# Patent

## Title
Pegylated glucagon and GLP-1 co-agonists for the treatment of obesity

## Abstract

This disclosure provides pegylated GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides for the treatment of metabolic diseases, e.g., obesity.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/055034, filed on Mar. 13, 2014, said International Application No. PCT/EP2014/055034 claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/783,675, filed on Mar. 14, 2013. Each of the above listed applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.


REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
The content of the electronically submitted sequence listing in ASCII text file (Name: GLPGG101WO_ST25; Size: 44.6 kilobytes; and Date of Creation: Mar. 10, 2014) filed with the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a major and growing health problem worldwide, and is associated with many life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular disease, renal disease, hypertension, stroke, infertility, respiratory dysfunction, and type 2 diabetes.
Glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) derive from pre-proglucagon, a 158 amino acid precursor polypeptide that is processed in different tissues to form a number of different proglucagon-derived peptides, including glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) and oxyntomodulin (OXM), that are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, including glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, gastric emptying, and intestinal growth, as well as the regulation of food intake. Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 33 through 61 of proglucagon (53 to 81 of preproglucagon), while GLP-1 is produced as a 37-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 72 through 108 of proglucagon (92 to 128 of preproglucagon). GLP-1(7-36) amide or GLP-1(7-37) acid are biologically active forms of GLP-1, that demonstrate essentially equivalent activity at the GLP-1 receptor.
Glucagon is produced by the pancreas and interacts with the glucagon receptor (“glucR”). Glucagon acts in the liver to raise blood glucose via gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. When blood glucose begins to fall, glucagon signals the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose, causing blood glucose levels to rise toward a normal level.
GLP-1 has different biological activities compared to glucagon. It is secreted from gut L cells and binds to the GLP-1 receptor. Its activities include stimulation of insulin synthesis and secretion, inhibition of glucagon secretion, and inhibition of food intake.
Both glucagon and GLP-1, acting as agonists at their respective receptors, have been shown to be effective in weight loss. Certain GLP-1 analogs are being sold or are in development for treatment of obesity including, e.g., Liraglutide (VICTOZA® from Novo Nordisk) and Exenatide (Byetta® from Eli Lilly/Amylin).
There remains a need for more agents for effective treatment of obesity, for example, GLP-1/Glucagon agonist peptides with improved solubility, formulatability, stability, and efficacy.
BRIEF SUMMARY
This disclosure provides an isolated peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence:









(SEQ ID NO: 2)



HX1X2GT FTSDX3 SX4X5X6X7X8X9X10AX11 X12FVX13W



 



X14X15X16






where X1 is S, G, alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid; X2 is Q or E; X3 is Y of K(PEG4palm); X4 is E, R or K(PEG4palm); X5 is Y or K(PEG4palm); X6 is L or K(PEG4palm); X7 is D or E; X8 is S, E or K(PEG4palm); X9 is R, E, S, or K(gEpalm), K(PEG2palm), K(PEG3palm), K(PEG4palm) or K(PEG2-PEG2-gEpalm); X10 is R, A, or K(gEpalm), K(PEG4palm); X11 is Q, R, A, E or K(gEpalm), K(PEG4palm); X12 is D or K(gEpalm); X13 is Q, A or E; X14 is L or E; X15 is V or E; and X16 is absent or A (SEQ ID NO:2); wherein only one amino acid is palmitoylated per molecule.

In certain embodiments of the peptides described above, the carboxyl group of X15 or X16 is pegylated. In some embodiments the PEG group is a polyethylene glycol oligomer of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 units. In some embodiments, the X15 amino acid is conjugated at the carboxyl end to 6-aminohexanoic acid or 11-aminoundecanoic acid and X16 is absent.
In certain embodiments, the isolated peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:









(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 18)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 4)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 5)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 6)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 7)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 76)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 77)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 78)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRARDFVAWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 79)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 80)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 81)



HSQGTFTSDKSKYLDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 82)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRKAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 83)



HSQGTFTSDYSKKLDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 84)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 85)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAADFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 86)



HSQGTFTSDYSRYLDSKRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 87)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 76)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 88)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 89)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDEERAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 90)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 14)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 91)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 6)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 5)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 92)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRKAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 93)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAKDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 94)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERAKDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 95)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQKFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 96)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 97)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 98)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 99)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAEDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 100)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 101)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSEKARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 102)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 103)



HGQGTFTSDYSRYLDSKRARDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 104)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRARDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 105)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 106)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 107)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 108)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 109)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYKDSERARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 110)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLEA






wherein:

X1 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid;

when the amino acid at position 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20 or 21 is palmitoylated lysine, then the lysine at position 12 is not palmitoylated;

when the amino acid at position 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 is not a palmitoylated lysine, then the lysine at position 12 is optionally palmitoylated; and

wherein the peptide is pegylated at the C-terminal amino acid with a (PEG)x2 group, wherein x2 is 2-12.

In some embodiments, the peptide comprises a lysine that is palmitoylated with a palmitoyl group on the N (epsilon) group of said lysine residue. In some embodiments, the palmitoyl group is linked to the lysine via a linker. The linker may be, for example, a gamma glutamate linker or a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker.
In some embodiments, the PEG linker is, for example, a PEG2, PEG3, PEG4, (PEG)2-gE, (PEG)4-gE, or (PEG)2-(PEG)2-gE linker.
In some embodiments, the peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of:









(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)2



 



(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 8)



HSQGTFTSDYSBYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 9)



HSQGTFTSDYSB1YLDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 10)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 11)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 12)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 13)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYBDEERAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 14)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 15)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYBDSERARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 16)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDBRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 17)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 18)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 19)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 20)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDBRRAQDFVQWEV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 21)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWEV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 22)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRBAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 23)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1AQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 24)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSEBARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 25)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRABDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 26)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAB1DFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 27)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERABDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 28)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQBFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 29)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRAAQBFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 30)



HSQGTFTSDB1SKYLDSSRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 31)



HSQGTFTSDYSKB1LDSSRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 32)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYB1DSRRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 33)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYB1DSSRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 34)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1SRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 35)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 36)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 37)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB2RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 38)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB3RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 39)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 40)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRARDFVEWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 41)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 42)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 43)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 44)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 45)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAADFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 46)



HGQGTFTSDYSRYLDSBRARDFVEWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 47)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQRDFVAWLV(PEG)12



 



(SEQ ID NO: 48)



HSQGTFTSDYSRYLDSBRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 49)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 50)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 51)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB6RAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 52)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB5RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 53)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 54)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 55)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 56)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 57)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 58)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 59)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 60)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 61)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 62)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAEDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 63)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVEWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 43)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)2



 



(SEQ ID NO: 43)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)3



 



(SEQ ID NO: 43)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)6



 



(SEQ ID NO: 64)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDEBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 65)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)2



 



(SEQ ID NO: 65)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)3



 



(SEQ ID NO: 65)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)6



 



(SEQ ID NO: 65)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)8



 



(SEQ ID NO: 65)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLV(PEG)12



 



(SEQ ID NO: 66)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 67)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB3RAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 68)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB2RAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 69)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 70)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 66)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLEA(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 71)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWEV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 72)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWEV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 35)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLV(PEG)2



 



(SEQ ID NO: 73)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRBAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 74)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1AQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 21)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWEV(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 19)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLE(PEG)4



 



(SEQ ID NO: 75)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLE(PEG)2






wherein:

X1 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid;

B is K(gE-palm);

B1 is K(PEG4-palm);

B2 is K(PEG3-palm);

B3 is K(PEG2-palm);

B4 is K(PEG4-gE-palm);

B5 is K(PEG2-gE-palm); and

B6 is K(PEG2-PEG2-gE-palm).

