Pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed including an effective amount of a fusion protein that contains an anchor domain and a therapeutic polypeptide for use in treating a disorder that affects the eye (e.g., corneal haze or scarring, dry eye disease, and inflammation of an ocular surface). Fusion proteins are disclosed that includes an anchor domain and a therapeutic polypeptide. Some embodiments include an isolated nucleic acid molecule that can encode the fusion protein. Methods are also disclosed for treating a subject with a disorder that affects the eye (e.g., corneal haze or scarring, dry eye disease, and inflammation of an ocular surface) that includes administering to the eye of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein disclosed herein.

The present invention claims a novel process for the production and purification of microbial collagenase (Microbial Collagenase EC 3.4.24.3) produced by the non-pathogenic aerobic bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus chemovar. iophagus (NCIMB Number: 11038, synonym LMG 3418, hereinafter called Vibrio alginolyticus), which said process provides high production levels of collagenase with a stable, reproducible, cheap fermentation process. The collagenase produced from Vibrio alginolyticus according to the process described herein also presents a specific activity superior to that of other microbial collagenases, is stable in aqueous solution, and can be frozen without significant damage. A further subject of the present invention is pharmaceutical compositions containing collagenase obtained according to the production and purification process described, for the purpose of therapeutic treatment of disorders characterised by collagen accumulation or for the treatment of blemishes/imperfections that benefit from reducing local collagen accumulations.

Described are compositions, in particular lyophilizates, containing proteolytic enzymes, and methods for producing the compositions. Typically these compositions contain one or more proteases with collagenase activity and a neutral protease, for example, thermolysin. The compositions are free of acetate salts. Surprisingly, such compositions can be dissolved in water more rapidly than lyophilized protease mixtures of the state of the art.

The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.

A treatment for pruritus is described that is based upon amylase. The amylases (-, -, -amylase) are noted for the cleavage of the -glycosidic bonds of polysaccharides, yielding lower molecular weight carbohydrate/sugar fragments. It has now been found that -amylase is effective in the reduction of pruritus (itching) of affected tissue.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating uterine fibroids in vivo, and methods of reducing symptoms associated with uterine fibroids, including pain, bleeding and infertility. The disclosed compositions comprise collagenase in an amount effective to cause shrinkage and/or reduce stiffness of uterine fibroids.

The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.

The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.

The invention relates to compositions and methods for treating uterine fibroids, wherein a uterine fibroid treatment agent comprising collagenase in an amount effective to cause shrinkage of uterine fibroids is injected or inserted into the uterine fibroid.

Provided are methods for repairing a wound or inducing the proliferative phase of a wound comprising administering a composition comprising a protease mixture comprising collagenases and a neutral protease to the wound in an amount effective for repair of wound tissue or for inducing the proliferative phase in the wound.