WO1992008481A1

WO1992008481A1 - Stabilized, potent grf analogs

Info

Publication number: WO1992008481A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/008248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan R. Friedman
Original assignee: The Upjohn Company
Priority date: 1990-11-14
Filing date: 1991-11-13
Publication date: 1992-05-29
Also published as: CA2092906A1; NO931745D0; EP0565536A1; CZ85393A3; FI932185A; FI932185A0; AU655791B2; RU2119800C1; JPH06502650A; NO931745L; SK49093A3; HU9301385D0; HUT63857A; AU9055191A

Abstract

Novel GRF peptides with enhanced stability in plasma and aqueous environments at neutral pH.

Description

STABILIZED, POTENT GRF ANALOGS INTRODUCTION The present invention relates to a peptide having influence on the function of the pituitary gland in humans and other animals, particularly mammals. In particular, the present invention is directed to peptides which promote the release of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. The peptides of the present invention are potent in vivo, more stable in plasma and selected peptides are more stable in an aqueous environment at neutral pH than native GRF sequences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Physiologists have long recognized that the hypothalamus controls the secretory functions of the adenohypophysis with the hypothalamus producing special substances which stimulate or inhibit the secretion of each pituitary hormone. In 1982, human pancreatic (tumor) releasing factors (hpGRF) were isolated from extracts of human pancreatic tumors, purified, characterized, synthesized, tested, and found to promote release of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary. Guillemin, R., et al., Science 218, 585-585 (1982). Since then, corresponding hypothalamic GH releasing factors from other species including the rat species, the porcine species, the ovine species, the bovine and caprine species and from the human species have also been characterized and synthesized.

Human hypothalamic GRF (hGRF) has been found to have the same formula as hpGRF, namely: H-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu- Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg- Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH₂.

Rat GRF (rGRF) has been found to have a Ser residue at position 8 and the formula: H-His-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Ile-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Tyr-Ala-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-His-Glu-Ile-Met-Asn-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Arg-Asn-Gln-Glu-Gln-Arg-Ser-Arg-Phe- Asn-OH. (See for example US Patent 4,595,676).

Bovine GRF (bGRF) has been found to have the formula: H-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ue-Phe- Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ue-Met- Asn-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Arg-Asn-Gln-Glu-Gln-Gly-Ala-Lys-Val-Arg-Leu-NH₂. Porcine GRF has been found to have a Ser residue at position 28.

It has been reported that native GRF sequences are subject to rapid inactivation by blood plasma enzymes. The rapid breakdown involves, cleavage of the 2-3 bond of the peptide by a dipeptidylpeptidase, Type IV (DPP-IV), which in the past was also named dipeptidylaminopeptidase-IV. Frohman, L.A. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 78, 906-913 (1986). The metabolic stability of GRF and various methods for protecting GRF peptides against dipeptidylpeptidase cleavage have been proposed, including Felix et al., Synthesis and biological activity of novel linear and cyclic GRF analogs, in Peptides. Chemistry and Biology, Proc. 10th Am. Peptide Symposium, Ed. G.R. Marshall, ESCOM Sci. Publishers, Leiden, The Netherland, pp.465-467, (1988), who reported on GRF analogs substituted with desNH2-Tyr at position 1, or/and D-Ala at position 2 which had enhanced stability of their N-termini to enzymatic degradation. This information was recently confirmed by Frohman et al., Dipeptidylpeptidase-IV and trypsin-like enzymatic degradation of human growth hormone- releasing hormone in plasma. J. Clin. Invest. 83, 1533-1540 (1989). In addition, the latter group showed that N-acetylation and N-methylation of the N-terminal tyrosine residue or substitution with D-Tyr-1 in GRF completely inhibited cleavage at the 2-3 position. On the other hand, alpha-methylation of Tyr-1, only partially blocked degradation by DPP-IV.

Murphy, W.A. and Coy, D.H., Potent long-acting alkylated analogs of growth hormone- releasing factor, Peptide Research 1, 36-41 (1988), describe analogs of GRF which show enhanced resistance to enzymatic degradation as a result of N-alkylation or N-arylalkylation of the N-terminal amino acid with or without concomitant N-alkylation of the side groups of lysines within the peptide chain.

Native GRF sequences have a Gly residue at the 15-position. Analogs with Ala or Leu at the 15-position are known to have increased GH releasing potency. See for example US Patents 4,649,131 and 4,734,399 as well as Ling, N., et al., Quo Vadis?, Symposium, Sanofi Group, May 29-30, 1985, Toulouse-Labege, France (pp. 309-322). Substitutions of Gly-15 with Val or alpha-amino-isobutiric acid also resulted in enhanced potency of GRF analogs, Felix et al., Synthesis and biological activity of novel growth hormone releasing factor analogs, in Peptides 1986, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin-New York, pp. 481-484 (1987).

A.M. Felix has reported on a program to synthesize analogs with enhanced and/or prolonged biological activity, including the preparation and testing of Ala¹⁵ h-GRF(l-29)NH₂ and desNH_j-Tyr¹, D-Ala², Ala¹⁵ hGRF(l-29)NH₂. See, for example, U.S. Patents 4,649,131 and 4,734,399 as well as A.M. Felix, E.P. Heimer, T.F. Mowles, H. Bisenbeis, P. Leung, TJ. Lambros, M. Ahmad, C.T. Wang & Paul Brazeau: Synthesis and biological activity of novel growth hormone releasing factor analogs, in Peptides 1986, pp. 481-484 (1987); Felix, A.M., Wang, C.T., Heimer, E., Founder, A., Bolin, D., Ahmad, M., Lambros, T., Mowles, T., and Miller, L.: Synthesis and biological activity of novel linear and cyclic GRF analogs, in Peptides. Chemistry and Biology. Proceedings of the 10th American Peptide Symposium, -Ed. G.R. Marshall, Escom Science Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands (1988), pp. 465-467; D.Peticlerc, H. Lapierre, G. Pelletier, P. Dubreuil, P. Gaudreau, T. Mowles, A. Felix and P. Brazeau: Effect of a potent analog of human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF) on growth hormone (GH) release and milk production of dairy cows. Meeting Abstract P223,

82nd Meeting American Dairy Sci. Assn., Columbia, MO, June 21-24 (1987).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET A GRF analog that was modified with Ser², in addition to eight other modifications in the same molecule, is described by Tou et al., Amphiphilic Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (GRF) analogs: peptide design and biological activity in vivo. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139, 763-770 (1986). This analog was reported to have 165% activity in vivo in sheep as compared to bGRF(l-44)NH₂.

U.S. Patent 4,734,399 discloses GRF analogs having Ala, N-Methyl-D-Ala or D-Ala at position 2 and Ala, Leu, Val, He, Nle, Nval or β-Ala at position 15. See also U.S. Patent 4,649,131.

European Patent Application of Coy and Murphy, Publication Number 0 188 214, Application Number 86100127.9, discloses GRF analogs with Leu or Phe at position 2, in addition to GRF peptides having various unnatural amino acids of L or D-configuration as substituents at position 2.

