Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical or veterinary compositions for the treatment of surface wounds; pharmaceutical or veterinary compositions for the treatment of gastrointestinal injuries, diseases or ulcers; methods of treating surface wounds in animals, including humans; and methods for the treatment of gastrointestinal injuries, diseases or ulcers which compositions and methods include compositions of milk product extracts including growth factors with basic to approximately neutral isoelectric points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel growth factor from bovine milk, milk products or milk product extracts. The present invention also relates to the use of recombinant DNA technology to isolate, clone and sequence nucleic acids encoding the mature and precursor forms of the growth factor and, in addition, to the use of these nucleic acids in the recombinant production of the growth factor.

Abstract: A mammalian milk growth factor (MMGF) having the following amino acid sequence or substantially homologous sequence: DGNSTRSPEDDGLLCGDHAENCPATTTQPKRRGHFSRCPKQYKHYCIKGRCRFVVAEQTPSCVCDEGYAGARCERVDLFY (SEQ ID NO:2) or a mutant, analogue, derivative or functionally active fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing animals that have higher than average carcass quality, higher than average feed conversion efficiency, higher than average growth rate, lower than average voluntary feed intake and/or higher than average reproductive capacity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a milk protein mixture useful for promoting growth of animal cells, for treating a surface wound, or for treating a gastrointestinal injury, disease, or ulcer, methods for preparing the milk protein mixture and methods employing the milk protein mixture. The milk protein mixture is prepared from a milk product such as cheese whey employing a cation exchange resin suitable for absorbing the milk protein mixture, filtering, and concentrating the product of cation exchange. The milk protein mixture for promoting growth of animal cells also includes a liquid culture medium. The milk protein mixture for treating a surface wound or for treating a gastrointestinal injury, disease, or ulcer also includes a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable diluent, carrier, or excipient.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of disorders in gut function in animals including humans, which method includes administering to a patient to be treated an effective amount of a mammalian insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or a peptide analogue thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides peptide analogues of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or factor-2 (IGF-2). The peptide analogues of IGF-1 have at least the glutamic acid residue at position 3 replaced by another amino acid. The peptide analogues of IGF-2 are replaced at position 5 or 6 with another amino acid.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the growth of a bird is described. The method comprises (a) administering a compound selected from the group consisting of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof to a bird in ovo; then (b) incubating the bird to hatch; and then (c) growing the bird for at least three weeks after hatch. The compound is administered in ovo in an amount sufficient to enhance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch. Preferred birds for practicing the present invention are chickens, and preferred compounds for practicing the present invention are IGF-1 and analogs thereof. The use of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof for the preparation of a medicament for administration to birds in ovo to ehance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch is also disclosed, along with the pharmaceutical formulations so prepared.

Abstract: A plasmid encoding a fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide having growth hormone activity and a second polypeptide which may be one of insulin growth factor (IGF)-I or IGF-II and their analogues, chicken histone H2A.I or human transcription factor SPI-lac Z with an optional cleavage sequence between the first and second polypeptides. The fusion protein may be used: 1) to treat growth hormone deficiencies; 2) to suppress loss of body protein following trauma such as burns or infection; 3) for farm animals to increase growth rates and efficiency of food conversion; 4) and to support growth of cells in culture.

Abstract: Peptide analogues of insulin-like growth factor 1 and growth factor 2 are disclosed. When the analogue is an analogue of growth factor 1 the glutamic acid residue is absent from position 3 of the N-terminal and either the glutamic acid residue or the threonine residue adjacent to glutamic acid residue at position 3 is replaced by a different amino acid residue. When the peptide analogue is an analogue of insulin growth factor 2 the glutamic acid residue position 5 is absent. Preferred peptide analogues are disclosed. Methods of use in pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations are described.

Abstract: A peptide analogue of mammalian insulin-like growth factor-1 wherein from 1 to 5 amino acid residues are absent from the N-terminal.