Respiratory distress syndrome therapy with peptide analogs of human SP-B

Abstract

A therapeutic pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of respiratory disease is disclosed, including particularly Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). The composition is comprised of a synthetic dimer of an N-terminal fragment of Surfactant Protein B (SP-B) that advantageously mimics the functional activity of native human Surfactant Protein B, and to therapeutic methods of administration of such pharmaceutical compositions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A peptide analog of lung surfactant protein B comprising: 
 a dimer of a synthetic peptide from an N-terminal domain of mammalian lung surfactant protein B.    
     
     
         2 . A peptide analog of  claim 1  wherein the analog is a dimer of the N-terminal domain of amino acid residues 1-25.  
     
     
         3 . The peptide analog of  claim 1  wherein an amino acid residue 11 is alanine.  
     
     
         4 . The peptide analog of  claim 1  having a Cys 8 to Cys 8 disulfide link.  
     
     
         5 . The peptide analog of  claim 1  wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         6 . A method to treat respiratory distress syndrome comprising: 
 administering a pharmaceutically compatible composition comprised of a dimer of a synthetic peptide from an N-terminal domain of lung surfactant protein B.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the pharmaceutically compatible composition is further comprised of administering an animal-derived lung surfactant protein.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the animal-derived lung surfactant protein is a porcine lung lavage extract.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the animal-derived lung surfactant protein is a calf lung lavage surfactant.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the animal-derived lung surfactant protein is a bovine lung extract.  
     
     
         11 . The method of claims  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9  or  10  wherein the pharmaceutical compatible composition is further comprised of a phospholipid.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the phospholipid is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine.  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising: 
 a peptide analog comprised of a dimer of synthetic peptide from an N-terminal domain of lung surfactant protein-B; and    an animal-derived lung surfactant.    
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 13  wherein the peptide analog is human SP-B1-25.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 13  wherein the peptide analog is a Cys 11 to Ala 11 variant of SP-B1-25.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of claims  13 ,  14  or  15  further comprising a phospholipid.  
     
     
         17 . A peptide analog of mammalian lung surfactant protein B comprising: 
 a dimer of lung surfactant protein B having a Cys 8 to Cys 8 disulfide link.    
     
     
         18 . The peptide analog of  claim 17  wherein the dimer is a homodimer.  
     
     
         19 . The peptide analog of  claim 1  wherein the dimer is a homodimer.