IP Library Granted Patent US 12,427,187
Granted Patent B2
US 12,427,187 · App. 17/614,680 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Glucose-responsive insulin conjugates

Inventors: Danqing Feng (Green Brook, NJ); Songnian Lin (Holmdel, NJ); Dmitri A. Pissarnitski (Scotch Plains, NJ); Brenda Pipik (Edison, NJ); Lin Yan (East Brunswick, NJ); Yuping Zhu (Basking Ridge, NJ)
Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
A61K38/28A61K47/549A61K47/65A61P3/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,427,187
App. No.
17/614,680
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Glucose-responsive insulin conjugates that contain one or more linear oligomer sugar cluster are provided. Such insulin conjugates that may display a pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic (PD) profile that is responsive to the systemic concentrations of a saccharide such as glucose or alpha-methylmannose, even when administered to a subject in need thereof in the absence of an exogenous multivalent saccharide-binding molecule.

Claims (80)

1. A conjugate having the general formula (I):

wherein

(a) the insulin or insulin analog is selected from human insulin, porcine insulin, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, insulin glulisine, insulin glargine, insulin detemir, GlyA21 human insulin, GlyA3 human insulin, LysA22 human insulin, LysB3 human insulin, HisA8 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgA22 human insulin, DesB30 human insulin, LysA9 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 DesB30 human insulin, LysA22 DesB30 human insulin, LysB3 DesB30 human insulin, LysA1 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA5 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA9 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA10 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA13 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA14 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA15 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA18 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA22 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA1 GlyA21 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB1 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB3 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB4 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB16 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB17 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB25 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgB31 ProB32 ArgB33 ProB34 ArgB35 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgA22 ArgB31 ProB32 ArgB33 human insulin, and insulin analogs that comprise

(i) an A chain polypeptide sequence comprising a sequence of X 1 I X 2 E X 3 CCX 4 X 5 X 6 CS X 7 X 8 X 9 LE X 10 YC X 11 X 12 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and

(ii) a B chain polypeptide sequence comprising a sequence of X 13 VX 14 X 15 HLCGSHL VEALX 16 X 17 VCGERGFX 18 YTX 19 X 20 X 21 X 22 X 23 X 24 X 25 X 26 (SEQ ID NO: 4)

wherein:

X 1 is glycine (G) or lysine (K);

X 2 is valine (V), glycine (G), or lysine (K);

X 3 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 4 is threonine (T), histidine (H), or lysine (K);

X 5 is serine(S) or lysine (K);

X 6 is isoleucine (I) or lysine (K);

X 7 is leucine (L) or lysine (K);

X 8 is tyrosine (Y) or lysine (K);

X 9 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 10 is asparagine (N) or lysine (K):

X 11 is asparagine (N), glycine (G), or lysine (K);

X 12 is arginine (R), lysine (K), or absent;

X 13 is phenylalanine (F) or lysine (K);

X 14 is asparagine (N) or lysine (K);

X 15 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 16 is tyrosine (Y) or lysine (K);

X 17 is leucine (L) or lysine (K);

X 18 is phenylalanine (F) or lysine (K);

X 19 is proline (P) or lysine (K):

X 20 is lysine (K), proline (P), arginine (R), or is absent;

X 21 is threonine (T) or absent;

X 22 is arginine (R) if X 21 is threonine (T), or absent;

X 23 is proline (P) if X 22 is arginine (R), or absent;

X 24 is arginine (R) if X 23 is proline (P), or absent;

X 25 is proline (P) if X 24 is arginine (R), or absent; and

X 26 is arginine (R) if X 25 is proline (P), or absent,

with the proviso that at least one of X 1 , X 3 , X 5 , X 6 , X 7 , X 8 , X 9 , X 10 , X 12 , X 13 , X 14 , X 15 , X 16 , X 17 , X 18 , and X 19 is a lysine (K) and when X 19 is lysine (K) then X 20 is absent or if X 20 is present then at least one of X 1 , X 3 , X 4 , X 5 , X 6 , X 7 , X 8 , X 9 , X 10 , X 11 , X 12 , X 13 , X 14 , X 15 , X 16 , and X 17 is lysine (K), or X 4 is histidine (H), or X 11 is glycine (G); or at least one of X 12 or X 21 is present;