An isolated peptide wherein said peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of:









(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV



or



 



(SEQ ID NO: 18)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLE,






and wherein said peptide is conjugated at the C-terminus to either 6-aminohexanoic acid or 11-aminoundecanoic acid.

The invention also provides an isolated peptide comprising a GLP-1 activity and a glucagon activity wherein said peptide comprises PEG groups at the C-terminus of the polypeptide and which peptide has an increased potency in serum than the same peptide without the PEG groups.
In some embodiments, the peptide comprises about 2-12 PEG units (abbreviated (PEG)x where x is 2-12, e.g., (PEG)2, (PEG)3, (PEG)4, (PEG)5, (PEG)6, (PEG)7, (PEG)8, (PEG)9, (PEG)10, (PEG)11, (PEG)12) conjugated to the C-terminus. In some embodiments, the peptide comprises PEG group is a (PEG)x group wherein x is 2-8. In some embodiments, the peptide comprises PEG group is a (PEG)x group wherein x is 2-6. In some embodiments, the peptide comprises PEG group is a (PEG)x group wherein x is 2-4.
In some embodiments, the peptide of the invention has increased GLP1 activity and/or increased stability as compared to the peptide without the PEG group.
In some embodiments peptide binds to a glucagon receptor. In some embodiments, the peptide binds to a GLP-1 receptor. In some embodiments, the peptide binds to both a glucagon receptor and a GLP-1 receptor.
In some embodiments, the glucagon receptor is a mouse glucagon receptor or a human glucagon receptor. In some embodiments, the peptide binds to a human glucagon receptor with an EC50 in the cAMP assay of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM.
In some embodiments, the GLP-1 receptor is a mouse GLP-1 receptor or a human GLP-1 receptor. In some embodiments, the peptide binds to a human GLP-1 receptor with an EC50 in the cAMP assay of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM.
In some embodiments, the peptide is an agonist of GLP-1 activity, an agonist of glucagon activity, or an agonist of both GLP-1 and glucagon activity. In some embodiments, the peptide binds to both a glucagon receptor and a GLP-1 receptor, and exhibits at least about 2-fold, 5-fold, or 10-fold greater activity relative to the natural ligand at the GLP-1 receptor than at the glucagon receptor.
In some embodiments, the peptide of the invention further comprise a heterologous moiety associated with the peptide. The heterologous moiety is a protein, a peptide, a protein domain, a linker, an organic polymer, an inorganic polymer, a polyethylene glycol (PEG), biotin, an albumin, a human serum albumin (HSA), a HSA FcRn binding portion, an antibody, a domain of an antibody, an antibody fragment, a single chain antibody, a domain antibody, an albumin binding domain, an enzyme, a ligand, a receptor, a binding peptide, a non-FnIII scaffold, an epitope tag, a recombinant polypeptide polymer, a cytokine, or a combination of two or more of the recited moieties.
The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide of the invention as described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a kit comprising such a composition.
The invention also provides a method of increasing the potency of a GLP-1 analog comprising conjugating a PEG group to a GLP-1 analogue wherein said PEG group comprises between 2 and 12 PEG units. In some embodiments, the PEG group comprises between 2 and 8 PEG units. In some embodiments, the PEG group comprises between 2 and 6 PEG units. In some embodiments, the PEG group comprises between 2 and 4 PEG units.
The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing a disease or condition caused or characterized by excess body weight, comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of the peptide of the invention as described herein, or a composition of the invention as described herein.
In some embodiments, the disease or condition is obesity.
In some embodiments of the method of the invention, the peptide is administered by injection. In some embodiments, the injection is administered subcutaneously. In some embodiments, the injection is administered once per day. In some embodiments, the injection is administered once per week. In some embodiments, the subject is human.
The invention further provides a method of reducing body weight in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of the peptide of the invention as described herein, or a composition of the invention as described herein.
Any of the peptides provided herein can comprise one or more modified amino acids, for example, the addition of an acyl moiety, for example, the modification can be the addition of a palmitoyl moiety on the N (epsilon) group of a lysine residue. In certain embodiments, the palmitoyl group is linked to the lysine residue through a gamma glutamate linker. Alternative linkers have been used including beta alanine, 6-aminohexanoic acid and 11-aminoundecanoic acid. Further alternative linkers are possible including linkers containing PEG moieties for instance containing 2-8 PEG units. In some embodiments, the linkers include short PEG moieties such as 2, 3 or 4 PEG units.
In various embodiments, the isolated peptides provided herein can bind to a glucagon receptor, to a GLP-1 receptor, or to both a glucagon and a GLP-1 receptor. In certain aspects the glucagon receptor is a human glucagon receptor, and or the GLP-1 receptor is a human GLP-1 receptor. In certain aspects an isolated peptide as provided herein binds to a human glucagon receptor with an EC50 in the cAMP assay (as described herein) of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM. In certain aspects an isolated peptide as provided herein binds to a human GLP-1 receptor with an EC50 in the cAMP assay of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM.
In certain aspects, an isolated peptide as provided herein is an agonist of GLP-1 activity, an agonist of glucagon activity, or an agonist of both GLP-1 and glucagon activity. In some embodiments, an isolated peptide as provided herein binds to both a glucagon receptor and a GLP-1 receptor, and exhibits at least about 2-fold greater activity relative to the natural ligand at the GLP-1 receptor than at the glucagon receptor. In one embodiment the peptide has a 5 to 10 fold higher relative potency at the GLP1R, compared to GLP1, than at the glucagon receptor, relative to glucagon.
In certain aspects, an isolated peptide as provided herein can further comprise a heterologous moiety associated with the peptide. In some aspects, the heterologous moiety is a protein, a peptide, a protein domain, a linker, an organic polymer, an inorganic polymer, a polyethylene glycol (PEG), biotin, an albumin, a human serum albumin (HSA), a HSA FcRn binding portion, an antibody, a domain of an antibody, an antibody fragment, a single chain antibody, a domain antibody, an albumin binding domain, an enzyme, a ligand, a receptor, a binding peptide, a non-FnIII scaffold, an epitope tag, a recombinant polypeptide polymer, a cytokine, or any combination of two or more of such moieties.
Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated peptide as described herein, and a carrier. Further provided is a kit including such a pharmaceutical composition.
Also provided is a method for treating or preventing a disease or condition caused or characterized by excess body weight, where the method includes administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of an isolated peptide as provided herein, or a composition which includes such a peptide. In certain aspects, the disease or condition can be obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, pre-diabetes, increased fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia (or a combination of these metabolic risk factors), glucagonomas, cardiovascular disease, e.g., congestive heart failure, atherosclerois, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, or peripheral artery disease; stroke, respiratory dysfunction, renal disease, and any combination thereof. According to the method, an isolated peptide as described herein can be administered by injection, e.g., subcutaneous injection. According to the method, the peptide can be administered once per day. In some embodiments, the injection is administered once per week. In certain embodiments, the subject is a human.
Also provided is a method for treating or preventing a disease or condition caused or characterized by excess body weight, where the method includes administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of an isolated peptide as provided herein, or a composition which includes such a peptide. According to the method, an isolated peptide as described herein can be administered by injection, e.g., subcutaneous injection. According to the method, the peptide can be administered once per day. In some embodiments, the injection is administered once per week. In certain embodiments, the subject is a human.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Definitions
Throughout this disclosure, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity; for example, “a polynucleotide,” is understood to represent one or more polynucleotides. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Furthermore, “and/or” where used herein is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of the two specified features or components with or without the other. Thus, the term “and/or” as used in a phrase such as “A and/or B” herein is intended to include “A and B,” “A or B,” “A” (alone), and “B” (alone). Likewise, the term “and/or” as used in a phrase such as “A, B, and/or C” is intended to encompass each of the following aspects: A, B, and C; A, B, or C; A or C; A or B; B or C; A and C; A and B; B and C; A (alone); B (alone); and C (alone).
It is understood that wherever aspects are described herein with the language “comprising,” otherwise analogous aspects described in terms of “consisting of” and/or “consisting essentially of” are also provided.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is related. For example, the Concise Dictionary of Biomedicine and Molecular Biology, Juo, Pei-Show, 2nd ed., 2002, CRC Press; The Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology, 3rd ed., 1999, Academic Press; and the Oxford Dictionary Of Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, Revised, 2000, Oxford University Press, provide one of skill with a general dictionary of many of the terms used in this disclosure.
Units, prefixes, and symbols are denoted in their Système International de Unites (SI) accepted form. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise indicated, amino acid sequences are written left to right in amino to carboxy orientation. The headings provided herein are not limitations of the various aspects of the disclosure, which can be had by reference to the specification as a whole. Accordingly, the terms defined immediately below are more fully defined by reference to the specification in its entirety.
As used herein, the term “polypeptide” is intended to encompass a singular “polypeptide” as well as plural “polypeptides,” and comprises any chain or chains of two or more amino acids. Thus, as used herein, a “peptide,” a “peptide subunit,” a “protein,” an “amino acid chain,” an “amino acid sequence,” or any other term used to refer to a chain or chains of two or more amino acids, are included in the definition of a “polypeptide,” even though each of these terms can have a more specific meaning. The term “polypeptide” can be used instead of, or interchangeably with any of these terms. The term further includes polypeptides which have undergone post-translational or post-synthesis modifications, for example, glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, or modification by non-naturally occurring amino acids.
More specifically, the term “peptide” as used herein encompasses a full length peptides and fragments, variants or derivatives thereof, e.g., a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide (e.g., 29, 30, or 31 amino acids in length). A “peptide” as disclosed herein, e.g., a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide, can be part of a fusion polypeptide comprising additional components such as, e.g., an Fc domain or an albumin domain, to increase half-life. A peptide as described herein can also be derivatized in a number of different ways.
