Melanocortin receptor ligands modified with hydantoin

1. A compound of formula (II)

wherein

X1 is

X2 is

A1 is Asp, Cys, D-Cys, Dab, Dap, Glu, Lys, Orn, Pen or D-Pen;

A2 is an L- or D-amino acid;

A3 is His, 2-Pal, 3-Pal, 4-Pal, Phe, Taz, 2-Thi or 3-Thi;

A4 is D-Bal, D-1-Nal, D-2-Nal, D-Phe;

A5 is Arg, hArg, Dab, Dap, Lys or Orn;

A6 is Bal, 1-Nal, 2-Nal, Phe or Trp;

A7 is Asp, Cys, D-Cys, Dab, Dap, Glu, Lys, Orn, Pen or D-Pen;

R1 is H, (C1-C10)alkyl or substituted (C1-C10)alkyl;

R2 and R3 each is, independently, H, (C1-C10)alkyl, (C1-C10)heteroalkyl, aryl(C1-C5)alkyl, substituted (C1-C10)alkyl, substituted (C1-C10)heteroalkyl or substituted aryl(C1-C5)alkyl or R2 and R3 may be joined together form a cyclic moiety;

R4 is OH or NH2;

R5 and R6 each is, independently, H, (C1-C10)alkyl, or R5 and R6 may be joined together form a cyclic moiety;

R7 and R8 each is, independently, H, (C1-C10)alkyl, (C1-C10)heteroalkyl, aryl(C1-C5)alkyl, substituted (C1-C10)alkyl, substituted (C1-C10)heteroalkyl or substituted aryl(C1-C5)alkyl; or R7 and R 8 may be joined together form a cyclic moiety;

R 9 is H, (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl or substituted (C 1 -C 10 )alkyl; and

n is 0 ; or

a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein said compound is

Hydantoin(C(O)-(Arg-Gly))-cyclo(Cys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys)-NH2;

(SEQ ID NO:13);

Hydantoin(C(O)-(Nle-Gly))-cyclo(Cys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys)-NH2;

(SEQ ID NO:14); or

Hydantoin(C(O)-(D-Arg-Gly))-cyclo(Cys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys)-NH2; (SEQ ID NO:26);

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

4. A compound represented by the formula

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; wherein said compound is a selective melanocortin-4 receptor agonist; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein

A 1 is Cys;

A 2 is Glu or D-Ala;

A 3 is His;

A 4 is D2-Nal or D-Phe;

A 5 is Arg;

A 6 is Trp;

A 7 is Cys or Pen; or

a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. A method of treating a metabolic disease or medical condition accompanied by weight gain selected from obesity, feeding disorders and Prader-Willi Syndrome comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound or salt thereof of claim 4 .

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the metabolic disease or medical condition is obesity.

11. A method of decreasing appetite, decreasing body weight or a combination thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or salt thereof of claim 4 .

12. A method of treating a disease or medical condition in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 3 , wherein said disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of:

general inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, brain inflammation, sepsis and septic shock;

rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and multiple sclerosis;

a metabolic disease or medical condition accompanied by weight gain, obesity, feeding disorders and Prader-Willi Syndrome;

a metabolic disease or medical condition accompanied by weight loss, anorexia, bulimia, AIDS wasting, cachexia, cancer cachexia and wasting in frail elderly;

skin cancer and cancer cachexia;

endometriosis, uterine bleeding, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual response in females;

organ transplant rejection, ischemia and reperfusion injury, wounding and spinal cord injury, and weight loss due to a medical procedure selected from the group consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, temporary or permanent immobilization and dialysis;

hemorrhagic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, cardiovascular disorders and cardiac cachexia;

acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma;

enhanced immune tolerance;

allergies;

psoriasis, skin pigmentation depletion, acne and keloid formation;

anxiety, depression, memory dysfunction and neuropathic pain; and

renal cachexia and natriuresis.

13. A method of treating a disease or medical in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 4 , wherein said disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of:

general inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, brain inflammation, sepsis and septic shock;

rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and multiple sclerosis; a metabolic disease or medical condition accompanied by weight gain, obesity, feeding disorders and Prader-Willi Syndrome;

a metabolic disease or medical condition accompanied by weight loss, anorexia, bulimia, AIDS wasting, cachexia, cancer cachexia and wasting in frail elderly;

skin cancer and cancer cachexia;

endometriosis, uterine bleeding, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual response in females;

organ transplant rejection, ischemia and reperfusion injury, wounding and spinal cord injury, and weight loss due to a medical procedure selected from the group consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, temporary or permanent immobilization and dialysis;

hemorrhagic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, cardiovascular disorders and cardiac cachexia;

acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma;

enhanced immune tolerance;

allergies;

psoriasis, skin pigmentation depletion, acne and keloid formation;

anxiety, depression, memory dysfunction and neuropathic pain; and

renal cachexia and natriuresis.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein obesity is treated.

15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein a feeding disorder is treated.

16. A method of decreasing appetite and body weight according to claim 13 .

17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein anorexia, bulimia, AIDS wasting, wasting in frail elderly, cachexia or cancer cachexia is treated.

18. A method of modulating ovarian weight, placental development, prolactin secretion, FSH secretion, intrauterine fetal growth, parturition, spermatogenesis, thyroxin release, aldosterone synthesis and release, body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, vascular tone, brain blood flow, blood glucose levels, sebum secretion, pheromone secretion, motivation, learning and behavior, pain perception, neuroprotection, nerve growth, bone metabolism, bone formation and bone development in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 .

19. A method of inhibiting alcohol consumption, reducing alcohol consumption, treating alcoholism, or treating alcohol abuse in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 .