The present invention provides compounds and compositions for the amelioration of arthritis and joint injuries by inducing mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes.

The present invention provides compounds and compositions for the amelioration of arthritis and joint injuries by inducing mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes.

A medical device including an array of microneedles and a coating disposed on or within the microneedles and a method of making such a device are disclosed. The coating includes a peptide therapeutic agent and an amino acid. A method of stabilizing a peptide therapeutic agent with an amino acid on an array of microneedles is also disclosed. In some cases, the peptide therapeutic agent and the amino acid either both have a net positive charge or both have a net negative charge. In some cases, the peptide therapeutic agent is histidine.

A medical device including an array of microneedles and a coating disposed on or within the microneedles and a method of making such a device are disclosed. The coating includes a peptide therapeutic agent and an amino acid. A method of stabilizing a peptide therapeutic agent with an amino acid on an array of microneedles is also disclosed. In some cases, the peptide therapeutic agent and the amino acid either both have a net positive charge or both have a net negative charge. In some cases, the peptide therapeutic agent is histidine.

The present invention provides oral pharmaceutical compositions that enable the successful delivery of drugs in a pharmaceutically effective amount, particularly poly (amino acids) such as peptides, peptidomimetics and proteins. e.g. hormones to a subject via oral administration to accomplish the desired therapeutic effect. The oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a poly (amino acid) as the active ingredient, e.g. a peptide or protein, shows a rapid disintegration and/or dissolution such that the active ingredient is able to attain a therapeutic effect.

The present invention provides oral pharmaceutical compositions that enable the successful delivery of drugs in a pharmaceutically effective amount, particularly poly (amino acids) such as peptides, peptidomimetics and proteins. e.g. hormones to a subject via oral administration to accomplish the desired therapeutic effect. The oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a poly (amino acid) as the active ingredient, e.g. a peptide or protein, shows a rapid disintegration and/or dissolution such that the active ingredient is able to attain a therapeutic effect.

Provided herein are peptides, that in combination with metformin, are effective for the treatment of type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity, or of appetite suppression, or for mitigating insulin resistance, or for reducing an undesirably high fasting serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum insulin level, or for reducing an undesirably large response to a glucose tolerance test in synergistic combination with metformin. The peptides are selected from sequences SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 24.

Provided herein are peptides, that in combination with metformin, are effective for the treatment of type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity, or of appetite suppression, or for mitigating insulin resistance, or for reducing an undesirably high fasting serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum insulin level, or for reducing an undesirably large response to a glucose tolerance test in synergistic combination with metformin. The peptides are selected from sequences SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 24.

Provided herein are peptides, that in combination with metformin, are effective for the treatment of type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity, or of appetite suppression, or for mitigating insulin resistance, or for reducing an undesirably high fasting serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum glucose level, or for reducing an undesirably high peak serum insulin level, or for reducing an undesirably large response to a glucose tolerance test in synergistic combination with metformin. The peptides are selected from sequences SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 24.

The invention provides a bio-related substance bonded to a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol derivative that does not cause vacuolation of cells. The bio-related substance bonded to a degradable polyethylene glycol derivative is represented by the formula (A): ##STR00001##
wherein m is 1-7, n1 and n2 are each independently 45-682, p is 1-4, R is an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, Z is an oligopeptide with 2-8 residues composed of neutral amino acids excluding cysteine, Q is a residue of a compound having 2-5 active hydrogens, D is the bio-related substance, L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5 are each independently a single bond or a divalent spacer, and y is 1-40.