the present invention relates to the use of parathormone , its active fragments or correlated peptides for the prevention of abortion and premature birth and in general for the treatment of pregnancy . for the purposes of the present invention the following are particularly indicated : pth , pth 1 - 34 . pth 1 - 13 , pth 38 - 64 , pth 67 - 86 , pthrp . the compositions can be formulated for intravenous , intramuscular , subcutaneous , rectal and vaginal administration . the types of formulations can be briefly summarized as follows : an injectable pharmaceutical form in which the active ingredient is in the liquid phase or , preferably lyophilized , in the presence eventually of an appropriate stabilizing agent ( albumin , peptone , pvp , etc . ), an appropriate support ( in case of lyophilized product : lactose , mannitol , glycine , etc .) and of a buffer mixture capable of assuring the most appropriate ph for its stability ; a rectal pharmaceutical formulation represented by a suppository or preferably a soft gelatine capsule containing the active ingredient suspended in a mixture of water soluble excipients including essentially polyethylene glycols and / or propyleneglycols having the necessary fluidity , with the addition of a polyalcohol such as glycerin and eventually a stabilizing agent ( albumin , peptone , pvp , etc . ) and a buffer mixture necessary to maintain the ph in a range of values compatible with pth and / or its active fragments ; a vaginal pharmaceutical formulation such as a vaginal suppository or preferably soft gelatine vaginal ovule containing the active ingredient suspended in a mixture of water soluble excipients essentially similar to that contained in the soft gelatine capsule for rectal use . the quantity of active ingredient can vary between 100 to 1000 units , but is preferably between 400 and 800 units . the following examples describe pharmaceutical formulations containing pth or its biologically active fragments , which can be used by injection ( examples 1 - 6 ), rectal administration ( examples 7 - 14 ) and vaginal administration ( examples 15 - 18 ). the doses indicated refer to a formulation which can be used for the preparation of 1000 vials , rectal capsules or vaginal capsules . ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 100000 u ( usp ) lactose 10 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 100000 u ( usp ) lactose 10 . 0 ghuman albumin 20 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) mannitol 15 . 0 gpvp 15 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 750000 u ( usp ) glycine 25 . 0 gpeptone 25 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 400000 u ( usp ) human albumin 25 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 400000 u ( usp ) lactose 10 . 0 ghuman albumin 25 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gwater for injections ( usp ) q . s . to 1000 ml______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) human albumin 20 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gglycerin 50 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 750000 u ( usp ) human albumin 10 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gglycerin 50 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pthrp ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) human albumin 15 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gglycerin 50 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) human albumin 20 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 7 . 5 gglycerin 40 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 400 250 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 200 500 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 100 . 0 gsorbitol 10 . 0 gpurified water 5 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) human albumin 15 . 0 gglycerin 50 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 15 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pthrp 500000 u ( usp ) human albumin 15 . 0 gglycerin 50 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 15 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________peptone 15 . 0 gglycerin 50 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 15 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________pvp 15 . 0 gglycerin 50 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 15 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 900 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 75 . 0 gpurifled water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________human albumin 20 . 0 gglycerin 80 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 25 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 2500 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 300 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pthrp 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________human albumin 20 . 0 gglycerin 80 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 15 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 2500 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 300 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________peptone 25 . 0 gglycerin 80 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 25 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 2500 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 300 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ ______________________________________pth ( or fragment thereof ) 500000 u ( usp ) ______________________________________pvp 25 . 0 gglycerin 80 . 0 gphosphate - citrate buffer ph 2 . 5 - 3 25 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 600 2500 . 0 gpolyethylene glycol 4000 300 . 0 gpurified water 2 . 