Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/575—Hormones
  • C07K14/605—Glucagons
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/185—Acids; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof, e.g. sulfur acids, imidic, hydrazonic or hydroximic acids
  • A61K31/205—Amine addition salts of organic acids; Inner quaternary ammonium salts, e.g. betaine, carnitine
• • 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
  • A61K47/50—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/51—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
  • A61K47/56—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule
  • A61K47/59—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes
  • A61K47/60—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes the organic macromolecular compound being a polyoxyalkylene oligomer, polymer or dendrimer, e.g. PEG, PPG, PEO or polyglycerol
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
  • A61P1/04—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system for ulcers, gastritis or reflux esophagitis, e.g. antacids, inhibitors of acid secretion, mucosal protectants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
  • A61P1/14—Prodigestives, e.g. acids, enzymes, appetite stimulants, antidyspeptics, tonics, antiflatulents
• • 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
  • A61P3/04—Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents
• • 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
  • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
  • A61P9/10—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Definitions

• the present invention relates to GLP-1 compounds covalently attached to one or more molecules of polyethylene glycol or a derivative thereof, and related compositions and methods useful in treating conditions or disorders benefited by lowering blood glucose, decreasing food intake, decreasing gastric or intestinal emptying, or decreasing gastric or intestinal motility.
• GLP-1 Glucagon-like peptide- 1 induces numerous biological effects such as stimulating insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon secretion, inhibiting gastric emptying, inhibiting gastric motility or intestinal motility, enhancing glucose utilization, and inducing weight loss. GLP-1 may further act to prevent the pancreatic ⁇ -cell deterioration that occurs as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) progresses.
• NIDDM non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• a significant characteristic of GLP-1 is its ability to stimulate insulin secretion without the associated risk of hypoglycemia that is seen when using insulin therapy or some types of oral therapies that act by increasing insulin expression.
• GLP-1 peptide or reduce clearance of the peptide from the body while maintaining a biological activity U.S. Patent No. 5,705,483 teaches GLP-1 peptide analogs made resistant to DPP-IV degradation by the incorporation of modifications at the N-terminus of the peptide.
• An alternative approach for extending the half-life of GLP-1 peptides is derivatization, wherein large acyl groups that prevent DPP-IV from accessing the N- terminus of the peptide are attached to various amino acids of GLP-1 (See International Application No. PCT/DK97/00340, filed August 22, 1997 entitled “GLP-1 Derivatives," which claims the benefit of DK Provisional Application Nos 0931/96 filed August 30, 1996, 1259/96 filed November 8, 1996 and 1470/96 filed December 20, 1996).
• GLP-1 analogs are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/346474 filed January 8, 2002, and 60/405,097 filed August 21, 2002, now International Application No. PCT/US03/058203, filed January 3, 2003, all entitled "Extended Glucagon-Like Peptide- 1 Analogs" and are incorporated herein in their entirety.
• These applications describe analogs of GLP-1 (7-37)OH wherein various amino acids, when added to the C-terminus, yield GLP-1 peptide analogs with an extended half- life and reduced clearance than that of the native molecule.
• GLP-1 analogs with increased potency are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/314,573 filed August 23, 2001, now International Application No.
• Exendin-4 can act at the GLP-1 receptor in vitro on certain cell types including insulin-secreting cells. [Goke, et al., J. Biol. Chem., (1993) 268:19650-19655]. Particular PEGylated exendin and exendin agonist molecules are described in International Application Number PCT/USOO/l 1814 (incorporated herein in its entirety).
• the present invention is based on the finding that covalent attachment of one or more molecules of PEG to particular residues of a GLP-1 compound results in a biologically active, PEGylated GLP-1 compound with an extended half-life and reduced clearance when compared to that of native GLP-1 or Val 8 -GLP-1 (or native exendin-4 for modified exendin-4 peptides of the invention).
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention have greater usefulness as a therapeutic as well as greater convenience of use than native GLP-1 because they retain all or a portion of a biological activity of native GLP-1 yet have an enhanced half-life and/or reduced clearance when compared to that of the native GLP-1 compound or to that of Val 8 -GLP-l(7-37)OH.
• GLP-l(7-37) has a serum half-life of only 3 to 5 minutes.
• GLP-1 (7-36) amide has a time action of about 50 minutes when administered subcutaneously. Even GLP-1 analogs and derivatives that are resistant to endogenous protease cleavage, do not have half-lives long enough to avoid repeated administrations over a 24 hour period.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention may have a half- life in excess of 24 hours allowing for fewer administrations of the PEGylated GLP-1 compound while maintaining a high blood level of the compound over a prolonged period of time.
• Such PEGylated GLP-1 compounds may be used therapeutically to treat subjects with disorders including, but not limited to, diabetes, obesity, gastric and/or intestinal motility abnormalities, and gastric and/or intestinal emptying abnormalities with a particular advantage being that the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention require fewer doses during a 24 hour period, increasing both the convenience to a subject in need of such therapy and the likelihood of subject's compliance with dosing requirements.
• the invention described herein provides GLP-1 compounds covalently attached to one or more molecules of polyethylene glycol (PEG), or a derivative thereof wherein each PEG is attached at a Cys or Lys amino acid or the carboxy terminus of the peptide, resulting in PEGylated GLP-1 compounds with an elimination half-life of at least one hour, preferably at least 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 hours and most preferably at least 24 hours.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention preferably have a clearance value of 200 ml/h/kg or less, more preferably 180, 150, 120, 100, 80, 60 ml/h kg or less and most preferably less than 50, 40 or 20 ml/h/kg.
