Method for muscle delivery of drugs, nucleic acids and other compounds
OwnerIacob Mathiesen, Terje Lomoinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for delivering molecules such as pharmaceutical drugs and nucleic acids into skeletal muscle in vivo. The molecule is first injected into the muscle at one or multiple sites. Immediately or shortly after injection, electrodes are placed flanking the injection site and a specific amount of electrical current is passed through the muscle. The electrical current makes the muscle permeable, thus allowing the molecule to enter the cell. In the case where nucleic acid is injected, the efficiency of transfer permits expression of protein encoded by the nucleic acid in an amount that exhibits systemic biological activity and which generates a robust immune response.
Claims23
A method of delivering a molecule to skeletal muscle of a mammal in vivo, comprising:
- (a) delivering a pre-determined amount of a composition containing a pharmaceutical agent into skeletal muscle of a mammal, whereby a penetration site and a treatment region are created;
- (b) positioning electrodes spaced from said penetration site such that current traveling between the electrodes passes through the treatment region;
- and
- (c) electrically stimulating the muscle with an electrical current.
(canceled)
14-19. (canceled)
A method of in vivo delivery of an expression vector encoding a peptide or polypeptide, comprising:
- (a) injecting one or more expression vectors into skeletal muscle of a mammal, whereby a penetration site and a treatment region are created, wherein said expression vector is capable of directing expression of a peptide or polypeptide encoded by said vector in cells of said mammal;
- (b) positioning electrodes spaced from said penetration site such that current traveling between the electrodes passes through the treatment region;
- and
- (c) electrically stimulating the muscle with an electrical current,
- whereby performance of steps (a)-(c) result in delivery of said expression vector to cells of said mammal.
22-34. (canceled)
A method for vaccinating a mammal, comprising:
- (a) delivering a pre-determined amount of a composition containing a pharmaceutical agent into skeletal muscle of a mammal, whereby a penetration site and a treatment region are created, wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of an expression vector capable of directing expression of an antigenic peptide or polypeptide encoded by said vector in cells of said mammal;
- (b) electrically stimulating the skeletal muscle by positioning electrodes spaced from said penetration site such that electrical current traveling between the electrodes the treatment region generates an electrical field having a field strength in the range of from about 5 V/cm to less than about 250 V/cm;
- and
- (c) expressing said antigenic peptide or polypeptide encoded by said vector in said cells, thereby vaccinating said mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.