CGRP Agonist Peptides C-Terminal Amide Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Native calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has a short half-life and duration of pharmacological action, making it challenging for long-term or chronic use due to vasodilatory effects and secondary vasoconstrictive actions, which complicates in vivo pharmacological studies and limits its therapeutic potential for conditions like metabolic syndrome.

Innovation Solution

Development of CGRP agonist peptides with a C-terminal carboxy group replaced by an amide group, specifically peptides like ACX017, which have a higher binding affinity for the human CGRP receptor and are designed to have prolonged action, reducing susceptibility to enzymatic proteolysis and maintaining receptor activation with a C-terminal amide structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If native CGRP is used for pharmacological studies or therapy, then receptor activation and vasodilatory effects are achieved, but the short half-life and duration of action limit long-term use and chronic studies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of pharmacological actionVSAvoidreliability for long-term use
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of CGRP by replacing the C-terminal carboxy group with an amide group, creating CGRP amide analogs. This structural parameter change increases resistance to enzymatic degradation, thereby extending the duration of pharmacological action and improving reliability for long-term therapeutic use while maintaining receptor activation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates stable analogs (CGRP amide) that serve as long-acting alternatives to the short-lived native CGRP. These analogs function as improved substitutes that maintain the desired pharmacological effects but with extended duration, eliminating the limitation of short half-life for chronic studies and therapy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If native CGRP is administered for chronic use, then therapeutic effects are achieved, but vasodilatory effects and secondary vasoconstrictive actions complicate the treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic potentialVSAvoidvasodilatory effects and secondary vasoconstrictive actions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates the specific pharmacological activity of CGRP at the receptor level by creating highly selective analogs. By modifying the C-terminal structure to an amide, the patent enhances receptor binding affinity and selectivity, thereby achieving therapeutic effects while potentially reducing off-target vasodilatory side effects that complicate chronic administration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The CGRP agonist peptides demonstrate enhanced binding affinity and prolonged action, effectively activating the CGRP receptor with a lower EC50 concentration, reducing food intake, and showing potential in treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity by providing sustained therapeutic effects.

Implementation Method 1

The biological actions of these peptides are mediated via binding to two closely related type II G protein-coupled rcccptors, the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and the calcitonin rcccptor-likc receptor (CRLR)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReceptor-ligand binding:

Implementation Method 2

designed to have prolonged action, reducing susceptibility to enzymatic proteolysis and maintaining receptor activation with a C-terminal amide structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic proteolysis resistance: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP3027644B1CGRP agonist peptides
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 SOARES CHRISTOPHER J
  • EP3027644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3027644B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3027644B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The embodiments provide a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) agonist peptide or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, including pharmaceutical compositions comprising a CGRP agonist peptide. The embodiments further provide treatment methods, including method of treating metabolic disorders and metabolic disorders selected from metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity. The methods involve administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of CGRP peptide.