US20080193997A1 - Liquid Preparation of Physiologically Active Peptide - Google Patents

Liquid Preparation of Physiologically Active Peptide Download PDF

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US20080193997A1
US20080193997A1 US11/660,406 US66040605A US2008193997A1 US 20080193997 A1 US20080193997 A1 US 20080193997A1 US 66040605 A US66040605 A US 66040605A US 2008193997 A1 US2008193997 A1 US 2008193997A1
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ghrelin
liquid preparation
acid
preparation according
liquid
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Masaru Matsumoto
Masako Matsumoto
Takeshi Hanada
Naomi Wakabayashi
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Asubio Pharma Co Ltd
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/08—Solutions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
    • A61K9/0019—Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/04—Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • A61K38/22—Hormones
    • A61K38/25—Growth hormone-releasing factor [GH-RF], i.e. somatoliberin
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
    • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
    • A61K47/14—Esters of carboxylic acids, e.g. fatty acid monoglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, parabens or PEG fatty acid esters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P13/00—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
    • A61P13/10—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system of the bladder
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A61P3/08—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis
    • A61P3/10—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P5/00—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P5/00—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
    • A61P5/06—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system of the anterior pituitary hormones, e.g. TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, PRL, GH
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P5/00—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
    • A61P5/10—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system of the posterior pituitary hormones, e.g. oxytocin, ADH
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P5/00—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
    • A61P5/14—Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system of the thyroid hormones, e.g. T3, T4
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
    • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
    • A61K47/10—Alcohols; Phenols; Salts thereof, e.g. glycerol; Polyethylene glycols [PEG]; Poloxamers; PEG/POE alkyl ethers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
    • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
    • A61K47/12—Carboxylic acids; Salts or anhydrides thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
    • A61K47/22—Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid, tocopherol or pyrrolidones
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
    • A61K47/26—Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/30—Macromolecular organic or inorganic compounds, e.g. inorganic polyphosphates
    • A61K47/36—Polysaccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. gums, starch, alginate, dextrin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, inulin, agar or pectin
    • A61K47/40—Cyclodextrins; Derivatives thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid preparation of a physiologically active peptide or a physiologically active protein with improved bioavailability, as well as to a method for improving the bioavailability of a physiologically active peptide or a physiologically active protein.
  • physiologically active peptides or physiologically proteins are currently available in the market place.
  • physiologically active peptides or physiologically proteins are insulin, growth hormones, atrial natriuretic peptide, calcitonin, LHRH analogues, parathyroid hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone derivatives. Since these compounds are deactivated in the gastrointestinal tract by the action of proteases, they are rarely administered in oral preparations; most are formulated as parenteral preparations such as injections for clinical use.
  • BA biological availability
  • EBA extent of bioavailability
  • Ghrelin an endogenous growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that binds to growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), is a physiologically active peptide first isolated from rat stomach in 1999 (Non-Patent Document 1). Ghrelins with similar primary structures were later isolated from, or suggested by cDNA analysis to be present in, other vertebrates, including human, mice, pigs, chickens, eel, cows, horses, sheep, frogs, rainbow trout and dogs. Their primary structures were shown in Table 1. Ghrelin has also been isolated from cats and goats.
  • Endogenous ghrelin found in these animals is a peptide that has a unique hydrophobic modified structure in which the serine (S) or threonine (T) residue at position 3 is acylated with a fatty acid such as octanoic acid and decanoic acid.
  • Ghrelin binds to growth hormone secretagogue receptor to increase the intracellular level of calcium ions. Studies have revealed that ghrelin is a potent growth hormone secretagogue that modulates the secretion of growth hormone. Thus, the physiological roles and potential pharmaceutical applications of ghrelin have attracted significant interest (Patent Document 1). In the present invention, all types of naturally occurring ghrelins are collectively referred as “ghrelin.”
  • Ghrelin derivatives or analogues obtained by partial deletion or substitution of natural animal ghrelin have also drawn much attention as treatment for various diseases (Patent Document 3).
  • the hydrophobic modified structure does not contain an octanoyl group (C 8 ) as in natural ghrelin, but a different modified structure, such as that containing a fatty acid having 2 to 20, preferably about 4 to 12 carbon atoms, including, for example, a hexanoyl group (C 6 ), a decanoyl group (C 10 ) and a dodecanoyl group (C 12 ), that containing a fatty acid branched or unsaturated derivatives thereof, that containing an aromatic ring, such as a phenylpropionyl group, and that containing an adamantane backbone.
  • a different modified structure such as that containing a fatty acid having 2 to 20, preferably about 4 to 12 carbon atoms, including, for example, a hexanoyl group (C 6 ), a decanoyl group (C 10 ) and a dodecanoyl group (C 12 ), that containing a
  • hydrophobic modified structure of natural animal ghrelin is bound to the peptide backbone via an ester linkage, this linkage may be provided by an ester, ether, thioether, amide, or disulfide linkage in ghrelin derivatives (Patent Document 1).
  • ghrelins comprising ghrelin, ghrelin derivatives and ghrelin analogues in pharmaceutical products
  • no viable pharmaceutical compositions have yet to be designed and much still remains unknown about the pharmacokinetics of the compounds.
  • Patent Document 2 describes the effect of pH on aqueous solutions of ghrelins, as well as a method for preventing decomposition of the hydrophobic modified structure of ghrelins.
  • ghrelins are stable in an aqueous solution in a pH range of 2 to 7.
