EP1087764A1

EP1087764A1 - Therapeutic combinations of (selective) estrogen receptor modulators (serm) and growth hormone secretagogues (ghs) for treating musculoskeletal frailty

Info

Publication number: EP1087764A1
Application number: EP99923802A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hua Zhu Ke; Mei Li; Lydia Codetta Pan; David Duane Thompson
Original assignee: Pfizer Products Inc
Current assignee: Pfizer Products Inc
Priority date: 1998-06-16
Filing date: 1999-06-16
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Also published as: HUP0102505A3; AR018869A1; PE20000646A1; AP9901582A0; PA8475901A1; ID27599A; KR20010052852A; WO1999065486A1; OA11505A; BG105041A; AU4054799A; SK18912000A3; IS5691A; MA26652A1; HUP0102505A2; IL138630A0; BR9911324A; NO20006312L; HN1999000097A; PL344981A1

Abstract

This invention is directed to pharmaceutical combination compositions and methods containing (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, methods of using such compositions and kits containing such compositions. The compositions are useful for treating musculoskeletal frailty, including osteoporosis, osteoporotic fracture, low bone mass, frailty and low muscle mass.

Description

THERAPEUTIC COMBINAΗONS OF (SELECTIVE) ESTROGEN RECEPTOR MODULATORS (SERM) AND GROWTH HORMONE SECRETAGOGUES (GHS) FOR TREATING MUSCULOSKELETAL FRAILTY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pharmaceutical combination of a selective 5 estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that stimulates bone formation, increases bone mass, decreases serum lipid levels and increases muscle mass. The invention also relates to kits containing such combinations and the use of such combinations to treat musculoskeletal frailty, including osteoporosis, osteoporotic fracture, low bone mass, frailty, low muscle

10 mass and the like in mammals, including humans. In particular, this invention relates to a combination of (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro- pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a

15 pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, kits containing such a combination and the use of such a combination to treat musculoskeletal frailty, including osteoporosis, osteoporotic fracture, low bone mass, frailty, low muscle mass and the like in mammals, including humans.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease, characterized by low bone

20 mass and deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. In the U.S., the condition affects more than 25 million people and causes more than 1.3 million fractures each year, including 500,000 spine, 250,000 hip and 240,000 wrist fractures annually. Hip fractures are the most serious, with 5-20% of patients dying within one year, and over 50%

25 of survivors being incapacitated.

The elderly are at greatest risk of osteoporosis, and the problem is therefore predicted to increase significantly with the aging of the population. Worldwide fracture incidence is forecast to increase three-fold over the next 60 years, and one study estimates that there will be 4.5 million hip fractures

30 worldwide in 2050.

Although both men and women are susceptible to musculoskeletal frailty, including osteoporosis, women are at greater risk of osteoporosis than men. Women experience a sharp acceleration of bone loss immediately following menopause. Other factors that increase bone loss leading to osteoporosis inciude smoking, alcohol abuse, a sedentary lifestyle and low calcium intake.

Estrogen is the agent of choice in preventing osteoporosis or post menopausal bone loss in women. In addition, Black, et al. in EP 0605193A1 report that estrogen, particularly when taken orally, lowers plasma levels of LDL and raises those of the beneficial high density lipoproteins (HDL's). Long-term estrogen therapy, however, has been implicated in a variety of disorders, including an increase in the risk of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer and possibly breast cancer, causing many women to either avoid this treatment or take the medication for only a short period of time. Although the risk of endometrial cancer is thought to be reduced by a concurrent use of a progesterone, there is still concern about possible increased risk of breast cancer with the use of estrogen. Recently suggested therapeutic regimens, which seek to lessen the cancer risk, such as administering combinations of progesterone and estrogen, cause the patient to experience unacceptable bleeding. Furthermore, combining progesterone with estrogen seems to blunt the serum cholesterol lowering effects of estrogen. The significant undesirable side effects associated with estrogen therapy support the need to develop alternative therapies for osteoporosis that have the desirable beneficial effect on serum LDL but do not cause undesirable side effects. Recently, a number of selective estrogen receptor modulators have been proposed for treatment of osteoporosis. It has been reported (Osteoporosis Conference Scrip No. 1812/13 April 16/20, 1993, p. 29) that raloxifene, 6-hydroxy- 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[4-(2-piperidinoethoxy) benzoyl] benzo[b] thiophene, mimics the favorable action of estrogen on bone and lipids but, unlike estrogen, has minimal uterine stimulatory effect. [Black, L.J. et al., Raloxifene (LY139481 Hcl) Prevents Bone Loss and Reduces Serum Cholesterol Without Causing Uterine Hypertrophy in Ovariectomized Rats, J. Clin. Invest., 1994, 93:63-69 and Delmas, P.D. et al., Effects of Raloxifene on Bone Mineral Density, Serum Cholesterol Concentration, and Uterine Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women, New England Journal of Medicine, 1997, 337:1641-1647].

