PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS OF CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR HAVING IMPROVED STABILITY IN LIQUID FORM

摘要

The present invention relates to novel formulations of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) having improved stability during storage over extended periods of time as liquids, which retain significant pharmaceutical activity during such storage and/or which are physiologically compatible. The formulations of the present invention comprise: (a) a pharmaceutically effective concentration of CRF; (b) a buffer to maintain the pH of the formulation between about 2.0 to about 5.0 or about 6.0 to about 9.0 when in liquid form and (c) an alcohol such as mannitol, sorbitol, methanol, glycerol, or the like. Other aspects of the present invention involve addition of various other components to the formulations described herein for the purpose of decreasing the rate of degradation of the CRF peptide or increasing its solubility in solution. Finally, the present invention is further directed to methods for preparing such novel pharmaceutical formulations of CRF and methods of using those formulations to reduce inflammation and edema in mammals.