WO1999044627A1

WO1999044627A1 - Use of hexapeptides for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of hot flushes

Info

Publication number: WO1999044627A1
Application number: PCT/DK1999/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Thomsen; Joel Martin; Nils Langeland Johansen; Philip Just Larsen; Rolf Hohlweg
Original assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1999-02-25
Publication date: 1999-09-10
Also published as: AU2712999A

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of hexapeptides for the treatment of migraine, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes), sepsis, inflammation and/or vasomotor disturbances.

Description

TITLE

Use of hexapeptides for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of hot flushes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of compounds of the general formula I for the treatment of migraine, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes), sepsis, inflammation and/or vasomotor disturbances, in particular the peripheral va- somotor effects known as hot flushes or hot flashes. The present invention also em- braces pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of using the compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A "hot flush" is a sudden transient sensation ranging from warmth to intense heat and typically accompanied by flushing and perspiration. It is the classic sign of the menopause and the predominant complaint of menopausal women. Epidemiological studies report that the majority of menopausal women experience hot flushes, although with large variation in frequency and intensity (Treatment of the Postmenopausal Woman, Basic and Clinical Aspects, Raven Press 1994, ed. R.A. Lobo).

A positive correlation between plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and frequency of hot flushes in women has recently been reported (Chen et al., 1993, Lancet (342) 49), in accordance with the potent vasodilatory effect of CGRP (Brain et al., 1985, Nature, (313) 54-56). Also, a positive correlation between CGRP antagonists and diabetes, septic shock and inflammation has been described ( Feurstein, G, Willette, R and Aiyar, N., 1995, Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 73: 1070-1074).

Recently, a novel heptadeca peptide, nociceptin, was discovered (Meunier et al., 1995, Nature (377) 532-535, Reinscheid et al., 1995, Science (270) 792-794) Nociceptin and analogues thereof have been disclosed in WO 97/07212 , EP 813065 and in WO 97/07208. These peptides and inhibitors thereof are said to be useful for antagonising physiologic effects of an opioid in an animal, and for treating/preventing a disease related to: hyperalgesia, neuroendocrine secretion, stress, locomotor activity, anxiety etc.

Jenck, F et. al. also found, that Orphanin FQ acts as an anxiolytic to attenuate behavioral-responses to stress (PNAS Vol. 94, 1997).

Recently, Dooley, C,T et. al. found hexapeptides having the same affinity for the opioid-like receptor ORL1 as nociceptin with binding in the nanomolar range (Binding and In Vitro Activities of Peptides with High Affinity for Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ

Receptor, ORL1. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics,(1997) Vol.

283, No.2: 735-741).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the use of a compound selected from a basic hexapeptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of Type II diabetes, septic shock, inflammation and vasomotor disturbances, in particular the peripheral vasomotor effects known as hot flushes or hot flashes.

Further objects will become apparent from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has been found recently that hexapeptides with L or D basic amino acids in position A¹, A⁴ and/or A⁶, aromatic L or D amino acids in position A² and/or A³ and/or aromatic or aliphatic L or D amino acids in position A⁵ have the same affinity for the opioid-like receptor ORL1 as nociceptin with binding in the nanomolar range (Dooley, C,T et. al., Binding and In Vitro Activities of Peptides with High Affinity for Nociceptin/Orphanin 3

FQ Receptor, ORL1. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (1997) Vol. 283, No.2: 735-741).

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a compound of the general formula I

A¹- A²- A³- A⁴- A⁵- A⁶ - Y (I)

wherein A¹ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys, D-His, acylated Arg, acylated Lys, acylated His, acylated D-Arg, acylated D-Lys or acylated D-His;

A² is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A³ is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A⁴ is Lys, Arg, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His; A⁵ is Phe, Tyr, Trp, lie, D-Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-lle;

A⁶ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His and

Y is OH or NH₂

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of Type II diabetes, septic shock, inflammation and vasomotor disturbances, in particular the peripheral vasomotor effects known as hot flushes or hot flashes.

