METHODS FOR TREATING PAIN CAUSED BY OSTEOARTHRITIS BY INTRODUCING AN ANTAGONIST OF THE NERVE GROWTH FACTOR AND CONTAINING ITS COMPOSITION

摘要

1. A method of treating pain caused by osteoarthritis in an individual, comprising administering to said individual an effective amount of a nerve growth factor antagonist (NGF). ! 2. A method of improving physical function in an individual having osteoarthritis, comprising administering to said individual an effective amount of an NGF antagonist. ! 3. A method of improving rigidity in an individual having osteoarthritis, comprising administering to said individual an effective amount of an NGF antagonist. ! 4. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the individual is a human. ! 5. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the NGF antagonist is an anti-NGF antagonist antibody. ! 6. The method according to claim 5, where the antagonistic antibody against NGF is administered with a frequency of administration in the range from once a week to once every twelve weeks. ! 7. The method according to claim 5, where the antagonistic anti-NGF antibody is administered once a month, once every two months, once every three months, once every four months, once every five months or once every six months. ! 8. The method according to claim 5, where the pain is relieved for a period of at least about seven days, at least about fourteen days, at least about four weeks, or at least about twelve weeks after the administration of a single dose of an antagonistic anti-NGF antibody. ! 9. The method according to claim 5, where the antagonistic anti-NGF antibody is administered in a dose in the range of from about 3 μg / kg to about 1 mg / kg. ! 10. The method according to claim 9, where the antagonistic anti-NGF antibody is administered at a dose of approximately 100 μg / kg or approximately 300 μg / kg. ! 11. The method according to claim 5, where the antagonistic antibody against NGF input