Cranial placodes are embryonic structures essential for sensory and endocrine organ development. The efficient derivation of cranial placodes from human pluripotent stem cells is disclosed where the timed removal of the BMP inhibitor Noggin, a component of the dual-SMAD inhibition strategy of neural induction, triggers placode induction at the expense of CNS fates. Further fate specification at the pre-placode stage enables the selective generation of placode-derived trigeminal ganglia capable of in vivo engraftment, mature lens fibers and anterior pituitary hormone-producing cells that upon transplantation produce hormones including, but not limited to, human growth hormone and adrenocortiocotropic hormone in vivo. Alternatively, anterior pituitary hormone-producing cells are generated in cell culture systems in vitro.

The present invention is based on the identification of a cohort of polyurethane block copolymers that are particularly suited for use in pharmaceutical polymeric drug-device units and which offer improved control of drug release. In particular, there is provided a polymeric drug-device unit comprising a polyurethane block copolymer obtainable by reacting together a poly(alkylene oxide); a difunctional compound; a difunctional isocyanate; and optionally a block copolymer comprising poly(alkylene oxide) blocks; and quinagolide as a pharmaceutically active agent. The drug-device units may find application in the treatment and/or prevention of endometriosis.

Methods are described for differentiating stem and post-natal cells into sex hormone-producing cells that can be administered to a patient autologously or allogeneically in order to maintain in balance, or rebalance, their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Methods are described for differentiating stem and post-natal cells into sex hormone-producing cells that can be administered to a patient autologously or allogeneically in order to maintain in balance, or rebalance, their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

The present invention provides immune stimulating peptides (immunorhelins) capable of activating GnRH receptors when administered to animal or human patients or cells. These immunorhelins have utility in treating intracellular bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections.

The present disclosure provides binding agents that modulate the interaction between liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) and growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Specifically, the present disclosure provides binding agents, such as LEAP2 peptides that bind GHSR and methods of their use to treat or ameliorate a neuroendocrine and/or metabolic disease or disorder such as obesity, diabetes, acromegaly, gigantism and/or Prader-Willi syndrome. The present disclosure also provides binding agents, such as antibodies, that bind LEAP2, and methods of their use to, e.g., treat or ameliorate a neuroendocrine and/or metabolic disease or disorder such as cachexia, anorexia, or other wasting syndromes, increase growth hormone levels, or increase GHSR activity.

The disclosure provides compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-activin A binding proteins, including antibodies. In particular embodiments, the disclosure provides fully human, humanized, and chimeric anti-activin A antibodies that bind human activin A, activin A-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and activin A-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Other embodiments provide nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having activin A-related disorders or conditions including cachexia related to gonadal cancer, other cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases.

Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.

Described herein are formulations of a somatostatin modulator, methods of making such formulations, and methods of using such formulations in the treatment of conditions, diseases, or disorders that would benefit from modulation of somatostatin activity.

Described herein are formulations of a somatostatin modulator, methods of making such formulations, and methods of using such formulations in the treatment of conditions, diseases, or disorders that would benefit from modulation of somatostatin activity.