Treatment of vascular degenerative diseases by modulation of endogenous nitric oxide production or activity

US5945452A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• John Cooke · Palo Alto, US
• Victor J. Dzau · Newton, US
• Gary H. Gibbons · Atlanta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 31, 1999
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K48/00
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Atherogenesis and restenosis are treated by long term administration of physiologically acceptable compounds which enhance the level of endogenous nitric oxide or other intermediates in the NO induced relaxation pathway in the host. Alternatively, or in combination, other compounds may be administered which provide for short term enhancement of nitric oxide, either directly or by physiological processes. In addition, cells may be genetically engineered to provide a component in the synthetic pathway to nitric oxide, so as to drive the process to enhance nitric oxide concentration, particularly in conjunction with the administration of a nitric oxide precursor.