Agents such as droloxifene, U.S. pat. no. 5,254,595, prevent bone loss and thereby reduce the risk of fracture without estrogen's side effects. However, estrogen and estrogen agonists alone are only expected to reduce the fracture risk by about 50% leaving approximately 50% of osteopenic women still at risk for an osteoporotic fracture.

Commonly assigned U.S. pat. no. 5,552,412, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses SERM compounds of the formula

wherein the variables are defined as set forth therein.

Growth hormone (GH), which is secreted from the pituitary gland, stimulates growth of all tissues of the body that are capable of growing. In addition, GH is known to have the following basic effects on the metabolic process of the body:

1. Increased rate of protein synthesis in substantially all cells of the body;

2. Decreased rate of carbohydrate utilization in cells of the body;

3. Increased mobilization of free fatty acids and use of fatty acids for energy.

Deficiency in GH results in a variety of medical disorders. In children, it causes dwarfism. In adults, the consequences of acquired GH deficiency include profound reduction in lean body mass and concomitant increase in total body fat, particularly in the truncal region. Decreased skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and muscle strength lead to a significant reduction in exercise capacity. Bone density is also reduced. Administration of exogenous GH has been shown to reverse many of the metabolic changes. Additional benefits of therapy have included reduction in LDL cholesterol and improved psychological well-being.

In cases where increased levels of GH were desired, the problem was generally solved by providing exogenous GH or by administering an agent which stimulated GH production and/or release. In either case the peptidyl nature of the compound necessitated that it be administered by injection. Initially the source of GH was the extraction of the pituitary glands of cadavers. This resulted in an expensive product, and carried with it the risk that a disease associated with the source of the pituitary gland could be transmitted to the recipient of the GH (e.g., Jacob-Creutzfeld disease). Recently, recombinant GH has become available which, while no longer carrying any risk of disease transmission, is still a very expensive product which must be given by injection or by a nasal spray.

Most GH deficiencies are caused by defects in GH release, not primary defects in pituitary synthesis of GH. Therefore, an alternative strategy for normalizing serum GH levels is by stimulating its release from somatotrophs. Increasing GH secretion can be achieved by stimulating or inhibiting various neurotransmitter systems in the brain and hypothalamus. As a result, the development of synthetic GH-releasing agents to stimulate pituitary GH secretion are being pursued, and may have several advantages over expensive and inconvenient GH replacement therapy. By acting along physiologic regulatory pathways, the most desirable agents would stimulate pulsatile GH secretion, and excessive levels of GH that have been associated with the undesirable side effects of exogenous GH administration would be avoided by virtue of intact negative feedback loops.

Physiologic and pharmacologic stimulators of GH secretion include arginine, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), glucagon, vasopressin, and insulin induced hypoglycemia, as well as activities such as sleep and exercise, indirectly cause GH to be released from the pituitary by acting in some fashion on the hypothalamus perhaps either to decrease somatostatin secretion or to increase the secretion of the known secretagogue GH releasing factor (GHRF) or an unknown endogenous GH-releasing hormone or all of these.

Commonly assigned Intemational Patent Application Publication Number WO97/24369, designating, inter alia, the United States, discloses GH secretagogues of the formula wherein the variables are defined as set forth therein. Intemational Patent Application Number WO97/24369 is incorporated herein by reference.

Tang et al., Restoring and Maintaining Bone in Osteogenic Female Rat Skeleton: I. Changes in Bone Mass and Structure. J. Bone Mineral Research 7 (9), p1093-1104, 1992 discloses data for the lose, restore and maintain (LRM) concept, a practical approach for reversing existing osteoporosis. The LRM concept uses anabolic agents to restore bone mass and architecture (+ phase) and then switches to an agent with the established ability to maintain bone mass, to keep the new bone (+/- phase). The rat study utilized PGE₂ and risedronate, a bisphosphonate, to show that most of the new cancellous and cortical bone induced by PGE₂ can be maintained for at least 60 days after discontinuing PGE₂ by administering risedronate.

Shen et al., Effects of Reciprocal Treatment with Estrogen and Estrogen plus Parathyroid Hormone on Bone Structure and Strength in Ovariectomized

Rats, J. Clinical Investigation, 1995, 96:2331-2338 discloses data for the combination and/or sequential use of anti-resorptive agents and anabolic agents for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Commonly assigned Intemational Patent Application Publication Number WO97/31640, designating, inter alia, the United States, discloses the use of certain GH secretagogues in combination with certain SERMS to treat osteoporosis. Intemational Patent Application Publication Number WO97/31640 is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising: a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(2- (3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5- yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This invention is further directed to a pharmaceutical composition as recited in the immediately preceding paragraph additionally comprising a pharmaceutical carrier.

This invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical composition as described in either of the first two paragraphs of this summary wherein said first compound is (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yI-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8- tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol D-tartrate and said second compound is 2-amino-N-(2- (3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5- yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide L-tartrate.

This invention is still further directed to a method, designated Method A, for treating a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty comprising administering to said mammal a pharmaceutical composition as recited in any of the first three paragraphs of this summary.

A preferred method within Method A, designated Method B, is wherein the mammal is suffering from osteoporosis. Another preferred method within Method A, designated Method C, is wherein mammal is suffering from osteotomy, childhood idiopathic bone loss or bone loss associated with periodontitis.

This invention is still further directed to a method, designated Method A¹, for treating a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty comprising administering to said mammal a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(1 (R)- (2,4-difluoro-benzyloxymethyl)-2-oxo-2-(3-oxo-3a(R)-pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2-(2,2,2- trifluoro-ethy ^.S.Sa^.ej-hexahydro-pyrazolo^.S-cjpyridin-S-y -ethy ^-methyl- propionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This invention is particularly directed to a method of Method A¹ wherein the first compound and the second compound are administered substantially simultaneously.

This invention is also particularly directed to a method of Method A¹, hereinafter termed Method D, wherein the second compound is administered for a period of from about three months to about three years.

This invention is more particularly directed to a method of Method D followed by administration of the first compound for a period of from about three months to about three years without the administration of the second compound during the period of from about three months to about three years.

This invention is also more particularly directed to a method of Method D followed by administration of the first compound for a period greater than about three years without the administration of the second compound during the greater than about three year period. This invention is also directed to a method, hereinafter termed Method E, for treating musculoskeletal frailty in a mammal suffering therefrom comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition as recited in any of the first three paragraphs of this summary.

