Preparation, characterization, and in vivo evaluation of an oil suspension of a bovine growth hormone releasing factor analog.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. has discovered a superior bovine growth hormone releasing factor analog, [IIe2,Ser8,28,Ala15,Leu27,Hse30] bGRF (1-30)-NH-ethyl, acetate salt (U-90699F), for enhancement of animal growth. This report delineates the preparation, characterization, and in vivo evaluation of a U-90699F oil suspension. The oil suspension formulation was selected because of its simplicity, inexpensiveness, and ability to produce sustained U-90699F release. 40% U-90699F monomers were incorporated into Miglyol oil with acceptable injectability. Both reversed-phase-high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to evaluate its chemical and structural stability. This suspension formulation demonstrated no significant changes in concentration as determined by RP-HPLC for 10 weeks at both 25 and 39 degrees C. The U-90699F dispersed in oil also showed no signs of structural conversion from alpha-helix to beta-sheet as monitored by FTIR. However, there was an increase in alpha-helix/disordered coil structure after initial drug incorporation. The suspension was subcutaneously administered to Holstein steers. Areas under the serum somatotropin concentration curve were used to determine the duration of action. It was found that the suspension was able to effectively elevate serum somatotropin for at least 14 days.