IL-17 binding compounds and medical uses thereof

1. A polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39, 57, or 107,

wherein said polypeptide specifically binds to IL-17A.

2. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39.

3. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57.

4. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 107.

5. The polypeptide of claim 1 , further comprising a component modulating serum half-life of the polypeptide.

6. The polypeptide of claim 5 , wherein said component modulating serum half-life is polyethylene glycol (PEG), immunoglobulin, or an albumin-binding peptide.

7. A polypeptide comprising multimers of the polypeptide of claim 1 .

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 1 .

9. A method for treating an IL-17A- and Th17-mediated disease or medical condition.

10. A fusion protein comprising the polypeptide of claim 1 fused to a pharmaceutically and/or diagnostically active component.

11. The fusion protein according to claim 10 , wherein said component is

(a) a cytokine,

(b) a toxic compound,

(c) is a chemokine,

(d) a fluorescent dye,

(e) a photosensitizer,

(f) a pro-coagulant factor,

(g) an enzyme for prodrug activation,

(h) a radionuclide, or

(i) a functional Fc domain.

12. The fusion protein of claim 10 , further comprising a component modulating serum half-life of the fusion protein.

13. The fusion protein of claim 12 , wherein said component modulating serum half-life is polyethylene glycol (PEG), immunoglobulin, or an albumin-binding peptide.

14. A polypeptide comprising multimers of the fusion protein of claim 10 .

15. A method for treating an IL-17A- and Th17-mediated disease or medical condition comprising administering the fusion protein of claim 10 .