A preferred method within Method E is wherein bone healing following facial reconstruction, maxillary reconstruction or mandibular reconstruction is enhanced, vertebral synostosis is induced, long bone extension is enhanced, the healing rate of a bone graft or a long bone fracture is enhanced or prosthetic ingrowth is enhanced. Additionally preferred is a method comprising administering to said mammal a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1 -yl-ethoxy)-pheny -5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(1(R)- (2,4-difluoro-benzyloxymethyO-2-oxo-2-(3-oxo-3a(R)-pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2-(2,2,2- trifluoro-ethyl)-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-ethyl)-2-methyl- propionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

This invention is also directed to a method for increasing muscle mass in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a muscle mass increasing o

effective amount of a composition as recited in any of the first three paragraphs of this summary. Additionally preferred is a method comprising administering to said mammal a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(1 (R)- (2,4-difluoro-benzyloxymethyl)-2-oxo-2-(3-oxo-3a(R)-pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2-(2,2,2- trifluoro-ethyl)-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-ethyl)-2-methyl- propionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In all of the methods of this invention, it is particularly preferred that the mammal is a human.

This invention is also directed to a kit comprising a treatment for a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty comprising: a. a therapeutically effective amount of (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1- yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a first unit dosage form; b. a therapeutically effective amount of 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2- methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a second unit dosage form; and c. a container. This invention is particularly directed to a kit as described in the immediately preceding paragraph wherein said first unit dosage form comprises (- )-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8- tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol D-tartrate and said second unit dosage form comprises 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo- [4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide L-tartrate.

In all of the compositions, methods and kits of this invention, it is particularly preferred that the D-tartrate salt of (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1- yl-ethoxy)-phenyI)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol is used and that the L- tartrate salt of 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7- hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)- isobutyramide is used.

The phrase "condition which presents with low bone mass" refers to a condition where the level of bone mass is below the age specific normal as defined in standards by the World Health Organization "Assessment of Fracture

Risk and its Application to Screening for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (1994),

Report of a World Health Organization Study Group. World Health Organization

Technical Series 843". Childhood idiopathic and primary osteoporosis are also included. Included in the treatment of osteoporosis is the prevention or attenuation of long term complications such as curvature of the spine, loss of height, prosthetic surgery, and prevention of prostate malfunctioning. Also included is increasing the bone fracture healing rate and enhancing the rate of successful bone grafts. Also included is periodontal disease and alveolar bone loss.

The phrase "condition which presents with low bone mass" also refers to a mammal known to have a significantly higher than average chance of developing such diseases as are described above including osteoporosis (e.g., postmenopausal women, men over the age of 60, and persons being treated with drugs known to cause osteoporosis as a side effect (such as glucocorticoid)).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the term bone mass actually refers to bone mass per unit area which is sometimes (although not strictly correctly) referred to as bone mineral density.

The phrase "musculoskeletal frailty" refers to a condition wherein a subject has low bone mass and/or low muscle mass, and includes such diseases, disorders and conditions such as, but not limited to, conditions which present with low bone mass, osteoporosis, conditions which present with low muscle mass, osteotomy, childhood idiopathic bone loss, bone loss associated with periodontitis, bone healing following facial reconstruction, maxillary reconstruction, mandibular reconstruction and bone fracture. Further, musculoskeletal frailty encompasses such conditions as interfaces between newly attached prostheses and bone which require bone ingrowth. The term "treating", "treat" or "treatment" as used herein includes curative, preventative (e.g., prophylactic) and palliative treatment.

The parenthetical negative or positive sign used herein in the nomenclature denotes the direction plane polarized light is rotated by the particular stereoisomer. The compositions of this invention may include hydrates of the compounds used therein.

The pharmaceutical compositions and methods of this invention result in a more rapid and higher magnitude bone mass gain than is achievable with the same doses of (-)-c/s-6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8- tetrahydro-naphthalene-2-ol as described above alone or 2-amino-N-[2-(3a-(R)- benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2_l3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1-(R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-isobutyramide as described above alone. Further, these combinations increase bone density and muscle mass while at the same time reducing fat mass and total serum cholesterol. Thus, these combinations increase bone mass and decrease fracture rates to a greater extent than is achievable through use of either agent alone. This invention makes a significant contribution to the art by providing compositions and methods that increase and maintain bone mass resulting in prevention, retardation, and/or regression of osteoporosis and related bone disorders. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims which describe the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The first compound of this invention is (-)-c/s-6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1- yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalene-2-oI or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structure of Formula I:

I (-)-C/s-6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-py olidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- naphthalene-2-ol and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are prepared as described in commonly assigned US Patent Number 5,552,412, which is referenced above.

