5 pharmaceutical polymers for coupling to peptides and proteins and complexes of such polymers, peptides and proteins, for the treatment of insulin deficiency, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, depression, asthma, emphysema, apnea, pain, cognitive disorders, viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, gastrointestinal disorders, mental illness, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, drug and alcohol addiction/overdose, edema, genetic disorders, neurological dysfunction, heart and circulatory system disorders, neoplasias, obesity, immunological disorders, allergy, and hypercalcaemia