44 results about "Melanocortins" patented technology

Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds of the general formulas and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where J is a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or bicyclic ring structure, L is a linker, W is a heteroatom unit with at least one cationic center, hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor, Q includes a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic ring, R6, R7, y and z are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atom marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration, and optionally with one or two additional ring substituents as defined, which compounds bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and are optionally an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

The present invention provides recombinant expression constructs comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian melanocortin receptors, and mammalian cells into which said recombinant expression constructs have been introduced that express functional mammalian melanocortin receptors. The invention provides a panel of such transformed mammalian cells expressing melanocortin receptors for screening compounds for receptor agonist and antagonist activity. The invention also provides methods for using such panels of melanocortin receptor-expressing mammalian cells to specifically-detect and identify agonists and antagonists for each melanocortin receptor, as well as patterns of agonist and antagonist activity of said compounds for the class of melanocortin receptors. Such screening methods provide a means for identifying compounds with patterns of melanocortin agonist and antagonist activity which is associated with the capacity to influence or modify metabolism and behavior, particularly feeding behavior.

Methods for selection of compounds for treatment of obesity, compounds selected by the disclosed methods, and methods of treatment of obesity, wherein a selective melanocortin-4 receptor compound is identified, which compound is further characterized in that it attenuates the binding of both an agonist, including alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and an inverse agonist, including agouti-related protein, to a melanocortin receptor, including melanocortin-4 receptor.

Peptides cyclized via disulfide or lactam bridges are disclosed. The peptides exhibit melanocortin-4 receptor agonist activity and are useful for treating obesity.

Disclosed are novel ligands based on an AGRP template that can rescue endogenous melanocortin agonist and / or antagonist dysfunction at MCR polymorphisms. In particular, the present invention provides novel synthetic ligands based on AGRP templates that can rescue endogenous melanocortin agonist dysfunction at MC4R polymorphisms to treat children and adults with these mutations and increase their quality of life.

The present invention relates to peptide ligands of the melanocortin receptors, in particular the melancortin-4 receptor, and as such, are useful in the treatment of dyslipidemia and associated complications such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Compounds having the formula (I), and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs thereof,in which E is X is N or CH, W is —NR16R17, —NR16C(═O)R22, —NR16CO2R22, —OR23, or a heteroaryl or heterocyclo group as defined in the specification, and R1 through R12, R16, R17, R22, R23, x, y, and z are as defined in the specification, are useful as modulaters of melanocortin receptors, particularly MC-1R and MC-4R.

A method of treating Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction in a man by administration of a 5alpha reductase inhibitor together with a testosterone supplement is described. The method is also concerned with the use of the 5alpha reductase inhibiting compound and the testosterone supplement together with another agent useful for treating erectile dysfunction, including PDE V inhibitors; AGE (advanced glycation end-product) breakers; alpha 1 blockers; alpha 1A antagonists; alpha 2 antagonists; dopamine agonists; dopamine D4 agonists; melanocortin agonists; oxytocin agonists; prostaglandin; radical scavengers; rotamase inhibitors; aviptadil; nitroglycerine; and GPCR agonists for treating male sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction.

A substituted piperazine compound having the structure I:or the structure IX:or an enantomeric, stereoisomeric or diastereomeric form of the foregoing, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where J, L, Q, W, A, R6, R7, z and y are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atoms marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration, which compounds bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be employed in pharmaceutical preparations for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

The present invention relates to novel chimeric peptides and templates containing a combination of antagonist and agonist endogenous ligand residues. In particular, the present invention relates to novel chimeric peptides and templates thereof based upon melanocortin agonist peptides and agouti related protein (AGRP). The present invention provides multifunctional chimeric peptides having specific bioactivity at melanocortin receptors and their use as drugs to treat various diseases and conditions.

The present invention relates to novel compounds, methods, and formulations useful for the oral delivery of a GLP-1 compound or an MC4 agonist peptide.

Certain novel N-acylated spiropiperidine derivatives are ligands of the human melanocortin receptor(s) and, in particular, are selective ligands of the human melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R). They are therefore useful for the treatment, control, or prevention of diseases and disorders responsive to the modulation of MC-4R, such as obesity, diabetes, nicotine addiction, alcoholism, sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction.

The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) that are useful for binding and / or modulating the biological activity of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). Compounds of this invention can be used to treat diseases and / or conditions in which modulation of MC1R is beneficial. Such diseases and / or conditions include, but are not limited to, hyperpigmentation (including melasma), hypopigmentation (including vitiligo), melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, erythropoietic protoporphyria, polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria, photosensitivity, sunburn, inflammatory diseases, aberrant fibroblast activity and pain.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of the melanocortin analog, Ac-Arg-cyclo(Cys-D-Ala-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys)-NH2, using solution-phase peptide chemistry.