(-)-C/s-6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7_l8-tetrahydro- naphthalene-2-ol D-tartrate is prepared as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or, alternatively, as set forth in International Patent Application Publication Number WO97/16434, designating the United States and which is incorporated herein by reference.

The second compound of this invention is 2-amino-N-[2-(3a-(R)-benzyl-2- methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1-(R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structure of Formula II:

2-Amino-N-[2-(3a-(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl)-1-(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-isobutyramide and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are prepared as set forth in commonly assigned International Patent Application Publication Number WO97/24369, which is referenced above.

In addition, when the compounds or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of this invention form hydrates or solvates they are also within the scope of the invention.

The pharmaceutical combinations and methods of this invention are all adapted to therapeutic use as agents that either activate bone turnover or prevent bone resorption or increase bone formation in mammals, particularly humans. Since these functions are closely related to the development of osteoporosis and bone related disorders, these combinations, by virtue of their action on bone, prevent, arrest, regress or reverse osteoporosis. The utility of the compositions and methods of the present invention as medical agents in the treatment of musculoskeletal frailty (e.g., conditions which present with low bone mass or low muscle mass including osteoporosis) in mammals (e.g. humans) is demonstrated by the activity of the compounds of this invention in conventional assays as set forth in U.S. Patent Number 5,552,412 and International Patent Application Publication Number WO97/24369. Further evidence of the utility of the instant combination is set forth in Example One below.

Such assays also provide a means whereby the activities of the compounds of this invention can be compared between themselves and with the activities of other known compounds. The results of these comparisons are useful for determining dosage levels in mammals, including humans, for the treatment of such diseases.

Administration of the compounds of this invention can be via any method which delivers a compound of the combination of this invention systemically and/or locally. These methods include oral routes, parenteral, intraduodenal routes, etc. Generally, the compounds of this invention are administered orally, but parenteral administration (e.g., intravenous, intramuscular, transcutaneous, subcutaneous or intramedullary) may be utilized, for example, where oral administration is inappropriate for the instant target or where the patient is unable to ingest the drug. The two different compounds of this invention can be co-administered simultaneously or sequentially in any order, or a single pharmaceutical composition comprising a first compound as described above and a second compound as described above in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can be administered.

In any event the amount and timing of compounds administered will, of course, be dependent on the subject being treated, on the severity of the affliction, on the manner of administration and on the judgment of the prescribing physician. Thus, because of patient to patient variability, the dosages given below are a guideline and the physician may titrate doses of the drug to achieve the activity (e.g., bone mass augmentation) that the physician considers appropriate for the individual patient. In considering the degree of activity desired, the physician must balance a variety of factors such as bone mass starting level, age of the patient, presence of preexisting disease, as well as presence of other diseases (e.g., cardiovascular). For example, the administration of (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol can provide cardiovascular benefits, particularly for post-menopausal women. The following paragraphs provide preferred dosage ranges for the various components of this invention. An effective dosage for (-)-c/s-6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)- phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalene-2-ol is in the range of 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg/day, preferably 0.001 to 10 mg/kg/day.

An effective dosage for 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)- isobutyramide is in the range of 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg/day, preferably 0.01 to 5 mg/kg/day.

Where the tartrate salt or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either of the above compounds is used in this invention, the skilled person will be able to calculate effective dosage amounts by calculating the molecular weight of the salt form and performing simple stoichiometric ratios.

The' compounds of the present invention are generally administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one of the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of this invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or diluent. Thus, the compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of this invention can be administered separately or together in any conventional oral, parenteral or transdermal dosage form. When administered separately, the administration of the other compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of the invention follows.

