The subject invention provides molecules, compositions and methods for treating, preventing or ameliorating vascular calcification, for example, medial vascular calcification or intimal atherosclerotic calcification. The subject invention also provides molecules, compositions and methods for treating or preventing a disease associated with vascular calcification. The methods of the subject invention employ relaxin-based and/or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-based strategies through the use of RXFP1 agonists and/or EGFR inhibitors.

The present invention includes methods, systems, uses, and means for the delivery of one or more anti-fibrotic agents into the pericardial space for the treatment and prevention of heart failure (HF).

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.

##STR00001##

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.

This invention relates to the treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide compositions and methods useful for the treatment of PH-HFpEF employing the use of levosimendan.

In alternative embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating, ameliorating or protecting (preventing) an individual or a patient against a disease, an infection or a condition responsive to an increased paracrine polypeptide level in vivo comprising: providing a paracrine polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or gene operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory sequence; or an expression vehicle, a vector, a recombinant virus, or equivalent, having contained therein a paracrine-encoding nucleic acid or gene, and the expression vehicle, vector, recombinant virus, or equivalent can express the paracrine-encoding nucleic acid or gene in a cell or in vivo; and administering or delivering the paracrine polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or gene operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory sequence, or the expression vehicle, vector, recombinant virus, or equivalent, to an individual or a patient in need thereof, thereby treating, ameliorating or protecting (preventing) the individual or patient against the disease, infection or condition responsive to an increased paracrine polypeptide level.

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.

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.

Modified relaxin polypeptides and their uses thereof are provided

Disclosed herein is a method for diagnosing a renal allograft recipient's risk for developing fibrosis of the allograft and allograft loss. The method includes determining the expression levels of certain microRNAs, which have been determined to be predictive of an allograft recipient's risk. Also disclosed herein is a method of treating a renal allograft recipient to inhibit fibrosis of the allograft and allograft loss, as well as kits for use in the methods disclosed herein.