Growth hormone releasing factor analogs

A pharmaceutical composition comprising as the active agent a peptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof wherein said peptide has the formula ##STR11## wherein R is desNH.sub.2 -Tyr, Tyr, D-Tyr, Ac-Tyr, His or C.sup..alpha. -Methyl-Tyr;

• R.sub.1 is Ala, N-Methyl-D-Ala or D-Ala;
• R.sub.2 is Lys, Ala, Leu, Val or Ile;
• R.sub.3 is Ala, Leu, Val, Ile, Nle, Nval, .beta.-Ala or .alpha.-Aib;
• R.sub.4 is Lys, Ala, Leu, Val or Ile;
• R.sub.5 is Met, Leu, Nle or Ile;
• R.sub.6 is Asn or Ser;
• X is hydrogen or -COR.sub.7 ;
• R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl or halo(C.sub.1-4)alkyl;
• Y is -OR.sub.8 or NR.sub.9 R.sub.10 ;
• R.sub.8 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-5 -alkyl;
• R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 independently equal hydrogen, C.sub.1-7 alkyl, C.sub.2-4 -alkenyl or halo(C.sub.1-4)alkyl;
• or a fragment thereof where the fragment is reduced in number by one to fifteen amino acids from the carboxyl end;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable solid or liquid carrier.

A method for treating growth related disorders characterized by growth hormone deficiencies comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a peptide of the formula ##STR12## wherein R is desNH.sub.2 -Tyr, Tyr, D-Tyr, Ac-Tyr, His or C.sup..alpha. -Methyl-Tyr;

• R.sub.1 is Ala, N-Methyl-D-Ala or D-Ala;
• R.sub.2 is Lys, Ala, Leu, Val or Ile;
• R.sub.3 is Ala, Leu, Val, Ile, Nle, Nval, .beta.-Ala or .alpha.-Aib;
• R.sub.4 is Lys, Ala, Leu, Val or Ile;
• R.sub.5 is Met, Leu, Nle or Ile;
• R.sub.6 is Asn or Ser;
• X is hydrogen or -COR.sub.7 ;
• R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl or halo(C.sub.1-4)alkyl;
• Y is -OR.sub.8 or -NR.sub.9 R.sub.10 ;
• R.sub.8 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-5 -alkyl;
• R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 independently equal hydrogen, C.sub.1-7 alkyl, C.sub.2-4 -alkenyl or halo(C.sub.1-4)alkyl;
• or a fragment thereof where the fragment is reduced in number by one to fifteen amino acids from the carboxyl end;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable solid or liquid carrier.