Methods and compositions for treating amyloid-related diseases

1. A compound of Formula III:

wherein:

A is oxygen and R 11 is hydrogen, a salt-forming cation, an ester forming group or or —(CH 2 ) x -Q, or

A is nitrogen and A and R 11 taken together are a natural or unnatural amino acid or a salt thereof;

Q is hydrogen, thiazolyl, triazolyl, imidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, or benzoimidazolyl;

x is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

n is 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;

R 3 , R 3a , R 4 , R 4a , R 5 , R 5a , R 6 , R 6a , R 7 and R 7a are hydrogen, alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, amino, tetrazolyl, or two R groups on adjacent ring atoms taken together with the ring atoms form a double bond, provided that R 4 or R 7 is a moiety of Formula IIIa:

wherein:

m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

R A , R B , R C , R D , and R E are independently selected from a group of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxyl, halogenated alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, cyano, thiazolyl, triazolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, benzothiazolyl, and benzoimidazolyl; or

R 3a , R 4 , R 4a , R 5 , R 5a , R 6 , R 6a , R 7 and R 7a are hydrogen, and R 3 is a moiety of Formula IIIa; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, provided that said compound is not 3-(4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1-pyridyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid.

2. The compound selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an effective amount of a compound of Formula III:

wherein:

A is oxygen and R 11 is hydrogen, a salt-forming cation, an ester forming group or —(CH 2 ) x -Q, or

A is nitrogen and A and R 11 taken together are a natural or unnatural amino acid or a salt thereof;

Q is hydrogen, thiazolyl, triazolyl, imidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, or benzoimidazolyl;

x is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;

R 3 , R 3a , R 4 , R 4a , R 5 , R 5a , R 6 , R 6a , R 7 and R 7a are hydrogen, alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, amino, tetrazolyl, or two R groups on adjacent ring atoms taken together with the ring atoms form a double bond, provided that R 4 or R 7 is a moiety of Formula IIIa:

wherein:

m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

R A , R B , R C , R D , and R E are independently selected from a group of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxyl, halogenated alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, cyano, thiazolyl, triazolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, benzothiazolyl, and benzoimidazolyl; or

R 3a , R 4 , R 4a , R 5 , R 5a , R 6 , R 6a , R 7 and R 7a are hydrogen, and R 3 is a moiety of Formula IIIa; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, provided that said compound is not 3-(4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1-pyridyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, base, buffering agent, inorganic salt, solvent.

5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein said compound is dissolved in a liquid pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

6. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein said compound is present as a homogenous mixture in a capsule or pill.

7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein said compound is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said compound is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein A is oxygen.

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein n is 3.

11. The compound of claim 1 , wherein m is 0.

12. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R A , R B , R C , R D and R E are each hydrogen.

13. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 3 and R 4 are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a double bond.

14. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 3 , R 3a , R 5 , R 5a , R 6 , R 6a , R 7 and R 7a are each hydrogen.