Patent ID: 8377884

Claim:
A variant of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) having a total mass in the range from about 2.6 kDa to about 7.0 kDa, and having the formula: (SEQ ID NO: 35) (x)-Gly 1 -Leu 2 -Ser 3 -(Arg) 4 -Gly 5 -(Cys) 6 -(Phe) 7 -(Gly) 8 - (Leu) 9 -(Lys) 10 -(Leu) 11 -Asp 12 -Arg 13 -(Ile) 14 -(Gly) 15 - Ser 16 -(Met) 17 -Ser 18 -Gly 19 -(Leu) 20 -Gly 21 -Cys 22 -(z) (x) is an amino acid sequence comprising from 1 to 40 amino acids and is optionally conjugated with a PEG polymer or a derivative thereof at the N-terminus of the variant; and (z) may be absent or may be selected from the group consisting of bone- or cartilage-targeting moieties; moieties that reduce renal clearance; hydrophilic polymers; amino acid sequences comprising one or more amino acids; carbohydrates; hydrophobic acids; and combinations thereof.