For oral administration a pharmaceutical composition can take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, and the like. Tablets containing various excipients such as sodium citrate, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate are employed along with various disintegrants such as starch and preferably potato or tapioca starch and certain complex silicates, together with binding agents such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose, gelatin and acacia. Additionally, lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate and talc are often useful for tabletting purposes. Solid compositions of a similar type are also employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules; preferred materials in this connection also include lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols. When aqueous suspensions and/or elixirs are desired for oral administration, the compounds or pharmaceutically aceptable salts thereof of this invention can be combined with various sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, emulsifying agents and/or suspending agents, as well as such diluents as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and various like combinations thereof.

For purposes of parenteral administration, solutions in sesame or peanut oil or in aqueous propylene glycol can be employed, as well as sterile aqueous solutions of the corresponding water-soluble salts. Such aqueous solutions may be suitably buffered, if necessary, and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic with sufficient saline or glucose. These aqueous solutions are especially suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection purposes. In this connection, the sterile aqueous media employed are all readily obtainable by standard techniques well-known to those skilled in the art For purposes of transdermal (e.g., topical) administration, dilute sterile, aqueous or partially aqueous solutions (usually in about 0.1% to 5% concentration), otherwise similar to the above parenteral solutions, are prepared. Methods of preparing various pharmaceutical compositions with a certain amount of each active ingredient are known, or will be apparent in light of this disclosure, to those skilled in this art. For examples, see Remington's

Pharmaceutical Sciences. Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 19th Edition (1990).

Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may contain 0.1%- 95% of a combination of the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of this invention, preferably 1%-70%. In any event, the composition or formulation to be administered will contain a quantity of the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of the invention in an amount effective to treat the disease/condition of the subject being treated.

Since the present invention relates to treatment with a combination of the two active ingredients which may be administered separately, the invention also relates to combining separate pharmaceutical compositions in kit form. The kit includes two separate pharmaceutical compositions: (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyI-2- methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The kit includes a container for containing the separate compositions such as a divided bottle or a divided foil packet, however, the separate compositions may also be contained within a single, undivided container. Typically the kit includes directions for the administration of the separate components. The kit form is particularly advantageous when the separate components are preferably administered in different dosage forms (e.g., oral and parenteral), are administered at different dosage intervals, or when titration of the individual components of the combination is desired by the prescribing physician.

An example of such a kit is a so-called blister pack. Blister packs are well known in the packaging industry and are being widely used for the packaging of pharmaceutical unit dosage forms (tablets, capsules, and the like). Blister packs generally consist of a sheet of relatively stiff material covered with a foil of a preferably transparent plastic material. During the packaging process recesses are formed in the plastic foil. The recesses have the size and shape of the tablets or capsules to be packed. Next, the tablets or capsules are placed in the recesses and the sheet of relatively stiff material is sealed against the plastic foil at the face of the foil which is opposite from the direction in which the recesses were formed. As a result, the tablets or capsules are sealed in the recesses between the plastic foil and the sheet. Preferably the strength of the sheet is such that the tablets or capsules can be removed from the blister pack by manually applying pressure on the recesses whereby an opening is formed in the sheet at the place of the recess. The tablet or capsule can then be removed via said opening.

It is desirable to provide a memory aid on a card insert, e.g., in the form of numbers next to the tablets or capsules whereby the numbers correspond with the days of the regimen which the tablets or capsules so specified should be ingested. Another example of such a memory aid is a calendar printed on the card e.g., as follows "First Week, Monday, Tuesday, ...etc.... Second Week, Monday, Tuesday,..." etc. Other variations of memory aids will be readily apparent. A "daily dose" can be a single tablet or capsule or several pills or capsules to be taken on a given day. Also a daily dose of SERM can consist of one tablet or capsule while a daily dose of a GH secretagogue can consist of several tablets or capsules. The memory aid should reflect this.

In another specific embodiment of the invention a dispenser designed to dispense the daily doses one at a time in the order of their intended use is provided. Preferably, the dispenser is equipped with a memory-aid, so as to further facilitate compliance with the regimen. An example of such a memory-aid is a mechanical counter which indicates the number of daily doses that has been dispensed. Another example of such a memory-aid is a battery-powered micro- chip memory coupled with a liquid crystal readout, or audible reminder signal which, for example, reads out the date that the last daily dose has been taken and/or reminds one when the next dose is to be taken.

