The present invention relates to water-soluble carrier-linked prodrugs of formula (I), wherein B, A and Hyp form the carrier, B is a branching core, each A is independently a poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymeric chain, each Hyp is independently a branched moiety, each SP is independently a spacer moiety, each L is independently a reversible prodrug linker moiety, each D is independently a biologically active moiety, each x is independently 0 or 1, each m is independently an integer of from 2 to 64, n is an integer from 3 to 32 or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. It further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said water-soluble carrier-linked prodrugs, their use as medicament or diagnostic, and methods of treatment.