The present invention concerns fusion of Fc domains with biologically
active peptides and a process for preparing pharmaceutical agents using
biologically active peptides. In this invention, pharmacologically active
compounds are prepared by a process comprising: a) selecting at least
one peptide that modulates the activity of a protein of interest; and b)
preparing a pharmacologic agent comprising an Fc domain covalently linked
to at least one amino acid of the selected peptide. Linkage to the
vehicle increases the half-life of the peptide, which otherwise would be
quickly degraded in vivo. The preferred vehicle is an Fc domain. The
peptide is preferably selected by phage display, E. coli display,
ribosome display, RNA-peptide screening, or chemical-peptide screening.