Compositions and methods for contraception in or sterilization of mammals

US6680058B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE · US

Inventors

• Frederick M. Enright · Baton Rouge, US
• Jesse M. Jaynes · Baton Rouge, US
• William Hansel · Baton Rouge, US
• Patricia A. Melrose · Baton Rouge, US
• Philip H. Elzer · Baton Rouge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 22, 2000
• Grant date: Jan 20, 2004
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K2319/00
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to induce sterility or long-term contraception in mammals. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in mammals in vivo. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) The two components—the ligand and the lytic peptide—may optionally be administered as a fusion peptide, or they may be administered separately, with the ligand administered slightly before the lytic peptide, to activate cells with receptors for the ligand, and thereby make those cells susceptible to lysis by the lytic peptide.