Abstract: The peptides according to the present invention have a high surfactant activity, but no or little hemolytic activity and comprises D-amino acid and acids at a rate of approximately 5% to 40% of the structuring amino acids. The pulmonary surfactant composition of the present invention comprises a mixture of the peptide with a natural lecithin such as soy lecithin and so on Therefore, the pulmonary surfactant composition can be expected to be developed as a pulmonary surfactant without using any animal-derived substance, which has a high surfactant activity and can be produced at reasonable costs and on a large scale.

Abstract: The artificial pulmonary surfactant composition according to the present invention comprises a lipid mixture system containing no protein or peptide or a protein/peptide-lipid mixture prepared by adding a protein or a peptide to the above lipid mixture system. The artificial pulmonary surfactant composition of this invention is useful for RDS and ARDS as well as for the mitigation or prevention of respiratory insufficiencies caused by pneumonia, respiratory difficulties caused by asthma, etc. and it can be prepared at lower costs.

Abstract: The artificial pulmonary surfactant composition according to the present invention comprises a lipid mixture system containing no protein or peptide or a protein/peptide-lipid mixture prepared by adding a protein or a peptide to the above lipid mixture system. The artificial pulmonary surfactant composition of this invention is useful for RDS and ARDS as well as for the mitigation or prevention of respiratory insufficiencies caused by pneumonia, respiratory difficulties caused by asthma, etc. and it can be prepared at lower costs.