(b) the group

is covalently linked to the amino group at position Al of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; position B1 of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; position B29 of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; or other lysine residue of the insulin or insulin analog molecule;

(c) each occurrence of spacer T is selected independently from the group consisting of a covalent bond or a bivalent, straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted C 1-30 hydrocarbon chain wherein one or more methylene units of the hydrocarbon chain are optionally and independently replaced by —O—, —S—, —N(R)—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)N(R)—, —S(O)—, —S(O) 2 —, —N(R)SO 2 —, —SO 2 N(R)—, a heterocyclic group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group, wherein each occurrence of R is independently hydrogen, a suitable protecting group, or an acyl moiety, arylalkyl moiety, aliphatic moiety, aryl moiety, heteroaryl moiety, or heteroaliphatic moiety;

(d) each occurrence of is independently an optionally substituted monomeric amino acid unit selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid and glutamic acid, where either α-carboxylic acid or side chain carboxylic acid group or both carboxylic acids are conjugated to a sugar, or lysine, where either α-amino group or ε-amino group or both amino groups are conjugated to a sugar;

(e) each occurrence of B is a sugar-containing moiety having a valence v that is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

(f) n is the number of individual, independently selected monomeric amino acid units , and is selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4,

wherein the conjugate prepared using a reagent having a formula selected from the group consisting of ML-1, ML-2, ML-3, ML-4, ML-5, ML-6, ML-7, ML-8, ML-9, ML-10, ML-11, ML-12, ML-13, ML-14, ML-15, ML-16, ML-17, ML-18, ML-19, ML-20, ML-21, ML-22, ML-23, ML-24, ML-25, ML-26, ML-27, ML-28, ML-29, ML-30, ML-31, ML-32, ML-33, ML-34, ML-35, ML-36, ML-37, ML-38, ML-39, ML-40, ML-41, ML-42, ML-43, ML-44, ML-45, and ML-46.

2. A conjugate having the general formula (I):

wherein

(a) the insulin or insulin analog is selected from human insulin, porcine insulin, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, insulin glulisine, insulin glargine, insulin detemir, GlyA21 human insulin, GlyA3 human insulin, LysA22 human insulin, LysB3 human insulin, HisA8 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgA22 human insulin, DesB30 human insulin, LysA9 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 DesB30 human insulin, LysA22 DesB30 human insulin, LysB3 DesB30 human insulin, LysA1 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA5 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA9 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA10 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA13 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA14 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA15 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA18 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA22 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysA1 GlyA21 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB1 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB3 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB4 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB16 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB17 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, LysB25 ArgB29 DesB30 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgB31 ProB32 ArgB33 ProB34 ArgB35 human insulin, GlyA21 ArgA22 ArgB31 ProB32 ArgB33 human insulin, and insulin analogs that comprise

(i) an A chain polypeptide sequence comprising a sequence of XII X 2 E X 3 CCX4 X 5 X 6 CS X 7 X 8 X 9 LE X 10 YC X 11 X 12 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and

(ii) a B chain polypeptide sequence comprising a sequence of X 13 VX 14 X 15 HLCGSHL VEALX 16 X 17 VCGERGFX 18 YTX 19 X 20 X 21 X 22 X 23 X 24 X 25 X 26 (SEQ ID NO: 4)

wherein:

X 1 is glycine (G) or lysine (K);

X 2 is valine (V), glycine (G), or lysine (K);

X 3 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 4 is threonine (T), histidine (H), or lysine (K);

X 5 is serine(S) or lysine (K);

X 6 is isoleucine (I) or lysine (K);

X 7 is leucine (L) or lysine (K);

X 8 is tyrosine (Y) or lysine (K);

X 9 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 10 is asparagine (N) or lysine (K);

X 11 is asparagine (N), glycine (G), or lysine (K);

X 12 is arginine (R), lysine (K), or absent;