• One embodiment of the invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of GLP-1 (7-37)OH as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 with a PEG molecule covalently attached at 3, 2 or 1 of the residues selected from the group consisting of Lys 6 , Lys 34 and Gly 37 :
• Another embodiment of the invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of GLP-1(7-36)NH 2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 with a PEG molecule covalently attached at 3, 2 or 1 of the residues selected from the group consisting of Lys 26 , Lys and Arg 36 :
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula I (SEQ ID NO: 3)
• Xaa -Xaa 8 Glu-Gly-Xaan-Xaa ⁇ 2 -Thr-Ser-Asp-Xaa 16 -Ser-Xaa ⁇ 8 -Xaa 1 -Xaa 20 -Glu- Xaa 2 - Xaa 23 - Xaa 24 -Xaa 25 - Xaa 6 -Xaa -Phe-Ile-Xaa 30 -Trp-Leu-Xaa 3 - Xaa 34 - Xaa 35 -Xaa 36 -Xaa 37
• Xaa is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy- histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine, or ⁇ -methyl-histidine;
• Xaa 8 is: Ala, Gly, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaa ⁇ is: Phe, Trp, Tyr, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 6 is: Val, Trp, He, Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 8 is: Ser, Trp, Tyr, Phe, Lys, He, Leu, Val
• Xaa ⁇ 9 is: Tyr, Trp, or Phe
• Xaa 20 is: Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Trp;
• Xaa 2 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys, or Cys;
• Xaa 23 is: Gin or Cys;
• Xaa 24 is: Ala or Cys;
• Xaa 25 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys;
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys;
• Xaa 2 is: Glu, He, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 30 is: Ala, Glu, or Cys
• Xaa is: Val or He
• Xaa 34 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 36 is: Arg or Cys; Xaa 37 is: Gly, His, Cys, NH , or is absent; and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula II (SEQ ID NO: 4):
• Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy- histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine, or ⁇ -methyl-histidine;
• Xaa 8 is: Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaa ⁇ is: Thr or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 2 is: Phe, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 6 is: Val, Phe, Tyr, Trp, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ is: Ser, Tyr, Trp, Phe, Lys, He, Leu, or Val;
• Xaa ⁇ 9 is: Tyr or Phe
• Xaa 22 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys, or Cys;
• Xaa 3 is: Gin or Cys
• Xaa 24 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa 5 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 37 is: Gly, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent, and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula III (SEQ ID NO: 5)
• Xaa7-Xaa 8 -Glu-Gly-Xaan-Xaa ⁇ 2 -Thr-Ser-Asp-Xaa ⁇ 6 -Ser-Xaa ⁇ 8 -Xaa 19 - Xaa 20 -Glu-Xaa 22 -Xaa 23 -Xaa 2 -Xaa 25 - Xaa 26 -Xaa 27 -Phe-Ile-Xaa 30 -Trp-Leu-
• Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy- histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine, or ⁇ -methyl-histidine;
• Xaa 8 is: Ala, Gly, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaa ⁇ 2 is: Phe, Trp, Tyr, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 6 is: Val, Trp, He, Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Cys
• Xaai 8 is: Ser, Trp, Tyr, Phe, Lys, He, Leu, or Val
• Xaa ⁇ is: Tyr, Trp, or Phe
• Xaa 20 is: Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Trp;
• Xaa 22 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys, or Cys
• Xaa 23 is: Gin or Cys
• Xaa 24 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa 5 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 27 is: Glu, He, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 30 is: Ala, Glu, or Cys
• Xaa 33 is: Val or He
• Xaa 34 is: Lys, Asp, Arg, Glu, or Cys;
• Xaa 35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 36 is: Gly, Pro, Arg, or Cys
• Xaa 37 is: Gly, Pro, Ser, or Cys
• Xaa 8 is: Ser, Pro, His, or Cys
• Xaa 3 is: Ser, Arg, Thr, Trp, Lys, or Cys;
• Xaa 40 is: Ser, Gly, or Cys
• Xaa 4] is: Ala, Asp, Arg, Glu, Lys, Gly, or Cys;
• Xaa 42 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, or NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 43 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 4 is: Pro, Ala, Arg, Lys, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 45 is: Ser, His, Pro, Lys, Arg, Gly, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 46 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Pro, Gly, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 7 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 48 is: Gly, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 4 is: Pro, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 50 is: Ser, His, Cys, Ser-NH 2 , His-NH 2 , Cys-NH 2 , or is absent; and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula IV (SEQ ID NO:6) Xaa 7 -Xaa 8 -Glu-Gly-Xaa ⁇ -Xaa 12 -Thr-Ser-Asp-Xaa ⁇ 6 -Ser-Xaa ⁇ 8 -Xaa ⁇ 9 - Xaa2o-Glu-Xaa 22 -Xaa 23 -Xaa 24 -Xaa 25 -Xaa 26 -Xaa 27 -Phe-Ile-Xaa 3 o-T ⁇ -Leu- Xaa 33 -Xaa 34 -Xaa 35 -Xaa 36 -Xaa 7 -Xaa 38 -Xaa 39 -Xaa o-Xaa 4 ⁇ -Xaa 42 -Xaa 43 - Xaa 4 -Xaa 45 -Xaa 46 -Xaa 47 Formula IV (
• Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy- histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine, or ⁇ -methyl-histidine;
• Xaa 8 is: Ala, Gly, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaa ⁇ is: Thr or Cys
• Xaaj 2 is: Phe, T ⁇ , Tyr, or Cys
• Xaa ⁇ 6 is: Val, T ⁇ , He, Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Cys;
• Xaa ] 8 is: Ser, T ⁇ , Tyr, Phe, Lys, He, Leu, Val;
• Xaa ⁇ 9 is: Tyr, T ⁇ , or Phe;
• Xaa 20 is: Leu, Phe, Tyr, or T ⁇ ;
• Xaa 2 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys or Cys;
• Xaa 2 is: Gin or Cys
• Xaa 24 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa 2 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 2 is: Glu, He, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 30 is: Ala, Glu or Cys
• Xaa 33 is: Val or He;
• Xaa 34 is: Lys, Asp, Arg, Glu or Cys;
• Xaa 35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 36 is: Gly, Pro, Arg or Cys
• Xaa 37 is: Gly, Pro, Ser or Cys
• Xaa 38 is: Ser, Pro, His or Cys
• Xaa 39 is: Ser, Arg, Thr, T ⁇ , Lys or Cys
• Xaa 40 is: Ser, Gly, or Cys
• Xaa 4 ⁇ is: Ala, Asp, Arg, Glu, Lys, Gly, or Cys;
• Xaa 2 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa4 3 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa is: Pro, Ala, Arg, Lys, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 45 is: Ser, His, Pro, Lys, Arg, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 46 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH or is absent;
