Polymeric hGH prodrugs

1. A container comprising a polymeric human growth hormone (hGH) prodrug or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of formula (Ia) or (Ib)

wherein

—D is a hGH moiety connected to the rest of the molecule through an amine functional group;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

—X— is a chemical bond or a spacer;

═Y 1 is selected from the group consisting of ═O and ═S;

—Y 2 — is selected from the group consisting of —O— and —S—;

—Y 3 — is selected from the group consisting of —O— and —S—;

—Y 4 — is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NR 5 — and —C(R 6 R 6a )—;

═Y 5 is selected from the group consisting of ═O and ═S;

—R 1 comprises a moiety of formula (IIc):

wherein:

p1, p2, p3, and p4 are independently an integer ranging from 180 to 240;

—R 2 , —R 3 , —R 5 , —R 6 —R 6a are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of —H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl and 3,3-dimethylpropyl;

—R 4 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl and 3,3-dimethylpropyl;

—W— is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more groups selected from the group consisting of C 3-10 cycloalkyl, 8- to 30-membered carbopolycyclyl, 3- to 10-membered heterocyclyl, —C(O)—, —C(O)N(R 7 )—, —O—, S— and —N(R 7 )—;

—Nu is a nucleophile selected from the of group consisting of —N(R 7 R 7a ), —N(R 7 OH), —N(R 7 )—N(R 7a R 7b ), —S(R 7 ), —COOH,

—Ar— is selected from the group consisting of

wherein

dashed lines indicate attachment to the rest of the prodrug,

—Z 1 — is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S— and —N(R 7 )—, and

—Z 2 is —N(R 7 )—; and

—R 7 —R 7a , —R 7b are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1-6 alkyl, C 2-6 alkenyl and C 2-6 alkynyl;

wherein the prodrug of formula (Ia) and (Ib) is optionally further substituted.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric hGH prodrug of the present invention is of formula (IV)

wherein

D is a hGH moiety connected to the rest of the molecule through an amine functional group; and

p1, p2, p3, p4 are independently an integer ranging from 180 to 240.

3. The container of claim 1 , which further comprises at least one excipient.

4. The container of claim 3 , which comprises: a liquid formulation; and from 3 to 300 mg/ml of the prodrug.

5. The container of claim 4 , wherein the liquid formulation comprises 3-300 mg/ml of the polymeric hGH prodrug and 5-50 mM of succinic acid; and wherein the liquid formulation has a pH ranging from pH 4.0 to 6.0 titrated with a buffer.

6. The container of claim 3 , which comprises: a dry formulation; and from 1 to 99.9% (w/w) of the prodrug.

7. The container of claim 6 , wherein the dry formulation is obtained by a process comprising the steps of

(a) providing a liquid formulation comprising

3-300 mg/ml of the polymeric hGH prodrug,

5-50 mM of succinic acid;

wherein the liquid formulation has a pH ranging from pH 4.0 to pH 6.0,

titrated with a buffer; and

(b) drying the liquid formulation of step (a).

8. The container of claim 6 , wherein the dry formulation comprises:

14-65% (w/w) of polymeric hGH prodrug;

0.5-2.5% (w/w) of succinic acid;

31-84% (w/w) of trehalose dihydrate; and

0.4-4% (w/w) of Tris.

9. A method of treating or controlling at least one disease which can be treated, controlled, delayed or prevented with hGH in a mammalian patient in need of the treatment or control, the method comprising:

a step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the prodrug from the container of claim 1 .

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the administration is via topical, enteral or parenteral administration, or is by external application, injection or infusion, direct delivery to the brain via implanted device allowing delivery of the prodrug brain tissue or brain fluids, direct intracerebroventricular injection or infusion, injection or infusion into brain or brain associated regions, injection into the subchoroidal space, retro-orbital injection or ocular instillation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the administration is by intraarticular, periarticular, intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intraosseous, intra peritoneal, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intravitreal, intratympanic, intravesical, intracardiac, transtracheal, subcuticular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal, intraventricular, or intrasternal injection or infusion.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of growth hormone deficiency in children, idiopathic short stature, short stature homeobox gene mutations, Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, children born small for gestational age, chronic renal insufficiency, growth hormone deficiency in adults, wasting due to HIV or AIDS or other malignancies, short bowel syndrome, sarcopenia, and frailty.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the disease is growth hormone deficiency in children.

14. The container of claim 1 , wherein the -D is a hGH moiety of SEQ ID NO:1.

15. The container of claim 2 , wherein -D is connected to the rest of the molecule through an amine provided by a lysine side chain.

16. The container of claim 2 , wherein -D is a hGH moiety having the sequence of SEQ ID No:1.

17. The container of claim 1 , wherein p1, p2, p3, and p4 are independently an integer ranging from 200 to 240.

18. The container of claim 2 , wherein p1, p2, p3, and p4 are independently an integer ranging from 200 to 240.

19. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of syringes, dual-chamber syringes, vials, vials with stopper and seal, ampoules, cartridges, and dual-chamber cartridges.

20. The container of claim 7 , wherein the liquid formulation further comprises 25-150 mg/ml of trehalose dehydrate.

21. The container of claim 5 , wherein the liquid formulation further comprises 25-150 mg/ml of trehalose dihydrate and/or 1-50 mM of methionine.