Abstract: A copolymer comprising an N-acylated derivative, and a composition comprising said copolymer and a polypeptide, said polypeptide comprising at least one effective ionogenic amine, wherein at least 50 percent, by weight, of said polypeptide present in said composition is ionically bound to said polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting fibrosis in a patient. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a somatostatin, a somatostatin agonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to said patent.

Abstract: A method of determining the ability of a compound to both bind to somatostatin type-5 receptor (“SSTR-5”) and inhibit amylin release. The method includes obtaining a preparation, either a cell preparation or a membrane preparation, which contains SSTR-5; incubating the preparation, the compound, and a SSTR-5 ligand, at least one of the ligand and the compound being detectably labeled; determining the ability of the compound to compete against the ligand for binding to SSTR-5; if and only if the compound is determined to be able to bind to SSTR-5, obtaining pancreatic cells; incubating the compound, the pancreatic cells, and an amylin release stimulator under conditions in which the amylin release stimulator would induce release of amylin from the pancreatic cells; and determining the ability of the compound to inhibit amylin release. Also disclosed is a method of treating hyperamylinemia with a ligand selective for SSTR-5.

Abstract: The invention features somatostatin antagonists having a D-amino acid at the second residue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds of the wherein the variables are as defined in the specification. The compounds are useful for inhibiting farnesyl transferase and for the treatment of tumors and restenosis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cyclic derivatives containing an imidazole cis amide bond mimetic which bind selectively to somatostatin receptor subtypes and the use thereof in treating conditions which can be treated by eliciting an agonist or antagonist effect from the somatostatin subtype receptors. This invention is also directed to methods for making the compounds of the instant invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds of the formula wherein the variables are defined in the specification, which bind to somatostatin receptors and block Na channels.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for making encased bound microparticles by nebulizing a dispersion of the bound microparticles into a solution of an encasing polymer and into a liquid, non-solvent of said encasing polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of fragment of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a method of using said analogues alone or in combination with a bisphosphonate or calcitonin to treat osteoporosis and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said analogues alone or in combination with a bisphosphonate or calcitonin.

Abstract: A needle-less device for the parenteral administration of a medicament is disclosed. The medicament has the shape of one end of a toothpick. It is placed in the bore of a barrel with the barrel having the shape of a nose cone at one end. A plunger is inserted into the other end of the bore. The plunger forces the medicament through the skin and into the subcutaneous layer of the patient without the need for penetration of the skin by a needle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to imidazolyl derivatives of formula (II), wherein the variables are defined in the specification, which are useful as prenyl transeferase inhibitors.

Abstract: A method of prolonging the survival of pancreatic cells transplanted in a patient. The method includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of somatostatin or a somatostatin agonist to the patient.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable device for the automatic delivery of an active ingredient according to an adjustable delivery profile. The device includes a housing; a reservoir operatively connected to the housing and arranged to store a solid composition including the active ingredient; an actuator arranged within the housing to move the solid composition from the reservoir to a transit area, wherein the solid composition exits the housing at the transit area; a controller that acts on the actuator to adjust movement of the solid composition out of the housing according to the adjustable delivery profile; and a power source arranged to provide energy to the actuator and the controller. The solid composition can be an elongate, solid composition comprising a drug, and up to 90% of a carrier, wherein the composition has a cross-section of less than 0.

Abstract: A linear (i.e., non-cyclic) analog of biologically active amphibian bombesin, mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), or mammalian growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), having an active site and a binding site responsible for the binding of the peptide to a receptor on a target cell. Cleavage of a peptide bond in the active site of naturally occurring bombesin, GRP, or GRF is unnecessary for in vivo biological activity. The analog has one of the following modifications: (a) a deletion of an amino acid residue within the active site and a modification of an amino acid residue outside of the active site, (b) a replacement of two amino acid residues within the active site with a synthetic amino acid, a &bgr;-amino acid, or a &ggr;-amino acid residue, or (c) a non-peptide bond instead of a peptide bond between an amino acid residue of the active site and an adjacent amino acid residue.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing biodegradable microspheres and or nanospheres using an oil-in-water process for the controlled release of bioactive peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting fibrosis in a patient. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a somatostatin, a somatostatin agonist or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to said patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel analogues of PACAP (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide) as described in the specification, which are agonists of the PACAP receptor and as such are useful in treating cerebrovascular ischemia, male impotence, motor neuron disease, neuropathy, pain, depression, anxiety disorders, brain trauma, memory impairments, dementia, cognitive disorder, central nervous system diseases (such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease), migraine, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, fibrosis, restenosis, diabetes mellitus, muscle disease, gastric ulcer, stroke, atherosclerosis, hypertension, septic shock, thrombosis, retina disease, cardiovascular disease, renal failure and cardiac failure and the prevention of neuronal cell death in a mammal. This invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor.