Abstract: SRIF peptide antagonists, which are selective for SSTR2 in contrast to the other cloned SRIF receptors and which bind with high affinity to the cloned human receptor SSTR2 but do not activate the receptor, have many useful functions. Because they do not bind with significant affinity to SSTR1, SSTR3, SSTR4 or SSTR5, their administration avoids potential undesirable side effects. By incorporating radioiodine or the like in these SSTR2-selective SRIF antagonists, a labeled compound useful in drug-screening methods is provided. Alternatively, for use in therapy, highly radioactive moieties can be N-terminally coupled, complexed or chelated thereto. Because they block the receptor function, they can be used therapeutically to block certain physiological effects which SSTR2 mediates.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical compositions described herein include a suspension which comprises an admixture in solid form of a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and at least one salt of a medium chain fatty acid and a hydrophobic medium, e.g. castor oil or glyceryl tricaprylate or a mixture thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions described herein contain medium chain fatty acid salts and are substantially free of alcohols. The pharmaceutical compositions may be encapsulated in a capsule. Methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering such compositions to affected subjects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods and for increasing the bioavailability of therapeutic agents in a subject. The compositions include at least one alkyl glycoside and at least one therapeutic agent, wherein the alkylglycoside has an alkyl chain length from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms. In various aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods for oral delivery of peptides containing non-naturally occurring structures including D-amino acids and/or chain cyclization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to biocompatible oligomer-polymer compositions for the in situ formation of implants, wherein the implants release a bioactive agent, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof, at a controlled rate. The sustained release delivery system includes a flowable composition containing a bioactive agent, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof, and an implant containing a bioactive agent, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof. The flowable composition may be injected into tissue whereupon it coagulates to become the solid or gel, monolithic implant. The flowable composition includes a biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer, a biocompatible end-capped oligomeric liquid, and a bioactive agent, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising a biodegradable polymer, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of less than 600 Daltons, a pharmaceutically active agent and less than 0.5% of an biologically acceptable organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel octapeptide compounds of general formula (I): H-2-Nal1-cyclo(Cys2-Tyr3-AA4-Lys5-Val6-Cys7)-Thr8-NH2. Since these products have a good affinity for certain somatostatin receptor subtypes, they are particularly advantageous for treating pathological states or diseases in which one (or more) somatostatin receptor(s) is (are) involved. These compounds furthermore have physiochemical properties that make it possible to envisage them in diverse solutions for the formulation of medicaments, for example as a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing said products and to the use thereof for the preparation of a medicament.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for improving wound healing and in particular for preventing scar formation and thus loss of function that can occur in injured tissues during the natural wound healing process. Particularly, although by no means exclusively, the invention relates to the healing of chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for oral drug delivery comprising a solid dosage form containing an effective amount of a therapeutic agent, a permeation enhancer and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a bioadhesive layer containing a bioadhesive polymer, and optionally comprising an impermeable or semi-permeable layer having an opening capable of directing a unidirectional release of the therapeutic agent and the permeation enhancer from the solid dosage form. Methods of making and using the present pharmaceutical composition are also provided.

Abstract: SRIF peptide antagonists, which are selective for SSTR2 in contrast to the other cloned SRIF receptors and which bind with high affinity to the cloned human receptor SSTR2 but do not activate the receptor, have many useful functions. Because they do not bind with significant affinity to SSTR1, SSTR3, SSTR4 or SSTR5, their administration avoids potential undesirable side effects. Because they block the receptor function, they can be used therapeutically to block certain physiological effects which SSTR2 mediates. By incorporating radioiodine or the like in these SSTR2-selective SRIF antagonists, a labeled compound useful in drug-screening methods is provided. Alternatively, for use in therapy, highly radioactive moieties can be N-terminally coupled, complexed or chelated thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sustained release pharmaceutical composition of somatostatin, or an analog of somatostatin, for its use in treating and/or preventing diarrhea and its use in preparing a medicinal product for treating and/or preventing diarrhea.

