Glycoprotein hormone compositions comprising two β subunits and methods of use thereof

A glycosylated or nonglycosylated composition of the formula

• β2≈α-(linker)m-β1 (1);
• or
• β1-(linker)m-α≈β2 (2)
• wherein each of β1 and β2 has the amino acid sequence of the β subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone, or a variant thereof;
• “α” has the amino acid sequence of the a subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof;
• “linker” is a linker moiety;
• and
• “≈” is a noncovalent link between α and β2;
• m is 0 or 1;
• wherein each of β1 and β2 is the native β subunit of the same glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition which regulates the glycoprotein hormone concentrations in a mammal which comprises an effective amount of the composition of the formula

• β2≈α-(linker)m-β1 (1);
• or
• β1-(linker)m-α≈β2 (2)
• in admixture with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
• and
• wherein each of β1 and β2 has the amino acid sequence of the β subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone, or a variant thereof;
• “α” has the amino acid sequence of the α subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof;
• “linker” is a linker moiety;
• and
• “≈” is a noncovalent link between α and β2;
• each of m and n is independently 0 or 1;
• wherein each of β1 and β2 is the native β subunit of the same glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof.