The present invention provides for bioavailable oral dosage forms containing esters of 17-hydroxyprogesterone as well as related methods. The oral dosage forms can be formulated for pregnancy support and can include a therapeutically effective amount of an ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, a pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage form for pregnancy support is provided. The pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage can include a therapeutically effective amount of an ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The oral dosage form can, when measured using a USP Type-II dissolution apparatus in 900 mL of deionized water with 0.5 (w/v) of sodium lauryl sulfate at 50 RPM at 37° C., release at least 20 wt % of the dose of the ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone after 60 minutes, or in the alternative release at least 20 wt % more after 60 minutes than an equivalently dosed oral dosage form without the carrier.

As disclosed herein, novel compositions including steroid hormones, such as trimegestone (TMG) and progesterone (P4), provide treatments for term and preterm labor with significant effects on the delay of delivery. Delay and block of delivery occurs when both P4 and TMG are administered late in gestation in pregnant rat and guinea pig animal models. TMG exhibits remarkable drug efficacy, achieving the same inhibition as P4, but at much lower doses. These hereto unknown effects of TMG on the processes of cervical ripening and uterine contraction provide a novel approach for extending pregnancy term, including reducing a likelihood of preterm and/or term labor, along with improved methods of administration. Other diseases and/or conditions may be treated with TMG, such as dysmenorrhea or luteal insufficiency for sustaining pregnancy.

An objective of the invention is to provide anti-C5 antibodies and methods of using the same. The invention provides anti-C5 antibodies and methods of using the same. In some embodiments, an isolated anti-C5 antibody of the present invention binds to an epitope within the β chain of C5 with a higher affinity at neutral pH than at acidic pH. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acids encoding an anti-C5 antibody of the present invention. The invention also provides host cells comprising a nucleic acid of the present invention. The invention also provides a method of producing an antibody comprising culturing a host cell of the present invention so that the antibody is produced. The invention further provides a method of producing an anti-C5 antibody comprising immunizing an animal against a polypeptide which comprises the MG1-MG2 domain of the β chain of C5. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use as a medicament. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use in treating a complement-mediated disease or condition which involves excessive or uncontrolled activation of C5. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use in enhancing the clearance of C5 from plasma.

The disclosure provides antibodies that are useful for, among other things, inhibiting terminal complement (e.g., the assembly and/or activity of the C5b-9 TCC) and C5a anaphylatoxin-mediated inflammation and, thus, treating complement-associated disorders. The antibodies have a number of improved properties relative to eculizumab, including, e.g., increased serum half-life in a human.

The present invention relates to novel therapies for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a use of low dose interleukin-2 for the treatment of type I diabetes and other autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases.

The instant invention provides various formulations comprising combinations of immunostimulating oligonucleotides, polycationic carriers, sterols, saponins, quaternary amines, TLR-3 agonists, glycolipids, and MPL-A or analogs thereof in oil emulsions, use thereof in preparations of immunogenic compositions and vaccines, and use thereof in the treatment of animals.

The present invention is related to compositions containing extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and methods of using the same for increasing lifespan of fetus, viability of fetus, or viability of newborn, for treating inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, for delaying preterm birth, or for treating a condition related to inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, wherein the extracellular vesicles comprising a nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) inhibitor and a photo-specific binding protein.

The present invention is related to compositions containing extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and methods of using the same for increasing lifespan of fetus, viability of fetus, or viability of newborn, for treating inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, for delaying preterm birth, or for treating a condition related to inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, wherein the extracellular vesicles comprising a nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) inhibitor and a photo-specific binding protein.

The invention provides compositions and methods for delaying the onset of delivery in a pregnant subject, such as a pregnant human subject, that is undergoing or at risk of undergoing preterm labor at a gestational age of from about 24 weeks to about 34 weeks. Using the compositions and methods described herein, such subjects may be administered nifedipine in combination with a prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) antagonist. Exemplary PGF2α receptor antagonists that may be used for the treatment or prevention of preterm labor as described herein include 1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide compounds, such as (3S)-3-({[(2S)-3-(biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-2-yl]carbonyl}-amino)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl L-valinate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g., (3S)-3-({[(2S)-3-(biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-2-yl]carbonyl}-amino)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl L-valinate hydrochloride. Using the compositions and methods described herein, a subject may be dosed with a PGF2α receptor antagonist and a reduced amount or frequency of nifedipine relative to the amount or frequency of nifedipine that would otherwise be used if the nifedipine were given in the absence of the PGF2α receptor antagonist.

The invention provides compositions and methods for delaying the onset of delivery in a pregnant subject, such as a pregnant human subject, that is undergoing or at risk of undergoing preterm labor at a gestational age of from about 24 weeks to about 34 weeks. Using the compositions and methods described herein, such subjects may be administered nifedipine in combination with a prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) antagonist. Exemplary PGF2α receptor antagonists that may be used for the treatment or prevention of preterm labor as described herein include 1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide compounds, such as (3S)-3-({[(2S)-3-(biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-2-yl]carbonyl}-amino)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl L-valinate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g., (3S)-3-({[(2S)-3-(biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-2-yl]carbonyl}-amino)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl L-valinate hydrochloride. Using the compositions and methods described herein, a subject may be dosed with a PGF2α receptor antagonist and a reduced amount or frequency of nifedipine relative to the amount or frequency of nifedipine that would otherwise be used if the nifedipine were given in the absence of the PGF2α receptor antagonist.