The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a low repetitive nucleotide sequence encoding a proline/alanine-rich amino acid repeat sequence. The encoded polypeptide comprises a repetitive amino acid sequence that forms a random coil. The nucleic acid molecule comprising said low repetitive nucleotide sequences can further comprise a nucleotide sequence encoding a biologically or pharmacologically active protein. Further, the present invention provides for selection means and methods to identify said nucleic acid molecule comprising said low repetitive nucleotide sequence. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing said nucleic acid molecules. Also provided herein are methods for preparing the encoded polypeptide or drug conjugates with the encoded polypeptide using the herein provided nucleic acid molecules. The drug conjugate may comprise a biologically or pharmacologically active protein or a small molecule drug. Also provided herein are vectors and hosts comprising such nucleic acid molecules.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof. The therapeutic compositions comprise an adiponectin peptidomimetic compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and administering a therapeutic agent. Also provided are methods for alleviating one or more symptoms or clinical signs of dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof.

Methods and compositions are provided for extending the half-life of a therapeutic agent. A modified therapeutic agent (mTA) comprises a therapeutic agent, a staple, and a half-life extending molecule. The mTAs disclosed herein may be used to treat a disease or a condition in a subject in need thereof.

Novel leptin and leptin-fusion protein-small molecule drug conjugates are disclosed, where conjugation takes place through the use of cleavable and non-cleavable linkers. The small molecules chemically linked to the protein carrier are imported into the specific leptin-responsive target tissue or cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis and released from the carrier protein through enzymatic cleavage of the linker-drug moiety or through lysosomal degradation of the carrier protein. Free drug then act to modify leptin receptor-triggered biochemical pathways that are altered in conditions of leptin-resistance. Drug will correct altered pathway allowing resensitization of receptor signaling. This can greatly aid in the resolution of pathologies either initiated at the onset of leptin resistance or exacerbated by it.

Methods for altering leptin resistance and the hormonal control of energy balance, and methods for treating obesity and diabetes, as well as promoting weight gain, using batotin and batotin inhibitors.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof. The therapeutic compositions comprise an adiponectin peptidomimetic compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also provided are methods for alleviating one or more symptoms or clinical signs of dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof. The therapeutic compositions comprise an adiponectin peptidomimetic compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also provided are methods for alleviating one or more symptoms or clinical signs of dry eye or an ocular disease associated with inflammation in a subject in need thereof.

The present invention provides methods for generating functional derivatives of effector polypeptides (e.g., hormones and receptor ligands) embedded in a different protein scaffold (e.g., antibody scaffolds). The methods involve modifying the effector polypeptide with a combinatorial library of terminal linker sequences, inserting the modified sequences into the host scaffold, and then selecting functional derivatives from the library of modified polypeptide sequences embedded in the host scaffold. As exemplifications, the invention also provides specific functional derivatives of leptin, scFSH and scRelaxin embedded in an antibody scaffold, as well as therapeutic applications of such functional fusion molecules.

Disclosed are methods for treating Set1/COMPASS-associated cancers characterized by expression of Set1B/COMPASS. The methods typically include administering a therapeutic amount of an inhibitor of the Set1B/COMPASS pathway and/or an agonist for a target that is negatively regulated by the Set1B/COMPASS pathway.

Compounds are provided having inter alia good duration of action, high potency and/or convenient dosing regimens including once weekly administration. The compounds are engineered polypeptides which incorporate an albumin binding domain in combination with one or more biologically active polypeptides. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment for diseases and disorders including lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease or diabetes (including type I and type II). Additional diseases and disorders which can be treated by the compounds and methods described herein include nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington's Disease.