GRF analogs with very low bioactivity having Sar² or Pro² are described by Coy et al., Strategies in the design of synthetic agonists and antagonists of growth hormone-releasing factor, Peptides, vol. 7, Suppl. 49-52 (1986).

Ling et al., Growth hormone-releasing factor analogs with potent antagonistic activity, in Peptides. Chemistry and Biology. Proceedings of the 10th American Peptide Symposium, Ed. G.R. Marshall, Escom Science Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands (1988), pp. 484-486, reported on a series of GRF analogs substituted with either Arg or a variety of D-amino acids at position 2. All of them are less potent than the parent hormone and some of them displayed antagonistic activity.

A prior invention provides synthetic GRF polypeptides having a Ser residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 8 and 28 of the polypeptide as a means of inhibiting chemical breakdown (deamidation) in aqueous environments. See U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07/303,518, filed 27 January 1989 and Serial No. 07/323,955, filed 15 March 1989. See also A.R. Friedman, A.K. Ichhpurani, D.M. Brown, R.M. Hillman, L.F. Krabill, R.A.Martin, H.A. Zurcher-Neely, and D.M. Guido. The Degradation of Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Analogs in Neutral Aqueous Solution is Related to Deamidation of Asparagine Residues. Replacement of Asparagine Residues by Serine Stabilizes. Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., 37, 14-20 (1991).

A prior invention provides synthetic GRF polypeptides having a cysteic acid residue (Cya) substituted for the amino acid residue in position R₃ and/or R₂5- See U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07/150,301, filed 29 January 1988 and Serial No. 89/00245, filed 27 January 1989. A 29-amino acid analog of hGRF was designed by G. Velicelebi, et al., Proc. Natl.

Aca. Sci USA, Vol 83, 5397-5399 (1986), in which the sequence of the first six amino acids at the amino terminus, and differing from the natural peptide by 13 amino acid in the rest of the sequence including incorporation of a Ser residue at position 8. The amide and free acid forms of the analog had the formula: H-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Ser-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Leu-Leu- Ala-Gln-Leu-Ala-Ser-Arg-Arg-Leu-Leu-Gln-Glu-Leu-Leu-Ala-Arg-NH₂/OH. When assayed for the ability to stimulate growth hormone (GH) secretion in primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells, the amide analog was 1.57 times as potent as hGRF(l-40)OH, while the free acid form was reported to be l/6th as potent in the same assay.

Vale, et al., (US Patent Application Serial No. 053,233, filed May 22, 1987) describe 31-residue hGRF analogues which utilize a 31-position residue possessing a functional side chain group which may be conjugated to a separate protein. The 31-residue hGRF analogues may also have substitutions for other residues which appear in a natural GRF sequence, such as Asn or Ser in the 8-position, Phe in the 10-position, or Ala in the 15-position. Asn or Ser may be present in the 28-position.

Asn residues in polypeptides are reported to be the subject, under some circumstances, to deamidation in the presence of water. However, the rules governing the rates of deamidation are not clear. For example, in the polypeptide trypsin only some of the Asn resi¬ dues, with the partial sequence Asn-Ser, are deamidated while others are not. See Kossiakoff, AA, Science 240, 191-194 (1988).

European Patent Application Number 86308337.4, Publication number 0 220 958, discloses a class of compounds having the formula H-X-Pro-Peptide in which X is the residue of a naturally occurring amino acid, Pro refers to the naturally occurring amino acid proline and Peptide is a sequence of amino acid residues defining that of a biologically active peptide or protein. Examples of H-X-Pro-Peptide include Met-Pro-(growth hormone-releasing factor) which can be chemically converted to GRF. N-terminally extended analogs on non-GRF peptides have been reported for various purposes including, for example:

M.A. Tallon et al., Biochem., 26:7767-7774 (1987), made synthetically a series of N- terminally extended analogs of yeast alpha-mating factor with Ala, Glu-Ala, Ala-Glu-Ala or Glu-Ala-Glu-Ala in the extension part. These peptides were used in structure-activity relationship studies.

D. Andreu et al., 20th Eur. Peptide Symp., Tubingen, GFR, September 4-9, 1988,_. Symposium Abstracts, p. 33, synthesized the entire 64-amino acid sequence of the precursor form of cecropin A along with several shorter peptides corresponding to potential processing intermediates. Among them there was a foil cecropin sequence extended with Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro at its N-terminus which was used to show that the extension part was indeed cleaved by a par¬ tially purified dipeptidylpeptidase-like enzymatic preparation obtained from the cecropia

SUBSTITUTE SHEET silkmoth pupa. See also H. Boman et al. J. Biol. Chem. 264:5852-5860 (1989).

G. Kreil et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 111:49-58 (1980) reports that melittin, the main constituent of honeybee venom, is derived from pro-melittin. The pro-sequence of pro-melittin consists of six X-Pro and five X-Ala repetitive dipeptidyl residues. The results presented by Kreil et al. suggest that the precursor-product conversion may proceed via stepwise cleavage of dipeptide units by a dipeptidylpeptidase IV type enzyme present in extracts from venom glands.

C. Mollay et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 160:31-35 (1986). Caerulein and xenopsin are two peptides found in skin secretion of Xenopus laevis. The former has a sequence of Phe-Ala- Asp-Gly and the latter Ser-Ala-Glu-Ala in the N-terminal extensions in their respective precursor forms. A dipeptidylpeptidase of type TV, isolated from frog skin secretion, has the specificity required for the cleavage of these N-terminal extensions leading to the formation of the mature products.

D. Julius et al., Cell, 32:839-852 (1983). Alpha factor mating pheromone is a peptide of 13 amino acids secreted by Saccharomyces cervisiae alpha cells. Nonmating alpha-cell mutants, which lack a membrane-bound dipeptidylpeptidase, do not produce normal alpha- factor, but release a collection of incompletely processed forms with structures Glu-Ala-Glu- Ala-alpha-factor or Asp-Ala-Glu-Ala-alpha-factor that have a markedly reduced biological activity. It has been shown that the membrane-bound dipeptidylpeptidase is required for normal alpha-factor precursor processing and this process may be rate-limiting for alpha-factor maturation in normal yeast alpha cells.

C.L. Choy et al:, Eur. J. Biochem., 160:267-272 (1986). The prosequence of the antifreeze protein from the Newfoundland winter flounder contains four X-Pro and seven X-Ala repetitive sequences in its N-terminal part. Although the processing of this precursor has not been investigated, the authors speculate that such a conversion might take place in serum by a dipeptidylpeptidase-line enzyme which would sequentially cleave the dipeptidyl units in the extension part to release the mature antifreeze protein.

Subsequent to the priority date of the parent application, Suhr et. al. reported die isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA clone encoding mouse GRF. The mature mouse GRF was predicted to be a 42 amino acid residue peptide with a free carboxyl-terminus. This peptide has a valine residue at position 2 which makes it unique among the GRFs from other species all having Ala at position 2. See Mol. Endocrinology 3:1693-1700, 1989.

