Methods for the treatment of chronic pain and compositions therefor

A method to treat or ameliorate chronic pain comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a cathepsin S modulator.

A method to identify modulators useful to treat or ameliorate chronic pain comprising assaying for the ability of a candidate modulator to inhibit cathepsin S activity.

A method to identify modulators useful to treat or ameliorate chronic pain comprising assaying for the ability of a candidate modulator to inhibit cathepsin S gene expression.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S modulator in an amount effective to treat or ameliorate chronic pain in a subject in need thereof.

A method to diagnose subjects suffering from chronic pain who may be suitable candidates for treatment with cathepsin S modulators comprising assaying mRNA levels of this protein in a biological sample from said subject wherein subjects with increased levels compared to controls would be suitable candidates for cathepsin S modulator treatment.

A method to diagnose subjects suffering from chronic pain who may be suitable candidates for treatment with cathepsin S modulators comprising detecting levels of this protein in a biological sample from said subject wherein subjects with increased levels compared to controls would be suitable candidates for cathepsin S modulator treatment.

A method to treat or ameliorate chronic pain comprising:

• (a) assaying for cathepsin S mRNA and/or protein levels in a subject;
• and,
• (b) administering to a subject with increased levels of cathepsin S mRNA and/or protein levels compared to controls a cathepsin S modulator in an amount sufficient to treat or ameliorate the pathological effects of chronic pain.