Disclosed are compounds of formula (I), wherein X, Y, Z are annular atoms comprised in a five-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, selected from the group consisting of CH, NH, N, O, S; said carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring being optionally substituted with amino (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) linear or branched alkyl or guanidine or guanidino (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) linear or branched alkyl; with the proviso that the heterocycle ring is not furyl; n is 0 or 1; R is H or OH; the dotted line represents an optional double bond C═C; the thick line represents a bond in the β configuration; the wavy line represents a bond both in the α and β configuration; their enantiomeric and/or diastereomeric mixtures, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their solvates, hydrates; their metabolite and metabolic precursors. The compounds of formula (I) are for use as medicaments, in particular for the treatment of acute or chronic heart failure. Oral administration is also possible.

The present invention provides methods for treating a stiffened joint in a subject that comprise administering relaxin, e.g., a PEGylated relaxin-2, to the subject. The relaxin may be administered intra-articularly as a sustained release formulation. The present invention also provides sustained release formulations in the form of a hydrogel for administering polypeptides that are covalently attached to a polymer, e.g., PEG.

Modified relaxin polypeptides and their uses thereof are provided. Exemplary embodiments provide relaxin polypeptides which include one or more amino acid substitutions with natural or non-naturally encoded amino acids, and/or linkage to a water-soluble polymer, such as polyethylene glycol. Additionally, use of said relaxin polypeptides for treatment of disease, such as heart failure, is also provided.

The present disclosure generally relates to modified relaxin polypeptides, such as modified human relaxin 2 polypeptides, comprising a non-naturally encoded amino acid which is linked to a pharmacokinetic enhancer, and therapeutic uses of such polypeptides, such as for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions (such as heart failure) and/or conditions relating to fibrosis.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases and disorders. In some embodiments the compositions and methods involve administration of a microparticle, or composition thereof that includes an antifibrotic.

The present invention relates to heterodimeric Relaxin fusion polypeptides, in particular to heterodimeric Relaxin 2 fusion polypeptides and uses thereof. Thus, the invention provides Relaxin fusion polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the same and uses of the same including methods of treatment. The polypeptides and compositions of the invention may be useful, in particular, in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, for example for the treatment of heart failure.

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide comprising an expressible nucleic acid sequence encoding a relaxin family peptide receptor (RXFP) polypeptide for use in treatment and/or prevention of heart failure in a subject. The present invention further relates to a vector comprising the polynucleotide of the present invention for use in treatment and/or prevention of heart failure, as well as to host cells, RXFP agonists, kits and devices related thereto.

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide comprising an expressible nucleic acid sequence encoding a relaxin family peptide receptor (RXFP) polypeptide for use in treatment and/or prevention of heart failure in a subject. The present invention further relates to a vector comprising the polynucleotide of the present invention for use in treatment and/or prevention of heart failure, as well as to host cells, RXFP agonists, kits and devices related thereto.

Modified relaxin polypeptides and their uses thereof are provided. Exemplary embodiments provide relaxin polypeptides which include one or more amino acid substitutions with natural or non-naturally encoded amino acids, and/or linkage to a water-soluble polymer, such as polyethylene glycol. Additionally, use of said relaxin polypeptides for treatment of disease, such as heart failure, is also provided.

The invention provides a conjugate comprising a biomolecule linked to a fatty acid via a linker wherein the fatty acid has the following Formulae A1, A2 or A3: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, Ak, n, m and p are defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the conjugate of the invention such as GDF15 conjugate, and its therapeutic uses such as treatment or prevention of metabolic disorders or diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, pancreatitis, dyslipidemia, alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis and other progressive liver diseases, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, diabetic complications (including but not limited to chronic kidney disease), neuropathy, gastroparesis and other metabolic disorders. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.