• X ⁇ m is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH or is absent; and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula V (SEQ ID NO:7) Xaa 7 -Xaa 8 -Glu-Gly- Xaai Xaa 12 -Thr-Ser-Asp-Xaa 1 -Ser-Ser-Tyr-Lys-
• Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy- histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluorometliyl-histidine, or ⁇ -methyl-histidine;
• Xaa 8 is: Gly, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaai ⁇ is: Val, T ⁇ , He, Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Cys;
• Xaa 22 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys, or Cys;
• Xaa 23 is: Gin or Cys;
• Xaa 24 is: Ala or Cys;
• Xaa 25 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 27 is: Glu or Cys
• Xaa 30 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa 33 is: Val or He
• Xaa 3 is: Lys, Asp, Arg, Glu, or Cys
• Xaa 35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 36 is: Gly, Pro, Arg, or Cys
• Xaa 3 is: Gly, Pro, Ser, or Cys
• Xaa 38 is: Ser, Pro, His, or Cys
• Xaa 39 is: Ser, Arg, Thr, T ⁇ , Lys, or Cys
• Xaa 40 is: Ser, Gly, or Cys
• Xaa 4 ⁇ is: Ala, Asp, Arg, Glu, Lys, Gly, or Cys;
• Xaa 42 is: Pro, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 43 is: Pro, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 44 is: Pro, Ala, Arg, Lys, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 4 is: Ser, His, Pro, Lys, Arg, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 6 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 47 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH 2 or is absent; and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula VI (SEQ ID NO: 8)
• Xaa 7 -Xaa 8 -Glu-Gly- Xaaj i -Xaai 2 -Thr-Ser-Asp-Xaa ⁇ 6 -Ser-Ser-Tyr-Lys-Glu- Xaa 22 -Xaa 23 -Xaa 24 -Xaa 25 -Xaa 6 -Xaa 2 7-Phe-Ile-Xaa 3 o-T ⁇ -Leu-Xaa 3 -Xaa 34 - Xaa 5-Xaa 36 -Xaa 7 -Xaa 38 -Xaa 39 -Xaa 40 -Xaa 4 1 -Xaa 42 -Xaa 43 -Xaa 44 -Xaa 45 - Xaa 46 -Xaa 47 Formula VI (SEQ ID NO: 8) wherein: Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-a
• Xaa is: Gly, Val, Leu, He, Ser, or Thr;
• Xaa ⁇ 2 is: Phe or Cys
• Xaa 22 is: Gly, Glu, Asp, Lys or Cys;
• Xaa 23 is: Gin or Cys
• Xaa 2 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa 5 is: Ala, Val, He, Leu, or Cys
• Xaa 26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 27 is: Glu or Cys
• Xaa 30 is: Ala or Cys; Xaa 33 is: Val or He;
• Xaa 34 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa 35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 36 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa 3 is: Pro or Cys
• Xaa 38 is: Ser, Pro, His, or Cys
• Xaa 39 is: Ser, Arg, Thr, T ⁇ , Lys, or Cys;
• Xaa 40 is: Ser, Gly, or Cys
• Xaa 4 ⁇ is: Ala, Asp, Arg, Glu, Lys, Gly, or Cys;
• Xaa 42 is: Pro, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 43 is: Pro, Ala, or Cys
• Xaa 44 is: Pro, Ala, Arg, Lys, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 45 is: Ser, His, Pro, Lys, Arg, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 46 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH or is absent;
• Xaa 7 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH or is absent; and wherein:
• Another embodiment of the present invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula VII (SEQ ID NO: 9)
• Xaai 1 is: Thr or Cys
• Xaai 2 is: Phe or Cys
• Xaai 6 is: Val or Cys
• Xaa22 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa23 is: Gin or Cys
• Xaa24 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa25 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa26 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa27 is: Glu or Cys
• Xaa30 is: Ala or Cys
• Xaa34 is: Lys or Cys
• Xaa35 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa36 is: Gly or Cys
• Xaa37 is: Pro or Cys
• Xaa 38 is: Ser, Pro, His or Cys
• Xaa 3 is: Ser, Arg, Thr, T ⁇ , Lys or Cys;
• Xaa 40 is: Ser, Gly or Cys
• Xaa 4 ⁇ is: Ala, Asp, Arg, Glu, Lys, Gly or Cys;
• Xaa 42 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent
• Xaa 43 is: Pro, Ala, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent
• Xaa ⁇ is: Pro, Ala, Arg, Lys, His, Cys, NH 2 , or is absent;
• Xaa 45 is: Ser, His, Pro, Lys, Arg, Gly, Cys, NH 2 or is absent
• Xaa 6 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Pro, Gly, Cys, NH 2 or is absent
• Xaa 47 is: His, Ser, Arg, Lys, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa4 8 i Gly, His, Cys, NH 2 or is absent;
• Xaa 49 is: Pro, His, Cys, NH 2 or is absent; and Xaa 50 is: Ser, His, Cys, Ser-NH 2 , His-NH 2, Cys-NH 2 , or is absent; wherein said GLP-1 compound comprises from one to seven further substitutions and wherein:
• the GLP-1 compounds of Formula I- VII have valine or glycine at position 8 and glutamic acid at position 22. It is also preferable that the GLP-1 compounds of formula Formula I- VII have valine or glycine at position 8 and glutamic acid at position 30. It is also preferable that the GLP-1 compounds of
• Formula I- VII have valine or glycine at position 8 and histidine or cysteine at position 37.
• GLP-1 compounds of Formula I- VII have 2 or 1 or 0 cysteine residues. It is also preferable that there is one PEG molecule per GLP-1 compound.
• Another embodiment of the invention is a PEGylated GLP-1 compound comprising the amino acid sequence of Formula VIII (SEQ ID NO: 10)
• Xaa 7 is: L-histidine, D-histidine, desamino-histidine, 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ -hydroxy histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine, ⁇ -methyl-histidine, Arg, Tyr, Ala or Val;
• Xaa 8 is: Gly, Ser, Ala, or Thr; Xaa is: Glu, Ala or Asp; Xaa ⁇ 0 is: Gly, Ala or Val; Xaan is: Thr, Cys or Ala; Xaaj 2 is: Phe, Cys, Ala, or Tyr; Xaa ⁇ 3 is: Thr or Ser; Xaa ⁇ 4 is: Ser, Ala, or Thr; Xaa ⁇ is: Asp, or Glu; Xaa ⁇ is: Leu, Cys, Ala, He, Val, or Met; Xaa ⁇ 8 is: Lys or Ala; Xaa ⁇ is: Gin or Ala;
• Xaa 20 is: Met, Ala, Leu, He, or Val;
• Xaa ⁇ is: Glu or Ala; Xaa 2 Glu, Cys, or Ala; Xaa 23 Glu, Cys, or Ala; Xaa 24 Ala or Cys; Xaa 5 Val, Cys, or Ala; Xaa 26 Arg, Cys, or Ala Xaa 2 Leu, Cys, or Ala; Xaa 28 Phe, Ala, or Tyr; Xaa 9 He, Val, Leu, Gly, or Met; Xaa 30 Glu, Cys, Ala, or Asp; Xaa 3 ⁇ T ⁇ , Ala, Phe, or Tyr; Xaa 32 Leu or Ala; Xaa 33 Lys or Ala; Xaa 34 Asn, Cys, or Ala; Xaa 35 Gly or Cys; Xaa 36 is Gly or Cys; Xaa 37 is: Pro or Cys Xaa 38 is: Ser, Cys, NH2, or
• the polyethylene glycol polymers used in the invention preferably have molecular weights between 500 and 100,000 daltons, more preferably between 20,000 and 60,000 daltons, most preferably between 20,000 and 40,000 daltons, may be linear or branched molecules, and may be polyethylene glycol derivatives as described in the art.