Based on considerations proposed by others, GRF analogs with Leu¹⁹ substitution [namely, Thr² Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 3; Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt; Thr² Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt; Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt] were prepared. When tested in vitro in a growth hormone (GH) release assay using rat anterior pituitary cells, the Leu¹⁹ analogs (namely, Thr² Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 3, Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt, Thr² Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt, and Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂ trifluoroacetate salt were significantly less active than the corresponding Ala¹⁹ analogs. When tested in vivo, in growing steers at 10 pmol/kg, the amoimt of GH released over the 2 hour test period by the Leu¹⁹ analogs was not significantly different (p>0.05) from the Ala¹⁹ compounds. When tested for stability in bovine plasma, the Leu¹⁹ compounds were more stable man the Ala¹⁹ analogs.

In the GRF molecule, residue 19 is in a region which is helical in membrane like environments [Clore,G.M., Martin,S.R., and Gronenborn, A.M., J.Mol. Biol. __l_f 553-561 (1986)]. It is not known if the role of Ala¹⁹ residue in GRF molecules is structural or whether it is a receptor contact residue [Sato,K., Hotta,M., Kagegama ., Chiang,TC, Hu,HY., Dong,MH., and Ling,N., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 149 (2) 531-537 (1987). Schiffer,M„ and Edmundson,A.B., Biophys. J. 7, 121 (1967)]. Substitution of Ala¹⁹ by D- Ala¹⁹ in hGRF(l-29)NH₂ reduced in vitro St release potency to 6% of the L-Ala¹⁹ analog in a rat pituitary cell assay. This same substitution in Nle²⁷ rGRF(l-29)NH₂ reduced potency to 10% of the standard in a bovine pituitary cell test system. This same substitution in Nle²⁷ rGRF(l-29)NH₂ reduced potency to 30% of standard in a rat pituitary cell test system [Rivier, J. Second International Symposium on Vasointestinal Peptide and Related Peptides, Cap d'Agde France June 1985]. However, a Ser¹⁹ GRF analog was folly as potent as hGRF(l-40) in a rat pituitary cell St release assay [Velicelebi,G., Patthi,S., and Kaiser,T.E., Design and biological activity of analogs of growth hormone releasing factor with potential amphiphilic helical carboxy termini, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 83, 5397-5399 (1986)].

Getzoff reported that in a peptide epitope of myohemerythrin, Ala, lie, Ser and Thr could be substituted for Val without loss of antibody binding, but that a Leu substituted peptide had reduced binding [Getzoff,E.D., Gysin,H.M., Rodda,SJ., Alexander ,H., Tainer .A., and Lerner,R.A., Mechanism of antibody binding to a protein. Science, 235, 1191-1196 (1987)].

WO 90/15821 (published 27 December 1990 after the priority date of the subject application) discloses various GRF PEPTIDES having Thr, Val or He residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 2, Ala at position 19, in combination with one of the following amino acids Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly at position 15. Optionally, the GRF . PEPTIDE can have a Ser residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 8 and 28 of the polypeptide.

In addition, the GRF PEPTIDES could be optionally be N-terminally extended with C_r C₅ alkyl, benzyl, H-(Y-X)_n or H-(Y-X)_m(Y'-X')_p wherein Y and Y\ being the same or different, is a naturally occurring amino acid, preferably Tyr or Asp; X and X', being the same or different, is selected from Thr, Ser or Ala, preferably Thr or Ser; n is 1-10; m is 1-5; p is 1-5.

EP Heilmer et al., (12th Am. Peptide Symposium, Cambridge, MA June 16-22, 1991) Abstract #P-32 in the symposium "Program and Abstract" reported that the Val² renders mGRF resistant to cleavage by dipeptidylpeptidase IV. A series of hGRF analogs incorporating position 2-modifications, with emphasis on Val², were reported. At the poster session; Gly², He², and Leu² GRF analogs were also disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a polypeptide which promotes the release of growth hormone by the pituitary gland (GRF PEPTIDE) and having Val or He at position 19. The GRF PEPTIDE will have Gly , Thr, Val or He residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 2 in combination with one of the following amino acids Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly at position 15. Optionally, the GRF PEPTIDE can have a Ser residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 8 and 28 of the polypeptide. In addition, the GRF PEPTIDES of the present invention can optionally be N-terminally extended with C_j- C₅ alkyl, benzyl, (X-Y)-(X'-Y)_n wherein n is 0-20, preferably 0-10, X is any naturally occuring amino acid; Y is alanine, serine, threonine or proline; and when n=0, then Y is selected from the group consisting of alanine, serine or threonine; X' is any naturally occuring amino acid except proline or hydroxyproline. The peptides of the present invention are potent in vivo and more stable than native

GRF sequences against breakdown by blood plasma enzymes. In addition, compounds substituted with Ser⁸ and Ser²⁸ are protected against deamidation in aqueous environments and are chemically more stable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The term "GRF PEPTIDE", as used in the specification and claims, means a known polypeptide which is between 27 and 44 residues in length and that promotes the release of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. Hlustrative GRF PEPTIDES include the natural or synthetic polypeptides disclosed in.US Patent Nos. 4,517,181, 4,518,586, 4,528,190, 4,529,595, 4,563,352, 4,585,756, 4,595,676, 4,605,643, 4,610,976, 4,626,523, 4,628,043, 4,689,318, 4,784,987, 4,843,064 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 89/00245, filed 27 January 1989; all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Felix, A., Wang, C.T., Heimer, E., Fournier, A., Bolin, D., Ahmed, M., Lambros, T., Mowles, T., and Miller, L., "Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Linear & Cyclic GRF Analogs", in Peptides. Chemistry and Biology, Proc. 10th Am. Peptide Symposium, Ed. G.R. Marshall, ESCOM Sci. Publishers, Leiden, The Netheriand, pp.465-467, (1988); Tou, J.S., Kaempfe, L.A., Vineyard, B.D., Buonomo, F.C., Della-Fera, M.A., and Baile, C.A., "Amphiphilic Growth Hormone E SHEI Releasing Factor Analogs. Peptide Design and Biological Activity in vivo", Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139 #2, pp. 763-770 (1986); Coy, D.H., Murphy, W.A., Sueires-Diaz, J., Coy, E.J., Lance, V.A., "Structure Activity Studies on the N-Terminal Region of Growth Hormone Releasing Factor", J. Med. Chem. 28, pp. 181-185 (1985); Felix, A.M., Heimer, E.P., Mowles, T.F., Eisenbeis, H., Leung, P., Lambros, T.J., Ahmed, M., and Wang, C.T., "Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Analogs", in Peptides 1986, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin-New York, pp. 481-484 (1987); Velicelebi, G., Patthi, S., and Kaiser, E.T., "Design and Biological Activity of Analogs of Growth Hormone Releasing Factor with Potential Amphiphilic Helical Carboxyl Termini", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 85, pp. 5397-5399 (1986); Ling., N., Baird, A., Wehrenberg, W.B., Munegumi, T., and Ueno, N., "Synthesis GRF Analogs as Competitive Antagonists of GRF Therapeutic Agents Produced by Genetic Engineering", Quo Vadis Symposium, Sanofi Group, May 29-30, 1985, Toulouse-Labege, France, pp. 309-329. Murphy, W.A. and Coy, D.H., Potent long-acting alkylated analogs of growth hormone-releasing factor, Peptide Research 1, 36-41 (1988). J.C Tou, L.A. Kaempfe, B.D. Vineyard, F.C. Buonomo, M.A. Della-Fera and CA. Baile: Amphiphilic Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (GRF) analogs: peptide design and biological activity in vivo. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139, 763-770 (1986). The term GRF PEPTIDE includes nontoxic salts thereof.