The terms “fragment,” “analog,” “derivative,” or “variant” when referring to a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide includes any peptide which retains at least some desirable activity, e.g., binding to glucagon and/or GLP-1 receptors. Fragments of GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein include proteolytic fragments, deletion fragments which exhibit desirable properties during expression, purification, and or administration to an subject.
The term “variant,” as used herein, refers to a peptide that differs from the recited peptide due to amino acid substitutions, deletions, insertions, and/or modifications. Variants can be produced using art-known mutagenesis techniques. Variants can also, or alternatively, contain other modifications—for example a peptide can be conjugated or coupled, e.g., fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence or other moiety, e.g., for increasing half-life, solubility, or stability. Examples of moieties to be conjugated or coupled to a peptide provided herein include, but are not limited to, albumin, an immunoglobulin Fc region, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the like. The peptide can also be conjugated or produced coupled to a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification or identification of the peptide (e.g., 6-His), or to enhance binding of the polypeptide to a solid support.
The term “sequence identity” as used herein refers to a relationship between two or more polynucleotide sequences or between two or more polypeptide sequences. When a position in one sequence is occupied by the same nucleic acid base or amino acid in the corresponding position of the comparator sequence, the sequences are said to be “identical” at that position. The percentage “sequence identity” is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base or amino acid occurs in both sequences to yield the number of “identical” positions. The number of “identical” positions is then divided by the total number of positions in the comparison window and multiplied by 100 to yield the percentage of “sequence identity.” Percentage of “sequence identity” is determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window. In order to optimally align sequences for comparison, the portion of a polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence in the comparison window can comprise additions or deletions termed gaps while the reference sequence is kept constant. An optimal alignment is that alignment which, even with gaps, produces the greatest possible number of “identical” positions between the reference and comparator sequences. Percentage “sequence identity” between two sequences can be determined using the version of the program “BLAST 2 Sequences” which was available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information as of Sep. 1, 2004, which program incorporates the programs BLASTN (for nucleotide sequence comparison) and BLASTP (for polypeptide sequence comparison), which programs are based on the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(12):5873-5877, 1993). When utilizing “BLAST 2 Sequences,” parameters that were default parameters as of Sep. 1, 2004, can be used for word size (3), open gap penalty (11), extension gap penalty (1), gap drop-off (50), expect value (10), and any other required parameter including but not limited to matrix option.
The terms “composition” or “pharmaceutical composition” refer to compositions containing a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide provided herein, along with e.g., pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents for administration to a subject in need of treatment, e.g., a human subject being treated for obesity.
The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to compositions that are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity or other complications commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.
An “effective amount” is that amount of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide provided herein, the administration of which to a subject, either in a single dose or as part of a series, is effective for treatment, e.g., treatment of obesity. An amount is effective, for example, when its administration results in one or more of weight loss or weight maintenance (e.g., prevention of weight gain), loss of body fat, prevention or modulation hypoglycemia, prevention or modulation hyperglycemia, promotion of insulin synthesis, or reduction in food intake. This amount can be a fixed dose for all subjects being treated, or can vary depending upon the weight, health, and physical condition of the subject to be treated, the extent of weight loss or weight maintenance desired, the formulation of peptide, a professional assessment of the medical situation, and other relevant factors.
The term “subject” is meant any subject, particularly a mammalian subject, in need of treatment with a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide provided herein. Mammalian subjects include, but are not limited to, humans, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, horses, cattle, bears, cows, apes, monkeys, orangutans, and chimpanzees, and so on. In one embodiment, the subject is a human subject.
As used herein, an “subject in need thereof” refers to an individual for whom it is desirable to treat, e.g., to an obese subject or a subject prone to obesity for whom it is desirable to facilitate weight or body fat loss, weight or body fat maintenance, or to prevent or minimize weight gain over a specified period of time.
As used herein a “GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide” is a chimeric peptide that exhibits activity at the glucagon receptor of at least about 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or more relative to native glucagon and also exhibits activity at the GLP-1 receptor of about at least about 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or more relative to native GLP-1, under the conditions of assay 1.
As used herein the term “native glucagon” refers to naturally-occurring glucagon, e.g., human glucagon, comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. The term “native GLP-1” refers to naturally-occurring GLP-1, e.g., human GLP-1, and is a generic term that encompasses, e.g., GLP-1(7-36) amide (SEQ ID NO: 2), GLP-1(7-37) acid (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a mixture of those two compounds. As used herein, a general reference to “glucagon” or “GLP-1” in the absence of any further designation is intended to mean native human glucagon or native human GLP-1, respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, “glucagon” refers to human glucagon, and “GLP-1” refers to human GLP-1.
GLP-1/Glucagon Agonist Peptides
Provided herein are peptides which bind both to a glucagon receptor and to a GLP-1 receptor. In certain embodiments, the peptides provided herein are co-agonists of glucagon and GLP-1 activity. Such peptides are referred to herein as GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as provided herein possess GLP-1 and glucagon activities with favorable ratios to promote weight loss, prevent weight gain, or to maintain a desirable body weight, and possess optimized solubility, formulatability, and stability. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as provided herein are active at the human GLP1 and human glucagon receptors, in certain embodiment relative activity compared to the natural ligand at the GLP-1 receptor is at least about 1-fold, 2-fold 5-fold, 8-fold, 10-fold, 15-fold, 20-fold, or 25-fold higher than at the glucagon receptor.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed have desirable potencies at the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors, and have desirable relative potencies for promoting weight loss. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed exhibit in vitro potencies at the GLP-1 receptor as shown by an EC50 in the cAMP assay (see Example 2) of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed exhibit in vitro potencies at the glucagon receptor as shown by an EC50 in the cAMP assay (see Example 2) of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed have relative GLP1-R/glucR potency ratios, when compared to the native ligands, in the range of about 0.01 to 0.50, e.g., from about 0.02 to 0.30, e.g., about 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.10, 0.11. 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, or 0.30. when using assay 2.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed exhibit in vitro potencies at the glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (gastric inhibitory peptide) (GIPR) as shown by an EC50 in the cAMP assay (see Example 2) of less than 10,000 pM, less than 5000 pM, less than 2500 pM, less than 1000 pM, less than 900 pM, less than 800 pM, less than 700 pM, less than 600 pM, less than 500 pM, less than 400 pM, less than 300 pM, less than 200 pM, less than 100 pM, less than 50 pM, less than 25 pM, less than 20 pM, less than 15 pM, less than 10 pM, less than 5 pM, less than 4 pM, less than 3 pM, or less than 2 pM.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein possess one or more criteria of acceptable solubility, ease in formulatability, plasma stability, and improved pharmacokinetic properties. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are soluble in standard buffers over a broad pH range.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides are soluble in common buffer solutions at a concentration up to 0.5 mg/ml, 0.6 mg/ml, 0.7 mg/ml, 0.8 mg/ml, 0.9 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, 3 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 6 mg/ml, 7 mg/ml, 8 mg/ml, 9 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, or more, in buffer systems and a range of ionic strengths, e.g., from 0.25 to 150 mM, including, but not limited to phosphate buffer, Tris buffer, glutamate buffer, acetate buffer, succinate buffer, or histidine buffer. Exemplary buffers include 100 mM glutamate pH 4.5 buffer, 100 mM acetate pH 5 buffer, 100 mM succinate pH 5 buffer, 100 mM phosphate pH 6 buffer, 100 mM histidine pH 6 buffer, 100 mM phosphate pH 6.5 buffer, 100 mM phosphate pH 7.0 buffer, 100 mM histidine pH 7.0 buffer, 100 mM phosphate pH 7.5 buffer, 100 mM Tris pH 7.5 buffer, and 100 mM Tris pH 8.0 buffer. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are soluble in standard buffers at 0.8 mg/ml over a range of pH, e.g., from pH 4.0 to pH 8.0, e.g., at pH 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, or 8.5. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are soluble in standard buffers from pH 4.5 to 8.0, 5.0 to 8.0, 5.5 to 8.0, 6.0 to 8.0, 6.5 to 8.0, 7.0 to 8.0, 4.5 to 8.5, 5.5 to 8.5, 5.5 to 8.5, 6.0 to 8.5, 6.5 to 8.5, or 7.0 to 8.5.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are formulatable in standard pharmaceutical formulations. Exemplary formulations include, but are not limited to: 0.1M Tris pH 7.5, 150 mM Mannitol, final formulation pH=7.2; 0.05M Tris, 50 mM Arginine/Proline, final formulation pH=8.0; or sodium phosphate buffer (pH8)/1.85% W/V propylene glycol, final formulation pH=7.0. In certain embodiments GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are soluble is these or other formulations at a concentration up to 0.5 mg/ml, 0.6 mg/ml, 0.7 mg/ml, 0.8 mg/ml, 0.9 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, 3 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 6 mg/ml, 7 mg/ml, 8 mg/ml, 9 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, or more.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are acceptably stable against proteases in serum or plasma. Common degradation products of glucagon or GLP-1 include +1 products (acid) and the DPP IV-cleavage products. Products with +1 mass may arise from deamidation at amide groups of glutamine or at the C-terminus. Cleavage products arise from the action of the protease DPP IV in plasma. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed are remain stable in plasma at levels up to 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% after 24 hours in plasma at 37° C.
Provided herein is a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide comprising the amino acid sequence:









