University of Colorado

Medicinova, Inc.

Avigen, Inc.

Linda May Rothblum Watkins

Kirk William Johnson

Raymond A Chavez

Erin Milligan

Travis Hughes

Methods of treating pain by delivery of anti-inflammatory cytokines, proinflammatory cytokine antagonists, and agents that act to reduce or prevent proinflammatory cytokine actions, to the nervous system are described. These agents can be delivered using gene therapy techniques. Alternatively, the agents can be delivered in protein compositions.

Methods for treating pain

Methods of delivering transgenes to target cells using plasmids comprising viral inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences are described. Such plasmids are capable of directing sustained transgene expression in target cells in rats provided that at least one adeno-associated virus (AAV) ITR sequence is present in the plasmid, regardless of whether that ITR is located upstream or downstream of the transgene. In a particular embodiment, plasmids comprising one or more AAV ITR sequence and an IL-10 transgene are shown to be effective in sustained reversal of pain in an animal model of neuropathic pain.

Method for delivering genes

The present invention is directed to the use of ibudilast for treating addictions, including drug and behavioral addictions. In particular, ibudilast is used to diminish the dopamine-mediated reward associated with addictions and to treat withdrawal syndromes after discontinuance of addictive drug use or behavior.

Method for treating drug and behavioral addictions

IL-10 sequence variants are disclosed that retain the therapeutically desirable anti-inflammatory properties of wild-type IL-10 but do not retain the hemoatopoeitic cell regulatory and cell proliferative activities. The mutant IL-10 polypeptides of the invention are used in methods of treating diseases involving inflammatory response, including neuropathic pain and other neurological disorders.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Linda May Rothblum Watkins