Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds having a function of a peptide in the amylin family, related nucleic acids, expression constructs, host cells, and processes production of the compounds. The compounds of the invention include one or more amino acid sequence modifications. In addition, methods and compositions are disclosed to treat and prevent metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and increased cardiovascular risk.

Abstract: The invention relates to human procalcitonin and the preparation and use thereof. In particular, a process for preparing human procalcitonin is described wherein a gene coding for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of human procalcitonin is inserted into a vector; a host organism is transformed with this gene-containing vector; and the polypeptide expressed by the host organism is isolated. Furthermore the use of the polypeptides according to the invention, in particular as medicaments and diagnostic agents is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides represented by the following formula (A): wherein Q represents a physiologically active peptide moiety; X each represents the same or different ?-amino acid residue; M represents Gly or Cys; m represents an integer of from 5 to 8; and n represents an integer of from 0 to 3, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The peptides of the present invention have higher stability and/or higher activity than physiologically active linear peptides to which no cyclic peptide is bonded.

Abstract: Calcitonins and calcitonin derivatives such as are employed for therapy for, for example, osteoporosis. Paget's disease or hypercalcemia. The calcitonins and calcitonin derivatives are distinguished by a bridging of the amino acids present in the positions 17 and 21. In this case, by means of a suitable choice of the amino acids present in these positions an 18- or 19-membered ring is produced. This ring leads to an increased conformational stability and to an increased activity of the modified calcitonin. A particularly suitable hCt (human Ct) analog is the cyclo17,21-[Asp17, Orn21]-hCt according to the invention having a 19-membered ring structure between the lactam-bridged Asp17 and Orn21.

Abstract: The invention relates to human procalcitonin and the preparation and use thereof. In particular, a process for preparing human procalcitonin is described wherein a gene coding for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of human procalcitonin is inserted into a vector; a host organism is transformed with this gene-containing vector; and the polypeptide expressed by the host organism is isolated. Furthermore the use of the polypeptides according to the invention, in particular as medicaments and diagnostic agents is described.

Abstract: Superpotent calcitonin analogs have greatly increased hypocalcemic action in vivo. These calcitonins and calcitonin derivatives are employed for the therapy of, for example, osteoporosis, Paget's disease or hypercalcemia. The calcitonins and calcitonin derivatives are distinguished by a bridging of the amino acids present in the positions 17 and 21. By means of suitable choice of the amino acids present in these positions an 18-membered or 19-membered ring is produced. This ring leads to an increased conformational stability and to an increased activity of the modified calcitonin. A particularly suitable hCt (human calcitonin analog) is a cyclo17,21-[Asp17, Orn21]-hCt having a 19-membered ring structure between the lactam-bridged Asp17 and Orn21.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Z represents Gly or Cys; X represents an (.alpha.-amino acid residue; Y represents a natural calcitonin moiety, a partial natural calcitonin peptide moiety, or a natural calcitonin-like peptide moiety; m represents an integer of 5-8, .alpha.-amino acid residues represented by X being the same or different; and n represents an integer of 0-3; provided that when m is 5, the sequence of 4 C-terminal residues of --(X).sub.m -- is different from the sequence of the third to sixth amino acids of natural calcitonin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The improved hybrid calcitonin has a peptide segment in human calcitonin and a peptide segment in calcitonin derived from animals other than humans, such as eel, salmon and chicken. Each of the human or human analog calcitonins and the calcitonins derived from animals other than humans may be either native calcitonin or an analog thereof. The hybrid calcitonin has the outstanding advantage that it exhibits biological activities as strong as eel, salmon and chicken calcitonin while causing no side effects including nausea, disorders in the functions of the digestive tract or antigenicity.

Abstract: In this invention, a peptide of the following general formula is subjected to cyclization reaction to produce a cyclic peptide, preferably a synthetic calcitonin derivative (elcatonin) which is a useful medicine. ##STR1## (wherein A and B form a peptide of the formula Ser-Asn-Leu-Ser-Thr (SEQ ID NO: 47); X means a hydroxyl group, a carboxy-protecting group, an amino acid residue or a peptide residue; provided that the side-chain carboxyl group of .alpha.-L-aminosuberic acid is condensed with an amino acid or a peptide).The cyclic peptide can be obtained by subjecting a peptide of the above general formula to (1) cyclization reaction by chemical condensation, (2) cyclization reaction in the presence of an alkali metal salt and (3) reactions using the techniques of liquid phase synthesis and solid phase synthesis in combination.

Abstract: A freeze-dried pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration which includes a therapeutically effective amount of a calcitonin, as the active ingredient, and human albumin.The injectable solution which is obtained by dissolving the freeze-dried composition in a physiologically acceptable solvent is also described.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a calcitonin gene related peptide and, as an absorption enhancer, a glycyrrhizinate.

Abstract: A chemically-synthesized oligonucleotide composing a portion of the nucleotide sequence of the human IL-2 is employed as a probe to isolate the gene coding for human IL-2. The human IL-2 gene is selected from a cDNA library prepared from RNA produced by mitogen-stimulated Jurkat cells. Double-stranded cDNA is prepared from polyadenylated RNA extracted from bovine cells thought to produce interleukin-2. Such cDNA is inserted within a plasmid vector and the recombinant plasmid employed to transform hosts. Plasmid DNA, prepared from pools of the transformed hosts, is hybridized with a probe composed of a large portion of the coding sequence of the human IL-2 gene. Pools of host cells that provide signal to the human cDNA probe are identified, subdivided, and rescreened until a single positive colony is identified. Bovine plasmid cDNA is prepared from this colony, and the bIL-2 gene is sequenced.