METHODS OF TREATING PAIN USING ANTI-NGF ANTIBODIES THAT SELECTIVELY INHIBIT THE ASSOCIATION OF NGF WITH TRKA, WITHOUT AFFECTING THE ASSOCIATION OF NGF WITH P75

摘要

This invention pertains to NGF antagonists including antibodies and fragments thereof (including Fab fragments) having binding specificity to human Nerve Growth Factor (hereinafter “NGF”), and methods of using one or more of said antibodies and fragments thereof to treat pain in an individual. More specifically the invention relates to methods of treating pain or eliciting an analgesic effect in an individual, comprising administering an effective amount of an NGF antagonist, e.g., an anti-human NGF antibody or fragment thereof or another moiety, such as a nucleic acid or polypeptide such as a fragment of NGF or TrkA which inhibits the association of NGF with TrkA, without appreciably inhibiting the association of NGF with p75. These methods may optionally further include administering an effective amount of a second anti-human NGF antibody or fragment thereof which inhibits the association of NGF with p75, that may further also inhibit the association of NGF with TrkA. Another specific embodiment of this invention relates to the use of the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the V_H, V_L and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them, in methods of treating pain in an individual. The invention also contemplates the use of conjugates of anti-NGF antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-NGF antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-NGF antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with NGF, especially pain associated conditions.