Abstract: Disclosed are biodegradable microspheres, capable of releasing a glucose-regulating peptide in a controlled manner, comprising a biodegradable polymer carrier with the glucose -regulating peptide encapsulated therein, and methods for the preparation thereof. In addition to ensuring high encapsulation efficiency and high stability of the encapsulated drug, the microspheres shows neither an initial burst effect nor incomplete release and allows the zero -order release of drugs over a prolonged period of time, thus improving the therapeutic effect of the drug.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protein hydrolysate having DPP-IV inhibiting activity, the hydrolysate being enriched in peptides having a length of 2-8 amino acids comprising at least one proline residue, an isolated peptide derivable from such a protein hydrolysate, or a mixture thereof, and the use of such protein hydrolysate or isolated peptide for the manufacture of a medicament, food supplement, beverage or food product for prophylaxis and/or treatment of a DPP-IV mediated condition, in particular chosen from the group of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and an immunological disorder.

Abstract: GLP-2 analogues are disclosed which comprise one of more substitutions as compared to [hGly2]GLP-2 and which improved biological activity in vivo and/or improved chemical stability, e.g., as assessed in in vitro stability assays. More particularly, preferred GLP-2 analogues disclosed herein comprise substitutions at one or more of positions 8, 16, 24 and/or 28 of the wild-type GLP-2 sequence, optionally in combination with further substitutions at position 2 (as mentioned in the introduction) and one or more of positions 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11, and/or a deletion of one or more of amino acids 31 to 33 and/or the addition of a N-terminal or C-terminal stabilizing peptide sequence. The analogues are particularly useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of stomach and bowel-related disorders and for ameliorating side effects of chemotherapy. Also disclosed are methods and kits for selecting a patient from populations suited for treatment with GLP-2 analogues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins; to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to inhibitory compounds that regulate such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to identify and obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an alpha-defensin in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment, amelioration or prevention of a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis (B anthracis) infection. Furthermore, methods for the treatment of an B. anthracis infection as well as methods of protection against a B. anthracis infection, e.g. a vaccination are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic agents and compositions comprising elastin-like peptides (ELPs) and therapeutic proteins. In some embodiments, the therapeutic protein is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, insulin, or Factor VII/VIIa, including functional analogs. The present invention further provides encoding polynucleotides, as well as methods of making and using the therapeutic agents. The therapeutic agents have improvements in relation to their use as therapeutics, including, inter alia, one or more of half-life, clearance and/or persistance in the body, solubility, and bioavailability.

Abstract: GLP-2 analogues are disclosed which comprise one of more substitutions as compared to [hGly2]GLP-2 and which improved biological activity in vivo and/or improved chemical stability, e.g., as assessed in in vitro stability assays. More particularly, preferred GLP-2 analogues disclosed herein comprise substitutions at one or more of positions 8, 16, 24 and/or 28 of the wild-type GLP-2 sequence, optionally in combination with further substitutions at position 2 (as mentioned in the introduction) and one or more of positions 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11, and/or a deletion of one or more of amino acids 31 to 33 and/or the addition of a N-terminal or C-terminal stabilizing peptide sequence. The analogues are particularly useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of stomach and bowel-related disorders and for ameliorating side effects of chemotherapy. Also disclosed are methods and kits for selecting a patient from populations suited for treatment with GLP-2 analogues.

Abstract: The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising at least one IGF1 variant component and a fusion component (F), and, optionally, a signal sequence, exhibits improved stability relative to the native IGF1 or IGF2 polypeptide. The fusion component (F) may be a multimerizing component, such as an immunoglobulin domain, in particular, the Fc domain of IgG or a heavy chain of IgG. IGF1 variants were shown to have improved ability to increase muscle mass in a subject suffering from muscle atrophy caused by cachexia, immobilization, aging, chronic disease, cancer, hereditary condition, an atrophy-causing agent, and the like. IGF1 variants are also effective in decreasing blood glucose in a subject suffering from diabetes or hyperglycemia.

Abstract: Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) antagonists, polynucleotides encoding TLR3 antagonists, and methods of making and using the foregoing are disclosed.

Abstract: A treatment method for restoring of age related tissue loss in the face or selected areas of the body is disclosed which includes injecting an injectable composition containing a growth factor and hyaluronic acid as a carrier into the dermis, the hypodermis, or both, in various areas of the face, or selected areas of the body of a person to stimulate collagen, elastin, or fat cell production, thereby restoring age related tissue loss in the face and selected areas of the body. Further disclosed is an injectable composition for restoring of age related tissue loss in the face and selected areas of the body, which contains a growth factor and hyaluronic acid as a carrier for providing time release of the growth factor into tissues. The growth factor can be insulin, insulin-like growth factor, thyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor, estrogen, retinoic acid, or their combinations.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the growth rates, alleviating the symptoms, or improving the metabolism of human patients having insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (IGFD). The invention relates to methods comprising administering insulin-like growth factor-I to a patient having a height which, at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is at least about 2 standard deviations below normal for a subject of the same age and gender, a blood level of insulin-like growth factor-I that, and at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is below normal mean levels, usually at least about 1 standard deviations below normal mean levels, for age and gender.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis, particularly a therapeutic agent for ameliorating an inflammatory symptom or bone deformity in rheumatoid arthritis, which comprises an antibody that binds to a hepatocyte growth factor receptor as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of identifying ?-synuclein expression, as a biomarker for adiposity and adiposity related disorders. Identification of ?-synuclein expression includes agonists and antagonists thereof which may be used in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of adiposity related disorders.

Abstract: Novel exendins with modifications at one or more of following positions: 2, 14, 27 or 28 and polyethylene glycol derivatives thereof are provided. These compounds are useful in treating type 2 diabetes as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific CSF1R ECD fusion molecules that exhibit improved therapeutic properties. The invention also relates to polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences, vectors, host cells, and compositions comprising or encoding such molecules. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the CSF1R ECD fusion molecules. The invention further relates to methods of treatment using the CSF1R ECD fusion molecules. For example, certain CSF1R ECDs of the invention may be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or multiple sclerosis (MS).

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding a variety of proteins and nucleic acids having diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and other uses. These nucleic acids and proteins are useful for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of a number of human and other animal disorders. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which a nucleic acid molecule of the invention has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated polypeptides, fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides and antibodies. Diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided. The nucleic acids and polypeptides of the present invention are useful as modulating agents in regulating a variety of cellular processes.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a monoclonal antibody which is useful as a diagnostic agent or a therapeutic agent for a disease relating to a polypeptide encoded by Claudin-4 (hereinafter referred to as “CLDN4”) gene or a polypeptide encoded by a Claudin-3 (hereinafter referred to as “CLDN3”) gene, or a method for using the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel ligands based on an AGRP template that can rescue endogenous melanocortin agonist and/or antagonist dysfunction at MCR polymorphisms. In particular, the present invention provides novel synthetic ligands based on AGRP templates that can rescue endogenous melanocortin agonist dysfunction at MC4R polymorphisms to treat children and adults with these mutations and increase their quality of life.