The present invention provides compounds of formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 and A are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further the present invention is concerned with the manufacture of the compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use as medicaments for the treatment of diseases and infections caused by bacteria.

The invention relates to the field of medicine. Among others, it relates to biologically active analogs of interferons (IFNs) which show less unwanted side-effects and to the therapeutic uses thereof. Provided is an IFN analog, wherein the moiety mediating binding to its natural receptor is at least functionally disrupted and wherein the analog comprises a signaling moiety capable of mediating intracellular IFN activity, said signaling moiety being provided at its N-terminus, optionally via a linker, with at least one targeting domain capable of binding to a cell surface receptor other than the IFN receptor.

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein X, L.sup.1 and R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further the present invention is concerned with the manufacture of the compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use as medicaments for the treatment of diseases and infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.

The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with sulfonic acid groups and a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and substituent groups which increase the water-solubility, and optimize the optical properties of the dyes. Also provided are conjugates of the dyes, methods of using the dyes and their conjugates and kits including the dyes and their conjugates.

Provided herein are antibacterial compounds, wherein the compounds in some embodiments have broad spectrum bioactivity. In various embodiments, the compounds act by inhibition of bacterial type 1 signal peptidase (SpsB), an essential protein in bacteria. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment using the compounds described herein are also provided.

The invention relates to Lysyl-Prolyl-Threonine lyophilized formulations, in particular to L-Lysyl-D-Prolyl-L-Threonine lyophilized formulations, that are stable in storage, and to a process for preparing the lyophilized formulations. Moreover, the invention relates to pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions comprising the lyophilized formulations, that are used in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment, diagnosis and/or therapy of pain-related diseases, pruritus-related diseases, inflammatory diseases, and/or other diseases in a mammal.

The present invention provides a compound for the sequestration of undesirable antibodies (e.g. related to an autoimmune disease) in a patient. The compound comprises an inert biopolymer scaffold and at least a first peptide n-mer of the general formula P(SP).sub.(n-1) and a second peptide n-mer of the general formula P(SP).sub.(n-1); wherein, independently for each occurrence, P is a peptide with a sequence length of 2-13 amino acids and S is a non-peptide spacer, wherein, independently for each of the peptide n-mers, n is an integer of at least 1, wherein each of the peptide n-mers is bound to the biopolymer scaffold. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound, as well as a method of sequestering one or more antibodies present in an individual and a method of inhibiting an immune reaction to a treatment with an active agent.

Provided is a multifunctional polypeptide, consisting of one or more of at least one Pro-Ala-Lys, Ala-Lys-Pro, Lys-Ala-Pro and a fragment thereof and a derived peptide, there being carnosine, anserine or ophidine at the C-terminus and/or N-terminus of the polypeptide. The polypeptide is formed by linking an oligopeptide having a thrombolysis function and carnosine composed of histidine, 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine, anserine or ophidine, etc., easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, and is administered by intravenous route for the treatment of nervous system diseases, especially brain damage and stroke.

A self-assembling peptide is provided that is enzymatically oxidized to form a polymeric pigment. The monomeric peptide has three amino acids (tyrosine (Y), one phenylalanine (F), and one aspartic acid (D) or one lysine (K)) and, following self-assembly and treatment with a tyrosinase enzyme oxidizes and polymerizes into a material with predetermined properties.

Novel inhibitors of IAP that are useful as therapeutic agents for treating malignancies and have the general formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1,R.sup.2,R.sup.3,R.sup.4,R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are as described herein.