Certain novel N-acylated spiropiperidine derivatives are agonists of the human melanocortin receptor(s) and, in particular, are selective agonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R). They are therefore useful for the treatment, control, or prevention of diseases and disorders responsive to the activation of MC-4R, such as obesity, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction.

Certain novel piperidine derivatives are agonists of the human melanocortin receptor(s) and, in particular, are selective agonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R). They are therefore useful for the treatment, control, or prevention of diseases and disorders responsive to the activation of MC-4R, such as obesity, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction.

ACTH analog compounds of the present invention include compounds comprising an ACTH peptide sequence with one or more structural modifications that can have one or more of the following preferred ACTH analog biological functions: (1) reduction of corticosteroid secretion by adrenal membrane in the presence of the ACTH analog compared to unmodified ACTH, (2) reduction of corticosteroid secretion by adrenal membrane in the presence of endogenous ACTH and (3) increased MC-2R binding affinity with reduced activation of the MC-2R receptor compared to unmodified ACTH binding to the MC-2R melanocortin. The ACTH analog compounds of the present invention are therefore useful for treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders related to ACTH, ACTH receptors or corticosteroid secretion, such as premature labor and Cushing's Disease.

A method of treating Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction in a man by administration of a 5alpha reductase inhibitor together with a testosterone supplement is described. The method is also concerned with the use of the 5alpha reductase inhibiting compound and the testosterone supplement together with another agent useful for treating erectile dysfunction, including PDE V inhibitors; AGE (advanced glycation end-product) breakers; alpha 1 blockers; alpha 1A antagonists; alpha 2 antagonists; dopamine agonists; dopamine D4 agonists; melanocortin agonists; oxytocin agonists; prostaglandin; radical scavengers; rotamase inhibitors; aviptadil; nitroglycerine; and GPCR agonists for treating male sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction.

Described herein is the use of Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP), in addition to certain other melanocortin signaling network (MSN) genes, as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for the progression of breast cancer. In particular, the novel biomarkers can be used to determine if a female breast cancer patient is at risk of progressing to metastatic disease and thus also be used to direct treatment of the patient.

Disclosed are biological markers for obesity and methods for diagnosing and treating obesity and related conditions by detecting and modulating the activity of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor. Also disclosed are methods for discovering new therapeutics which modulate the activity of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor, in particular which prevent the binding of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor.

Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies, binding fragments, and derivatives thereof directed to the human melanocortin-4 receptor, as well as pharmaceutical compositions including the same, and therapeutic uses, including methods for treating cachexia and related conditions and diseases, using such monoclonal antibodies, binding fragments, derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions.

The invention relates to an application of ML00253764 in preparation of a medicine for treating obesity due to melanocortin receptors-4 mutant. The compound ML00253764 is taken as the medicine for treating obesity due to melanocortin receptors-4 mutant. The invention firstly found that ML00253764 (2-[2-(2-(5-bromine-2-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-3-fluorophenyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazoles) is taken as a pharmacy molecular chaperone of melanocortin receptor-4, and the ML00253764 has cell membrane expression capability of melanocortin receptor-4 for recovering cell membrane positioning defect and recovering generation capability of mutant signal molecules, and can be used for treating early obesity due to MC4R mutation.

A melanocortin receptor-specific compound of the general formula of structure I: where X, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a and R5b are as defined in the specification, which compound binds with high affinity to one or more melanocortin receptors and is optionally an agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

Certain novel N-acylated piperazine derivatives are agonists of the human melanocortin receptor(s) and, in particular, are selective agonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R). They are therefore useful for the treatment, control, or prevention of diseases and disorders responsive to the activation of MC-4R, such as obesity, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction.

Disclosed are methods for the use of pro-opiomelanocortin-encoding polynucleotides in the creation of transformed host cells and transgenic animals. In particular, the use of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector compositions, virions, and pluralities of virus particles that comprise a nucleic acid segment that expresses one or more mammalian pro-opiomelanocortin polypeptides in suitably transformed host cells is described. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment and amelioration of symptoms of a variety of conditions and disorders in an animal, including hyperinsulinemia, obesity, adiposity, overeating, and related eating disorders.

Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies, binding fragments, and derivatives thereof directed to the human melanocortin-4 receptor, as well as pharmaceutical compositions including the same, and therapeutic uses, including methods for treating cachexia and related conditions and diseases, using such monoclonal antibodies, binding fragments, derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions.

The present invention relates to novel compounds, methods, and formulations useful for the oral delivery of a GLP-1 compound or an MC4 agonist peptide.

Melanocortin receptor-specific peptide combinatorial libraries for forming metallopeptides and metallopeptide combinatorial libraries are provided for use in biological, pharmaceutical and related applications. The combinatorial libraries are constructed of peptides constructed from naturally occurring amino acids, stereoisomers and modifications of such amino acids, non-protein amino acids, post-translationally modified amino acids, enzymatically modified amino acids, or constructs or structures designed to mimic amino acids, in which the peptides are conformationally fixed on complexation of a metal ion-binding portion thereof with a metal ion.