(SEQ ID NO: 2)



HX1X2GT FTSDX3 SX4X5X6X7X8X9X10AX11 X12FVX13W



 



X14X15X16






where X1 is S, G, alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid; X2 is Q or E; X3 is Y of K(PEG4palm); X4 is E, R or K(PEG4palm); X5 is Y or K(PEG4palm); X6 is L or K(PEG4palm); X7 is D or E; X8 is S, E or K(PEG4palm); X9 is R, E, S, or K(gEpalm), K(PEG2palm), K(PEG3palm), K(PEG4palm) or K(PEG2-PEG2-gEpalm); X10 is R, A, or K(gEpalm), K(PEG4palm); X11 is Q, R, A, E or K(gEpalm), K(PEG4palm); X12 is D or K(gEpalm); X13 is Q, A or E; X14 is L or E; X15 is V or E; and X16 is absent or A (SEQ ID NO:2); wherein only one amino acid is palmitoylated per molecule.

In certain embodiments of the peptides described above, the carboxyl group of X15 is pegylated. In some embodiments the PEG group is a polyethylene glycol oligomer of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 units. In some embodiments, the X15 amino acid is conjugated at the carboxyl end to 6-aminohexanoic acid or 11-aminoundecanoic acid.
In certain embodiments, the isolated peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:









(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 18)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 4)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 5)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 6)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 7)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 76)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 77)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 78)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRARDFVAWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 79)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 80)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 81)



HSQGTFTSDKSKYLDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 82)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRKAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 3)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 83)



HSQGTFTSDYSKKLDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 84)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 85)



HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAADFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 86)



HSQGTFTSDYSRYLDSKRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 87)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 76)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 88)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 89)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDEERAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 90)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYKDSSRARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 14)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 91)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 6)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWLE



 



(SEQ ID NO: 5)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDKRRAQDFVQWEV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 92)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRKAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 93)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAKDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 94)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERAKDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 95)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQKFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 96)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 97)



HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 98)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 99)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAEDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 100)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 101)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSEKARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 102)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 103)



HGQGTFTSDYSRYLDSKRARDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 104)



HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSKRARDFVEWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 105)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYKDSRRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 106)



HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 107)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 108)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 109)



HX1QGTFTSDYSKYKDSERARDFVAWLV



 



(SEQ ID NO: 110)



HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKRAQDFVQWLEA






wherein:

X1 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid;

when the amino acid at position 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20 or 21 is a palmitoylated lysine, then the lysine at position 12 is not palmitoylated;

when the amino acid at position 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 is not a palmitoylated lysine, then the lysine at position 12 is optionally palmitoylated; and

wherein the peptide is pegylated at the C-terminal amino acid with a (PEG)x2 group, wherein x2 is 2-12.

GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein include, but are not limited to the peptides are listed in Table 1 (glucagon is shown for comparative purposes only and does not form part of the invention):







TABLE 1







GLP-1/Glucagon Peptide Sequences











SEQ ID


Peptide
Sequence
NO:





Glucagon
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLMNT
1 


 


g357
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLVX1
3


 


g358
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLVX2
3


 


g355
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ2
3


 


g356
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
3


 


g416
HSQGTFTSDYSBYLDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
8


 


g417
HSQGTFTSDYSB1YLDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
9


 


g426
HSQGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
10


 


g514
HGQGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
11


 


g515
HSEGTFTSDYSKYBDSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
12


 


g807
HSQGTFTSDYSKYBDEERAQDFVQWLVZ4
13


 


g773
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERARDFVAWLVZ4
14


 


g868
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYBDSERARDFVAWLVZ4
15


 


g424
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDBRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
16


 


g425
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLVZ4
17


 


g494
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLEZ4
18


 


g495
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLEZ4
19


 


g496
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDBRRAQDFVQWEVZ4
20


 


g497
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWEVZ4
21


 


g422
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRBAQDFVQWLVZ4
22


 


g423
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1AQDFVQWLVZ4
23


 


g735
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSEBARDFVAWLVZ4
24


 


g456
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRABDFVQWLVZ4
25


 


g457
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAB1DFVQWLVZ4
26


 


g774
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSERABDFVAWLVZ4
27


 


g808
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQBFVQWLVZ4
28


 


g809
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRAAQBFVQWLVZ4
29


 


g971
HSQGTFTSDB1SKYLDSSRARDFVAWLVZ4
30


 


g970
HSQGTFTSDYSKB1LDSSRARDFVAWLVZ4
31


 


g427
HSQGTFTSDYSKYB1DSRRAQDFVQWLVZ4
32


 


g969
HSQGTFTSDYSKYB1DSSRARDFVAWLVZ4
33


 


g972
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1SRARDFVAWLVZ4
34


 


g414
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
35


 


g415
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1RAQDFVQWLVZ4
36


 


g434
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB2RAQDFVQWLVZ4
37


 


g435
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB3RAQDFVQWLVZ4
38


 


g676
HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
39


 


g677
HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRARDFVEWLVZ4
40


 


g500
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
41


 


g501
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ4
42


 


g430
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
43


 


g431
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ4
44


 


g775
HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAADFVQWLVZ4
45


 


g719
HGQGTFTSDYSRYLDSBRARDFVEWLVZ4
46


 


g828
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQRDFVAWLVZ12
47


 


g827
HSQGTFTSDYSRYLDSBRARDFVAWLVZ4
48


 


g784
HSQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRARDFVAWLVZ4
49


 


g800
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRARDFVAWLVZ4
50


 


g966
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB6RAQDFVQWLEZ4
51


 


g965
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB5RAQDFVQWLVZ4
52


 


g964
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RAQDFVQWLVZ4
53


 


g870
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVAWLVZ4
54


 


g869
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRARDFVAWLVZ4
55


 


g968
HX3QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLVZ4
56


 


g432
HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
57


 


g433
HSEGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ4
58


 


g498
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
59


 


g695
HGQGTFTSDYSEYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
60


 


g499
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLESB1RAQDFVQWLVZ4
61


 


g693
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAEDFVQWLVZ4
62


 


g694
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVEWLVZ4
63


 


g691
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ2
43


 


g690
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ3
43


 


g692
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ6
43


 


g810
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDEBRAQDFVQWLVZ4
64


 


g437
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ2
65


 


g436
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ3
65


 


g438
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ6
65


 


g439
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ8
65


 


g440
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLVZ12
65


 


g428
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLEZ4
66


 


g502
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB3RAQDFVQWLEZ4
67


 


g503
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB2RAQDFVQWLEZ4
68


 


g429
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWLEZ4
69


 


g516
HGQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLEZ4
70


 


g533
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLEAZ2
66


 


g458
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWEVZ4
71


 


g459
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB1RAQDFVQWEVZ4
72


 


g533
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSBRAQDFVQWLVZ2
35


 


g454
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRBAQDFVQWLEZ4
73


 


g455
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRB1AQDFVQWLEZ4
74


 


g497
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWEVZ4
21


 


g495
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDB1RRAQDFVQWLEZ4
19


 


g967
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLEZ2
75









Wherein:

Zx is PEGx; Z2 is PEG2; Z3 is PEG3; Z4 is PEG4; Z6 is PEG6 Z8 is PEG8; Z12 is PEG12;

X1 is 6-aminohexanoic acid; X2 is 11-aminoundecanoic acid; X3 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid; B is K(gE-palm); B1 is K(PEG4-palm); B2 is K(PEG3-palm); B3 is K(PEG2-palm); B4 is K(PEG4-gE-palm); B5 is K(PEG2-gE-palm); B6 is K(PEG2-PEG2-gE-palm)

“K(gE-Palm)” refers to a lysine with a palmitoyl group conjugated to the epsilon nitrogen, through a gamma glutamic acid linker.

