Antagonists of CB1 receptor

1. A method for the treatment of a pathologic condition or disorder selected from the group consisting of addiction, dependence, abuse and relapse related disorders; in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a pregnenolone derivative compound chosen among:

a compound of formula (B)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH or ═O,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —OH, C1-8 alkyl, halogen or Bn,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —OH or ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

a compound of formula (C):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with ═O or —OH

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

a compound of formula (D):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with halogen, NH2, Bn-O or, —N 3 ,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

or

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with C1-8 alkoxy, halogen, Bn-O—, or N 3

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with -Bn, —CH 3 or C2-6 alkenyl,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

or

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy or Bn-,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

or

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —H, —OH or —NR8R9 wherein R8 and R9 each independently is H or C1-8 alkyl, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

or

a compound of formula (E):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —H, —OH or ═O,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —H, —OH or ═O, and

—R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H,

provided that in formulas B, C, D, and E when the bond between C3 and R1 is single, R1 is in β position.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is not substantially converted into active pregnenolone down stream derivatives after administration to a subject.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (B)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH in β position or ═O,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H, —OH, C1-8 alkyl, halogen or Bn,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —OH, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H

or

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with ═O,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —OH, C1-8 alkyl, halogen or -Bn,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said compound is 4-Pregnen-17,20α-diol-3-one, 17α-Methylprogesterone. or 17α-Benzylprogesterone.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (C):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with ═O or —OH in βposition,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O,

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H and

C5 is substituted with H is in β position.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said compound is 5β-Pregnan-3β-ol-20-one or 5β-Pregnan-3,20-dione.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (D):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with NH2, Bn-O or —N 3 in β position,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said compound is 5-pregnen-3β-O-benzyl-20-one or 5-pregnen-3β-azido-20-one.

9. The method to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (D):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with C1-8 alkoxy, halogen Bn-O— or N 3 in β position,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with Bn, —CH 3 or C2-6 alkenyl,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said compound is 17α-Allyl-3β-methoxypregnenolone, 17α-Benzyl-3β-fluoropregnenolone, 3β-Fluoro-17α-methylpregnenolone, 3β-Methoxy-17α-methylpregnenolone, 17α-Benzyl-3β-methoxypregnenolone, 3β-Benzyloxy-17α-methylpregnenolone or 17α-Benzyl-3β-benzyloxypregnenolone.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (D):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH in β position,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy or Bn-,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said compound is 17α-Benzylpregnenolone, 17α-Ethylpregnenolone, 17α-Methylpregnenolone or 17-Methoxypregnenolone.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (D):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —OH in β position,

—R2 denotes that C17 is substituted with —H,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —H, —OH or —NR8R9 wherein R8 and R9 each independently is H or C1-8 alkyl,

and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said compound is 20-Deoxypregnenolone or 20-Methylamino-5-pregnen-3⊐-ol.

15. The method according claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula (E):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R1 denotes that C3 is substituted with —H or —OH in β position or ═O,

R3 denotes that C20 is substituted with —H, —OH or ═O, and

R4 denotes that C16 is substituted with —H.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said compound is 5,16-Pregnadien-20-one.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pathologic condition or disorder is selected from the group consisting of cannabis addiction, cannabis dependence, cannabis abuse, cannabis intoxication and cannabis relapse related disorders.

18. A method for the treatment of a pathologic condition or disorder selected from the group consisting of bladder and gastrointestinal disorders; inflammatory diseases; cardiovascular diseases; nephropathies; glaucoma; spasticity; cancer; osteoporosis; metabolic disorders; obesity; addiction, dependence abuse and relapse related disorders; psychiatric and neurological disorders; neurodegenerative disorders; autoimmune hepatitis encephalitis; pain; and reproductive disorders and skin inflammatory and fibrotic diseases in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of 17α-Benzyl-3β-fluoropregnenolone, 17α-Benzyl-3β-benzyloxypregnenolone, 3β-Benzyloxy-17α-methylpregnenolone, 17α-Benzylpregnenolone, 3β-Methoxy-17α-methylpregnenolone, 17α-Allyl-3β-methoxypregnenolone or 17α-Benzyl-3β-methoxypregnenolone.