Polypeptide conjugates with G-CSF activity comprising a polypeptide having
at least one introduced lysine residue and at least one removed lysine
residue compared to the sequence of human G-CSF, and which are conjugated
to 2-6 polyethylene glycol moieties. The conjugates have a low in vitro
bioactivity, a long in vivo half-life, a reduced receptor-mediated
clearance, and provide a more rapid stimulation of production of white
blood cells and neutrophils than non-conjugated recombinant human G-CSF.