Methods of Making.
This disclosure provides a method of making a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be made by any suitable method. For example, in certain embodiments the GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein are chemically synthesized by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, e.g., by solid phase synthesis as described by Merrifield (1963, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2154). Solid phase peptide synthesis can be accomplished, e.g., by using automated synthesizers, using standard reagents, e.g., as explained in Example 1.
Alternatively, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be produced recombinantly using a convenient vector/host cell combination as would be well known to the person of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of methods are available for recombinantly producing GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides. Generally, a polynucleotide sequence encoding the GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide is inserted into an appropriate expression vehicle, e.g., a vector which contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence. The nucleic acid encoding the GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide is inserted into the vector in proper reading frame. The expression vector is then transfected into a suitable host cell which will express the GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide. Suitable host cells include without limitation bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells. A variety of commercially-available host-expression vector systems can be utilized to express the GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides described herein.
Modifications, Conjugates, Fusions, and Derivations.
In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein are stabilized via amino acid modifications. In certain embodiments, the carboxyl group of the C-terminal amino acid is modified by conjugation to 6-aminohexanoic acid or 11-aminoundecanoic acid. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides are provided in which one or more amino acid residues are acylated. For example, in certain embodiments GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein contain one or more lysine residues, in which a palmitoyl moiety is attached to the N (epsilon) group. In certain embodiments a linker is incorporated between lysine and the palmitoyl group. This linker can be a gamma glutamic acid group, or an alternative linker such as, but not limited to, beta alanine and aminohexanoic acid or any of the PEG linkers described herein. Different acylation methods may be used such as addition of cholesterol or myristoyl groups. Alternatively, the linker-palmitoyl moiety could be conjugated to the side chain of cysteine which could be used in place of lysine in the molecules described herein.
Alternatively or in addition, a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide as disclosed herein can be associated with a heterologous moiety, e.g., to extend half-life. The heterologous moiety can be a protein, a peptide, a protein domain, a linker, an organic polymer, an inorganic polymer, a polyethylene glycol (PEG), biotin, an albumin, a human serum albumin (HSA), a HSA FcRn binding portion, an antibody, a domain of an antibody, an antibody fragment, a single chain antibody, a domain antibody, an albumin binding domain, an enzyme, a ligand, a receptor, a binding peptide, a non-FnIII scaffold, an epitope tag, a recombinant polypeptide polymer, a cytokine, and a combination of two or more of such moieties.
For example, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides can be fused with a heterologous polypeptide. The peptides can be fused to proteins, either through recombinant gene fusion and expression or by chemical conjugation. Proteins that are suitable as partners for fusion include, without limitation, human serum albumin, antibodies and antibody fragments including fusion to the Fc portion of the antibodies. GLP-1 has been fused to these proteins with retention of potency (L. Baggio et al, Diabetes 53 2492-2500 (2004); P. Barrington et al Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 13 426-433 (2011); P. Paulik et al American Diabetes Association 2012, Poster 1946). Extended recombinant peptide sequences have also been described to give the peptide high molecular mass (V. Schellenberger et al Nature Biotechnol 27 1186-1190 (2009); PASylation (EP2173890)). In certain embodiments GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides are incorporated as the N-terminal part of a fusion protein, with the fusion partner, e.g., the albumin or Fc portion, at the C-terminal end. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as described herein can also be fused to peptides or protein domains, such as ‘Albudabs’ that have affinity for human serum albumin (M. S. Dennis et al J Biol Chem 277 35035-35043 (2002); A. Walker et al Protein Eng Design Selection 23 271-278 (2010)). Methods for fusing a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides as disclosed herein with a heterologous polypeptide, e.g., albumin or an Fc region, are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Other heterologous moieties can be conjugated to GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides to further stabilize or increase half-life. For chemical fusion, certain embodiments feature maintenance of a free N-terminus, but alternative points for derivatization can be made. A further alternative method is to derivatize the peptide with a large chemical moiety such as high molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG). A “pegylated GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide” has a PEG chain covalently bound thereto. Derivatization of GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides, e.g., pegylation, can be done at the lysine that is palmitoylated, or alternatively at a residue such as cysteine, that is substituted or incorporated by extension to allow derivatization. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide formats above can be characterized in vitro and/or in vivo for relative potency and the balance between GLP-1 and glucagon receptor activation.
The general term “polyethylene glycol chain” or “PEG chain”, refers to mixtures of condensation polymers of ethylene oxide and water, in a branched or straight chain, represented by the general formula H(OCH2CH2)nOH, where n is an integer of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more. PEG chains include polymers of ethylene glycol with an average total molecular weight selected from the range of about 500 to about 40,000 Daltons. The average molecular weight of a PEG chain is indicated by a number, e.g., PEG-5,000 refers to polyethylene glycol chain having a total molecular weight average of about 5,000.
PEGylation can be carried out by any of the PEGylation reactions known in the art. See, e.g., Focus on Growth Factors, 3: 4-10, 1992 and European patent applications EP 0 154 316 and EP 0 401 384. PEGylation may be carried out using an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive polyethylene glycol molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer).
Methods for preparing a PEGylated GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides generally prepared by coupling small amino PEG to a resin and subsequently the other amino acids are coupled sequentially to create the PEGylated peptide. Thus, the steps generally include (a) reacting amino polyethylene glycol with the resin support, and (b) subsequent peptide chain elongation.
Pharmaceutical Compositions
Further provided are compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, that contain an effective amount of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide as provided herein, formulated for the treatment of metabolic diseases, e.g., obesity.
Compositions of the disclosure can be formulated according to known methods. Suitable preparation methods are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 19th Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. (1995), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Composition can be in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to an aqueous solution, an emulsion, a gel, a suspension, lyophilized form, or any other form known in the art. In addition, the composition can contain pharmaceutically acceptable additives including, for example, diluents, binders, stabilizers, and preservatives. Once formulated, compositions of the invention can be administered directly to the subject.
Carriers that can be used with compositions of the invention are well known in the art, and include, without limitation, e.g., thyroglobulin, albumins such as human serum albumin, tetanus toxoid, and polyamino acids such as poly L-lysine, poly L-glutamic acid, influenza, hepatitis B virus core protein, and the like. A variety of aqueous carriers can be used, e.g., water, buffered water, 0.8% saline, 0.3% glycine, hyaluronic acid and the like. Compositions can be sterilized by conventional, well known sterilization techniques, or can be sterile filtered. A resulting composition can be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile solution prior to administration. Compositions can contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate physiological conditions, such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, tonicity adjusting agents, wetting agents and the like, for example, sodium acetate, sodium lactate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamineoleate, etc.
Method of Treating Obesity, Model Systems.
GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides can combine the effect of glucagon e.g., inhibition of food intake or regulation of glucose levels with the effect of GLP-1 e.g., inhibition of gastric motility, or promotion of insulin release. They can therefore act to accelerate elimination of excessive adipose tissue, induce sustainable weight loss, and improve glycemic control. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides can also act to reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, and high LDL-cholesterol or abnormal HDL/LDL ratios.
This disclosure provides a method of treating obesity or an obesity-related disease or disorder, comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide as disclosed herein. Further provided is a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide for treatment of obesity or an obesity-related disease or disorder. Further provided is use of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide as provided herein in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of obesity or an obesity-related disease or disorder.
GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be administered for preventing weight gain, promoting weight loss, reducing excess body weight or treating obesity (e.g. by control of appetite, feeding, food intake, calorie intake, and/or energy expenditure), including morbid obesity. In addition, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be used for treatment of other obesity-related metabolic disorders. Examples of other obesity-related disorders include without limitation: insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, pre-diabetes, increased fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia (or a combination of these metabolic risk factors), glucagonomas, cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure, atherosclerois, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, or peripheral artery disease, stroke, respiratory dysfunction, or renal disease.
“Treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results. As provided herein, beneficial or desired clinical results from the disclosed GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides include, without limitation, reduced body weight, decreased weight-gain, reduced appetite, reduced or stabilized serum glucose and serum insulin levels, amelioration, palliation, stabilization, diminishment of extent of obesity-related diseases, or a delay or slowing of obesity-related disease progression. “Treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures in certain embodiments. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those in which the disorder is to be prevented. By treatment is meant inhibiting or reducing an increase in obesity-related symptoms (e.g. weight gain) when compared to the absence of treatment, and is not necessarily meant to imply complete cessation of the relevant condition.
The route of administration of GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be, for example, oral, parenteral, by inhalation or topical. The term parenteral as used herein includes, e.g., intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, rectal, or vaginal administration. Another example of a form for administration is a solution for injection, in particular for intravenous or intraarterial injection or drip. GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be administered as a single dose or as multiple doses. In certain embodiments, a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide is administered by subcutaneous injection.
Parenteral formulations can be a single bolus dose, an infusion or a loading bolus dose followed with a maintenance dose. These compositions can be administered at specific fixed or variable intervals, e.g., once a day, or on an “as needed” basis. Dosage regimens also can be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response).
The amount of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide to be administered can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation given the disclosure herein. Factors influencing the mode of administration and the respective amount of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide include, but are not limited to, the severity of the disease (e.g., the extent of obesity), the subject's history, and the age, height, weight, health, and physical condition of the subject undergoing therapy. Similarly, the amount of a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide to be administered will be dependent upon the mode of administration and whether the subject will undergo a single dose or multiple doses of this agent. In certain embodiments, GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides provided herein can be administered once per day via injection. In some embodiments, the injection is administered once per week.
Kits
In yet other embodiments, the present disclosure provides kits comprising GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides, that can be used to perform the methods described herein. In certain embodiments, a kit comprises a GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptide disclosed herein in one or more containers. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the disclosed GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides can be readily incorporated into one of the established kit formats which are well known in the art.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Synthesis, Modifications, and Characterization of GLP-1/Glucagon Agonist Peptides
GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides were synthesized as follows:
A. List of Abbreviations