  • the pH of the solution can be adjusted by pH adjusters and buffers.
  • the buffer is used to minimize the pH change of the aqueous solution during storage.
  • Patent Document 2 glycine-hydrochloric acid buffer, acetic acid buffer, citric acid buffer, lactic acid buffer, phosphoric acid buffer, citric acid-phosphoric acid buffer, phosphoric acid-acetic acid-boric acid buffer and phthalic acid buffer (Patent Document 2, p. 11, lines 5-14).
  • Patent Document 2 the stability of ghrelin is tested in McIlvaine buffer (a mixture of aqueous citric acid and an aqueous solution of disodium hydrogen phosphate), Britton-Robinson buffer (a mixture of aqueous phosphoric acid/acetic acid/boric acid and an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution), citric acid buffer, glycine-hydrochloric acid buffer and acetic acid buffer. While Patent Document 2 describes that the stability of ghrelins in each solution was ensured by maintaining the pH of the solution within a range of 2 to 7, nothing is mentioned about the kinetics of the compound when it is administered to patients.
  • McIlvaine buffer a mixture of aqueous citric acid and an aqueous solution of disodium hydrogen phosphate
  • Britton-Robinson buffer a mixture of aqueous phosphoric acid/acetic acid/boric acid and an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution
  • citric acid buffer glycine-hydrochloric
  • compositions containing a peptide or a protein it is important to ensure the stability of the peptide or the protein prior to administration since peptides and proteins are generally unstable in aqueous solutions. It is, however, more important to design a preparation that can effectively elicit the activity of the administered compound.
  • Patent Document 1 International Patent Publication No. WO 01/07475
  • Patent Document 2 International Patent Publication No. WO 03/097083
  • Patent Document 3 Published Japanese translation of PCT application No. 2004-514651
  • Patent Document 4 Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-40166
  • Patent Document 5 Japanese Patent No. 2643426
  • Patent Document 6 Published Japanese translation of PCT application No. 2004-522803
  • Patent Document 7 Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 2-19092
  • Patent Document 8 Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-24129
  • Patent Document 9 Japanese Patent No. 3120987
  • Non-Patent Document 1 Kojima et al., Nature, vol. 402, pp. 656-660, 1999
  • Non-Patent Document 2 Tokihiro et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., vol. 52, pp. 911-917, 2000
  • a physiologically active peptide, ghrelins are susceptible to digestion by proteases and is thus preferably administered by parenteral routes, in particular, by injection. Even when ghrelins are administered by injection, in the subcutaneous administration it is still necessary to ensure that injected ghrelin is absorbed from the injection site and reaches blood circulation. However, in general, the low BA of subcutaneously injected peptides makes it difficult to design effective injections.
  • the BA of subcutaneously injected peptides is generally known to be about 20% to 40%, which is lower than the BA of other drugs.
  • Possible factors for the change in the rate of BA of a given drug are the efficiency and the rate of transfer of the drug from the application site to nearby peripheral blood. These factors are dependent upon properties of the drug and the application site, including molecular weight, pKa and fat solubility and other physicochemical properties that determine the diffusibility of the drug in bodily fluids and tissues and the permeability of the drug through biological membranes, as well as the histological morphology and physiological properties of the application site.
  • a low BA of a given drug must be compensated for by increasing the dose and the frequency of administration to achieve the effective plasma level of the drug. Since this poses a significant burden to patients, preparation technology is needed to increase the BA of the drug.
  • the present inventors examined the blood level of ghrelins after administration by injection.
  • ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin ghrelin glycerol, urea as a solubilizing agent.
  • sodium acetate buffer pH 4.0
  • the BA of ghrelin can be controlled by varying the type, concentration and pH of the acidic solution.
  • the BA of ghrelin can be improved to a different degree depending on the type of the acidic solution. This suggests that factors other than the type and the pH of ghrelin preparation or ghrelin solution are involved in the improvement of the BA of ghrelin.
  • the acidic solution comprises one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, glycine, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof;
  • liquid preparation according to (8) or (9) above, wherein the polar organic liquid is one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, ethanol, phenol, tert-butanol, chlorobutanol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide;
  • physiologically active peptide or the physiologically active protein is one selected from the group consisting of ghrelins, human glucagon-like peptide-1 (hGLP-1), human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP), human adrenomedulin, human parathyroid hormone (hPTH(1-34)) and human insulin;
  • a liquid preparation comprising: ghrelins as an active ingredient; an acid solution comprising one or a combination of two or more selected form the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and/or phosphoric acid; and a polar organic liquid comprising one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, ethanol, phenol, tert-butanol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide, wherein the liquid preparation has a pH in the range of 3.0 to 7.0; and
  • a method for improving bioavailability of ghrelins comprising adding an acidic solution and a polar organic liquid to an aqueous solution of ghrelins.
  • an effective liquid preparation that achieves high bioavailability (BA) of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelins, these are administered as drugs.
  • BA bioavailability
  • the present invention makes it possible to maintain the blood level of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelins, that are subcutaneously injected: To date, it has been considered difficult to maintain therapeutically effective plasma levels of subcutaneously injected peptides and proteins. The present invention therefore is of significant medical importance.
  • liquid preparation of the present invention containing as an active ingredient a physiologically active peptide or protein, such as ghrelins, will now be described in detail, as well as the method for improving the BA of a physiologically active peptide or protein.
  • a physiologically active peptide or protein such as ghrelins
  • Ghrelins for use in the present invention are endogenous growth hormone secretagogues (GHS): They are peptides that act to increase the intracellular level of calcium ions and to induce the secretion of growth hormone.
