Shark cartilage extract: process of making, methods of using, and compositions thereof

A method of treating warts in mammalian skin, said method comprising the step of applying to the skin of a patient in need of such treatment a topical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising one or more biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight less than about 500 kDa.

A method of treating a papulosquamous skin disease or disorder, said method comprising the step of applying to the skin of a patient in need of such treatment a topical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising one or more biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight less than about 500 kDa.

A method of promoting wound repair in a mammal, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin of a patient in need of such treatment a topical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising one or more biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight less than about 500 kDa.

A method of treating an inflammatory or angiogenic ophthalmic disease or disorder in a mammal, the method comprising the step of applying to the eye of the mammal in need of such treatment an ophthalmic composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising one or more biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight less than about 500 kDa.

A method of treating a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of hypertrophic scar, alopecia, multiple sclerosis, fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma, vasoconstrictive diseases, herpes virus keratitis, and organ graft rejection, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient in need of such treatment a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising one more biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight less than about 500 kDa.

A method of treating a disease or disorder having an etiology related to any one of tumour proliferation, angiogenesis, metalloprotease activity and inflammation, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising water soluble biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight lower than about 500 kDa, the extract being obtained from a process comprising the step of:

• fractionating a crude cartilage extract comprising water soluble biologically active components obtained from cartilage material, such that a major portion of the biologically active components having a molecular weight greater than about 500 kDa is separated from a major portion of biologically active components having a molecular weight of less than about 500 kDa to form the shark cartilage extract.

A composition comprising an effective amount of a shark cartilage extract comprising water soluble biologically active components, a majority of which have a molecular weight lower than 500 kDa, the extract being prepared by a process comprising the step of:

• first fractionating a crude cartilage extract comprising water soluble biologically active components obtained from cartilage material such that a major portion of the biologically active components having a molecular weight greater than about 500 kDa is separated from a major portion of biologically active components having a molecular weight of less than about 500 kDa to form said shark cartilage extract, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.