| abstract |
Insulin-like growth factor analogs are disclosed wherein substitution of the IGF native amino acids, at positions corresponding to positions B16 and B17 of native insulin, with tyrosine and leucine, respectively, increases potency of the resulting analog at the insulin receptor by tenfold. Also disclosed are prodrug and depot formulations of the IGF analogs, wherein the IGF analog has been modified by the linkage of a dipeptide to the analog through an amide bond linkage. The prodrug and depot formulations disclosed herein have extended half lives of at least 2 hours, 10 hours, and more typically greater than 20 hours, and are converted to the active form at physiological conditions through a non-enzymatic reaction driven by chemical instability. |