The nomenclature used to define the GRF PEPTIDE is that specified by Schroder & Lubke, "The Peptides", Academic Press (1965) wherein in accordance with conventional representation the amino group at the N-terminal appears to the left and the carboxyl group at the C-terminal to the right. Where the amino acid residue has isomeric forms, the L-form of the amino acid is being represented unless otherwise expressly indicated.

The present invention provides synthetic GRF peptide analogs (GRF PEPTIDES) having the following formula:

R-R₁-R2-R₃-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-R₈-Ser-Tyr-Arg-R₁₂-R₁3-Leu-R₁₅-Gln-Leu-R_lg-R₁₉-Arg- R₂₁-R₂₂-Leu-Gln-R₂₅-He-R₂₇-R₂₈-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-R3₄-R35-Gln-Glu-R3₈-R₃₉-R40-Arg- R₄₂-Arg-Leu-Z wherein R is H, C_j-C₅ alkyl or benzyl;preferably H _j is Tyr or His, preferably Tyr; R₂ is Gly, Thr, Val or He, preferably Val or He; R₃ is Asp, Glu or Cya, preferably Asp; Rg is Asn or Ser, preferably Ser; R_j2 is Lys, N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys or Arg, preferably Lys; or N-e-alkyl- or N-e- benzyl-Lys when R is C -C_ alkyl or benzyl; R₁₃ is Val or He, preferably Val;

R₁₅ is Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly (preferably Ala, Val, Leu or He, more preferably

Ala);

R₁₈ is Ser or Tyr, preferably Ser; R_j9 is Val or He; (preferably Val);

R₂₁ is Lys, N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys or Arg, preferably Lys or N-e-alkyl- or N-e- benzyl-Lys when R is C_J-C5 alkyl or benzyl; R₂₂ is Ala or Leu, preferably Leu; R^ is Asp or Glu, preferably Asp; R₂7 is Met, He or Leu, preferably Leu;

R₂₈ is Asn or Ser, preferably Ser; R34 is Ser or Arg, preferably Arg; R35 is Asn or Ser, preferably Asn; R_3g is Arg or Gin, preferably Gin; R39 is Gly or Arg, preferably Gly;

R4_Q is Ala or Ser, preferably Ala; R₄₂ is Ala, Val or Phe, preferably Val; and

Z signifies the carboxyl moiety of the amino acid residue at die C-terminal and is the radical -COOR^ -CR_J , -CONHNHR_g, -CON^)^ or -CH₂OR_a, with R_a and R_b being C_j-Cg alkyl or hydrogen; or a biologically active fragment thereof extending from R at the N- terminus to a residue in any of positions 27 through 44 as its C-terminus; or a HseQactone), HseOH or HseNζR f _j,) of the foregoing and/or a non-toxic salt of the foregoing. Ra is preferably hydrogen (H). Rb is preferably Ethyl Examples of C_j-Cg alkyl are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl and isomeric forms thereof.

The term iPr refers to isopropyl. The term Bzl refers to benzyl.

An embodiment of this invention are GRF peptides where R₁₉ is Val or He, including the peptides Thr² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Thr² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l- 29)NH₂, Val² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, He² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Val² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, He² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Gly² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Gly² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, preferably the peptides Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l- 37)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, or Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂; more preferably He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NHEt, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NHEt, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NHEt He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l- 44)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l- 37)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l- 30)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l- 44)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH-n-Propyl; or a non-toxic salt thereof.

Most preferred GRF peptide of the subject invention is πe² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NHEt. Still another embodiment of this invention are N-terminally extended peptides, including for example N-α-CTyr-Ala-Phe-Pro-Phe-AlaJ-Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹,⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l- 29)NH₂; N-α-ζLeu-Pro-Gly-Pro-Tyr-A -Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l- 29)NH₂; N-α^Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Tyr-Ser^-Tyr¹ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse ³² bGRF(l-32)NH₂; N-α-ζLeu-Pro-Tyr-Ala-Tyr-AlaJ-Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-29)NH₂; N-α-fHis-Ala-Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Ala^Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-29)NH₂; N-a-tGlu-Pro-Phe-Ala-Tyr-Pro-His-Ala^Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-29)NH₂; N-α-(His-Pro-His-Pro-His-Ala-Tyr-Ala)-Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-37)NH₂; N-α-CTyr-Ala-Gly-Pro-Leu-Pro-Phe-Ala^-Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse ³² bGRF(l-32)NH₂; N-α-^al-Pro-Arg-Pro-Phe-Pro-Tyr-Se^-Tyr¹ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NHEt; N-α-(Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ala-He-Pro- Phe-AlaJ-Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰-bGRF(l-30)NHEt; N-α-(Tyr-Ala)₄- Tyr¹ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁴ bGRF(l-34)NHCH₃; N-α-(He-Pro-Glu-Ala- Tyr-Ala^Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-37)NH₂.

Another embodiment of this invention is any of the foregoing embodiments wherein Cya is substituted for Asp in position 3 and/or 25, preferably in position 3.

Val¹⁹ and He¹⁹ compounds of the subject invention are as active (and sometimes more active) in releasing GH in vitro (rat pituitary cells) than their corresponding Ala¹⁹ counterparts (Table I and Figure 1). They are more stable to proteolysis when incubated in bovine plasma. Evidence of the improved metabolic stability of the compounds of this invention (when compared to a native GRF sequence as embodied by the compound Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂) is illustrated in Table II by the in vitro stability data provided. The compounds of this invention are more active in vivo at 10 pmol/kg than the Leu¹⁹ analogs Figure 2) and generally release more growth hormone and with a sustained effect over the Ala¹⁹ and Leu¹⁹ analogs when tested in steers at 30 pmol/kg. (Table HI). In Figures 1 and 2 (the compounds were tested as the trifluoroacetate salt); T2 means Thr², A15 means Ala¹⁵, L27 means Leu²⁷, L19 means Leu¹⁹, V19 means Val¹⁹, and 119 means He¹⁹.

The enhanced in vivo potency of the compounds of this invention where R₁₉ is Val or He is illustrated in Table III and Figures 2. For example, a person skilled in the art would recognize from the relative in vivo potency (at a dose of 10 pmol/kg, Figure 2) mat Thr² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF (1-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt and Thr² Ala¹⁵ lie.¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF (1- 29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt and similarly (at a dose of 30 pmol/kg, Table III) the Val¹⁹ and He¹⁹ compounds are more bioactive than the native GRF.

For purposes of commercial production methodology, the carboxy terminal residue is preferably homoserine, homoserine lactone, homoserine amide, or a C_j-Cg alkyl (preferably C_j-C4 alkyl), secondary or tertiary amides of homoserine. The synthetic GRF peptide analogs are synthesized by a suitable method, including for example the methods disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,529,595 (Col 2, In 35 to Col 5, In 64) and US Patent 4,689,318 (Col 2, In 23 to Col 9, In 13), each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Procedure A sets forth a method for synthesizing GRF peptide analogs of the subject invention.

