Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs and Method of Use

1 . A method for modulating blood glucose in an animal, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), a TRH derivative, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or hydrate of TRH or of a TRH derivative, to thereby modulate the blood glucose levels.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein blood glucose levels are modulated by treating or preventing a pancreas-related disorder.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder is diabetes mellitus.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder is pancreatic islet destruction.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder is pancreatic beta cell malfunction.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the disorder is a hyperglycemia-related malfunction.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) (1):

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is a TRH derivative having formula (I):

wherein:

X is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, halogen, haloalkyl, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, or S(O) 2 NR 2 ;

Y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, aryloxy, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, S(O) 2 NR 2 , or R;

wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, or aryloxy;

and each X or Y may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy;

Ar is selected from the following:

wherein each Ar group may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy; and

n is an integer from 0-5.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the compound is a TRH derivative having formula (II):

wherein:

X is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, halogen, haloalkyl, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, or S(O) 2 NR 2 ;

wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, or aryloxy;

and each X or R may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy;

R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently, H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, formyl, or alkylcarbonyl;

and each R 1 , R 2 , or R 3 is optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the compound is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or hydrate of TRH.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the compound is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or hydrate of the TRH derivative.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein X is cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, or heterocycloalkyl.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein X is

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein R 1 is H, alkyl, haloalkyl, halogen, or nitro.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein R 1 is CF 3 or I.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein R 2 is H, alkyl, haloalkyl, or halogen.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein R 2 is CF 3 or I.

18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein R 3 is H, alkyl, or aminoalkyl.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein R 3 is methyl.

20 . The method of claim 9 , wherein R 3 is Gly such that the compound has the formula:

21 . The method of claim 9 , wherein X is Gly such that the compound has the formula:

22 . The method of claim 9 , wherein X is Leu such that the compound has the formula:

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-{3-(1H-lmidazol-4-yl)-2-[(4-oxo-azetidine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propionyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (2):

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 6-Oxo-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-(2-carbamoyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide (3):

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 6-Methyl-5-oxo-thiomorpholine-3-carboxylic acid [2-(2-carbamoyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide (4):

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 2,6-Dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid [2-(2-carbamoyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide (5):

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-{3-(1H-lmidazol-4-yl)-2-[(5-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propionyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (6):

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-{3-(1H-Imidazol-2,5-diiodo-4-yl)-2-[(5-oxo-pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propionyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (7):

29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is (5-{3-(2-Carbamoyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-3-oxo-2-[(5-oxo-pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propyl}-imidazol-1-ylamino)-acetic acid (8):

30 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-[2-(2-Amino-acetylamino)-3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionyl]-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (9):

31 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-[2-(2-Amino-4-methyl-pentanoylamino)-3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionyl]-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (10):

32 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-{3-(1H-lmidazol-3-methyl-4-yl)-2-[(5-oxo-pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propionyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (Glp-3-Me-His-Pro-NH2) (11):

33 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 4-Amino-4-[2-(2-carbamoyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-ethylcarbamoyl]-butyric acid (Glu-His-Pro-NH2) (12):

34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is 1-{3-phenyl-2-[(5-oxo-pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-propionyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid amide (Glp-Phe-Pro-NH2) (13):

35 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is (Glp-His-Pro-Gly-NH2) (14):

36 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said animal is a mammal.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said mammal is a human.

38 . The method of claim 1 , which further comprises the step of obtaining the compound.

39 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered orally.

40 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered intravenously.

41 . The method of claim 1 The method of any preceeding claim, wherein the compound is administered parenterally.

42 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered as a tablet, capsule, or injectable.

43 . The method of claim, wherein the compound is administered at a concentration of 0.001 μg-100 μg/kg of body weight.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the compound is administered at a concentration of about 5 μg to about 40 μg/kg of body weight.

45 . A method of regenerating pancreatic beta cells, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound recited in claim 1 .

46 . A kit comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of TRH, a TRH derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or hydrate of TRH or of a TRH derivative, together with instructions for treating a pancreas-related disorder in accordance with the method of claim 2 .

47 - 49 . (canceled)

50 . A packaged composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of TRH, a TRH derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or hydrate of TRH or of a TRH derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier, wherein the composition is formulated as a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a pancreas-related disorder, and packaged with instructions for therapeutic use in accordance with the method of claim 1 .

51 - 52 . (canceled)

53 . A method of identifying a TRH derivative that is capable of modulating blood glucose levels comprising:

(a) contacting a pancreatic cell having impaired pancreatic function with a candidate TRH derivative; and

(b) determining if pancreatic function of the pancreatic cell is restored or improved, to thereby identify a TRH derivative that is capable of restoring or improving pancreatic function resulting in the modulation of blood glucose levels.

54 - 56 . (canceled)

57 . A novel compound wherein the compound is a TRH derivative having formula (I):

wherein:

X is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, halogen, haloalkyl, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, or S(O) 2 NR 2 ;

Y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, aryloxy, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, S(O) 2 NR 2 , or R;

wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, or aryloxy;

and each X or Y may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy;

Ar is selected from the following:

wherein each Ar group may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy; and

n is an integer from 0-5.

58 . The novel compound of claim 57 wherein the compound is a TRH derivative having formula (II):

wherein:

X is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, halogen, haloalkyl, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, OC(O)R, SO 2 R, S(O)R, SR, NRCH(R)COR, NR 2 , NRCOR, NRC(O)OR, NRC(O)NRR, NRSO 2 R, COR, C(O)OR, C(O)NR 2 , P(O)OROR, or S(O) 2 NR 2 ;

wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, arylamino, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, amido, arylsulfonyl, formyl, or aryloxy;

and each X or R may be optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy;

R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently, H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyclyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azide, formyl, or alkylcarbonyl;

and each R 1 , R 2 , or R 3 is optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxylalkyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, halogen, haloalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thio, mercaptoalkyl, cyano, nitro, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or aryloxy.

59 - 70 . (canceled)

71 . A method of inhibiting transplant rejection in a subject comprising administering to said subject a compound as recited in claim 1 in an amount effective to inhibit transplant rejection in said subject.

72 - 75 . (canceled)