| abstract |
The present invention provides a method for enhancing the level of perfusion of blood to a target tissue, treating a target tissue suffering from or at risk of suffering from ischemic damage, inducing angiogenesis in a target tissue, and/or inducing collateral blood vessel formation in a target tissue affected by or at risk of being affected by a vascular occlusion. The present inventive method comprises administering to the target tissue a dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and (b) an adenoviral vector comprising a DNA encoding an angiogenic peptide, such that the level of perfusion of blood to the target tissue is enhanced, the dose has a therapeutic or prophylactic effect on the target tissue, angiogenesis is induced in the target tissue, and/or the adenoviral vector contacts a region including the source, the terminus, and an area therebetween for the collateral blood vessel formation, and collateral blood vessel formation is induced. |