PROCEDURE A

The peptides are synthesized by solid-phase methodology utilizing an Applied Biosystems 430A peptide synthesizer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California) and synthesis cycles supplied by Applied Biosystems. Boc Amino acids and other reagents were supplied by Applied Biosystems and other commercial sources. Sequential Boc chemistry using double couple protocols are applied to the starting p-methyl benzhydryl amine resin for the- production of C terminal carboxamides. For the production of C terminal acids, the corresponding PAM resin is used. Asparagine, glutamine, and arginine are coupled using preformed hydroxy benztriazole esters. All other amino acids are coupled using the preformed symmetrical Boc amino acid anhydrides.

The following side chain protection is used: Arg, Tosyl

Asp, Benzyl

Cys, 4-Methyl Benzyl

Glu, Benzyl Ser, Benzyl Thr, Benzyl

Tyr, 4-Bromo Carbobenzoxy Lys, 2-Chloro Carbobenzoxy

Boc deprotection is accomplished with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in methylene chloride. When Hse containing analogs are desired, Met should be incorporated by solid phase and then modified with cyanogen bromide after HF cleavage by methods well known in the art. This cyanogen bromide cleavage converts the Met to the C-terminal Hse lactone peptide. This can be converted to the Hse amide peptide by treatment with the appropriate amine in a solvent such as methanol or dimethyl foπnamide. [C-terminal Hse(lactone), HseOH and HseNζR^Of-_j,) analogs can be prepared by the methods disclosed in Kempe et al, BIO/TECHNOLOGY, Vol 4, pp 565-568 (1986).] Following completion of the synthesis, the peptides are deprotected and cleaved from the resin with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride containing 10% p-cresol. Cleavage of the side chain protecting group(s) and of the peptide from the resin is carried out at 0°C or below, preferably -20°C for thirty minutes followed by thirty minutes at 0°C. After removal of the HF, the peptide/resin is washed witii ether, and the peptide extracted wid glacial acetic acid and lyophilized. Before purification, crude cysteine containing peptides are then oxidized to the corresponding cysteic acid containing compound using performic acid at -10°C to 10°C, preferably at 0°C, as described by Stewart et al., Solid Phase Peptide Syndiesis, pg. 113, Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, Hlinois, 1984. Conversion to C-terminal Hse lactones and Hse amides is carried out as described above.

Purification is carried out by ion exchange chromatography on a Synchroprep S-300 (SynChrom Inc. Linden, Indiana) cation exchange column. The peptide is applied using a buffer of 20 millimolar TRIS (pH 6.8) in 20% acetonitrile and eluted using a gradient of 0-0.3 molar sodium chloride in the same solvent. Compounds are further purified and desalted by reverse phase liquid chromatography on a Vydac C-18 (Separations Group, Hesperia,

California) column using water: acetonitrile gradients, each phase containing 0.1% TFA. The desired fractions are pooled and lyophilized yielding the desired GRF PEPTIDE as its trifluoroacetate salt. The trifluoroacetate salt can be converted, if desired to other suitable salts, by well known ion exchange methods. Peptides are hydrolyzed under vacuum by a vapor phase method in a Pico-Tag Work

Station (Waters) using constant boiling HC1 (Pierce) in the presence of phenol as scavenger at 110 C for 24 hrs. Hydrolysates are analyzed on a Beckman Amino Acid Analyzer, Model 6300. Peptide content is calculated using norleucine at a known concentration as an internal standard.

Mass spectra were obtained using an Applied Biosystems Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer. EXAMPLES

Example 1: Preparation of Thr² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 1.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-Thr-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Val-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-He-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH₂ (as the CF₃COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parantheses: Asp 4.06 (4); Thr 1.57 (2); Ser 1.64 (2); Glu 2.10 (2); Ala 2.25 (2); Val 2.00 (2); He 1.68 (2); Leu 5.15 (5); Tyr 1.88 (2); Phe 0.94 (1); Lys 2.00 (2); Arg 2.94 (3). Example 2: Preparation of Thr² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 2.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-Thr-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-He-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-De-Leu-Asn-Arge-NH₂ (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parantheses: Asp 4.09 (4); Thr 1.98 (2); Ser 1.64 (2); Glu 2.05 (2); Ala 2.25 (2); Val 1.0 (1); He 2.84 (3); Leu 5.07 (5); Tyr 1.87 (2); Phe 0.92 (1); Lys 1.97 (2); Arg 2.94 (3).

Example 3: Preparation of Thr² Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 3. The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula:

H-Tyr-Tl-r-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Leu-Asn-Arge-NH₂ (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parantheses: Asp 4.08 (4); Thr 1.87 (2); Ser 1.72 (2); Glu 2.07 (2); Ala 1.93 (2); Val 1.04 (1); He 1.88 (2); Leu 6.11 (6); Tyr 1.90 (2); Phe 0.93 (1); Lys 2.03 (2); Arg 3.09 (3).

Example 4: Preparation of Val² Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 4.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-Val-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-He-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for

SUBSTITUTE SHEET [M+H]⁺: observed 3454.6; theoretical 3452.1. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.01 (4); Thr 0.93 (1); Ser 1.68 (2); Glu 2.03 (2); Ala 2.00 (2); Val 1.85 (2); He 1.88 (2); Leu 6.11 (6); Tyr 1.94 (2); Phe 0.94 (1); Lys 1.97 (2); Arg 3.11 (3).

Example 5: Preparation of He² Ala¹⁵ Leu¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 5.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-He-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-fle-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF₃COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for [M+H]⁺: observed 3468.6; theoretical 3466.1.

Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.02 (4); Thr 0.94 (1); Ser 1.67 (2); Glu 2.05 (2); Ala 2.00 (2); Val 0.94 (1); He 2.83 (3); Leu 6.12 (6); Tyr 1.92 (2); Phe 0.95 (1); Lys 1.99 (2); Arg 3.13 (3).

Example 6: Preparation of Val² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 6.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-Val-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-He-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-He-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for [M+H]⁺: observed 3453.4; theoretical 3452.1.

Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.03 (4); Thr 0.94 (1); Ser 1.69 (2); Glu 2.03 (2); Ala 2.01 (2); Val 1.89 (2); He 2.85 (3); Leu 5.11 (5); Tyr 1.95 (2); Phe 0.95 (1); Lys 1.99 (2); Arg 3.08 (3).

Example 7: Preparation of He² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 7.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula: H-Tyr-He-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-GIn-Leu-Ser-Ile-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-He-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for [M+H]⁺: observed 3469.7; theoretical 3466.1.

Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.03 (4); Thr 0.94 (1); Ser 1.69 (2); Glu 2.06 (2); Ala 2.04 (2); Val 0.94 (1); He 3.78 (2); Leu 5.12 (5); Tyr 1.94 (2); Phe 0.95 (1); Lys 1.98 (2); Arg 3.09 (3).