• the present invention encompasses a method of stimulating the GLP-1 receptor in a subject in need of such stimulation, said method comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound described herein.
• the present invention also encompasses a method of stimulating the GLP-1 receptor in a subject in need of such stimulation, said method comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of an unPEGylated GLP-1 compound with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NOs 3-10 provided that there are 2 or 1 Cys in the molecule.
• Subjects in need of GLP-1 receptor stimulation include those with non-insulin dependent diabetes, stress-induced hyperglycemia, obesity, gastric and/or intestinal motility or emptying disorders including, for example, irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia.
• GLP-1 Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
• PEG polyethylene glycol
• lysine residues or the carboxy-terminus of the GLP-1 peptides, analogs or fragments of the invention may be covalently attached to one or more molecules of PEG or a PEG derivative resulting in a molecule with extended elimination half-life and/or reduced clearance.
• GLP-1 (7-37)OH has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 : 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
• polypeptide or “peptide” as used herein, is intended to indicate any structural form (e.g., primary, secondary or tertiary form) of an amino acid sequence comprising more than 5 amino acid residues, which may or may not be further modified (e.g., acetylated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, lipidated, or acylated).
• native refers to a polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence that is identical to one found in nature. The term “native” is intended to encompass allelic variants of the polypeptide in question.
• amino acid is used herein in its broadest sense, and includes naturally occurring amino acids as well as non-naturally occurring amino acids, including amino acid variants and derivatives.
• amino acid variants and derivatives include, for example, naturally occurring proteogenic L-amino acids; D-amino acids; chemically modified amino acids such as amino acid variants and derivatives; naturally occurring non-proteogenic amino acids such as norleucine, ⁇ -alanine, ornithine, etc.; and chemically synthesized compounds having properties known in the art to be characteristic of amino acids.
• non-naturally occurring amino acids include ⁇ -methyl amino acids (e.g., ⁇ - methyl alanine), D-amino acids, histidine-like amino acids (e.g., 2-amino-histidine, ⁇ - hydroxy-histidine, homohistidine, ⁇ -fluoromethyl-histidine and ⁇ -methyl-histidine), amino acids having an extra methylene in the side chain (“homo" amino acids) and amino acids in which a carboxylic acid functional group in the side chain is replaced with a sulfonic acid group (e.g., cysteic acid).
• the GLP-1 compounds of the present invention comprise only naturally occurring amino acids except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
• GLP-1 compound includes native GLP-1, [GLP-1 (7- 37)OH or GLP-1 (7-36)NH 2 ], GLP-1 analogs, GLP-1 derivatives, GLP-1 biologically active fragments, extended GLP-1 or an analog or fragment of an extended GLP-1 peptide (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/346474 and 60/405,097), exendin-4 analogs and exendin-4 derivatives comprising one or two Cys residues at particular positions of the peptide as described herein.
• amino terminus of native GLP-1 (7-37)OH has been assigned residue number 7 and the carboxy-terminus, number 37.
• the other amino acids in the polypeptide are numbered consecutively, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.
• position 12 is phenylalanine and position 22 is glycine in the native molecule.
• GLP-1 fragment or “fragment of a GLP-1 compound” as used herein, is a biologically active polypeptide obtained after truncation of one or more amino acids from the N- terminus and/or C- terminus of a GLP-1 compound.
• the nomenclature used to describe GLP-l(7-37)OH applies to GLP-1 fragments.
• GLP-l(9-36)OH denotes a GLP-1 fragment obtained by truncating two amino acids from the N-terminus and one amino acid from the C- terminus. The amino acids in the fragment are denoted by the same number as the conesponding amino acid in GLP-1 (7-37)OH.
• GLP-1 compounds include GLP-1 analogs and exendin-4 analogs.
• exendin-4 analogs as included within “GLP-1 compounds” always have one or two Cys residues.
• a GLP-1 analog has the amino acid sequence of GLP-l(7-37)OH or an extended GLP-1 peptide as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/346474 filed August 1 , 2002, or 60/405,097 filed August 21 , 2002, both entitled
• Extended Glucagon-Like Peptide- 1 Analogs or a fragment thereof, modified so that 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 amino acids differ from the amino acid in the conesponding position of GLP-l(7-37)OH or a fragment of GLP-l(7-37)OH or modified so that 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 amino acids differ from the amino acid in the conesponding position of an extended GLP-1 peptide.
• Most prefened GLP-1 analogs are described herein in Formulas, I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII.
• Most prefened exendin-4 analogs are described herein in Formula VIII.
• PEGylated when referring to a GLP-1 compound of the present invention refers to a GLP-1 compound that is chemically modified by covalent attachment of one or more molecules of polyethylene glycol or a derivative thereof. Furthermore, it is intended that the term “PEG” refers to polyethylene glycol or a derivative thereof as are known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos: 5,445,090; 5,900,461; 5,932,462; 6,436,386; 6,448,369; 6,437,025; 6,448,369; 6,495,659; 6,515,100 and 6,514,491).
• PEG (or a derivative thereof) is covalently attached to one or more lysine or cysteine residues of the GLP-1 compound.
• PEG is covalently attached to one or more cysteine residues of the GLP-1 compound.
• PEG is attached to one or two cysteine residues introduced into exendin-4 or an exendin-4 analog at positions identified in Formula VIII.
• the PEG molecules may be attached to the GLP-1 compound via a linker or spacer molecule (see exemplary spacer molecules described in U.S. Patent 6,268,343).
• Glu 2 -GLP-l(7-37)OH designates a GLP-1 compound in which the glycine normally found at position 22 of GLP- 1 (7-37)OH has been replaced with glutamic acid;
• Val 8 Glu 22 -GLP-l(7-37)OH designates a GLP-1 compound in which alanine normally found at position 8 and glycine normally found at position 22 of GLP-1 (7-37)OH have been replaced with valine and glutamic acid, respectively.
• Val 8 - exendin4 designates a GLP-1 compound in which serine normally found at position 8 of exendin4 has been replaced with a valine.
• the GLP-1 compounds of the invention have insulinotropic activity.