X 13 is phenylalanine (F) or lysine (K);

X 14 is asparagine (N) or lysine (K);

X 15 is glutamine (Q) or lysine (K);

X 16 is tyrosine (Y) or lysine (K);

X 17 is leucine (L) or lysine (K);

X 18 is phenylalanine (F) or lysine (K);

X 19 is proline (P) or lysine (K):

X 20 is lysine (K), proline (P), arginine (R), or is absent;

X 21 is threonine (T) or absent;

X 22 is arginine (R) if X 21 is threonine (T), or absent;

X 23 is proline (P) if X 22 is arginine (R), or absent;

X 24 is arginine (R) if X 23 is proline (P), or absent;

X 25 is proline (P) if X 24 is arginine (R), or absent; and

X 26 is arginine (R) if X 25 is proline (P), or absent,

with the proviso that at least one of X 1 , X 3 , X 5 , X 6 , X 7 , X 8 , X 9 , X 10 , X 12 , X 13 , X 14 , X 15 , X 16 , X 17 , X 18 , and X 19 is a lysine (K) and when X 19 is lysine (K) then X 20 is absent or if X 20 is present then at least one of X 1 , X 3 , X 4 , X 5 , X 6 , X 7 , X 8 , X 9 , X 10 , X 11 , X 12 , X 13 , X 14 , X 15 , X 16 , and X 17 is lysine (K), or X 4 is histidine (H), or X 11 is glycine (G); or at least one of X 12 or X 21 is present;

(b) the group

is covalently linked to the amino group at position Al of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; position B1 of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; position B29 of the insulin or insulin analog molecule; or other lysine residue of the insulin or insulin analog molecule;

(c) each occurrence of spacer T is selected independently from the group consisting of a covalent bond or a bivalent, straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted C 1-30 hydrocarbon chain wherein one or more methylene units of the hydrocarbon chain are optionally and independently replaced by —O—, —S—, —N(R)—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)N(R)—, —S(O)—, —S(O) 2 —, —N(R)SO 2 —, —SO 2 N(R)—, a heterocyclic group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group, wherein each occurrence of R is independently hydrogen, a suitable protecting group, or an acyl moiety, arylalkyl moiety, aliphatic moiety, aryl moiety, heteroaryl moiety, or heteroaliphatic moiety;

(d) each occurrence of is independently an optionally substituted monomeric amino acid unit selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid and glutamic acid, where either α-carboxylic acid or side chain carboxylic acid group or both carboxylic acids are conjugated to a sugar, or lysine, where either a-amino group or E-amino group or both amino groups are conjugated to a sugar;

(e) each occurrence of B is a sugar-containing moiety having a valence v that is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

(f) n is the number of individual, independently selected monomeric amino acid units , and is selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4,

wherein the conjugate has a formula selected from the group consisting of IOC-1, 10C-2, IOC-3, IOC-4, IOC-5, IOC-6, IOC-7, IOC-8, IOC-9, IOC-10, IOC-11, IOC-12, IOC-13, IOC-14, IOC-15, IOC-16, IOC-17, IOC-18, IOC-19, IOC-20, IOC-21, IOC-22, IOC-23, IOC-24, IOC-25, IOC-26, IOC-27, IOC-28, IOC-29, IOC-30, IOC-31, IOC-32, IOC-33, IOC-34, IOC-35, IOC-36, IOC-37, IOC-38, IOC-39, IOC-40, IOC-41, IOC-42, IOC-43, IOC-44, IOC-45, IOC-46, IOC-47, IOC-48, IOC-49, IOC-50, IOC-51, IOC-52, IOC-53, IOC-54, IOC-55, IOC-56, IOC-57, IOC-58, IOC-59, IOC-60, IOC-61, and IOC-62.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 8, 2022
From: MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP.
To: MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC
Reel/Frame 061102/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: FENG, DANQING; LIN, SONGNIAN; PISSARNITSKI, DMITRI A.; YAN, LIN; ZHU, YUPING; PIPIK, BRENDA
To: MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP.
Reel/Frame 058225/0395 →