    Ahx: 6-amino hexanoic acid
    Aib: alpha-amino iso-butyric acid
    Aud 11-amino undecanoic acid
    Boc: tert-butyloxycarbonyl
    tert-Bu; tert-butyl
    DCM: dichloromethane
    DIC: diisopropylcarbodiimide
    Fmoc: 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl
    HOBt: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole
    HPLC: High Performance Liquid Chromatography
    Mtt: 4-methyltrityl
    NMP: N-methylpyrrolidone
    palm: palmitic acid
    Pbf: 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl
    TFA: trifluoroacetic acid
    TIS: triisopropylsilane
    Trt: triphenylmethyl, trityl


B. Peptide Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization
Elongation of peptide chains on NovaSyn TGR or preloaded Fmoc-Wang resin (NovaBiochem) was performed with Prelude solid phase peptide synthesizer (Protein Technologies, Tucson, Ariz., USA). Manufacturer-supplied protocols were applied for coupling of the hydroxybenzotriazole esters of amino acids in N-methylpyrolidone (NMP). The fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group was used for the semipermanent protection of amino groups of amino polyethylene glycols and alpha-amino groups of amino acids, whereas the side chains were protected with tert-butyl (tert-Bu) for serine, threonine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, tyrosine, and 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl (Pbf) for arginine, and trityl (Trt) for histidine. The N-terminal amino group of histidine in position 1 was protected with tert-butyloxycarbonyl group (Boc). Lys(Mtt) was incorporated into the peptide chain when a subsequent chemical modification of the side chain was required.
Upon completion of the peptide chain elongation, the Mtt group was removed by treating the peptide-resin with DCM containing 2% TFA and 5% TIS (10×7 ml, each 0.5 min). Coupling of and amino acid, and a PEG linker and a lipid moiety to the side chain of Lys was performed on the Prelude peptide synthesizer using DIC as a coupling reagent in the presence of HOBt.
Peptides were cleaved from the resin using mixture of TFA:TIS:water (95:2.5:2.5). After 2 h at room temperature, the peptidyl resin was filtered, washed with TFA and combined filtrates were evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was triturated with ether, and the precipitate which formed was filtered, washed with ether, and dried. The crude peptides were dissolved in 5% acetic acid in water and analyzed by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography on a Polaris 3 C8-A column attached to Varian 920-LC system. A standard gradient system of 10 to 90% buffer B over the course of 15 min was used for analysis. Buffer A was 0.1% TFA in water and buffer B was 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile. HPLC profiles were recorded at 210 nm. Preparative separations were performed on Varian ProStar system with a semipreparative C18 RP XBridge Waters column. The above-described solvent system of water and acetonitrile, in a gradient of 30 to 70% buffer B over the course of 30 min, was used for separation. The chromatographically homogenous products (>97% pure) were analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry (MassLynx, Waters).
Example 2: In Vitro Studies
Biological Activity of Peptides in Cell-Based cAMP Activity Assay
Peptides are biologically active and may stimulate one or more cellular receptor responses. The biological activity of GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides synthesized by the method of Example 1 were tested for biological activity, e.g., stimulation of one or more cellular receptor responses, by the following method. Stable cell lines expressing human, mouse, rat, or dog GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), glucagon receptor (GCGR) or glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) receptor (GIPR) were generated in HEK293s or CHO cells by standard methods. Peptide activation of these various receptors results in downstream production of cAMP second messenger which can be measured in a functional activity assay.
A. Assay Method:
Assay Medium:
10% FBS in DMEM (Gibco #41966), containing 0.5 mM IBMX (Sigma #I7018).
Alternative Assay Buffer:
0.1% BSA (Sigma # A3059) in HBSS (with calcium & magnesium), 25 mM HEPES (Gibco #15630), pH7.4 with 0.5 mM IBMX.
Low protein binding 384-well plates (Greiner #781280) were used to perform eleven 1 in 5 serial dilutions of test samples which were made in assay medium. All sample dilutions were made in duplicate.
A frozen cryo-vial of cells expressing the receptor of interest was thawed rapidly in a water-bath, transferred to pre-warmed assay media and spun at 240×g for 5 minutes. Cells were re-suspended in assay media at an optimised concentration (i.e. hGCGr cells at 1×105 cells/ml, hGLP-1r and hGIPr cells at 0.5×105 cells/ml).
From the dilution plate, a 5 mcL replica was stamped onto a black shallow-well u-bottom 384-well plate (Corning #3676). To this, 5 mcL cell suspension was added and the plates incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes.
cAMP levels were measured using a commercially available cAMP dynamic 2 HTRF kit (Cisbio, Cat #62AM4PEJ), following the two step protocol as per manufacturer's recommendations. In brief; anti-cAMP cryptate (donor fluorophore) and cAMP-d2 (acceptor fluorophore) were made up separately by diluting each 1/20 in conjugate & lysis buffer provided in the kit. 5 mcL anti-cAMP cryptate was added to all wells of the assay plate, and 5 mcL cAMP-d2 added to all wells except non-specific binding (NSB) wells, to which conjugate & lysis buffer was added. Plates were incubated at room temperature for one hour and then read on an Envision (Perkin Elmer) using excitation wavelength of 320 nm and emission wavelengths of 620 nm & 665 nm.
% Delta F values were calculated for each well as follows:




  
    %
    ⁢
    
      
    
    ⁢
    Delta
    ⁢
    
      
    
    ⁢
    
      F
      ⁡
      
        (
        
          Δ
          ⁢
          
            
          
          ⁢
          F
        
        )
      
    
  
  =
  
    
      
        (
        
          
            Sample
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            A
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            
              665
              /
              A
            
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            620
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            ratio
          
          -
          
            NSB
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            A
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            
              665
              /
              A
            
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            620
            ⁢
            
              
            
            ⁢
            ratio
          
        
        )
      
      
        (
        
          NSB
          ⁢
          
            
          
          ⁢
          A
          ⁢
          
            
          
          ⁢
          
            665
            /
            A
          
          ⁢
          
            
          
          ⁢
          620
          ⁢
          
            
          
          ⁢
          ratio
        
        )
      
    
    ×
    100
  




Media only wells (non-specific binding (NSB)) were used as background for the % Delta F calculations. Data was subsequently analysed using Data Processor software, with 4-parameter logistical analysis and graphed as % activation plots; from this EC50 values for each sample were obtained. Assay window is defined by Negative control (cells plus both HTRF reagents giving Total Binding) as basal cell cAMP levels and Positive control defined by the maximal response caused by Reference Ligand Control (e.g. cells plus ligand (e.g. GLP-1) and both HTRF reagents).
EC50 refers to the half maximal effective concentration, defined as a concentration which induces a response halfway between basal and maximum response. Serial dilution of a peptide sample may produce a dose response curve, from which an EC50 value can be determined. The lower the EC50 the better the potency of the test sample.
The synthesized GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides and their EC50 values determined in cAMP assays, are shown in Table 2.







