Chyna, LLC

Armstrong, Michael, Norman

Ralph Lauren Keil

James R Connor

Methods and compositions for treating an iron disorder in a patient are presented, including methods for delivering a therapeutically effective amount of iron to the brain. Iron disorders that may be treated by these methods include iron deficiency disorders and iron overload disorders. A recombinant yeast expressing human H-ferritin and a composition for treating an iron disorder comprising this recombinant yeast are also presented.

Use of ferritin to treat iron disorders

The present inventors have demonstrated the presence of H-ferritin receptors on endothelial cells in culture and on rat brain rat brain microvasculature, identifying H-ferritin as a means for transporting iron across the blood brain barrier. The present invention provides a method for treating an iron deficiency disorder in a patient, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a ferritin-iron complex. In an embodiment of the invention, the ferritin-iron complex comprises H-ferritin. In another embodiment, the iron deficiency disorder comprises an iron deficiency in the brain. The present invention also provides a method for delivering iron to the brain, comprising administering iron in the form of a ferritin-iron complex to a patient, whereby said iron is transported across the blood-brain barrier and delivered to the brain; a method for using H-ferritin as a targeting moiety, comprising attaching H-ferritin to a liposome, whereby said liposome is targeted to the brain and/or cells within the brain; and a method for treating an iron overload disorder in a patient, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a multi subunit ferritin complex, wherein said multi subunit ferritin complex is at less than 100% iron binding capacity.

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Palmyra, PA, United States of America

Ralph Lauren Keil