Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

U Prasad Kari

W Lee Maloy

Michael A Zasloff

Jon I Williams

Michael McLane

Taffy J Williams

Barry Berkowitz

Michael Brasseur

Biologically active peptides with reduced toxicity in animals and a method for preparing same

An N-terminal substituted peptide or protein having the formula: ##STR1## X is a biologically active amphiphilic ion channel-forming peptide or protein. T is a lipophilic moiety, and preferably, T is: ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrocarbon (alkyl or aromatic or alkylaromatic) having at least 2 and no more than 10 carbon atoms. T is preferably an octanoyl group. W is T or hydrogen. The N-terminal substituted peptides and proteins have improved biological activity against target cells, viruses, and virally-infected cells.

Biologically active peptides having n-terminal substitutions

Compounds which have one of the following structural formulae: ##STR1## AA is an amino acid residue or an amino acid chain of two or more amino acid residues, excluding the N-terminal and the C-terminal from said amino acid residue or amino acid chain of two or more amino acid residues;

Amino acids and peptides having modified C-terminals and modified

An N-terminal substituted peptide or protein having the formula: ##STR1## X is a biologically active amphiphilic ion channel-forming peptide or protein. T is a lipophilic moiety, and preferably, T is: ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrocarbon (alkyl or aromatic or alkylaromatic) having at least 2 and no more than 10 carbon atoms. T is preferably an octanoyl group. W is T or hydrogen. The N-terminal substituted peptides and proteins have improved biological activity against target cells, viruses, and vitally-infected cells.

Biologically active peptides having N-terminal substitutions

Biologically active amphiphilic peptides including one of the following basic structures: I. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 ; II. R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 ; III. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 ; IV. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.4 ; V. R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 ; or VI. R.sub.1 --R.sub. 1 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1. R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid and R.sub.2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid, R.sub.3 is a neutral hydrophilic amino acid, and R.sub.4 is a neutral hydrophilic amino acid or proline.

Biologically active amphiphilic peptide compositions and uses therefor

A biologically active amphiphilic peptide which in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, includes one of the following basic structures X.sub.1 through X.sub.7, wherein:

Peptide compositions and uses therefor

Novel biologically active amphiphilic peptides having from 21 to 26 amino acid residues, and which may be employed as for inhibiting the growth of target cells, viruses and virally-infected cells.

Biologically active peptides and uses therefor

A biologically active peptide which includes the following structure:

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

U Prasad Kari