  • GGS growth hormone secretagogues
  • ghrelins encompasses all ghrelin derivatives that result from insertion, deletion, substitution and/or addition in the amino acid sequence of the peptide backbone of ghrelin naturally occurring in animals and that have physiological activities equivalent to natural ghrelin.
  • Natural ghrelin for use in the present invention is preferably a natural ghrelin derived from human, rats, pigs, chickens, eel, cows, horses, sheep, frogs, rainbow trout and dogs.
  • Ghrelin derivatives suitable for use in the present invention include those in which the serine residue at position 3 is acylated not with octanoyl group, but with a fatty acid having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, or des-octanoyl ghrelin that does not have the octanoyl modification on the serine residue at position 3.
  • Human ghrelin is preferably used when the liquid preparation is intended for administration to human patients.
  • Ghrelins may be provided in the form of a free peptide or a salt. Ghrelins in the free peptide form and the salt form can be converted into each other by common techniques.
  • the free peptide may be converted into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt by reacting it with an inorganic acid or an organic acid.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable salt include salts formed with inorganic acids, such as carbonates, bicarbonates, hydrochlorides, sulphates, nitrates and borates, and salts formed with organic acids, such as succinates, acetates, propionates and trifluoroacetates.
  • the peptide may also form salts with inorganic bases including alkaline metals such as sodium and potassium and alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, or organic bases including organic amines such as triethylamine, and basic amino acids such as arginine.
  • the peptide may also form a metal complex (such as copper complex and zinc complex).
  • Ghrelins for use in the present invention may be of any origin: It may be isolated from natural raw materials, or it may be obtained by common techniques such as chemical synthesis, chemical semisynthesis, gene recombination or combinations of these techniques. Alternatively, it may be extracted from living organisms. One example of such techniques is described in Patent Document 1.
  • Ghrelins may be used in the liquid preparation of the present invention at any concentration suitable for use in pharmaceutical products. Specifically, the lowest concentration of ghrelins is defined as the concentration at which it can provide the desired effect as pharmaceutical products whereas the highest concentration is defined as the concentration at which it can completely dissolve in an aqueous solution.
  • the concentration of ghrelins in the liquid preparation is preferably in the commonly used range of about 0.03 nmol/mL to about 15 ⁇ mol/mL, and more preferably in the range of about 0.03 nmol/mL to about 6 ⁇ mol/mL.
  • the acidic solution for use in the liquid preparation of the present invention is a solution of a carboxyl-containing compound.
  • Example of the acidic solutions include acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, boric acid, carbonic acid, bicarbonic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, methanesulfonic acid, malic acid, trifluoroacetic acid and salts thereof.
  • the acidic solution may contain one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of the salts of these acids.
  • the acidic solution contains one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, glycine, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof. More preferably, the acidic solution contains one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and/or phosphoric acid, and salts thereof.
  • the concentration of the acidic solution may be any concentration that can increase the BA of ghrelin: It is preferably in the range of 1 mM to 1000 mM and more preferably in the range of 10 mM to 500 mM.
  • the change in the pH of the aqueous solution is kept as small as possible in order to ensure stability of ghrelins during storage.
  • a buffer can be used.
  • the buffer preferably has a pH in the range of 3.0 to 7.0.
  • the pH of the liquid preparation is stabilized following the addition of the buffer, the pH may vary by about 0.1 to about 0.2 due to the concentration of the used buffer or under specific conditions. Such variation is also encompassed by the present invention.
  • the buffer for use in the present invention include acetic acid buffer (including sodium acetate buffer and ammonium acetate buffer), lactic acid buffer, phosphoric acid buffer (including sodium phosphate buffer), glycine hydrochloride buffer, citric acid buffer (including sodium citrate buffer), citric acid-phosphoric acid buffer (including Mcilvaine buffer), phosphoric acid-acetic acid-boric acid buffer (including Britton-Robinson buffer), phthalic acid buffer and propionic acid buffer. These buffers may be used either individually or in combination. Acetic acid buffer, butyric acid buffer, propionic acid buffer, lactic acid buffer and/or phosphoric acid buffer are particularly suitable for use in the present invention.
  • the liquid preparation preferably has a pH in the range of 3.0 to 7.0 and more preferably in the range of 4.0 to 7.0.
  • the liquid preparation with a pH less than 3.0 can increase the BA of ghrelin, it can cause pain especially when used as an injection and is undesirable.
  • a pH adjuster may be used to adjust the pH of the liquid preparation of the present invention.
  • the pH adjuster include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, boric acid, carbonic acid, bicarbonic acid, gluconic acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, aqueous ammonia, citric acid, monoethanolamine, lactic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, malic acid, propionic acid, trifluoroacetic acid and salts thereof.
  • a polar organic liquid may be used in the present invention.
  • the addition of the polar organic liquid serves to increase the BA of subcutaneously injected ghrelin more than the acidic solution alone would. It is our finding that the addition of a polar organic liquid, such as an alcohol, to the liquid preparation of the present invention can increase the BA of ghrelin or modulate the absorption pattern of ghrelin.
  • Injections must be sterile.
  • a preservative or a sterilizer may be added to an injection especially when the injection is used in multiple uses.
  • Examples of the additive used for this purpose include benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, phenol and paraoxybenzoates.
  • an injection may contain a pain-reliever to alleviate the pain.
