Ocular treatments for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders

Inventors

Willis, Gregory Lynn

Assignees

Phovitreal Pty Ltd • Photopharmics Inc

Abstract

A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a neurological and/or neuropsychiatric disorder associated with altered dopamine function comprising administering to the eye of a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that modulates neurotransmitter production or function.

Core Innovation

The invention concerns a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a patient suffering from Parkinson’s disease or psychosis by administering an agent to an eye of the patient in an amount effective for modulating levels of dopamine in a brain of the patient. The disclosed rationale ties the retina and the retinal hypothalamic tract to melatonin regulation via the pineal gland, linking dopamine and melatonin interplay to the neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions described.

The disclosed approach emphasizes ocular administration intended to make the agent contact the retina, including ocular delivery formats such as administration into the vitreous humor or aqueous humor and ophthalmic delivery, with example embodiments including intraocular injection or intravitreal injection. The document further identifies agent categories relevant to modulating dopamine levels and dopamine function, including dopamine agonists and dopamine precursors, as well as inhibitors of dopamine degradative enzymes, and it includes melatonin and melatonin-related modulators.

The document also describes the use of ocular light therapy in combination with the dopamine-modulating approach, including pulsing or flashing light therapy with blue and/or green spectrum light. It further describes combination possibilities that include other agents and timing modes such as sequentially, separately, and simultaneously, and it lists disorders associated with altered dopamine function including dyskinesia, Huntington’s chorea, and drug addiction and drug withdrawal.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides two independent claims. Across these independent claims, the core inventive coverage is ocular administration of an agent in an amount effective to modulate dopamine levels in the brain, with one claim specifically directed to Parkinson’s disease or psychosis and the other directed to influencing dopamine function generally.

In the provided independent-claim scope, the inventive concept centers on delivering an agent to an eye in an amount effective to modulate dopamine levels in the patient’s brain, with one independent claim specifically targeting Parkinson’s disease or psychosis and the other targeting dopamine function generally.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications