Hydrophobic modified pres-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and their use as vehicles for the specific delivery of compounds to the liver

A hydrophobic modified preS-derived peptide of hepatitis B virus (HBV) of the formula

• [Hm-P-Rn]A0
• wherein
• P is a preS-derived peptide consisting of:
• a) an N-terminally and/or C-terminally truncated variant of HBV preS consensus sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the truncated variant consists of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 46 amino acids;
• or
• b) a truncated variant of HBV preS consensus sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the truncated variant consists of a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 46 amino acids, and wherein the truncated variant comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 21;
• wherein,
• H is an acylation of the preS-derived peptide P that is
• N-terminal of P,
• m is at least 1;
• R is a C-terminal modification of said preS-derived peptide P, which is a moiety that protects from degradation, selected from amides, albumin, natural polymers, and synthetic polymers;
• n is 0 or at least 1;
• A is an anchor group, selected from ester, ether, disulfide, amide, thiol, and thioester;
• and
• 0 is 0 or at least 1;
• wherein said hydrophobic modified peptide further comprises at least one compound selected from drugs;
• prodrugs;
• labels;
• recombinant viruses or derivatives thereof;
• carriers or depots for a drug, prodrugs or labels;
• and immunogenic epitopes;
• wherein the label is a contrast agent;
• and wherein the compound and the hydrophobic peptide form a conjugate.