  • the additive used for this purpose include benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, phenol and local anesthetics such as procaine and xylocaine.
  • Patent Document 4 describes an injection that contains, in addition to an active ingredient, benzyl alcohol or its analogue as a pain-reliever, and cyclodextrin. Benzyl alcohol is used to reduce the pain associated with injection. Benzyl alcohol or its analogue is used to prevent hemolysis caused by benzyl alcohol.
  • Alcohols are often used as preservatives, sterilizers or pain-relievers.
  • the present inventors have found that alcohols and other polar organic liquids enhance the ability of the acidic solution to increase the BA of ghrelin in the liquid preparation. No previous studies have reported this unique phenomenon.
  • Examples of the alcohol for use in the present invention include benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, phenol, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, isopropanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, cresol, m-cresol, chlorocresol, paraoxybenzoates (such as methylparaben and ethylparaben), inositol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, cetanol, stearyl alcohol, hexyldecanol, hexanetriol, behenyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, glycerol (glycerin), ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, menthol, borneol, maltol, ethylmaltol, eugenol, geraniol, thymol, diisopropanolamine,
  • certain polar organic liquids such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide and methylparaben, also serve to increase the BA of ghrelin.
  • polar organic liquids may be used either individually or in combination.
  • the polar organic liquid may be used in any amount that provides its intended effect and that does not pose any problems during production and long term storage of the drugs of the present invention.
  • the amount of the polar organic liquid is such that when the liquid preparation is formed into a solution for administration, the concentration of the polar organic liquid in the solution is typically in the range of 0.001 to 80% (w/v) and preferably in the range of 0.1 to 20% (w/v).
  • additives may also be added to the liquid preparation of the present invention depending on the desired purpose.
  • isotonic agents such as sodium chloride and mannitol
  • sterilizers such as sodium benzoate
  • antioxidants such as sodium bisulfite, sodium pyrosulfite and ascorbic acid
  • pain-relievers such as lidocaine hydrochloride and meprylcaine hydrochloride.
  • the present invention provides a liquid preparation that contains as an active ingredient a physiologically active peptide or protein, including ghrelins, and that ensures high BA.
  • Additives may be added to the liquid preparation to provide properties required for each preparation. For example, certain additives are added to injections to provide optimum osmotic pressure, optimum solubility, low irritancy, high sterilizing effect and adsorption prevention.
  • the liquid preparation in accordance with the present invention is intended for parenteral administration. Specifically, it is intended for injection, infusion and nasal administration. While the present invention can be applied to different types of injection, including intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, intracutaneous injection, intramuscular injection and intravenous drip infusion, the increase in the BA is most significant in subcutaneous injection and intramuscular injection.
  • the liquid preparation of the present invention can be produced by processes commonly used in the production of pharmaceutical products.
  • a freeze dried product of a physiologically active peptide or protein, including ghrelins is dissolved in purified water to form a drug solution.
  • a buffer and other additives are dissolved in purified water to form an additive solution.
  • the drug solution and the additive solution are mixed together and the mixture is processed as required (e.g., sterilization and filtration).
  • the processed mixture is sealed in ampoules or vials to obtain a finished product of ghrelin preparation.
  • Injections are often provided in the form of a preparation that is formed into a solution upon use. This type of preparation is desirable when it is difficult to maintain the stability of active ingredients in the form of a solution.
  • the present invention also encompasses the dissolved-upon-use preparation that can be formed into a liquid preparation containing as an active ingredient a physiologically active peptide or protein, including ghrelins.
  • the dissolved-upon-use preparation can be produced by either of the following two procedures:
  • the above-described additives are properly selected and added in desired amounts to a solid ghrelin product, such as powdered ghrelin, to form a solid composition, or the above-described additives are properly selected and added in desired amounts to an aqueous solution of ghrelins to form a liquid composition, which in turn is dried to make a solid composition.
  • these solid compositions are dissolved in a solvent such as water to form a liquid preparation.
  • Solvents other than water, such as ethanol and 2-propanol may also be used in pharmaceutically acceptable amounts.
  • a sugar may also be added to the preparation of the present invention when the physiologically active peptide or protein, including ghrelins, is provided in the form of a solid composition.
  • the sugar when used in conjunction with the acidic solution and/or the polar organic liquid, the sugar serves to further increase the BA of the physiologically active peptide or protein, including ghrelins.
  • sugar for use in the present invention examples include monosaccharides, such as mannitol, glucose, fructose, inositol, sorbitol and xylitol; disaccharides, such as sucrose, lactose, maltose and trehalose; polysaccharides, such as starch, dextran, pullulan, alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, pectic acid, phytic acid, phytin, chitin and chitosan; dextrins, such as ⁇ -cyclodextrin, ⁇ -cyclodextrin, ⁇ -cyclodextrin, dextrin, hydroxypropyl starch and hydroxyethyl starch; and celluloses, such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium. These sugars may be used either
  • mannitol mannitol
  • sucrose sucrose
  • glucose a particularly preferred for use in the present invention with cyclodextrin being most preferred.
  • Non-Patent Document 2 sulfobutylether ⁇ -cyclodextrin derivatives
  • Patent Document 6 describes a preparation containing an interferon polypeptide and sulfoalkylether cyclodextrin.
  • the sulfoalkylether cyclodextrin derivative serves as a stabilizer of the composition and helps maintain the biological activity of the interferon polypeptide.
