Peptide factor

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of oxidised thymosin β4 in therapy, more particularly in the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with an inflammatory response or septic shock. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical formulations comprising oxidised thymosin β4 together with a suitable excipient.

1 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant or salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.  
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical formulation according to  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4 is a form of thymosin β4 in which a methionine residue, 6 amino acids from the N-terminus, is oxidised to methionine sulphoxide.  
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical formulation according to  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4 is a form of thymosin in which a methionine residue, 6 amino acids from the N-terminus, is complexed with a metal(s).  
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical formulation according to  claim 1  wherein the physiologically active variant is an oxidised peptide which is a truncated form of oxidised thymosin β4.  
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical formulation according to any preceding claim wherein oxidised thymosin is of mammalian origin.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to any preceding claim wherein the oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof accounts for at least 30% of any thymosin β4 present in the formulation.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to any one of claims  1 - 5  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof comprises substantially no non-oxidised thymosin β4.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to any preceding claim comprising a further pharmaceutical agent, wherein a side effect of the further pharmaceutical agent is inflammation.  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to any preceding claim suitable for oral, nasal, topical, rectal, vaginal or parenteral administration.  
     
     
         10 . Use of oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof in therapy.  
     
     
         11 . Use of oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an inflammatory condition.  
     
     
         12 . The use according to  claim 11  wherein the inflammatory condition is due to a inflammatory arthropathy, connective tissue disease, vasculitic syndrome, respiratory disease, dermatological disease, gastrointestinal disease, haematological disease, transplantation/prosthetic rejection or infection.  
     
     
         13 . The use according to  claim 11  wherein the inflammatory condition is a result of a separate drug therapy.  
     
     
         14 . Use of oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of septic shock.  
     
     
         15 . The use according to  claim 14  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4, physiologically active variant, or salt thereof is present in purified form.  
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing oxidised thymosin β4 comprising obtaining thymosin β4 and thereafter subjecting the thymosin β4 to oxidation.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the oxidation is carried out by hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         18 . Synthetic oxidised thymosin β4 obtainable by synthesising thymosin β4 and thereafter oxidising the synthesised thymosin β4.  
     
     
         19 . Synthetic oxidised peptide comprising a portion of the sequence of thymosin β4, wherein at least the methionine is present and in oxidised form.