Treatment of macular degeneration with ADP-ribosyl transferase fusion protein therapeutic compositions

A method of inhibiting or reducing the rate of subretinal neovascularization and proliferation of neovascular tissue associated with macular degeneration in the eye of a mammalian host in need of such treatment, the method comprising administering to said host a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

• a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a transport agent covalently linked to an amino acid sequence of an active agent, said amino acid sequence of said active agent having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 43 and retaining ADP-ribosyl transferase activity, said amino acid sequence of said transport agent facilitating uptake of the active agent by a receptor-independent mechanism and being selected from the group consisting of a subdomain of HIV Tat protein, a homeodomain of antennapedia, and a Histidine tag, said polypeptide having ADP-ribosyl transferase activity, and;
• b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• thereby inhibiting or reducing the rate of subretinal neovascularization and proliferation of neovascular tissue associated with macular degeneration in the eye of said mammalian host.

A method of reducing cell death of retinal photoreceptors associated with macular degeneration in the eye of a mammalian host in need of such treatment, the method comprising administration to said host a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

• a) a polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 43 and;
• b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• thereby reducing cell death of retinal photoreceptors associated with macular degeneration in the eye of said mammalian host.

A method of reducing cell death of retinal photoreceptors associated with macular degeneration in the eye of a mammalian host in need of such treatment the method comprising administering to said host a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

• a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a transport agent covalently linked to an amino acid sequence of an active agent, said amino acid sequence of said active agent having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 43 and retaining ADP-ribosyl transferase activity, said amino acid sequence of said transport agent facilitating uptake of the active agent by a receptor-independent mechanism and being selected from the group consisting of a subdomain of HIV Tat protein;
• a homeodomain of antennapedia, and a Histidine tag, said polypeptide having ADP-ribosyl transferase activity, and;
• b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• thereby reducing cell death of retinal photoreceptors associated with macular degeneration in the eye of said mammalian host.