  • Patent Document 7 describes a nasal preparation containing a physiologically active polypeptide and cyclodextrin while Patent Document 8 describes a vaginal preparation containing a physiologically active polypeptide and cyclodextrin.
  • the nasal preparation and the vaginal preparation are each developed as a non-injection preparation that facilitates the mucosal absorption of the physiologically active polypeptide, which otherwise is hydrolyzed by enzymes present in the gastrointestinal lumen or wall.
  • cyclodextrin acts to facilitate the absorption of physiologically active polypeptides.
  • Patent Document 9 describes a method for solubilizing and stabilizing interferon and other proteins with the help of ⁇ - and ⁇ -cyclodextrins.
  • Patent Document 9 describes a method for solubilizing and stabilizing interferon and other proteins with the help of ⁇ - and ⁇ -cyclodextrins.
  • none of these literatures suggest or disclose the present invention to increase the BA of subcutaneously injected physiologically active peptides or proteins.
  • sugars can be used either individually or in combination.
  • the sugar may be used in any amount that provides its intended effect, that does not pose any problems during production and long term storage of the drug, and that provides the liquid preparation with a proper viscosity that does not pose any problems during production and administration of the liquid preparation.
  • the amount of the sugar is such that when the liquid preparation is formed into a solution for administration, the concentration of the sugar in the solution is in the range of 0.1 to 20% (w/v).
  • the present invention demonstrates that the addition of an acidic solution, a polar organic liquid or a sugar to a liquid preparation containing a physiologically active peptide or protein can significantly increase the BA of the peptide or protein even when the preparation is subcutaneously injected.
  • physiologically active peptide or protein for use in the present invention include ghrelin and derivatives and analogues thereof, human glucagon-like peptide-1 (hGLP-1), human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP), human adrenomedulin, human parathyroid hormone (hPTH(1-34)) and human insulin.
  • the present invention offers a new way of subcutaneously administering physiologically active peptides or proteins, such as ghrelins, that otherwise cannot be subcutaneously administered to achieve pharmaceutically effective plasma levels.
  • Human ghrelin was dissolved in a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution, physiological saline or a 10% (w/v) aqueous sucrose solution at different concentrations as shown in Table 2 below to make Preparations No. 1 through 5 and No. 34 and 35.
  • the following buffers were prepared as described below: 0.5M sodium acetate buffer, 0.5M ammonium acetate buffer, 0.5M acetic acid buffer, 0.5M sodium phosphate buffer, 0.5M citric acid buffer, 0.5M glycine hydrochloride buffer, 1M lactic acid buffer, 0.06M propionic acid buffer and 0.06M n-butyric acid buffer.
  • the pH of each buffer is shown in the parenthesis.
  • buffers or solutions obtained by diluting the buffers were used as acidic solutions.
  • the acidic solutions, human ghrelin and optional additives were mixed together to make Preparations No. 6 through 33, No. 51 through 59, No. 73, and No. 81 through 97, containing human ghrelin at concentrations shown in Table 3.
  • the buffers above or solutions obtained by diluting the buffers were used as acidic solutions.
  • the acidic solutions, different peptides and optional additives were mixed together to make Preparations No. 36 through 50 and No. 98 through 107, containing peptides at concentrations shown in Table 4.
  • Preparations No. 2 and No. 3 obtained in Comparative Example 1 were intravenously and subcutaneously administered to rats and the plasma levels of ghrelin were measured.
  • the plasma samples were then analyzed for the ghrelin levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an anti-ghrelin antibody.
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • the anti-ghrelin antibody and then [ 125 I-Tyr 29 ]ghrelin were added to each plasma sample for competition.
  • a secondary antibody was added to precipitate the antibody-ghrelin complex.
  • the supernatant was separated and analyzed for radioactivity by a ⁇ -counter (Packard Instruments Co., Ltd.).
  • the assay can specifically detect the active ghrelin.
  • FIG. 1 shows the changes in the plasma ghrelin concentrations over time.
  • the results shown in FIG. 1 were used to determine the following pharmacokinetic parameters for each injection route: the maximum plasma ghrelin concentration (C max ) and the time it took before the maximum plasma concentration was reached (T max ).
  • the concentration (C 0 ) at time 0 was extrapolated for intravenous administration.
  • the trapezoidal method the area under the concentration curve (AUC) was also calculated for each injection route.
  • the AUCs were then used to determine the bioavailability (BA) of ghrelin.
  • BA bioavailability
  • the AUC for the intravenous administration of Preparation No. 2 at a dose of 10 ⁇ g/kg was determined to be 205.98 ng ⁇ min/mL
  • the AUC for the subcutaneous administration of Preparation No. 3 at a dose of 50 ⁇ g/kg was determined to be 25.72 ng ⁇ min/mL.
  • the BA of human ghrelin dissolved in a 5% aqueous mannitol solution was determined to be 2.5%.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 6 and No. 7 were 22.9% and 35.3%, respectively. These were surprisingly high as compared to the BA for Preparation No. 34 with physiological saline (5.0%) and the BA for Preparation No. 3 with a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution (2.5%): Regardless of the pH of the 0.5M sodium acetate buffer, the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased by the addition of the sodium acetate buffer. With the sodium acetate buffer, the BA was 9 to 14 times higher than the BA obtained for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11 were 35.3%, 20.9%, 7.0%, 8.9% and 16.3%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in any of the acidic buffer solutions, each having a pH of 4.0, as compared to the BA for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 12, No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15 were 34.0%, 28.1%, 13.8% and 4.8%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in any of the acidic solutions (pH 4.0) and a sodium acetate concentration in the range of 0.01 M to 0.5 M, as compared to the BA for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 13, No. 16 and No. 17 were 28.1%, 16.6% and 9.1%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in any of the liquid preparations, each formulated with a 0.1M sodium acetate solution serving as an acidic solution and having a pH in the range of 4.0 to 6.0, as compared to the BA for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 18, No. 19, No. 20, No. 21, No. 22 and No. 23 were 17.7%, 8.0%, 5.3%, 15.0%, 10.6% and 5.4%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in any of the liquid preparations, each formulated with a phosphoric acid buffer (pH 4.0 to 5.0), as compared to the BA for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • Preparation No. 14 contained an acidic solution and a sugar, but not any alcohols.
