Peptide factor

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of oxidised thymosin β 4 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 β 4 together with a suitable excipient.

1 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising as an active agent isolated oxidised thymosin β4, a variant having the physiological activity of oxidized thymosin β4 or salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.  
   
   
       2 . The pharmaceutical formulation  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 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4 is a form of thymosin in which the sulphur of a methionine residue 6 amino acids from the N-terminus is complexed with a metal(s).  
   
   
       4 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the physiologically active variant is an oxidised peptide which is a truncated form of oxidised thymosin β4.  
   
   
       5 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4 is of mammalian origin.  
   
   
       6 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4 is synthetic.  
   
   
       7 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4, variant, or salt thereof accounts for at least 30% of any thymosin β4 present in the formulation.  
   
   
       8 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein the oxidised thymosin β4, variant, or salt thereof comprises substantially no non-oxidised thymosin β4.  
   
   
       9 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 8  comprising a further pharmaceutical agent, wherein a side effect of the further pharmaceutical agent is inflammation.  
   
   
       10 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 7  suitable for oral, nasal, topical, rectal, vaginal or parenteral administration or for inhalation.  
   
   
       11 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 2  wherein the oxidized methionine is further oxidized to methionine sulphone.  
   
   
       12 . A compound which is an isolated oxidized form of synthetic or expressed thymosin β4 or a variant having oxidized thymosin β4 activity, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The compound of  claim 12 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
   
   
       14 . The compound of  claim 12 , which is a variant of oxidized thymosin β4 that is a truncated or a deleted form thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The compound of  claim 12 , wherein said variant differs from oxidized thymosin β4 in that an amino acid is replaced by a conservative amino acid residue.