• Insulinotropic activity refers to the ability to stimulate insulin secretion in response to elevated glucose levels, thereby causing glucose uptake by cells and decreased plasma glucose levels. Insulinotropic activity can be assessed by methods known in the art, including using in vivo experiments and in vitro assays that measure GLP- 1 receptor binding activity or receptor activation, e.g., assays employing pancreatic islet cells or insulinoma cells, as described in EP 619,322 to Gelfand, et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,120,712, respectively. Insulinotropic activity is routinely measured in humans by measuring insulin levels or C-peptide levels.
• an in vitro GLP-1 receptor signaling assay is used to determine whether a PEGylated GLP-1 compound of the present invention will exhibit insulinotropic activity in vivo.
• Insulinotropic activity is an activity that may be used to demonstrate that the PEGylated GLP-1 compound is biologically active.
• In vitro potency is the measure of the ability of a peptide to activate the GLP-1 receptor in a cell-based assay. In vitro potency is expressed as the "EC 50 " which is the effective concentration of compound that results in 50% activity in a single dose-response experiment.
• EC 50 the effective concentration of compound that results in 50% activity in a single dose-response experiment.
• in vitro potency is determined using a fluorescence assay that employs HEK-293 cells that stably express the human GLP-1 receptor. These HEK-293 cells have stably integrated a DNA vector having a cAMP response element (CRE) driving expression of the ⁇ -lactamase (BLAM) gene.
• CRE cAMP response element
• the interaction of a GLP-1 compound (or agonist) with the receptor initiates a signal that results in activation of the cAMP response element and subsequent expression of ⁇ -lactamase.
• the ⁇ -lactamase CCF2/AM substrate that emits fluorescence when it is cleaved by ⁇ -lactamase can then be added to cells that have been exposed to a specific amount of GLP-1 agonist to provide a measure of GLP-1 agonist potency.
• the assay is further described in Zlokarnik et al. (1998) Science 279:84- 88.
• the EC 50 values for the compounds listed in Example 4 were determined using the BLAM assay described above.
• Relative in vitro potency values may be established by running Val 8 -GLP-l(7-37)OH or native GLP-1 as a control and assigning the control a reference value of 100%.
• the term "plasma half-life” refers to the time in which half of the relevant molecules circulate in the plasma prior to being cleared.
• An alternatively used term is "elimination half-life.”
• the term “extended” or “longer” used in the context of plasma half-life or elimination half-life indicates there is a statistically significant increase in the half-life of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound relative to that of the reference molecule (e.g., the non-PEGylated form of the peptide or the native peptide) as determined under comparable conditions.
• a PEGylated GLP-1 compound of the present invention has an elimination half-life of at least one hour, more preferably at least 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 hours and most preferably at least 24 hours.
• the half-life reported herein in Example 5 is the elimination half-life; it is that which conesponds to the terminal log- linear rate of elimination.
• half-life is a derived parameter that changes as a function of both clearance and volume of distribution.
• Clearance is the measure of the body's ability to eliminate a drug. As clearance decreases due, for example, to modifications to a drug, half-life would be expected to increase. However, this reciprocal relationship is exact only when there is no change in the volume of distribution.
• a useful approximate relationship between the terminal log- linear half-life (t y 2 ), clearance (C), and volume of distribution (V) is given by the equation: t ⁇ 2 ⁇ 0.693 (V/C). Clearance does not indicate how much drug is being removed but, rather, the volume of biological fluid such as blood or plasma that would have to be completely freed of drug to account for the elimination. Clearance is expressed as a volume per unit of time.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention preferably have a clearance value of 200 ml/h/kg or less, more preferably 180, 150, 120, 100, 80, 60 ml/h/kg or less and most preferably 50, 40 or 20 ml/h/kg or less (See Example 5).
• a Cys amino acid may not be inco ⁇ orated at positions 7, 28, 29, 31 or 32 or GLP-1 or GLP-1 analog peptides because of loss of activity of the resulting peptide. It is contemplated that all other residues may be replace with a cysteine but it is preferably that such cysteine be inco ⁇ orated at position(s) selected from the group consisting of 11, 12, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of GLP-1 or GLP-1 analog peptides, with preferably no more than 2 or 1 Cys amino acids per molecule.
• Cys amino acids exist in the GLP-1 molecule, it is even more prefened prefened that they are located at position(s) selected from the group consisting of 22, 26, 34, 35, 36 and 37 and even more prefened to exist at position 26 and/or 34.
• the resulting molecule may be PEGylated at the Cys amino acids resulting in a modified molecule that retains all or a portion of a biological activity while having a longer half-life than that of the unmodified molecule or than that of a native molecule.
• GLP-1 or GLP-1 analog peptides may be PEGylated at one, two or three of the lysine residues at positions 18, 22 and 26; or at the amino acid at the carboxy terminus of the peptide.
• Another embodiment of the invention is the unPEGylated GLP-1 compounds with the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NOs 3-10 provided that there are 2 or 1 Cys in the molecule. Applicants discovered that residues at specific position of the GLP-1 compounds can be substituted with Cys and still retain biological activity.
• These unPEGylated GLP-1 compounds may be intermediates used in the process of producing the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention. These compounds may also be used as therapeutics for disorders where an extended half-life is not required, e.g., irritable bowel syndrome.
• a peptide for use in the invention is prepared and purified, it is modified by covalently linking at least one PEG molecule to Cys or Lys residues or to the carboxy- terminal amino acid. It is difficult to endow delicate peptide or protein molecules with suitable new properties by attaching polymers without causing loss of their functionality.
• a wide variety of methods have been described in the art to produce covalently conjugated to PEG and the specific method used for the present invention is not intended to be limiting (for review article see, Roberts, M. et al. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 54:459-476, 2002).
• Carboxy-terminal attachment of PEG may be attached via enzymatic coupling using recombinant GLP-1 peptide as a precursor or alternative methods known in the art and described, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,343,898 or International Journal of Peptide & Protein Research.A3: ⁇ 21-3S, 1994.
• PEGylation of proteins may overcome many of the pharmacological and toxicological/imrnunological problems associated with using peptides or proteins as therapeutics. However, for any individual peptide it is uncertain whether the PEGylated form of the peptide will have significant loss in bioactivity as compared to the unPEGylated form of the peptide.
• the bioactivity of PEGylated proteins can be effected by factors such as: i) the size of the PEG molecule; ii) the particular sites of attachment; iii) the degree of modification; iv) adverse coupling conditions; v) whether a linker is used for attachment or whether the polymer is directly attached; vi) generation of harmful co-products; vii) damage inflicted by the activated polymer; or viii) retention of charge.