  • Preparation No. 30 contained the same acidic solution and sugar as in Preparation No. 14 and further contains benzyl alcohol.
  • the BA of ghrelin in Preparation No. 30 was twice as high as that in the alcohol-free Preparation No. 14. It was also demonstrated that the presence of an alcohol results in an increase in the BA of ghrelin regardless of the type and the concentration of the alcohol.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 24, No. 13 and No. 25 were 38.2%, 28.1% and 19.4%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly higher in any of the liquid preparations that contain the sodium acetate buffer serving as an acidic solution and 0, 10 or 20% (w/v) sucrose than in the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the presence of sucrose resulted in a increase in the T1/2 of ghrelin in Preparations No. 13 and No. 25 than in the sucrose-free Preparation No. 24.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 35, No. 53, No. 84 and No. 85 were 3.0%, 22.4%, 21.3% and 8.7%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was increased in Preparation No. 35 containing only sucrose, the increase was relatively small (3.0%). It was demonstrated that the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in any of the liquid preparations that contained the same acidic solution and the same alcohol, but different sugars, as compared to the BA for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution.
  • the increase in the BA was higher for sucrose and glucose than for dextran 70.
  • the BA was markedly increased in any of Preparations No 87 through No. 97.
  • the BAs of ghrelin in the sucrose-containing Preparation No. 53 and in the glucose-containing Preparation No. 84 were 22.4% and 21.3%, respectively.
  • the increase in the BA of ghrelin was comparably high in any of the liquid preparations using cyclodextrin.
  • the AUC for Preparations No. 26, No. 13, No. 27 and No. 28 were 49.28 ng ⁇ min/mL, 289.90 ng ⁇ min/mL, 1580.28 ng ⁇ min/mL and 15050.59 ng ⁇ min/mL, respectively.
  • the BAs of ghrelin for these preparations were 23.9%, 28.1%, 30.7% and 36.5%, respectively. This observation indicates that the absorption of ghrelin does not reach saturation and keeps increasing as the dose of ghrelin is increased from 10 ⁇ g/kg to 2,000 ⁇ g/kg.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 13, No. 14, No. 29 and No. 30 were 28.1%, 13.8%, 39.3% and 25.2%, respectively.
  • the presence of 1% (w/v) benzyl alcohol resulted in a markedly increase in the BA of ghrelin in each of the liquid preparations containing 0.1M or 0.03M sodium acetate buffer serving as an acidic solution, as compared to their benzyl alcohol-free counterparts. This indicates the ability of benzyl alcohol to increase the BA of ghrelin.
  • Preparations No. 30 and No. 31 were subcutaneously administered.
  • Preparation No. 30 was administered in a volume of 1 mL/kg and Preparation No. 31 in a volume of 50 ⁇ L/kg (a microsyringe (SGE. Co., Ltd.) was used to administer 50 ⁇ L/kg), so that the same dose 50 ⁇ g/kg of ghrelin would be delivered by the two preparations.
  • the blood samples were collected in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2 and the plasma ghrelin levels were measured by RIA method.
  • the pharmacokinetic parameters are shown in Table 18 below.
  • Preparations No. 31 and No. 32 were subcutaneously administered at a dose of 50 ⁇ L/kg, so that the same dose of ghrelin would be delivered by the two preparations (50 ⁇ g/kg).
  • the blood samples were collected in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2 and the plasma ghrelin levels were measured by RIA method.
  • the pharmacokinetic parameters are shown in Table 19 below.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 31 and No. 32 were 23.2% and 43.2%, respectively.
  • the acidic buffer used in Preparation No. 31 was prepared by adding hydrochloric acid to an aqueous sodium acetate solution to a pH of 4.0
  • the acidic buffer used in Preparation No. 32 was prepared by adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to acetic acid to a pH of 4.0.
  • the BA of ghrelin was markedly increased in each of the two liquid preparations as compared to the BA obtained for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution. This indicates that the presence of an acidic buffer increases the BA of ghrelin regardless of the preparation process of the acidic solution.
  • Preparations No. 32, No. 51, No. 52 and No. 53 were 23.2%, 22.8%, 18.0% and 22.4%, respectively.
  • Preparations No. 32 and No. 51 through No. 53 each contain benzyl alcohol, an alcohol that can increase the BA of ghrelin, and sucrose, along with an acetic acid buffer serving as an acidic solution.
  • Each of these liquid preparations achieved higher BA than was achieved by Preparation No. 79 (14.2%), which contained benzyl alcohol and sucrose, but no acetic acid buffer. This indicates that a liquid ghrelin preparation containing an acidic solution, an alcohol and a sugar can achieve high BA of ghrelin.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 54 through No. 59 and No. 73 were 19.9%, 17.3%, 22.3%, 19.8%, 26.6%, 23.2% and 14.3%, respectively.