Abstract: A method of delivering a drug composition comprises providing a carrier having a phosphatidylcholine component and a drug entrapped therein, and applying the composition to the skin for transdermal delivery of the drug, wherein the composition is stable at room temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are an injectable sustained-release pharmaceutical formulation and a process for preparing the same. In some embodiments, the formulation comprises an active ingredient in a therapeutically effective amount, an amphipathic molecule, an organic acid and/or a salt thereof which is hardly soluble in water, and an oily solvent. The injectable sustained-release pharmaceutical formulation provides a good sustained-release effect for various active ingredients, in particular peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and saccharides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in compositions containing a somatostatin-dopamine conjugate which retains both somatostatin and dopamine activity in vivo, methods for preparing such compositions, and method of using such compositions to treat mammals. In particular, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising Dop2-DLys(Dop2)-cyclo[Cys-Tyr-DTrp-Lys-Abu-Cys]-Thr-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1), in which the somatostatin-dopamine conjugate precipitates in vivo at physiological pH to form an in situ deposit that is slowly dissolved and released into the body fluid and bloodstream. The present invention may further comprise an organic component such as dimethylacetamide (DMA) or polyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of 400 (PEG400).

Abstract: The present invention relates to sustained release formulations comprising as active ingredient octreotide or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof and three different linear polylactide-co-glycolide polymers (PLGAs).

Abstract: The present invention provides conjugates of disorazoles and their derivatives with cell-binding molecules, such as peptides, proteins, hormones, blood proteins and antibodies. The present invention further provides novel disorazole derivatives and processes of manufacturing such conjugates and disorazole derivatives. These compounds can be used as medicaments for the treatment of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions in mammals, in particular for the treatment of various tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of cyclopeptides of formula (1), reported here below, which are non-selective functional analogues of somatostatin.

Abstract: The present invention provides conjugates of disorazoles and their derivatives with cell-binding molecules, such as peptides, proteins, hormones, blood proteins and antibodies. The present invention further provides novel disorazole derivatives and processes of manufacturing such conjugates and disorazole derivatives. These compounds can be used as medicaments for the treatment of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions in mammals, in particular for the treatment of various tumors.

Abstract: Methods for long-term lowering of lipid levels in human subjects and for the treatment of conditions associated with elevated LDL-cholesterol and elevated ApoB are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for transdermal drug delivery comprising formulating a phosphatidylcholine carrier composition containing the drug and applying the composition to the skin.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject. The method comprises administering to the nervous system of the subject a composition comprising a thyroxine protein or a therapeutic fragment or pharmacologic mimic thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also provides a method for treating ALS in a subject that comprises administering to the subject a transthyretin protein, 7B2 protein, a cystatin C protein, a neuroendocrine protein, a cysteine protease inhibitor, or an inhibitor of an enzyme that processes a 7B2 protein. In addition, the invention provides methods for determining the susceptibility of a subject to developing ALS and for determining the progression of ALS in a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are microparticles comprising a somatostatin analogue embedded in a biocompatible pharmacologically acceptable polymer matrix for a long acting release and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such microparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a longer sustained-release formulation containing bioactive substances. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for preparing longer sustained-release microcapsules comprising: adding an emulsion including bioactive substances, biocompatible polymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone to an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to graft copolymers of polyvinyl sulfonic-co-vinyl alcohol)-g-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (P(VS-VA)-g-PLGA) with negatively charged electrolyte properties, their method of preparation and their use. These negatively charged graft copolymers are suitable for effective loading and sustained-release of especially positively charged drugs, proteins and peptides, and drug-loaded particles from these grafted co-polymers are especially useful as parenteral or mucosal drug delivery systems for pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid, milky microcrystalline aqueous suspension of a peptide or peptidomimetic and a counter-ion of a strong proton donor in water, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic and counter-ion are present in amounts and at a molar ratio sufficient to form the suspension upon mixing and without formation of a gel. The invention also relates to lyophilized compositions that include a dried suspension, methods of making the lyophilized composition, methods of preparing the suspension, and sustained release formulations prepared by the methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising biologically active proteins linked to extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN), isolated nucleic acids encoding the compositions and vectors and host cells containing the same, and methods of using such compositions in treatment of glucose-related diseases, metabolic diseases, coagulation disorders, and growth hormone-related disorders and conditions.