The following assay is used to show that the combination and methods of this invention increases lean body mass and decreases fat body mass whereas the GH secretagogue alone would be expected to decrease fat body mass with no change in lean body mass and the SERM alone would be expected to increase both lean and fat body mass. Further, the combination increases bone density and decreases total serum cholesterol. Example One

Female S-D rats (Harlan) were sham-operated or ovariectomized (OVX) at 3.5 months of age. Drug administration started when the rats were 9 months of age and 5.5 months post-surgery. The sham-operated rats received daily gavage of vehicle (10% ethanol in water), while the OVX rats received daily gavage of vehicle, or 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyi-3-oxo-2,3,3a₁4,6,7-hexahydro- pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)-isobutyramide at 5 mg/kg/d alone, or (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8- tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol at 0.1 mg/kg/d alone, or co-treatment of 2-amino-N-(2- (3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)- 1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)-isobutyramide and (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5_I6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol for 4 weeks. In the combination group, 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7- hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)- isobutyramide was given 2 hours prior to (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol. There were 8 to 10 rats per each subgroup. All rats were given subcutaneous injections with 10 mg/kg of calcein (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) on 13 and 3 days before autopsy. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the compounds used in this assay may be administered in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and that the dosage amount can be readily determined by calculating the molecular weight of the salt and performing simple ratios.

Before autopsy on the terminal day of the assay, all rats under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, QDR-1000/W, Hologic Inc., Waltham, MA) equipped with Rat Whole Body Scan software (Hologic Inc., Waltham, MA) for lean and fat body mass determination. The rats were then autopsied and blood was obtained by cardiac puncture. Total serum cholesterol was determined using a high performance cholesterol colorometic assay (Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals, Indianapolis, IN). The body weight gain was calculated as body weight at autopsy minus body weight at day 0. The uterine wet weight was determined immediately at autopsy.

The right femur from each rat was removed at autopsy and scanned using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA, QDR 1000/W, Hologic Inc., Waltham, MA) equipped with "Regional High Resolution Scan" software (Holcgic Inc., Waltham, MA). The scan field size was 5.08 x 1.902 cm, resolution is 0.0254 x 0.0127 cm and scan speed was 7.25 mm/second. The femoral scan images were analyzed and total femoral bone area, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density were determined according to the method described in H. Z. Ke et al., Droloxifene, a New Estrogen Antagonist/Agonist, Prevents Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats. ENDOCRINOLOGY 136;2435-2441, 1995.

Study Results and Discussion Compared to the controls, 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo- 2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)-benzy!oxymethyl-2- oxoethyl)-isobutyramide alone increased both lean and fat body mass, while (-)cis- 6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol alone decreased fat body mass with no change in lean body mass. Combination of 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyI-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo- [4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)-isobutyramide and (-)cis-6- phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol increased lean body mass and decreased fat body mass. Therefore, combination of both compounds have a better body composition profile than 2-amino-N-(2- (3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)- 1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)-isobutyramide alone or (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-oI alone.

A 5-6% increase in total femoral bone area was observed in subjects receiving the combination relative to those subjects who received placebo. This result is similar to the increase in total femoral bone area which was observed in subjects receiving either (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-py olidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo- 2,3₎3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2- oxoethyl)-isobutyramide and (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol alone. Total femoral bone mineral content increased by 8.5% in 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7- hexahydro-pyrazoIo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)- isobutyramide alone and 7.7% in (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)- phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol alone. However, in the combination group, total femoral bone mineral content increased by 12.5%, which was a significant increase compared to either alone. A similar pattern was found in the total femoral bone mineral density.

Total serum cholesterol decreased in (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol alone group and the combination group.

