Dry growth hormone composition transiently linked to a polymer carrier

1. A dry composition comprising:

a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant human growth hormone (“rhGH”) polymer prodrug and one or more lyoprotectants, wherein the rhGH is transiently linked via a reversible linker moiety to a polymer carrier;

wherein the composition is stable for at least 6 months when stored at temperatures ranging from 2 to 25° C., and wherein during such storage less than 5% of the rhGH is released from the rhGH polymer prodrug as free rhGH.

2. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the composition is dried by lyophilization.

3. The dry composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the dry composition is stable for at least 1 year when stored at 2-25° C.

4. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the lyoprotectant is trehalose.

5. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the composition is provided as a single dose composition.

6. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the composition is provided as a multiple dose composition.

7. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the rhGH polymer prodrug has the chemical structure shown in (A):

wherein HN-rhGH represents the rhGH residue attached to the reversible linker moiety;

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and tertiary butyl;

wherein PEG represents a PEGylation residue attached to the transient linker;

wherein n=1 or 2; and

wherein X is selected from C1 to C8 alkyl or C1 to C12 heteroalkyl.

8. The composition of claim 7 ;

wherein the moiety

of formula (A) has the following structure:

wherein each c is independently an integer from 250 to 750.

9. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the composition contains one or more additional biologically active agents, either in its free form or as a prodrug, and wherein the one or more additional biologically active agents are selected from the group consisting of:

IGF-1, ghrelin, ghrelin-like compounds, gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists, gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs, growth hormone releasing factor, growth hormone releasing factor analogs, gonadal steroids, antiandrogens, non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors, HIV combination therapy, free fatty acid regulators, anabolic steroids, estrogen agonists, estrogen antagonists, propranolol, appetite suppressants, osteoporosis drugs; and

anti-diabetic drugs.

10. The composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the rhGH polymer prodrug is sufficiently dosed in the composition to provide therapeutically effective amount of hGH for at least three days in one application.

11. The composition according to claim 10 ;

wherein one application of the rhGH polymer prodrug is sufficient for one week.

12. The composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the composition comprises one or more excipients.

13. The composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the composition comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 1.1-92.1% (w/w);

succinic acid in an amount of 0.1-14.4% (w/w);

trehalose, optionally as dihydrate in an amount of 7.3-98.7% (w/w); and

tris in an amount of 0.01-25.4% (w/w).

14. The composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the composition comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 7.8-85.5% (w/w);

succinic acid in an amount of 0.1-8.9% (w/w);

trehalose, optionally as dihydrate in an amount of 13.6-90.3% (w/w); and

tris in an amount of 0.03-15.7% (w/w).

15. The composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the composition comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 25.3-46.5% (w/w);

succinic acid in an amount of 0.8-1.2% (w/w);

trehalose, optionally as dihydrate in an amount of 52.4-72.8% (w/w); and

tris in an amount of 04-2.3% (w/w).

16. The composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the rhGH is at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and at least 30% of all rhGH residues of said composition are PEGylated at position Lys158.

17. The composition according to claim 9 ;

wherein the osteoporosis drugs are selected from the group consisting of bisphosphonates, bone formation agents, estrogens, parathyroid hormones, and selective receptor modulators.

18. The composition according to claim 9 ;

wherein the anti-diabetics drugs are selected from the group consisting of insulin, thiazolidinediones, sulfunyl ureas, incretin memetics, meglitinides, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and amylin analogues.

19. A container comprising the composition of claim 1 .

20. The container according to claim 19 ;

wherein the container is a dual-chamber syringe.

21. The dual-chamber syringe according to claim 20 ;

the dry composition according to claim 1 is provided in a first chamber of the dual-chamber syringe, and reconstitution solution is provided in a second chamber of the dual-chamber syringe.

22. A kit of parts, comprising:

a needle; and

a container containing the composition according to claim 1 ;

wherein the container optionally further contains a reconstitution solution; and

wherein the container is configured for use with the needle.

23. The kit of parts according to claim 22 ;

wherein the container is a dual-chamber syringe.

24. A reconstituted composition comprising:

the composition according to claim 1 ; and

a reconstitution solution;

wherein the reconstituted composition includes:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 10-300 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 5-50 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 25-850 mg/ml; and

wherein the reconstituted composition has a pH ranging from pH 4.5 to pH 6.

25. The reconstituted composition of claim 24 ;

wherein the reconstituted composition comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 10-300 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 5-50 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 30-150 mg/ml;

wherein the reconstituted composition has a pH ranging from pH 4.5 to pH 6.

26. The reconstituted composition of claim 24 ;

wherein the reconstituted composition comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 30-60 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 10 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 70-85 mg/ml; and

wherein the reconstituted composition has a pH ranging from pH 4.5 to pH 5.5.

27. The reconstituted composition of claim 24 , further comprising:

one or more preservative and/or antimicrobial.

28. The reconstituted composition of claim 24 , further comprising:

one or more excipients.

29. A method of preparing a reconstitution of the composition according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

contacting the composition of claim 1 with a reconstitution solution.

30. A method of manufacturing a composition according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

(i) admixing the rhGH polymer prodrug with one or more lyoprotectants and optionally one or more than one excipients;

(ii) transferring amounts of the mixture from step (i) equivalent to the desired number of dosages into suitable chambers of a container;

(iii) drying the mixture; and

(iv) sealing the container.

31. The method according to claim 30 ;

wherein step (i) comprises admixing the rhGH polymer prodrug with trehalose dihydrate, and succinic acid to yield a composition comprising:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 10-300 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 5-50 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 25-850 mg/ml; and

wherein the method further comprises a pH-adjusting step comprising adjusting the pH of the composition of step (i), either before or after performing step (ii) to a pH ranging from pH 4.0 to pH 6.5 with tris.

32. The method of claim 31 ,

wherein the composition of step (i) comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 10-300 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 5-50 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 30-150 mg/ml.

33. The method of claim 31 ;

wherein the composition of step (i) comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 10-300 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 5-50 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 50-100 mg/ml.

34. The method of claim 31 ;

wherein the composition of step (i) comprises:

rhGH polymer prodrug in an amount of 30-60 mg/ml;

succinic acid in an amount of 10 mM; and

trehalose dihydrate in an amount of 70-85 mg/nil.

35. The method of claim 31 ;

wherein in step (ii) the pH is adjusted to a pH ranging from pH 4.5 to pH 5.5.

36. The method according to claim 30 ;

wherein the container is a dual-chamber syringe having a first chamber with the mixture,

wherein the method further comprises:

filling a second chamber with a reconstitution solution before sealing the container.