0 g______________________________________ experimental trials on the in vitro motility of fragments of myometrium of pregnant women by using &# 34 ; in vitro &# 34 ; fragments of myometrium taken during caesarean birth according to the technique described in &# 34 ; il farmaco &# 34 ;, edizione scientifica , 31 : pages 329 - 336 ( 1976 ), a net inhibitory effect on contraction induced by oxytocyn has been observed , as can be seen in fig1 and 2 attached . in fig2 there is a net inhibitory effect , indicated in the flat trace , induced by intact human parathormone ( pth ) at a dose of 8 . 5 × 10 - 8 m , on human myometrium stimulated with oxytocyn at a dose of 1 × 10 - 2 u . the inhibitory effect induced by pth is particularly evident when compared with the protracted stimulation of contractions induced by oxytocyn ( ox ) at a dose of 1 × 10 - 2 u ( fig1 ). furthermore . parathormone , has also been essayed for the contractions induced by pgf2alpha according to the technique described in the british journal of pharmacology 93 : 185 - 191 ( 1988 ). fig3 shows a typical contraction induced by pgf2alpha ( 1 mg / kg ) indicating intensity and duration . if we compare the same response at the same dosage on fig4 we can see a clear inhibitory effect both in terms of intensity and duration as a result of administration of whole human pth at a dose of 4 × 10 - 4 mg / kg . in the graphs the dots (·) indicate the moment of administration of the substance indicated . the letter w ( washing ) indicates the washing of the preparation . three pregnant women having symptoms indicating the likelihood of premature birth have been observed while in their 34 - 36th week of pregnancy . the patients underwent a cardiotocography which showed waves revealing uterine contractions . arterial pressure , heart rate and skin coloring were evaluated . the women were clearly aware of the contractions and of the pain caused by such contractions . the women were administered 100 units of synthetic parathormone 1 - 34 ( two vials according to examples 1 and 2 ) by rapid infusion ( 10 minutes ), diluted in 200 cc of physiological solution . two blood samples were taken before and after infusion and the serum was frozen and stored at - 20 ° c . for the evaluation of the mineral elements ( calcium , phosphorous , magnesium , alkaline phosphatase , parathormone , progesterone , estradiol ). the results have shown the efficacy of parathormone on uterine contractility while no side effects have been noted either in the mother or the fetus . in particular , the cardiotocography has shown the disappearance of waves referring to uterine contractions during the period of monitoring ( 40 minutes ); the fetal heart beat did not show variations and remained within the normal limits ( fig5 ). the patients indicated the immediate disappearance of uterine contractions and of pain caused by the same contractions , particularly in the lumbar - sacral region and reported also a feeling of well - being and decreased abdominal weight . the arterial pressure and heart rate did not show variations of worthwhile note and no side effects were noted in relation to the infusion of the drug . __________________________________________________________________________sequence listing ( 1 ) general information :( iii ) number of sequences : 5 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 1 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 84 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( c ) strandedness : single ( d ) topology : linear ( ii ) molecule type : protein ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 1 : servalsergluileglnleumethisasnleuglylyshisleuasn51015sermetgluargvalglutrpleuarglyslysleuglnaspvalhis202530asnphevalalaleuglyalaproleualaproargaspalaglyser354045glnargproarglyslysgluaspasnvalleuvalgluserhisglu505560lysserleuglyglualaasplysalaaspvalaspvalleuthrlys65707580alalyssergln ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 2 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 34 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( c ) strandedness : single ( d ) topology : linear ( ii ) molecule type : protein ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 2 : servalsergluileglnleumethisasnleuglylyshisleuasn51015sermetgluargvalglutrpleuarglyslysleuglnaspvalhis202530asnphe ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 3 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 13 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( c ) strandedness : single ( d ) topology : linear ( ii ) molecule type : protein ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 3 : servalsergluileglnleumethisasnleuglylys510 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 4 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 20 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( c ) strandedness : single ( d ) topology : linear ( ii ) molecule type : protein ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 4 : tyrleuthrglngluthrasnlysvalgluthrtyrlysgluglnpro51015leulysthrpro20 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 5 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 141 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( c ) strandedness : single ( d ) topology : linear ( ii ) molecule type : protein ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 5 : alavalsergluhisglnleuleuhisasplysglylysserilegln51015aspleuargargargphepheleuhishisleuilealagluilehis202530thralagluileargalathrsergluvalserproasnserlyspro354045serproasnthrlysasnhisprovalargpheglyseraspaspglu505560glyargtyrleuthrglngluthrasnlysvalgluthrtyrlysglu65707580glnproleulysthrproglylyslyslyslysglylysproglylys859095arglysgluglnglulyslyslysargargthrargseralatrpleu100105110aspserglyvalthrglyserglyleugluglyasphisleuserasp115120125thrserthrthrserleugluleuaspserargarghis130135140__________________________________________________________________________
pharmaceutical compositions containing parathormone as active ingredient , its biologically active fragments and correlated peptides , eventually in combination with appropriate pharmaceutically acceptable additives , useful in the prevention and therapy of abortion and of premature birth and in general for the treatment of pregnancy are described .