| abstract |
A stabilized conjugated therapeutic agent complex comprising a therapeutic agent conjugatively coupled to a polymer including lipophilic and hydrophilic moieties. In a particular aspect, the invention comprises an insulin composition suitable for parenteral as well as non-parenteral administration, preferably oral or parenteral administration, comprising insulin covalently coupled with a polymer including: (i) a linear polyalkylene glycol moiety and (ii) a lipophilic moiety, wherei n the insulin, the linear polyalkylene glycol moiety and the lipophilic moiety are conformationally arranged in relation to one another such that the insulin in the composition has enhanced in vivo resistance to enzymatic degradation, relative to insulin alone. One, two, or three polymer constituents may be covalently attached to the therapeutic agent molecule, with one polymer constituent being preferred . The conjugates of the invention are usefully employed in therapeutic as well as non-therapeutic, e.g., diagnostic, applications, and the therapeutic agent and polymer may be covalently coupled to one another, or alternatively may be associatively coupled to one another, e.g., by hydrogen bonding or other associative bonding relationship. |