of Claim 7 wherein the TNF receptor multimeric molecule comprises all or a functional portion of two or more extracellular domains of TNF receptors linked via one or more polypeptide linkers. 9. The use of Claim 3 wherein the receptor molecule is an immunoreceptor fusion molecule or a functional portion thereof. 10. The use of Claim 9 wherein the immunoreceptor fusion molecule comprises all or a functional portion of TNF receptor and an immunoglobulin chain. 11. The use of Claim 1 or 2 wherein the TNF antagonist is an anti-TNF antibody or a fragment thereof. 12. The use of Claim 11 wherein the monoclonal antibody is selected from the group consisting of: a chimeric monoclonal antibody, a humanized monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof. 13. The use of Claim 1 in which the TNF antagonist prevents or inhibits TNF receptor signaling. 14. A method for treating and/or preventing endometriosis which comprises administering to a patient a therapeutically effective dose of a TNF antagonist. 15. Pharmaceutical composition containing a TNF antagonist, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in the treatment and/or prevention of endometriosis. 16. Pharmaceutical composition containing a TNF antagonist, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in the treatment and/or prevention of endometriosis-related infertility. 17. The pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 15 or 16 wherein the TNF antagonist has the features set out in any one of Claims 1 to 13.