Example 8: Preparation of Val² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 8.

The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula:

SUB H-Tyr-Val-Asp-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Val-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-He-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF₃COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for [M+H]⁺: observed 3440.6; theoretical 3438.1. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.02 (4); Thr 0.93 (1); Ser 1.67 (2); Glu 2.03 (2); Ala 2.00 (2); Val 2.78 (3); He 1.86 (2); Leu 5.09 (5); Tyr 1.92 (2); Phe 1.04 (1); Lys 1.98 (2); Arg 3.05 (3).

Example 9: Preparation of He² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, trifluoroacetate salt Compound No. 9. The synthesis of the GRF analog peptide having the formula:

H-Tyr-Ile-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Val-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Leu-Asn-Arg-NH2 (as the CF3COOH salt) is conducted in a stepwise manner as in procedure A. Mass spectral analysis (Cf-252 plasma desorption method), m/z for [M+H]⁺: observed 3454.9; theoretical 3452.1. Amino acid analysis, theoretical values in parentheses: Asp 4.02 (4); Thr 0.93 (1); Ser 1.69 (2); Glu 2.04 (2); Ala 2.06 (2); Val 1.86 (2); He 2.84 (3); Leu 5.10 (5); Tyr 1.94 (2); Phe 0.94 (1); Lys 1.98 (2); Arg 3.07 (3).

Following the stepwise manner as in procedure A, the following peptides can also be prepared: He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂

He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂

Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂ He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂

He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂ Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂

SUBSTITUT Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGKF(l-33)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂ Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NHEt

Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NHEt He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NHEt

He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NHEt

Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH-n-Propyl PROCEDURES PROCEDURE B In addition to preparation of GRF analogs by solid phase methods, the analogs can be obtained by recombinant DNA methodology by the procedure described for Leu²⁷ bGRF(l- 44)OH (European Patent Application 0212531) with the following modifications in the segment of DNA coding for bGRF(l-44)OH the codons for Ala², Asn⁸, Gly¹⁵ and Asn²⁸ are replaced by the codons: for example (ACT) Thr² or (ATT) He² or (GTT) Val², (AGT) Ser⁸, (GCT) Ala¹⁵, (AGT) Ser²⁸, respectively.

Additionally, for Cya³ containing GRF analogs, the codon GAT (Asp³) is replaced by the codon TGT for Cys³. After expression of the protein and cleavage with cyanogen bromide in formic acid as described in the above European Patent Applipation, hydrogen peroxide is added to the solution at about 0°C to effect oxidation of the Cys residues to Cya. The peptide is then purified by the methods described.

Additionally, for N-terminally extended GRF analogs, the DNA segments coding for the extension are added to the N-terminus as follows: (TATACT) for Tyr-Thr, (TATACT)_n for (Tyr-Thr^ or (TATAGT) for Tyr-Ser, (TATAGT)_n for (Tyr-Ser)_n, or (TATAGTTATACT) for Tyr-Ser-Tyr-Thr or (TATACTTATAGT) for Tyr-Thr-Tyr-Ser, (GATGCT) for Asp-Ala etc. The gene for the precursor protein is inserted into an E. coli expression vector. After expression of the protein isolation of the inclusion bodies and then cleaving them with cyanogen bromide in formic acid as described in the above European Patent Application, the formic acid is removed under reduced pressure. The crude peptide is then purified by the methods described. The ability to produce the compounds of the subject invention by known recombinant

DNA technology is possible since the claimed peptides are constituted entirely of naturally occurring amino acids. This is in contrast to known analogs which contain non-DNA-coded components, such as D-Ala and/or desaminoTyr, and will require for any large scale production a costly chemical synthesis or a combination of genetic engineering with chemical procedures. Recombinant host microorganisms used in this invention are made by recombinant

DNA techniques well known to those skilled in the art and set forth, for example, in Molecular Cloning, T. Maniatis, et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, (1982) and B. Perbal, A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning, John Wiley & Sons (1984), which are incorporated herein by reference. C-terminal Hse(lactone), HseOH and HseN(R_a)(R_b) analogs can be prepared by the methods disclosed in Kempe et al, BIO/TECHNOLOGY, Vol 4, pp 565-568 (1986). PROCEDURE C

This procedure deals with the preparation of N-alkylated GRF analogs described in the subject invention. The peptides will be made using either chemical or biotechnology procedures (Procedure A or Procedure B, respectively). N-alkylation will then be achieved by known methods e.g. Murphy, W.A. and Coy, D.H., Potent long-acting alkylated analogs of growth hormone-releasing factor, Peptide Research 1, 36-41 (1988), V. Sythyamoorthy et al. Reductive methylation of botulinum neurotoxin types A and B. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 83, 65-72 (1988). Following Procedure C, the following peptides can also be prepared:

N-e-iPr-Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ N-e-iPr-Lys¹²,²¹ Val¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸bGRF(l-29)NH₂ N-e-iPr-Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ N-e-iPr-Lys¹² ,²¹ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-40)NH₂ N-e-Bzl-Tyr¹ Thr² Ser⁸ N-e-Bzl-Lys¹² ,²¹ Val¹⁵ He¹⁹ He²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-32)NH₂ N-e-iPr-Tyr¹ He² Ser⁸ N-e-iPr-Lys¹²,²¹ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-40)NH₂ N-e-Bzl-Tyr¹ Val² Ser⁸ N-e-Bzl-Lys¹²,²¹ Val¹⁵ Val¹⁹ He²⁷ Ser²⁸ bGRF(l-32)NH₂

All of the synthetic GRF peptides of the subject invention, including the peptides prepared in the Examples, are considered to be biologically active and useful for stimulating the release of GH by the pituitary.

Dosages between about 10 nanograms and about 5 micrograms of these peptides per kilogram (kg) of body weight are considered to be particulary effective in causing GH secretion.

Stimulation of GH secretion by such peptides should result in an attendant increase in growth for humans, bovine and other animals with normal GH levels. Moreover, administration should alter body fat content and modify other GH-dependent metabolic, immunologic and developmental processes. For example, these analogs may be usefol as a means of stimulating anabolic processes in human beings under circumstances such as following

SHEET the incurring of burns. As another example, these analogs may be administered to commercial warm-blooded animals such as chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, cattle and sheep, and may be used in agriculture for raising fish and other cold-blooded marine animals, e.g., sea turtles and eels, and amphibians, to accelerate growth and increase the ratio of protein to fat gained by feeding effective amounts of the peptides. These analogs may be used for stimulation of the immune functions in human and animal for the treatment of diabetes resulting from abnormalities in growth hormone production or for the improvement of bone, wound or burn healing, or osteoporosis. These analogs may be used to enhance hair growth.

Daily dosages of between 10 nanograms/Kg and about 50 micro-grams/Kg body weight are considered to be particularly effective in increasing lactation, growth and stimulating the immune functions.

For administration to humans and animals, these synthetic peptides should have a purity of at least about 93 % and preferably at least 98 % .

