USE OF ALGINATE OLIGOMERS IN THE TREATMENT OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND OTHER CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DEFECTIVE CFTR ION CHANNEL FUNCTION

摘要

The invention provides a method for the treatment of a condition in a human patient arising from or associated with a defective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) ion channel and/or abnormal mucus which is attached to underlying epithelium, said method comprising administering an alginate oligomer,wherein at least 30% of the monomer residues of the alginate oligomer are G residues,to the patient in an amount sufficient to achieve a local concentration of the alginate oligomer of 1to 6% w/v at at least part of a mucosal surface with a defective CFTR ion channel and/or said abnormal mucus in the patient, thereby to result in at least partial detachment of mucus from said mucosal surface. In certain embodiments said condition is cystic fibrosis (CF), non- compound CFTR gene mutation heterozygosity, abnormal mucus clearance in the respiratory tract and/or breathing difficulties resulting from chronic particulate inhalation, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, asthma or chronic sinusitis, or a complication thereof.