• polymer modification of cytokines in particular, has resulted in dramatic reductions in bioactivity. [Francis, G.E., et al., (1998) PEGylation of cytokines and other therapeutic proteins and peptides: the importance of biological optimization of coupling techniques, Intl. J. Hem. 68:1-18].
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention have an in vitro biological activity that is at least 0.5% that of native GLP-1 or more preferably that of Val 8 -GLP- l(7-37)OH. More preferably, the PEGylated GLP-1 compound of the present invention has an in vitro biological activity that is at least 1% or 3% that of native GLP-1 or more preferably that of Val 8 -GLP-1 (7-37)OH. Such biological activity may be determined by the in vitro potency assay as described herein (Example 4) or by other GLP-1 assays known in the art.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention may have biological activity lower than that of native GLP-1 or of Val 8 -GLP- 1(7-37)OH as measured in a particular assay; this activity decrease is compensated by the compound's extended half-life and/or lower clearance value and may even be a favorable characteristic for a GLP-1 compound with an extended elimination half-life.
• the positions of the GLP-1 peptide which have been found to accommodate a cysteine residue without elimination of biological activity may be substituted with a cysteine in the analogous position of exendin-4 and result in an exendin-4 analog still capable of binding the GLP-1 receptor.
• Cys that exist in the molecule are at positions selected from the group consisting of 11, 12, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 (see Formula VIII); preferably positions selected from the group consisting of 22, 26, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44; even more preferably positions 26 and or 34.
• Cys amino acids present in the molecule are covalently attached to a PEG molecule resulting in a PEGylated exendin-4 analog with an elimination half-life longer than that of native exendin-4.
• a PEGylated exendin-4 analog peptide (as described in Formula VIII) of the present invention has a biological activity that is at least 0.5%, 1.0%, 3%, 10%, 30%, or 50% that of the unPEGylated exendin-4 analog.
• the sequence of wild type exendin 4 is: HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPS (SEQ ID NO: 11).
• PEG is a linear polymer with terminal hydroxyl groups and has the formula HO-CH 2 CH 2 -(CH 2 CH 2 O) «-CH 2 CH 2 -OH, where n is from about 8 to about 4000.
• the terminal hydrogen may be substituted with a protective group such as an alkyl or alkanol group.
• PEG has at least one hydroxy group, more preferably it is a terminal hydroxy group. It is this hydroxy group which is preferably activated to react with the peptide.
• PEG useful for the present invention. Numerous derivatives of PEG exist in the art and are suitable for use in the invention. (See, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos: 5,445,090; 5,900,461; 5,932,462; 6,436,386; 6,448,369;
• the PEG molecule covalently attached to GLP-1 compounds in the present invention is not intended to be limited to a particular type.
• PEG's molecular weight is preferably from 500-100,000 daltons and more preferably from 20,000-60,000 daltons and most preferably from 20,000-40,000 daltons.
• PEG may be linear or branched and PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 PEG molecules attached to the peptide.
• PEG molecule there be one PEG molecule per PEGylated GLP-1 compound molecule; however, when there are more than PEG molecules per peptide molecule, it is prefened that there be no more than six. It is further contemplated that both ends of the PEG molecule may be homo- or heroly-functionalized for crosslinking two or more GLP-1 compounds together.
• the present invention provides GLP-1 compounds with one or more PEG molecules covalently attached thereto.
• One method for preparing the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention involves the use of PEG-maleimide to directly attach PEG to a thiol group of the peptide.
• the introduction of a thiol functionality can be achieved by adding or inserting a Cys residue onto or into the peptide at positions described above.
• a thiol functionality can also be introduced onto the side-chain of the peptide (e.g. acylation of lysine ⁇ -amino group of a thiol-containing acid).
• a PEGylation process of the present invention utilizes Michael addition to form a stable thioether linker.
• PEG maleimide has been used as a reactive polymer for preparing well-defined, bioactive PEG-protein conjugates. It is preferable that the procedure uses a molar excess of a thiol-containing GLP-1 compound relative to PEG maleimide to drive the reaction to completion.
• the reactions are preferably performed between pH 4.0 and 9.0 at room temperature for 15 to 40 hours.
• the excess of unPEGylated thiol-containing peptide is readily separated from the PEGylated product by conventional separation methods.
• Exemplary conditions required for PEGylation of GLP-1 compounds are set forth in Example 1. Cysteine PEGylation may be performed using PEG maleimide or bifurcated PEG maleimide.
• GLP-1 compounds have a variety of biological activities. For example, GLP-1 has been found to stimulate insulin release, thereby causing glucose uptake by cells and decreased serum glucose levels [see, e.g., Mojsov, S., (1992) Int. J. Peptide Protein Research, 40:333]. GLP-1 is particularly promising as a treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) as it does present a risk of hypoglycemia as do present NIDDM treatments. GLP-1 is also contemplated to be a treatment for obesity, irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia.
• NIDDM non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• a use of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound of the present invention includes use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of non- insulin dependent diabetes, obesity, stroke, myocardial infarction, irritable bowel syndrome or functional dyspepsia.
• PEGylation of a GLP-1 compound may be combined with other modifications known in the art to increase GLP-1 half-life (see, e.g, U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/346474 filed August 1 , 2002, and 60/405,097 filed August 21, 2002) and thereby increase the half-life of the compound even further than PEGylation alone or the other modification method alone.
• GLP-1 compound also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds described herein.
• a GLP-1 compound of this invention can possess a sufficiently acidic, a sufficiently basic, or both functional groups, and accordingly react with any of a number of inorganic bases, and inorganic and organic acids, to form a salt.
• Acids commonly employed to form acid addition salts are inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like, and organic acids such asp- toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, -bromophenyl-sulfonic acid, carbonic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, acetic acid, and the like.
• inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like
• organic acids such asp- toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, -bromophenyl-sulfonic acid, carbonic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, acetic acid, and the like.
• salts include the sulfate, pyrosulfate, bisulfate, sulfite, bisulfite, phosphate, monohydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphosphate, metaphosphate, pyrophosphate, chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, propionate, decanoate, caprylate, acrylate, formate, isobutyrate, caproate, heptanoate, propiolate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, suberate, sebacate, fumarate, maleate, butyne-l,4-dioate, hexyne-1,6- dioate, benzoate, chlorobenzoate, methylbenzoate, dinitrobenzoate, hydroxybenzoate, methoxybenzoate, phthalate, sulfonate, xylenesulfonate, phenylacetate, phenylpropionate, phenylbutyrate
• Base addition salts include those derived from inorganic bases, such as ammonium or alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, and the like. Such bases useful in preparing the salts of this invention thus include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and the like.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention are particularly suited for parenteral administration, they can be also be delivered orally, by nasal administration, or by inhalation.
