Abstract: Polymeric delivery agents, delivery agent compounds and compositions comprising them which are useful in the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.

Abstract: Phenoxy carboxylic acid compounds and compositions for the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal, including (1) limiting epithelial cell proliferation, (2) inhibiting ulcerative lesion formation, (3) inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases, and (4) stimulating the repair of ulcerative lesions and the regeneration of the luminal tissue. The methods and compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogen as defined herein.

Abstract: The invention is a treatment for increasing the bone mass or preventing bone loss in an individual afflicted with a bone disease which includes administering to the individual a morphogen in a therapeutically effective amount so as to maintain or stimulate bone formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal including: enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying; inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways; stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype; and promoting dendritic outgrowth, including maintaining dendritic arbors and regenerating dendritic architecture. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for administering an active agent to an animal in need of the agent by the pulmonary route. This method comprises administering via the pulmonary route, a composition comprising (a) an active agent and (b)(i) an acylated amino acid, (ii) a sulfonated amino acid, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). Administration of the compositions of the present invention provide improved pulmonary delivery and greater bioavailability of the active agent than administration of the active agent alone. As a result, lesser amounts of the active agent may be administered to obtain a desired result when contained in the composition of the present invention than when administered alone.

Abstract: Polymeric delivery agents, delivery agent compounds and compositions comprising them which are useful in the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.

Abstract: The invention is a treatment for increasing the bone mass or preventing bone loss in an individual afflicted with a bone disease which includes administering to the individual a morphogen in a therapeutically effective amount so as to maintain or stimulate bone formation.

Abstract: Polymeric delivery agents, delivery agent compounds and compositions comprising them which are useful in the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.

Abstract: Disclosed are a family of single-chain polypeptide constructs designed to agonize or mimic members of the TGF-&bgr; superfamily by binding to a cell surface receptor complementary to the superfamily member. The single-chain constructs of the invention called “morphons” contain in a single biologically active subunit interacting finger and heel regions which together define a tertiary protein structure complimentary to the ligand binding surface of a receptor that binds a TGF-&bgr; superfamily member. Also disclosed are truncated versions of the morphon constructs. Methods are disclosed for making and using single-chain morphons that have binding affinity for predetermined receptors of the TGF-&bgr; superfamily.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal, including (1) limiting epithelial cell proliferation, (2) inhibiting ulcerative lesion formation, (3) inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases, and (4) stimulating the repair of ulcerative lesions and the regeneration of the luminal tissue. The methods and compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogen as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for administering an active agent to an animal in need of the agent by the pulmonary route. This method comprises administering via the pulmonary route, a composition comprising (a) an active agent and (b)(i) an acylated amino acid, (ii) a sulfonated amino acid, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). Administration of the compositions of the present invention provide improved pulmonary delivery and greater bioavailability of the active agent than administration of the active agent alone. As a result, lesser amounts of the active agent may be administered to obtain a desired result when contained in the composition of the present invention than when administered alone.

Abstract: Disclosed are a family of single-chain polypeptide constructs designed to agonize or mimic members of the TGF-&bgr; superfamily by binding to a cell surface receptor complementary to the superfamily member. The single-chain constructs of the invention called “morphons” contain in a single biologically active subunit interacting finger and heel regions which together define a tertiary protein structure complimentary to the ligand binding surface of a receptor that binds a TGF-&bgr; superfamily member . Also disclosed are truncated versions of the morphon constructs. Methods are disclosed for making and using single-chain morphons that have binding affinity for predetermined receptors of the TGF-&bgr; superfamily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pulmonary delivery of active agents. Acylated or sufonated amino acids are used as carriers to facilitate pulmonary delivery of active agents to a target.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal, including (1) limiting epithelial cell proliferation, (2) inhibiting ulcerative lesion formation, (3) inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases, and (4) stimulating the repair of ulcerative lesions and the regeneration of the luminal tissue. The methods and compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogen as defined herein.

Abstract: The invention is a treatment for increasing the bone mass or preventing bone loss in an individual afflicted with a bone disease which includes administering to the individual a morphogen in a therapeutically effective amount so as to maintain or stimulate bone formation.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for collecting and analyzing an airborne particulate radionuclide having a filter mounted in a housing, the housing having an air inlet upstream of the filter and an air outlet downstream of the filter, wherein an air stream flows therethrough. The air inlet receives the air stream, the filter collects the airborne particulate radionuclide and permits a filtered air stream to pass through the air outlet. The improvement which permits real time counting is a gamma detecting germanium diode mounted downstream of the filter in the filtered air stream. The gamma detecting germanium diode is spaced apart from a downstream side of the filter a minimum distance for a substantially maximum counting detection while permitting substantially free air flow through the filter and uniform particulate radionuclide deposition on the filter.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, homologies, structural features and various other data characterizing a morphogen cell surface receptor; (2) methods for producing receptor proteins, including fragments thereof, using recombinant DNA technology; (3) methods for identifying novel morphogen receptors and their encoding DNAs; (4) methods for identifying compounds capable of modulating endogenous morphogen receptor levels; and (5) methods for identifying morphogen receptor binding analogs useful in the design of morphogen agonists and antagonists for therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental uses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for enhancing viability of organs and living tissues to be transplanted in a mammal. The methods and compositions provide a therapeutically effective concentration of a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent to the tissue or organ to be transplanted, sufficient to substantially protect the tissue or organ from tissue damage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for alleviating tissue destructive effects associated with the inflammatory response to tissue injury in a mammal. The methods and compositions include administering a therapeutically effective concentration of a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent sufficient to alleviate immune cell-mediated tissue destruction.