  • Preparations No. 54 through 59 each contains benzyl alcohol, an alcohol that can increase the BA of ghrelin, and sucrose, along with an acidic solution.
  • Each of these liquid preparations achieved higher BA than was achieved by Preparation No. 79 (14.2%), which contained benzyl alcohol and sucrose, but no acidic solution. This indicates that a liquid ghrelin preparation containing an acidic buffer, an alcohol and a sugar can achieve high BA of ghrelin.
  • the presence of an acidic solution resulted in an increase in the BA of ghrelin regardless of the make-up of the acidic solution.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 78 through No. 80 were 8.3%, 14.2% and 16.9%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin in Preparation No. 35 is 3.0%, which contains only sucrose, and it was confirmed that the addition of an alcohol can increase the BA of ghrelin even in the absence of an acidic solution.
  • Preparations No. 83 and No. 65 both achieved considerably high BAs of 65.7% and 57.4%, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was higher in Preparation No. 83, which contained an acidic solution, than in Preparation No. 65, which did not contain acidic solution. This indicates that the ability of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone to increase the BA, though high in itself, can be further increased by the addition of an acidic solution.
  • these rats inserted a polyethylene tube in the femoral artery, were intramuscularly administered Preparations No. 3 and No. 13 in the femoral muscle at a dose of 1 mL/kg, using a syringe and a 26G needle.
  • the blood samples were collected in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2 and the plasma ghrelin levels were measured by RIA method. The results are shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the pharmacokinetic parameters are shown in Table 26 below.
  • the BAs obtained for Preparations No. 3 and No. 13 intramuscularly administered were 10.9% and 28.5% with respect to the case where they were intravenously administered, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin in the presence of the sodium acetate buffer was 2.6 times higher than the BA of ghrelin obtained for the 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution. This indicates that sodium acetate buffers can increase the absorption of ghrelin in intramuscular administration as effectively as they can in subcutaneous administration.
  • Preparations No. 5 and No. 33 were subcutaneously administered to separate groups of cynomolgus monkeys and the plasma ghrelin levels were measured. Furthermore, Preparation No. 1 was intravenously administered to another group of cynomolgus monkeys. The plasma ghrelin levels were measured.
  • Preparation No. 1 was intravenously injected in the forearm vena cephalica at a dose of 2 mL/kg.
  • blood samples were collected from the forearm vena cephalica before administration and 5, 10, 15, 30, 40, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after administration.
  • EDTA.2Na.2H 2 O solution and one-fiftieth as much of an AEBSF solution were added immediately after collection of the sample.
  • the sample was then centrifuged to separate plasma, to which one-tenth as much 1N hydrochloric acid was immediately added.
  • the sample was mixed and stored at ⁇ 80° C. until analysis.
  • ghrelin levels were then analyzed for the ghrelin levels by Enzyme-Linked Immunosolvent Assay (ELISA) using Active Ghrelin ELISA Kit (Cat. No. MM-401, Mitsubishi Kagaku latron Inc.). Similarly to RIA, this assay can specifically detect the active ghrelin.
  • ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosolvent Assay
  • FIG. 7 shows the changes in the plasma ghrelin concentrations over time.
  • the results shown in FIG. 7 were used to determine C max and T max for each liquid preparation.
  • the AUC was also calculated for each preparation.
  • the AUCs were then used to determine the EA of ghrelin.
  • Table 27 These values were obtained as averages of the data obtained for the three cynomolgus monkeys in each group.
  • the BAs obtained for the subcutaneous Preparations No. 5 and No. 33 were 4.9% and 12.8% with respect to the case where they were intravenously administered, respectively.
  • the BA of ghrelin was 2.6 times higher in the liquid preparation formulated with a sodium acetate buffer and 1% (w/v) benzyl alcohol than in the liquid preparation formulated with a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution. This indicates that sodium acetate buffer containing benzyl alcohol can increase the absorption of ghrelin in cynomolgus monkeys as effectively as it can in rats.
  • Preparations No. 4 and No 31 were used to examine the ability of ghrelin preparations to increase the plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH) in rats.
  • each preparation was subcutaneously administered in the dorsal skin at a dose of 50 ⁇ L/kg.
  • Blood samples were collected from the polyethylene tube in the femoral artery before administration and 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes after administration.
  • FIG. 8 shows the changes in the plasma GH concentrations over time. These values were obtained as averages of the data obtained for the three rats in each group.
  • the plasma GH concentration increased slightly from the initial value (113 ng/mL) and reached its peak value (208 ng/mL) 5 minutes after the subcutaneous administration of Preparation No. 4.
  • the plasma GH concentration peaked (316 ng/mL) 20 minutes after the subcutaneous administration of Preparation No. 31.
  • the peak value was 3.3 times higher than the initial value (96 ng/mL).
  • the plasma levels of rat ghrelin were measured in the same manner as with human ghrelin.
  • the plasma levels of human ghrelin and des-octanoyl ghrelin were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an anti-ghrelin antibody.
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • the anti-ghrelin antibody and then [ 125 I-Tyr]ghrelin(13-28) were added to each plasma sample for competition.
  • a secondary antibody was added to precipitate the antibody-ghrelin complex.
  • the supernatant was separated and analyzed for radioactivity by a ⁇ -counter (Packard Instruments Co., Ltd.).
  • the anti-ghrelin antibody used in the assay can recognize des-octanoyl ghrelin as well as ghrelin.
