Multivalent D-peptidic compounds that specifically bind to a target protein are provided. The multivalent D-peptidic compounds can include two or more distinct variant D-peptidic domains connected via linking components. The D-peptidic compounds can include multiple distinct domains that specifically bind to different binding sites on a target protein to provide for high affinity binding to, and potent activity against, the target protein. D-peptidic variant GA and Z domain polypeptides are also provided, which polypeptides have specificity-determining motifs (SDM) for specific binding to a target protein, such as VEGF-A or PD-1. In some embodiments where the target protein is homodimeric (e.g., VEGF-A, PD-1), the D-peptidic compounds may be similarly dimeric, and include a dimer of multivalent (e.g., bivalent) D-peptidic compounds. Methods for using the compounds are provided, including methods for treating a disease or condition associated with a target protein in a subject.

The disclosure features fusion proteins that are conditionally active variants of a cytokine of interest. In one aspect, the full-length polypeptides of the invention have reduced or minimal cytokine-receptor activating activity even though they contain a functional cytokine polypeptide. Upon activation, e.g., by cleavage of a linker that joins a blocking moiety, e.g. a steric blocking polypeptide, in sequence to the active cytokine, the cytokine can bind its receptor and effect signaling. Typically, the fusion proteins further comprise an in vivo half-life extension element, which may be cleaved from the cytokine in the tumor microenvironment.

This disclosure relates to modified immunoglobulins.

This disclosure relates to modified immunoglobulins.

The present invention relates to cytokine fusion proteins and to nucleic acid molecules encoding such cytokine fusion proteins. The present invention further relates to cells, non-human organisms. pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the cytokine fusion proteins or the nucleic acid molecules encoding them, as well as to their use as medicaments.

The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions for increasing AMPK activity and glucose uptake comprising administering a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) pathway agonist in a subject in need thereof. The invention also relates to methods for selecting a subject for treatment with an agonist of MIF, identifying a subject at risk for developing a condition in which increased AMPK activity is desirable, and for predicting whether a subject is susceptible to a condition in which increased AMPK activity is desirable.

The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions for increasing AMPK activity and glucose uptake comprising administering a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) pathway agonist in a subject in need thereof. The invention also relates to methods for selecting a subject for treatment with an agonist of MIF, identifying a subject at risk for developing a condition in which increased AMPK activity is desirable, and for predicting whether a subject is susceptible to a condition in which increased AMPK activity is desirable.

Methods and compositions related to the selective, specific disruption of multiple ligand-receptor signaling interactions, such as ligand-receptor interactions implicated in disease, are disclosed. These interactions may involve multiple cytokines in a single receptor family or multiple ligand receptor interactions from at least two distinct ligand-receptor families. The compositions may comprise polypeptides having composite sequences that comprise sequence fragments of two or more ligand binding sites. The methods and compositions may involve sequence fragments of two or more ligand binding sites that are arranged to conserve the secondary structure of each of the ligands from which the sequence fragments were taken.

Methods and compositions related to the selective, specific disruption of multiple ligand-receptor signaling interactions, such as ligand-receptor interactions implicated in disease, are disclosed. These interactions may involve multiple cytokines in a single receptor family or multiple ligand receptor interactions from at least two distinct ligand-receptor families. The compositions may comprise polypeptides having composite sequences that comprise sequence fragments of two or more ligand binding sites. The methods and compositions may involve sequence fragments of two or more ligand binding sites that are arranged to conserve the secondary structure of each of the ligands from which the sequence fragments were taken.

A method is disclosed for inducing right ventricular (RV) adaptive remodeling in a patient suffering from pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to pressure overload comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a carditrophin-1 polypeptide, recombinant protein or a polynucleotide encoding CT-1 polypeptide or full-length protein.