These data indicated that combination of 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2- methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxoethyl)-isobutyramide and (-)cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1 - yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol, have multiple benefits. These benefits include an increase in lean mass and a decrease in fat mass and serum lipid. Further, an increase in bone mass was observed.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

PRODUCT CLAIMS 1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)- benzyt-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 additionally comprising a pharmaceutical carrier.

3. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein said first compound is (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8- tetrahydronaphthalene-2-oI D-tartrate and said second compound is 2-amino-N-(2- (3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5- yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide L-tartrate.

4. Use of a pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 to prepare a medicament for treating a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty.

5. A use of claim 4 wherein said first compound is (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5- (4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol D-tartrate and said second compound is 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)- isobutyramide L-tartrate.

6. A use of claim 4 wherein said mammal is suffering from osteoporosis.

7. A use of claim 4 wherein osteotomy, childhood idiopathic bone loss or bone loss associated with periodontitis is treated.

8. The use of claim 4 wherein bone healing following facial reconstruction, maxillary reconstruction or mandibular reconstruction is treated, vertebral synostosis is induced or long bone extension is enhanced, the healing rate of a bone graft is enhanced or prosthetic ingrowth is enhanced.

9. The use of claim 8 wherein a bone fracture is treated in a human.

10. A use of claim 6 wherein osteoporosis is treated in a human.

11. A kit comprising: a. (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-py olidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6₎7,8- tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of diluent in a first unit dosage form; b. 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7- hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)- isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent in a second unit dosage form; and c. a container.

12. A kit of claim 11 wherein said first unit dosage form comprises (-)- cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6_l7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene- 2-ol D-tartrate and said second unit dosage form comprises 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)- benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethy -isobutyramide L-tartrate.

13. A method for treating a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty comprising administering to said mammal a pharmaceutical composition of claim 1.

14. A method of claim 13 wherein said first compound is (-)-cis-6- phenyl-5-(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-ol D-tartrate and said second compound is 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3- oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)-benzyloxymethyl-2- oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide L-tartrate.

15. A method of claim 13 wherein said mammal is suffering from osteoporosis.

16. A method of claim 13 wherein osteotomy, childhood idiopathic bone loss or bone loss associated with periodontitis is treated.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein bone healing following facial reconstruction, maxillary reconstruction or mandibular reconstruction is treated, vertebral synostosis is induced or long bone extension is enhanced, the healing rate of a bone graft is enhanced or prosthetic ingrowth is enhanced.

18. ^l The method of claim 17 wherein a bone fracture is treated in a human.

19. A method of claim 15 wherein osteoporosis is treated in a human.

20. A method for treating a mammal suffering from musculoskeletal frailty comprising administering to said mammal a. a first compound, said first compound being (-)-cis-6-phenyl-5-(4-(2- py╧ÇOlidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthaIene-2-oI or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and b. a second compound, said second compound being 2-amino-N-(2-(3a(R)- benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3, 3a, 4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1 (R)- benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-isobutyramide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

21. A method of claim 20 wherein the first compound and the second compound are administered substantially simultaneously.

22. A method of claim 20 wherein the second compound is administered for a period of from about three months to about three years.

23. A method of claim 22 followed by administration of the first compound for a period of from about three months to about three years without the administration of the second compound during the period of from about three months to about three years.

24. A method of claim 22 followed by administration of the first compound for a period greater than about three years without the administration of the second compound during the greater than about three year period.

25. A method of claim 20 wherein said mammal is suffering from osteoporosis.

26. A method of claim 20 wherein said mammal is suffering from osteotomy, childhood idiopathic bone loss or bone loss associated with periodontitis.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein bone healing following facial reconstruction, maxillary reconstruction or mandibular reconstruction is treated, vertebral synostosis is induced or long bone extension is enhanced, the healing rate of a bone graft is enhanced or prosthetic ingrowth is enhanced.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein a bone fracture is treated in a human.

29. A method for increasing muscle mass in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a muscle mass increasing effective amount of a composition of claim 1.