  • the plasma levels of aminododecan human ghrelin were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an anti-Adod ghrelin antibody. Specifically, the anti-Adod ghrelin antibody and then 125 I-labelled antigen were added to each plasma sample for competition. Subsequently, a secondary antibody was added to precipitate the antibody-Adod ghrelin complex. The supernatant was separated and analyzed for radioactivity by a ⁇ -counter (Packard Instruments Co., Ltd.).
  • liquid preparations containing a polar organic liquid, an acidic solution, a sugar and an alcohol can markedly increase not only the BA of subcutaneously injected human ghrelin, but also the BAs of subcutaneously injected other ghrelins, including rat ghrelin, des-octanoyl ghrelin (human ghrelin that does not have the octanoyl modification on Ser3) and human [L-2-aminododecanoic acid 3 ]ghrelin.
  • Preparations No. 43, 45, 47, 49, 50, and 103 through 107 were subcutaneously administered at a dose of 1 mL/kg and the plasma levels of the peptides and proteins were measured by RIA.
  • the pharmacokinetic parameters are shown in Table 29 below.
  • Preparations No. 42, 44, 46 and 48 were intravenously administered at a dose of 1 mL/kg and the plasma levels of the peptides and proteins were measured by RIA. The plasma concentrations were used to determine the BA for each peptide or protein.
  • hPTH human parathyroid hormone
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • GLP-1 human glucagon-like peptide-1
  • ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosolvent Assay
  • the plasma levels of human adrenomedullin were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using AM mature RIA Shionogi (Shionogi Co., Ltd).
  • the plasma levels of human insulin were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using Insulin-RIA-bead II (Yamasa Co., Ltd.).
  • hANP human atrial natriuretic peptide
  • liquid peptide preparations containing a sugar, an alcohol and an acidic solution can markedly increase not only the BA of subcutaneously injected human ghrelin, but also the BAs of subcutaneously injected other peptides, including rat ghrelin, des-octanoyl ghrelin (human ghrelin that does not have the octanoyl modification on Ser3), [L-2-aminododecanoic acid 3 ] human ghrelin, human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP), human adrenomedullin, human parathyroid hormone (hPTH(1-34)) and human insulin.
  • rat ghrelin des-octanoyl ghrelin (human ghrelin that does not have the octanoyl modification on Ser3)
  • [L-2-aminododecanoic acid 3 human
  • the aqueous solution was determined to have a pH of 4.0.
  • the aqueous solution was determined to have a pH of 4.0.
  • the aqueous solution was determined to have a pH of 4.7.
  • the aqueous solution was determined to have a pH of 4.0.
  • the present invention provides an effective liquid preparation that achieves high bioavailability (BA) of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelin, that are administered as drugs.
  • the present invention also provides a method for improving the bioavailability of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelin, that are subcutaneously injected in aqueous solutions.
  • liquid preparation of the present invention containing a physiologically active peptide or protein, such as ghrelins, can be subcutaneously injected to maintain effective blood levels of the peptide or protein.
  • a physiologically active peptide or protein such as ghrelins
  • FIG. 1 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of human ghrelin intravenously or subcutaneously administered to rats, the human ghrelin being dissolved in a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution (Comparative Example 2).
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of human ghrelin subcutaneously administered to rats, the human ghrelin being dissolved in a sodium acetate buffer (Example 2).
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of human ghrelin subcutaneously administered to rats, the human ghrelin being dissolved in a 0.1M sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0) containing 0 to 20% (w/v) sucrose (Example 7).
  • FIG. 4 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of ghrelin subcutaneously administered to rats at a dose of 10, 50, 250 or 2,000 ⁇ g/kg (Example 8).
  • the preparation contains 0.1M sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0) and 10% (w/v) sucrose.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the dose of ghrelin administered to rats at a dose of 10, 50, 250 or 2,000 ⁇ g/kg, and the AUCs (Example 8).
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of human ghrelin intramuscularly administered to rats, the human ghrelin being dissolved in a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution or in a sodium acetate buffer (Example 12).
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of human ghrelin intravenously or subcutaneously administered to cynomolgus monkeys, the human ghrelin being dissolved in a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution or in a sodium acetate buffer (Example 13).
  • FIG. 8 is a graph showing the changes over time in the plasma levels of growth hormone in rats following the subcutaneous administration of human ghrelin dissolved in a 5% (w/v) aqueous mannitol solution or in a sodium acetate buffer (Example 14).

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BRPI0514408B8 (pt) 2021-05-25
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AU2005275779A1 (en) 2006-03-02
AU2005275779B2 (en) 2011-09-15
EP1800689B1 (en) 2016-12-28
US20110077195A1 (en) 2011-03-31
CN101022822A (zh) 2007-08-22
WO2006022301A1 (ja) 2006-03-02
US8969298B2 (en) 2015-03-03
BRPI0514408B1 (pt) 2021-02-23
JPWO2006022301A1 (ja) 2008-05-08
KR20070057850A (ko) 2007-06-07
IL181348A (en) 2014-06-30
KR101149454B1 (ko) 2012-05-25
ES2620326T3 (es) 2017-06-28
IL181348A0 (en) 2007-07-04
JP4951344B2 (ja) 2012-06-13
CA2576473C (en) 2015-06-30
BRPI0514408A (pt) 2008-06-10
CA2576473A1 (en) 2006-03-02
CN101022822B (zh) 2012-06-27

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