Stabilization of a polypeptide in non-aqueous solvents

A pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) analogue (HSDAVFTDNYTRLRKQVAAKKYLQSIKNKRY, P66) was formulated in several non-aqueous solvents in anticipation of improved shelf-life stability. However, the stability of this peptide in these solvents was found to be as poor as in an aqueous solution. The major degradation reaction in non-aqueous solvents was dimer formation. The proposed mechanism for dimerization was a nucleophilic attack of a basic amino acid on cyclic imide formed by dehydration or deamidation of Asp or Asn. Two approaches were found to be effective in stabilizing the peptide in non-aqueous solvents: (1) acidification of the peptide and (2) use of zinc chloride in the formulation. Stabilization could be attributed to reduction of the nucleophilicity of the reactive groups through protonation and metal-peptide interaction through chelation. The stabilization approaches are applicable only in a non-aqueous environment for this peptide, and possibly for other peptides with similar reactive moieties.