TABLE 2







cAMP activity of additional GLP-1/glucagon agonist peptides













GLP1
Glcg


Other



EC50 nM
EC50 nM
Palmitoylation
C-terminus
substitutions
















glucagon

0.003





g357
1.6
0.08

LV-Ahx


g358
3.2
0.03

LV-Aud


g355
0.67
0.03

LV(PEG)2


g356
0.05
0.12

LV(PEG)4


g416
1
0.6
K(gEpalm)12
LV(PEG4)


g807
1.4
0.01
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)
E16, E17


g773,
0.04
0.08
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 E17


799


g868
0.014
0.02
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24, E17







Aib2


g426
0.124
0.003
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)


g514
0.1
0.02
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)
G2


g515
0.1
0.4
K(gEpalm)14
LV(PEG4)
E3


g424
0.4
0.009
K(gEpalm)16
LV(PEG4)


g494
4
0.002
K(gEpalm)16
LE(PEG4)


g496
8
24
K(gEpalm)16
EV(PEG4)


g422
0.2
0.7
K(gEpalm)18
LV(PEG4)


g735
0.8
>1800
K(gEpalm)18
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 E17 G2


g456
1.3
0.07
K(gEpalm)20
LV(PEG4)


g774
35
2.3
K(gEpalm)20
LV(PEG4)
E17 A24


g808
50
0.12
K(gEpalm)21
LV(PEG4)


g809
0.43
0.07
K(gEpalm)21
LV(PEG4)
A18


g971
0.015
0.007
K(PEG4palm)10
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 S17


g417
0.02
0.003
K(PEG4palm)12
LV(PEG4)


g970
0.014
0.003
K(PEG4palm)13
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 S17


g427
0.004
0.002
K(PEG4palm)14
LV(PEG4)


g969
0.01
0.006
K(PEG4palm)14
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 S17


g425
0.008
0.002
K(PEG4palm)16
LV(PEG4)


g495
0.09
0.002
K(PEG4palm)16
LE(PEG4)


g497
15
0.3
K(PEG4palm)16
EV(PEG4)


g972
0.03
0.03
K(PEG4palm)16
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 S17


g423
0.01
0.004
K(PEG4palm)18
LV(PEG4)


g457
0.03
0.004
K(PEG4palm)20
LV(PEG4)


g414
0.2
0.016
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)


g676
1.2
40
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
E12


g677
0.3
25
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4),
E12 R20 E24, G2


g500
0.08
0.16
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
Aib2


g430
0.35
0.8
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2


g775
0.23
0.08
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
A20 E24


g719
0.09
0.75
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 E24, R12, G2


g828
0.04
0.02
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG12)
R20 A24, R12


g827
0.2
0.04
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24, R12


g784
0.3
1.5
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24, E12


g800
0.09
0.014
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24


g870
0.09
11
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
A24, Aib2


g869
0.11
0.065
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24, Aib2


g432
0.07
2.2
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
E3


g498
0.6
2
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2, E15


g695, 676
0.2
4
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2 E12


g693
0.1
>2
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2, E20


g694
0.07
0.2
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2, E24


g691
0.05
0.13
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG2)
G2


g690
0.06
0.1
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG3)
G2


g692
0.06
0.13
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG6)
G2


g810
0.5
0.03
K(gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
E16


g415
0.007
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG4)


g431
0.006
0.004
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2


g501
0.03
0.003
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG4)
Aib2


g433
0.004
0.03
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG4)
E3


g499
0.02
0.03
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG4)
G2 E15


g966
0.012
0.001
K(PEG2, PEG2, gEpalm)17
LE(PEG4)
R20 A24


g965
0.017
0.002
K(PEG2, gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24


g964
0.015
0.002
K(PEG4, gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24


g968
0.025
0.006
K(PEG4, gEpalm)17
LV(PEG4)
R20 A24 Aib2


g434
0.005
0.02
K(PEG3palm)17
LV(PEG4)


g435
0.01
0.002
K(PEG2palm)17
LV(PEG4)


g437
0.006
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG2)


g436
0.01
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG3)


g438
0.005
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG6)


g439
0.008
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG8)


g440
0.008
0.002
K(PEG4palm)17
LV(PEG12)


g428
0.2
0.003
K(gEpalm)17
LE(PEG4)


g516
0.6
0.08
K(gEpalm)17
LE(PEG4)
G2


g533
0.09
0.003
K(gEpalm)17
LEA(PEG2)


g458
0
9
K(gEpalm)17
EV(PEG4)


g533
0.09
0.003
K(gEpalm)17
LEA(PEG2)


g454
0.5
0.08
K(gEpalm)18
LE(PEG4)


g497
15
0.3
K(PEG4palm)16
EV(PEG4)


g495
0.09
0.002
K(PEG4palm)16
LE(PEG4)


g429
0.004
0.005
K(PEG4palm)17
LE(PEG4)


g503
0.02
0.002
K(PEG3palm)17
LE(PEG4)


g502
0.03
0.001
K(PEG2palm)17
LE(PEG4)


g459
14
0.3
K(PEG4palm)17
EV(PEG4)


g967
0.016
0.006
K(PEG4gEpalm)17
LE(PEG2)
R20 A24 E27


g455
0.012
0.001
K(PEG4palm)18
LE(PEG4)





Abbreviations:


K(gE-palm) = Lysine with a palmitoyl group conjugated to the epsilon nitrogen, through a gamma glutamic acid linker;


Aib, alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid.


K(PEGxpalm) = Lysine conjugated with x number of PEG units and a palmitoyl group at the epsilon nitrogen. Substitutions noted are with respect to the following amino acid sequence: HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQW + C-terminal amino acids indicated






The disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the disclosure, and any compositions or methods which are functionally equivalent are within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

## Claims

1. An isolated peptide comprising:
HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLV(OCH2CH2)4 (SEQ ID NO:56)
wherein:
X1 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid; and
B4 is K((OCH2CH2)4-gE-palm).

2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

3. A kit comprising the composition of claim 2.

4. An isolated peptide consisting of:
HX1QGTFTSDYSKYLDSB4RARDFVAWLV(OCH2CH2)4(SEQ ID NO:56),
wherein:
X1 is alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid; and
B4 is K((OCH2CH2)4-gE-palm).

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide of claim 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. A kit comprising the composition of claim 5.