• Parenteral administration can include, for example, systemic administration, such as by intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal injection.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds can be administered to the subject in conjunction with an acceptable pharmaceutical carrier, diluent or excipient as part of a pharmaceutical composition for treating the diseases discussed above.
• the pharmaceutical composition can be a solution or, if administered parenterally, a suspension of the GLP-1 compound or a suspension of the GLP-1 compound complexed with a divalent metal cation such as zinc.
• Suitable pharmaceutical carriers may contain inert ingredients which do not interact with the peptide or peptide derivative. Standard pharmaceutical formulation techniques may be employed such as those described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, PA.
• Suitable pharmaceutical earners for parenteral administration include, for example, sterile water, physiological saline, bacteriostatic saline (saline containing about 0.9% mg/ml benzyl alcohol), phosphate-buffered saline, Hank's solution, Ringer's-lactate and the like.
• suitable excipients include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, trehalose, sorbitol, and mannitol.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the invention may be formulated for administration such that blood plasma levels are maintained in the efficacious range for extended time periods.
• the main barrier to effective oral peptide drug delivery is poor bioavailability due to degradation of peptides by acids and enzymes, poor abso ⁇ tion through epithelial membranes, and transition of peptides to an insoluble form after exposure to the acidic pR environment in the digestive tract.
• Oral delivery systems for peptides such as those encompassed by the present invention are known in the art.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds can be encapsulated using microspheres and then delivered orally.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds can be encapsulated into microspheres composed of a commercially available, biocompatible, biodegradable polymer, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-COOH and olive oil as a filler. See Joseph, et al. (2000) Diabetologia 43:1319-1328. Other types of microsphere technology is also available commercially such as Medisorb® and Prolease® biodegradable polymers from Alkermes. Medisorb® polymers can be produced with any of the lactide isomers. Lactide:glycolide ratios can be varied between 0: 100 and 100:0 allowing for a broad range of polymer properties.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds described herein can be used to treat subjects with a wide variety of diseases and conditions.
• PEGylated GLP-1 compounds encompassed by the present invention exert their biological effects by acting at a receptor refened to as the "GLP-1 receptor" (see Dillon et al. (1993) Cloning and Functional Expression of the Human Glucagon-like Peptide- 1 (GLP-1) Receptor, Endocrinology, 133:1907-1910).
• GLP-1 receptor see Dillon et al. (1993) Cloning and Functional Expression of the Human Glucagon-like Peptide- 1 (GLP-1) Receptor, Endocrinology, 133:1907-1910).
• Subj ects with diseases and/or conditions that respond favorably to GLP-1 receptor stimulation or to the adminstration of GLP-1 compounds can therefore be treated with the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention.
• subjects requiring prophylactic treatment with a GLP-1 compound e.g., subjects at risk for developing non-insulin dependent diabetes (see WO 00/07617).
• Additional subjects include those with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose, subjects whose body weight is about 25% above normal body weight for the subject's height and body build, subjects with a partial pancreatectomy, subjects having one or more parents with non-insulin dependent diabetes, subjects who have had gestational diabetes and subjects who have had acute or chronic pancreatitis are at risk for developing non-insulin dependent diabetes.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention can be used to normalize blood glucose levels, prevent pancreatic ⁇ -cell deterioration, induce ⁇ -cell proliferation, stimulate insulin gene transcription, up-regulate IDX-l/PDX-1 or other growth factors, improve ⁇ -cell function, activate dormant ⁇ -cells, differentiate cells into ⁇ -cells, stimulate ⁇ -cell replication, inhibit ⁇ -cell apoptosis, regulate body weight and induce weight loss.
• an “effective amount” of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound is the quantity that results in a desired therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect without causing unacceptable side-effects when administered to a subject in need of GLP-1 receptor stimulation.
• a “desired therapeutic effect” includes one or more of the following: 1) an amelioration of the symptom(s) associated with the disease or condition; 2) a delay in the onset of symptoms associated with the disease or condition; 3) increased longevity compared with the absence of the treatment; and 4) greater quality of life compared with the absence of the treatment.
• an "effective amount" of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound for the treatment of diabetes is the quantity that would result in greater control of blood glucose concentration than in the absence of treatment, thereby resulting in a delay in the onset of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy or kidney disease.
• An "effective amount” of a PEGylated GLP-1 compound for the prevention of diabetes is the quantity that would delay, compared with the absence of treatment, the onset of elevated blood glucose levels that require treatment with anti-hypoglycaemic drugs such as sulfonyl ureas, thiazolidinediones, insulin and/or bisguanidines.
• an "effective amount" of the PEGylated GLP-1 compound administered to a subject will also depend on the type and severity of the disease and on the characteristics of the subject, such as general health, age, sex, body weight and tolerance to drugs.
• the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention will be administered such that plasma levels are within the range of about 5 picomoles/liter and about 200 picomoles/liter.
• Optimum plasma levels for Val 8 -GLP-l(7-37)OH were determined to be between 30 picomoles/liter and about 200 picomoles/liter.
• a typical dose range for the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention will range from about 0.01 mg per day to about 1000 mg per day for an adult. Preferably, the dosage ranges from about 0.1 mg per day to about 100 mg per day, more preferably from about 1.0 mg/day to about 10 mg/day.
• a "subject” is a mammal, preferably a human, but can also be an animal, e.g., companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats, and the like), farm animals (e.g., cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and the like) and laboratory animals (e.g., rats, mice, guinea pigs, and the like).
• companion animals e.g., dogs, cats, and the like
• farm animals e.g., cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and the like
• laboratory animals e.g., rats, mice, guinea pigs, and the like.
• the peptides used to generate the PEGylated GLP-1 compounds of the present invention can be prepared by using standard methods of solution phase or solid-phase peptide synthesis techniques.
• Peptide synthesizers are commercially available from, for example, Applied Biosystems in Foster City CA. Reagents for solid phase synthesis are commercially available, for example, from Midwest Biotech (Fishers, IN).
• Solid phase peptide synthesizers can be used according to manufacturers instructions for blocking interfering groups, protecting the amino acid to be reacted, coupling, decoupling, and capping of unreacted amino acids.
• an ⁇ -N-carbamoyl protected amino acid and the N-terminal amino acid on the growing peptide chain on a resin is coupled at room temperature in an inert solvent such as dimethylformamide, ⁇ -methylpynolidone or methylene chloride in the presence of coupling agents such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and a base such as diisopropylethylamine.