These synthetic peptides or the nontoxic salts thereof, combined with a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier to form a pharmaceutical composition, preferably as sustained release formulations, may be administered to animals, including humans, either intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, percutaneously, e.g. intranasally. The administration may be employed by a physician to stimulate the release of GH where the host being treated requires such therapeutic treatment. The required dosage will vary with the particular condition being treated, with the severity of the condition and with the duration of desired treatment.

Such peptides are often administered in the form of nontoxic salts, such as acid addition salts or metal complexes, e.g., with zinc, iron or the like (which are considered as salts for purposes of this application). Hlustrative of such acid addition salts are hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulphate, phosphate, maleate, acetate, citrate, benzoate, succinate, malate, ascorbate, tartrate and the like. If the active ingredient is to administered by intravenous administration in isotonic saline, phosphate buffer solutions or the like may be effected.

The peptides should be administered to humans under the guidance of a physician, and pharmaceutical compositions will usually contain the peptide in conjunction with a conventional, solid or liquid, pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. Usually, the parental dosage will be from about 100 nanograms to about 50 micrograms of the peptide per kilogram of the body weight of the host.

Although the invention has been described with regard to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications as would be obvious to one having the ordinary skill in this art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is set forth in the claims appended hereto. For example, modifications in the peptide chain, particularly deletions of one or two residues beginning at the C-terminus of the peptide,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET can be made in accordance with known experimental practices to date to create peptides that retain very substantial portions of the biological potency of the peptide, and such peptides are considered as being within the scope of the invention. Moreover, additions may be made to the C-terminus, and/or to the N-terminus, and/or generally equivalent residues can be substituted for naturally occurring residues, as is known in the overall art of peptide chemistry, to produce other analogs, having increased resistance to proteolysis, for example, and also having at least a substantial portion of the potency of the claimed polypeptide, without deviating from the scope of the invention, such as those illustrated by Compounds 1-15. Likewise known substitutions in the carboxyl moiety at the C-terminus, e.g. a lower alkyl amide, also produce equivalent molecules.

In the same manner as disclosed herein,

GRF PEPTIDES of the formula R'-R_j-R^-Rg-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Rg-Ser-Tyr-Arg-R'^- R₁3-Leu-R₁₅-Gln-Leu-R₁g-R₁₉-Arg-R'₂₁-R₂₂-Leu-Gln-R₂₅-He-R₂₇-R₂₈-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-

^R34^"R35^"Gln"Glu_R38^"R39^"R40^"ArS^"R42^"ArS^"Leu"Z wherein

R' is (X-Y)-(X'-Y)_n wherein n is 0-20, preferably 0-10, X is any naturally occuring amino acid; Y is alanine, serine, threonine or proline; and when n=0, then Y is selected from the group consisting of alanine, serine or threonine; X' is any naturally occuring amino acid except proline or hydroxyproline. R_j is Tyr or His;

R'₂ is Ala, Gly, Thr, Val or He;

R₃ is Asp, Glu or Cya;

Rg is Asn or Ser;

R'₁ is Lys or Arg; R₁₃ is Val or He;

R₁₅ is Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly;

R₁₈ is Ser or Tyr;

R₁₉ is Val or He;

R'₂₁ is Lys or Arg; R22 is Ala or Leu;

R₂₇ is Met, He or Leu;

R₂₈ is Asn or Ser;

R34 is Ser or Arg; R35 is Asn or Ser;

R₃g is Arg or Gin; R₃₉ is Gly or Arg; R40 is Ala or Ser; R ₂ is Ala, Val or Phe; and

Z signifies the carboxyl moiety of the amino acid residue at the C-terminal and is the radical -COOR^ -C^O, -CONHNHRa, -CON^)^ or -CH₂OR_a, with 3 and R_b being C^Cg alkyl or hydrogen; or a biologically active fragment thereof extending from R at the N- teπninus to a residue in any of positions 27 through 44 as its C-terminus; or a Hse(lactone), HseOH or HseNfR^ζR^ of the foregoing and/or a non-toxic salt of the foregoing; can be made in accordance with known experimental practices to date to create peptides that retain very substantial portions of the biological potency of the peptide, and such peptides are considered as also being another aspect of the invention disclosed herein.

The Extension portion (R') of the GRF peptide according to the present invention has an amino acid sequence according to the formula: (X-Y)-(X'-Y)_n Where n represents the number of sequentially linked X'-Y groups, that number representing from 0 to 20 of such groups, preferably 0 to 10 groups.

X is selected from the group consisting of any naturally occuring amino acid; Y is selected from the group consisting of proline, alanine, serine, and threonine, except when n = 0, then Y is selected from the group consisting of alanine, serine, and threonine;

X' is selected from the group consisting of any naturally occuring amino acid except proline or hydroproline;

According to the formula, when n = 1, there are two Y residues. Further, it is possible to have up to twenty one Y residues and twenty X' residues in a single embodiment. Individual Y residues and X' residues respectively can be any residue of the group from which they are selected. That is, all of the individual Y residues do not have to be the same in a given embodiment. Similarly, in an embodiment with more than one X' residue, each individual X' residue present can be any amino acid residue except proline and hydroxyproline irrespective of what residue any other X' residue may be. Each individual Y and X' residue respectively must conform to the rules for that particular group and all that is necessary is that the various individual residues at the specific positions follow the rules as articulated above.-

UBSTITUTE SHEET Table I: Effect of bGRF Analogs on Rat GH Release in Rat Anterior Pituitary Cell Cultures in vitro

Note: the Leu¹⁹ substitution was deleterious to the analog GH-releasing potency while Val¹⁹ and He¹⁹ modifications resulted in analogs with respectively increased or unchanged in vitro wheras the Leu 19- analogs had reduced activity. Leu -bGRF(l-29)NH₂ was used as the assay standard.

Table H: IN VITRO PLASMA STABILITY OF POSITION 19 SUBSTITUTED GRFs

Mean value from three independent experiments (each done in triplicate) a.o.c Compoxmds with different superscripts are statistically different at p < 0.05.

SEM for GRF treatment was 4 min; however SEM for water controls was 14 min.

Figure 1. Effect of analogs of Thr², Ala¹⁵, Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂ on growth hormone (GH) release in rat pituitary cell cultures in vitro. The assay was performed according to procedure of Frohman and Downs, Methods Enzymol. 124, 371-389 (1986). Note that the Leu¹⁹ substitution was deleterious to the analog GH-releasing potency while Val¹⁹ and He¹⁹ modifications resulted in analogs with respectively increased or unchanged biactivity in vitro as compared with Thr², Ala¹⁵, Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂. Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂ was used as the assay standard.

SUBSTITUTE SrøST

Figure 2. Mean concentration of serum growth hormone (GH) in meal-fed Holstein steers after intravenous injection (10 pmol/kg) of GRF analogs. The assay was performed as described by Moseley et al., J. Endocrinol. 117, 252-259 (1988). Bovine GRF(1-44)NH₂ was used as the assay standard.

SUBSTITUTE SrøEET

Claims

CLAIMS • 1. A GRF PEPTIDE having Val or He in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 19, having Gly, Thr, Val or He in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 2 and having an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly at position 15.

2. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 1 wherein the amino acid at position 2 is Thr, Val or He.

3. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 1 having the formula R-R-^^-Ala-He-Phe-Thr-Rg-Ser- Tyr-Arg-R₁₂-R₁₃-Leu-R₁5-Gln-Leu-R₁g-R₁₉-Arg-R₂₁-R₂₂-Leu-Gln-R₂₅-Ile-R₂₇-R₂g-Arg-Gln- Gln-Gly-Glu-R₃4-R35-Gln-Glu-R3₈-R3₉-R4₀-Arg-R₄₂-Arg-Leu-Z wherein

R is H, C_j-C₅ alkyl or benzyl;

R_j is Tyr or His; R₂ is Gly, Thr, Val or He;

R₃ is Asp, Glu or Cya;

Rg is Asn or Ser;

R 12 s Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is CJ-C alkyl or benzyl; ^R13 s Val or He; *I5 s Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly; ^R18 Is Ser or Tyr;

R 19 s Val or He;

R. 21 s Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is ι-C₅ alkyl or benzyl; ^l22 s Ala or Leu; s Asp or Glu; *27 Is Met, He or Leu; ^l28 s Asn or Ser; ^l34 s Ser or Arg;

^35 s Asn or Ser;

^38 s Arg or Gin;

R s Gly or Arg;

R. s Ala or Ser; 2 ;s Ala, Val or Phe; and Z signifies the carboxyl moiety of the amino acid residue at the C-terminal and is the radical -COOR^ -CR- , -CONHNHRa, -CON^)^) or -CH₂OR_a, with R_a and R_b being C^Cg alkyl or hydrogen; or a biologically active fragment thereof extending from R at the N- terminus to a residue in any of positions 27 through 44* as its C-terminus; or a Hse(lactone), HseOH or HseN^)^) of the foregoing and/or a non-toxic salt of die foregoing.

4. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 3 wherein R₂ is Thr, Val or He.

5. A GRF PEPTIDE according to Claim 4 selected from the group consisting of Thr² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Thr² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Val² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, He² Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Val² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, He² Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷-bGRF(l-29)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l- 30)NHEt, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NHEt, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l- 37)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, Thr² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l- 30)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NHEt, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NHEt, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l- 30)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ Val¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l- 44)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l-33)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l- 37)NH₂, He² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l-44)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁰ bGRF(l-30)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³³ bGRF(l- 33)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NH₂, Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse³⁷ bGRF(l-37)NHnPr or Val² Ser⁸ Ala¹⁵ He¹⁹ Leu²⁷ Ser²⁸ Hse⁴⁴ bGRF(l- 44)NH₂; or a non-toxic salt thereof.

6. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 3 wherein R₁₅ is Ala, Val, Leu or He.

7. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 6 wherein R is H and R₁₅ is Ala.

8. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 7 wherein R_χ is Tyr.

A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 8 wherein R₈ and R₂₈ are Ser.

10. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 6 wherein R₂ is Val.

11. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 6 wherein R₂ is He.

12. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 6 wherein R₁₉ is Val.

13. A GRF PEPTIDE of Claim 6 wherein R₁₉ is He.

14. A method of stimulating the release of growth hormone in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a GRF PEPTIDE having Val or He at position 19; Thr, Val or He residue in place of the amino acid residue normally found at position 2; and having an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly at position 15.

15. A method according to Claim 14 wherein the GRF PEPTIDE has die formula R-R_rR₂- Rs-Ala-fle-Phe-Thr-Rg-Ser-Tyr-Arg-R_j^_jg-Leu-Ris-Gln-Leu^g-R_jg-Arg^_j-R^-Leu-Gln- R₂₅-πe-R₂₇-R₂g-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-R34-R3₅-GIn-Glu-R₃₈-R3₉-R4₀-Arg-R4₂-Arg-Leu-Z wherein

R is H, C_j-05 alkyl or benzyl; R_x is Tyr or His; R₂ is Gly, Thr, Val or He; R₃ is Asp, Glu or Cya; R_g is Asn or Ser;

R₁₂ is Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is C_j-Cs alkyl or benzyl;

Λ₁₃ s Val or He;

^R15 Is Ala, Val, Leu, He or Gly;

^R18 s Ser or Tyr; R 1.9o is Val or He; ^R21 s Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is C_j^ alkyl or benzyl; ^R22 s Ala or Leu; ^R25 s Asp or Glu; ^R27 s Met, He or Leu; R^R-2) s8 is Asn or Ser;

R₃₄ is Ser or Arg; R₃₅ is Asn or Ser;

R₃₈ is Arg or Gin;

R₃₉ is Gly or Arg;

R₄₀ is Ala or Ser; R4₂ is Ala, Val or Phe; and

Z signifies me carboxyl moiety of the amino acid residue at the C-terminal and is the radical -COOR_a, -CR_aO, -CONHNHR_a, -CON(R_a)(R_b) or -CH₂OR_a, with R_a and R_b being C_j-Cg alkyl or hydrogen; or a biologically active fragment thereof extending from R at the N- terminus to a residue in any of positions 27 through 44 as its C-terminus; or a Hse(lactone), HseOH or HseN^)^) of the foregoing and/or a non-toxic salt of the foregoing.

16. A composition for stimulating the release of growth hormone in an animal comprising an effective amount of a GRF PEPTIDE of the formula R-R₁-R₂-R₃-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-R₈-Ser- Tyr-Arg-R₁₂-R₁3-Leu-R₁5-Gln-Leu-R₁g-R₁₉-Arg-R_2l-R₂₂-Leu-Gln-R₂₅-Ile-R₂₇-R₂g-Arg-Gln- Gln-Gly-Glu-R34-R35-Gln-Glu-R3 -R₃₉-R4₀-Arg-R₄₂-Arg-Leu-Z wherein

R is H, C1-C5 alkyl or benzyl;

R_j is Tyr or His;

R₂ is Gly, Thr, Val or He; R₃ is Asp, Glu or Cya;

R₈ is Asn or Ser;

R_l2 is Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is C_j-C₅ alkyl or benzyl;

R₁₃ is Val or He;

R_j5 is Ala, Val, Leu or He; R₁₈ is Ser or Tyr;

R₁₉ is Val or He;

R₂₁ is Lys or Arg, or N-e-alkyl- or N-e-benzyl-Lys when R is C_j^ alkyl or benzyl;

R₂₂ is Ala or Leu;

R*I5 is Asp or Glu; R₂₇ is Met, He or Leu;

R₂g is Asn or Ser;

R34 is Ser or Arg;

R35 is Asn or Ser;

R₃₈ is Arg or Gin; R₃₉ is Gly or Arg;

R₄₀ is Ala or Ser;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET R₄₂ is Ala, Val or Phe; and

Z signifies the carboxyl moiety of the amino acid residue at the C-terminal and is the radical -COORa, -CR-p, -CONHNHRa, -CON(Ra)(R_b) or -CH₂OR_a, with Ra and R_b being C_j-C₈ alkyl or hydrogen; or a biologically active fragment thereof extending from R at the N- terminus to a residue in any of positions 27 tiirough 44 as its C-terminus; or a Hse(lactone), HseOH or HseN(Ra)(R_b) of the foregoing and/or a non-toxic salt of the foregoing; in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.