Peptides
AssigneeMerck & Co., Inc.
InventorsDeborah DeFeo-Jones, Dong-Mei Feng, Victor M. Garsky, Raymond E. Jones, Allen I. Oliff
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Abstract
Oligopeptides which comprise amino acid sequences that are recognized and proteolytically cleaved by free prostate specific antigen (PSA) are described. Also described are assays which comprise such oligopeptides useful for determining free PSA protease activity in vitro and in vivo. Therapeutic agents which comprise conjugates of such oligopeptides and known cytotoxic agents are also described.
Claims8
A conjugate which is useful for the treatment of prostate cancer which comprises a cytotoxic agent attached to a oligopeptide, wherein the oligopeptide comprises a sequence of amino acids that is recognized and selectively proteolytically cleaved by free prostate specific antigen and provided that the oligopeptide does not comprise semenogelin I or semenogelin II, wherein the means of attachment is a covalent bond or a chemical linker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.