Abstract: A procedure for obtaining the somatostatin analog, octreotide by means of solid phase synthesis on polymer supports and by intervention of protector groups of the Fmoc/tBu type. It includes construction of the seven amino acid, Boc-D-Phe-Cys(Trt)-Phe-D-Trp-Lys(Boc)Thr(tBu)-Cys(Trt)-Cl-trityl-R linear peptide, in which R is a polymer; treatment of the resulting peptidyl-resin with acid, for detachment of the peptide from the resin; cycling the linear structure obtained by reaction with iodine before or after incorporation of the threoninol residue into the terminal carboxy end; incorporating the threoninol residue in solution upon the seven amino acid protected peptide with or without the disulfide bridge formed; and removing the protections at the N-terminus and at the side chains with a treatment with 70-95% TFA in presence of scavengers to obtain octreotide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide wherein at least one of the amino, carboxyl, mercapto or guanidino group in a polypeptide molecule having human granulocyte colony stimulating factor activity is chemically modified by a chemical modifying agent, and a platelet production promoter comprising said polypeptide, a method for treating a patient with decreased platelet counts comprising administering an effective amount of said polypeptide to the patient, the use of said polypeptide for the production of pharmaceutical compositions which are useful for the treatment of the patient with decreased platelet counts, and the compositions for treating the patient with decreased platelet counts, which comprises an effective dose of said polypeptide in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Novel pseudopeptide analogs of the insect allatostatin neuropeptide family which possess biological activity mimicking that of the naturally occurring neuropeptides are disclosed. By addition of a hydrophobic moiety to an active portion of the allatostatin peptides, analogs are produced which exhibit an overall amphiphilic nature and which are capable of penetrating the insect cuticle while still retaining biological activity. Furthermore, by substituting sterically hindered amino acids or aromatic acids for any or all of the first, third or fifth amino acid residues of the allatostatin C-terminal pentapeptide, analogs may be produced which are resistant to degradation by insect peptidases while still retaining biological activity. The analogs may be used for insect control by disrupting critical reproductive and/or developmental processes normally regulated by allatostatins in insects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for promoting the survival of myelin producing cells, in particular SCs and oligodendrocytes. Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to therapeutic methods, utilities, and other related uses.

Abstract: Homologs and analogs of naturally occurring polypeptides contain one or more interaction sites of the natural counterpart. The interaction sites are identified by the presence of flanking conformation-constraining moieties, such as proline or cysteine.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of producing L-aspartyl-D-alanine-N-(thietane-3-yl) amides of general formula I by reacting D-alanine-thietane amides of general formula II with oxazolidinone compounds of general formula III in an inert organic solvent, wherein R.sup.1 stands for H or a selectively separable protective group, R.sup.2 -R.sup.5 independently of one another, are identical or different and stand for H or linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, independently of each other, are identical or different and stand for H, linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, aryl or a group which activates the carbonyl group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compound of the formula: ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof, wherein C.sup.3 and C.sup.2 in combination have the configuration S,R or R,S;wherein Y is straight or branched chain lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain lower alkenyl or alkynyl having 2-6 carbon atoms, cyclic alkyl or alkenyl having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or benzyl; andwherein X is an amino acid or an oligopeptide having from 1 to 8 amino acid residues, the first amino acid residue at the N-terminus of X being a natural or a synthetic L-amino acid having a radius of gyration of less than 1.54 .ANG., X also having a carboxyl or a carboxyamide moiety at its carboxy terminus. The present invention is further directed to a pharmaceutical composition and to a method of inhibiting bradykinin degradation in a patient using the above-described compound.