• the ⁇ -N-carbamoyl protecting group is removed from the resulting peptide resin using a reagent such as trifluoroacetic acid or piperidine, and the coupling reaction repeated with the next desired N-protected amino acid to be added to the peptide chain.
• Suitable amine protecting groups are well known in the art and are described, for example, in Green and Wuts, "Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis", John Wiley and Sons, 1991, the entire teachings of which are inco ⁇ orated by reference. Examples include t-butyloxycarbonyl (tBoc) and fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc).
• tBoc t-butyloxycarbonyl
• Fmoc fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl
• the peptides are also synthesized using standard automated solid-phase synthesis protocols using t-butoxycarbonyl- or fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-alpha-amino acids with appropriate side-chain protection. After completion of synthesis, peptides are cleaved from the solid-phase support with simultaneous side-chain deprotection using standard hydrogen fluoride methods.
• Example 1 - PEGylation of GLP-1 related analogs PEGylation reactions are run under conditions that permit the formation of a thioether bond. Specifically, the pH of the solution ranges from about 4 to 9 and the thiol-containing peptide concentrations range from 1 to 10 molar excess of methoxy- PEG2-MAL concentration. The PEGylation reactions are normally run at room temperature. The PEGylated GLP-1 peptide is then isolated using reverse-phase HPLC or size exclusion chromatography (SEC). PEGylated GLP-1 analogues are characterized using analytical RP-HPLC, HPLC-SEC, SDS-PAGE, and/or MALDI Mass Spectrometry.
• SEC size exclusion chromatography
• Thiol-containing GLP-1 peptides are reacted with 40 kDa polyethylene glycol- maleimide (PEG-maleimide) to produce derivatives with PEG covalently attached via a thioether bond.
• PEG-maleimide polyethylene glycol- maleimide
• peptide Cex-51-C V 8 E 2 I 33 C 45 GLP-1, 45aa in length; 7.5 mg, 1.8 ⁇ ol
• peptide Cex-51-C V 8 E 2 I 33 C 45 GLP-1, 45aa in length; 7.5 mg, 1.8 ⁇ ol
• the solution is then purged with argon.
• GLP-1 analogs such as d 6 E 22 V 8 GLP and V 8 C 38 GLP are selectively PEGylated at the introduced cysteine residue using maleimide-activated bifurcated 40 kDa mPEG (Shearwater Polymers, Inc.).
• the peptide to be PEGylated is dissolved in 100 mM TRIS buffer at pH 8.0 and a 1.25-fold molar excess of bulk 40 kDa- mPEG is added.
• the reaction is allowed to stir at room temperature for 2-3 hours and then dialyzed overnight (7 kDa membrane) against 10 mM citrate, 10 mM phosphate, pH 7.4 at approximately 5°C.
• the PEGylated-GLP molecules are purified by anion exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column (Amersham Biosciences Co ⁇ , Piscataway, NJ) using a NaCl gradient at neutral pH.
• GLP-1 analogs such as C ⁇ 6 E 22 V 8 GLP-l and V 8 C 38 GLP-1 are selectively PEGylated at the introduced cysteine residue using maleimide-activated 3.4kDa mPEG terminated with a lipid, distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DSPE) (Shearwater Polymers, Inc.).
• DSPE distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine
• the peptide is dissolved in 100 mM TRIS buffer at pH 8 and a 1.25-fold molar excess of bulk DSPE-3.4kDa-PEG-maleimide is added. Absolute ethanol is added to approximately 17% to assist in solubilizing the DSPE-3.4kDa-PEG-maleimide.
• Example A - In vitro activity assay HEK-293 cells expressing the human GLP-1 receptor, using the PanVera LLC CRE-BLAM system, are seeded at 20,000 to 40,000 cells/well/100 ⁇ l DMEM medium with 10%FBS into a poly-d-lysine coated 96 well black, clear-bottom plate.
• the medium is flicked off and 80 ⁇ l plasma-free DMEM medium is added.
• 20 ⁇ l of plasma-free DMEM medium with 0.5% BSA containing different concentrations of PEGylated GLP-1 compound is added to each well to generate a dose response curve.
• fourteen dilutions containing from 3 nanomolar to 30 nanomolar PEGylated peptide are used to generate a dose response curve from which EC 0 values can be determined.
• PEGylated peptide 20 ⁇ l of ⁇ -lactamase substrate (CCF2/AM, PanVera LLC) is added and incubation continued for 1 hour at which time fluorescence is determined on a cytofluor.
• the assay is further described in Zlokarnik, et al. (1998), Science, 278:84-88.
• the following PEGylated GLP-1 peptides were tested as described and had EC 50 values stated below (with V 8 GLP- 1 equal to 100%): V 8 C , 6 -3.4kDa DPSE-PEG 4%
• Example 5 Pharmacokinetic analysis of derivatized GLP-1 peptide
• a PEGylated GLP-1 analog (V 8 E 22 I 33 C 45 -40 kDa PEG (PEGylated, C 45 -modified CEX-51)) is administered by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) routes at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg to male SD rats.
• the animals (2 rats per timepoint for IV, 3 rats for timepoint for SC) are bled at various times between 0 and 336 hours after dosing.
• Plasma is collected from each sample and analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters are calculated using model-dependent (IV data) and independent (SC data) methods (WinNonlin Pro).
• V 8 -GLP(7-37)OH is similarly IV administered to Fischer 344 rats at a dose of
• a PEGylated GLP-1 analog (V 8 E 22 I 33 C 45 -40 kDa PEG (PEGylated, C 45 -modified CEX-51)) is administered by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) routes at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg to male cynomolgus monkeys. The animals are bled at various times between 0 and 336 hours after dosing. Plasma is collected from each sample and analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters are calculated using model-dependent (IV data) and independent (SC data) methods (WinNonlin Pro). A representation of the pharamcokinetic parameters is reported in the Table 2 below. By IV administration, the PEGylated GLP-1 analog has an elimination half-life of approximately 59.5 hours while by SC administration the PEGylated GLP-1 analog has an elimination half-life of approximately 61.6 hours. Table 2.
• CEX-51) is administered by subcutaneous (SC) route at doses of 3 nmol/kg (12.33mg/kg
• mice per timepoint (6 mice per timepoint) are dosed with a single injection of either the PEGylated GLP-1 analog or vehicle at 11 :00am. The mice are then fasted overnight and an IPTGG (1 g dextrose/kg i.p.) is performed. Repeat samples for glucose and insulin are taken pre and after the glucose injection at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. A representation of the pharamcodynamic parameters is reported in the Tables below. glucose AUC vehicle 3 nmol PEG 10 nmol PEG

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