This invention relates to isolated polypeptides that are glucagon-receptor selective analogs and peptide derivatives thereof. These analogs are selective for human glucagon receptor with improved solubility, thermal stability, and physicochemical properties as compared to native endogenous glucagon. This invention also relates to methods of using such polypeptides in a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic indications, as well as methods of producing such polypeptides. These analogs are useful, alone or in combination with other therapeutic peptides, in methods of treating obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and other disorders or disease.

Described herein are nasal pharmaceutical compositions comprising a porous excipient and an active agent, wherein the active agent is loaded onto a surface of the porous excipient located inside pores of the porous excipient, and wherein the composition is adapted for nasal administration. Also described herein are methods of making and using nasal pharmaceutical compositions.

The invention relates to methods of treating a patient suffering from an IL-33-mediated disorder, such as asthma, comprising administering to the patient an IL-33 axis binding antagonist based on the genotype of the /L1RL1gene, the genotype of a polymorphism in genomic vicinity to the IL-33 gene, the expression level of periostin or the expression level of soluble ST2. The invention further relates to methods of determining whether a patient is at increased risk of an IL-33-mediated disorder, as well as methods of determining whether a patient suffering from such a disorder is likely to respond to a treatment comprising an IL-33 axis binding antagonist, based on the genotype of the /L1RL1gene the genotype of a polymorphism in genomic vicinity to the IL-33 gene, the expression level of periostin or the expression level of soluble ST2.

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the health of animal or human microflora using aloe vera. A method of purifying decolorized dried aloe vera leaf juice is also disclosed. The method may include removing an aloe vera leaf from an aloe vera plant, washing and/or sanitizing the leaf, and grinding the leaf into a slurry and subsequently purifying with activated carbon. The method may remove pigmented substances including the undesirable phenolic compounds present in aloe vera latex, and in particular the anthrones aloin A and aloin B, aloesin (a chromone) and aloe-emodin (an anthraquinone). Following purification, the liquid juice may then be spray-dried to form a final dry juice powder.

VH domain, in which: (i) the amino acid residue at position 112 is one of K or Q; and/or (ii) the amino acid residue at position 89 is T; and/or (iii) the amino acid residue at position 89 is L and the amino acid residue at position 110 is one of K or Q; and (iv) in each of cases (i) to (iii), the amino acid at position 11 is preferably V; and in which said VH domain contains a C-terminal extension (X)n, in which n is 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (and preferably 1 or 2, such as 1); and each X is an (preferably naturally occurring) amino acid residue that is independently chosen, and preferably independently chosen from the group consisting of alanine (A), glycine (G), valine (V), leucine (L) or isoleucine (I).

Compounds are provided that are useful as immunomodulators. The compounds have the following Formula (I): ##STR00001##
including stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z, L, R.sup.1a, R.sup.1b, R.sup.1c, R.sup.1d, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.2c, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6a, R.sup.6b, m and n are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.

Compounds are provided that are useful as immunomodulators. The compounds have the following Formula (I): ##STR00001##
including stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z, L, R.sup.1a, R.sup.1b, R.sup.1c, R.sup.1d, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.2c, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6a, R.sup.6b, m and n are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.

The present specification discloses recombinant nucleic acid constructs encoding an immunogenic multiepitope polypeptide comprising two or more polypeptides, recombinant nucleic acid constructs encoding at least two epitopes from two or more internal proteins of influenza virus, compositions comprising such recombinant nucleic acid constructs and methods of eliciting a T cell immune response against an influenza virus in a vertebrate using such recombinant nucleic acid constructs and compositions.

The present invention relates to novel humanized anti-IL-4 and IL-13 antibodies and fragments thereof and novel bispecific antibodies and fragments thereof that specifically bind to IL-4 and IL-13. The invention also includes uses of the antibodies to treat or prevent IL-4 and/or IL-13 mediated diseases or disorders, including allergic asthma and dermatitis.

The invention provides compositions or pharmaceutical compositions of novel high penetration compositions (HPC) of a parent compound, which are capable of crossing biological barriers with high penetration efficiency. The HPCs are capable of being converted to parent drugs or parent drug-related compounds such as metabolites after crossing one or more biological barriers and thus can render treatments for the conditions that the parent drugs or parent drug-related compounds can. Additionally, the HPCs are capable of reaching areas that their parent drugs or parent drug-related compounds may not be able to access or to render a sufficient concentration at the target areas and therefore render novel treatments. For example, HPCs of NSAIA have demonstrated indications such as treating hair loss and bold. A HPC can be administered to a subject through various administration routes, e.g., locally delivered to an action site of a condition with a high concentration or systematically administered to a biological subject and enter the general circulation with a faster rate.