In one embodiment of the invention the compound of the formula I is selected from the group consisting of

Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Arg-NH₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Lys-NH₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-I le-Lys-NH₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Arg-NH₂ and 4

Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Lys-NH₂.

(all of which, e.g., are produced using commonly known solid phase peptide synthesis technology).

The term Ac is intended to mean acetylated.

In another embodiment of the invention the composition is in a form suitable for oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonal, or parenteral administration.

In a further embodiment of the first aspect the compound of the formula I is administered as a dose in the range from about 0.001 to about 10 g per patient per day, preferably from about 1 to about 1000 mg per patient per day, especially from about 10 to about 100 mg per patient per day, e.g. about 100 mg per patient per day.

In still another embodiment of the first aspect the amino acids are all in either the D or L stereochemical configuration, preferably the L stereochemical configuration. However, the compounds of the invention may comprise both L and D amino acids.

In a second aspect the invention relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of migraine, Type II diabetes, sepsis, inflammation and/or vasomotor disturbances, in particular the peripheral vasomotor effects known as hot flushes or hot flashes, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The effective, such as the therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula I will depend upon the mode of administration, on the therapy desired, form in which administered, the subject to be treated and the body weight of the subject to be treated, and the preference and experience of the physician or veterinarian in charge. 5

In one embodiment of the second aspect the compound of the formula I is administered as a dose with an effective amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 10 g per patient per day, preferably from about 1 to about 1000 mg per patient per day, especially from about 10 to about 100 mg per patient per day, e.g. about 100 mg per patient per day .

Within its scope the invention includes the D and/or L stereochemical configuration of all the amino acids which constitute the compound of the formula I.

As used herein the term "patient" comprises any mammal which may benefit from treatment or prevention of vasomotor disturbances, such as a human, especially if the mammal is a female, such as a woman. However, "patient" is not intended to be limited to a woman.

The compounds intended to be embraced by the present invention are such peptides which are disclosed in Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (1997) Vol. 283, No.2: 735-741.

As used herein the term "treatment" is also meant to comprise prophylactic treatment.

Within the present invention, the compound of the formula I may be prepared in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, especially acid-addition salts, including salts of organic acids and mineral acids. Examples of such salts include salts of organic acids such as formic acid, fumaric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic a- cid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid and the like. Suitable inorganic acid-addition salts include salts of hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulphuric and phosphoric acids and the like. Further examples of pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic acid addition salts include the pharmaceutically acceptable salts listed in Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 66, 2 (1977) which are known to the skilled artisan. Also intended as pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are the hydrates which the present compounds of the formula I are able to form.

The acid addition salts may be obtained as the direct products of compound synthesis. In the alternative, the free base may be dissolved in a suitable solvent containing the appropriate acid, and the salt isolated by evaporating the solvent or otherwise separating the salt and solvent.

The compounds of the formula I of this invention may form solvates with standard low molecular weight solvents using methods known to a person skilled in the art.

The compound of the formula I may be administered in pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt form . Such salt forms are believed to exhibit approximately the same order of activity as the free base forms.

A pharmaceutical composition for use in accordance with the present invention comprises, one or more compound of the formula I as active ingredient(s), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of the formula I of the present invention may be prepared by conventional techniques, e.g. as described in Remington: The Science and Practise of Pharmacy. 19^th Ed.. 1995. The compositions may appear in conventional forms, for example capsules, tablets, aerosols, solutions, suspensions or topical applications.

Typical compositions include hexapeptides or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, associated with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient 7

which may be a carrier or a diluent or be diluted by a carrier, or enclosed within a carrier which can be in the form of a capsule, sachet, paper or other container. In making the compositions, conventional techniques for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions may be used. For example, the active compound will usually be mixed with a carrier, or diluted by a carrier, or enclosed within a carrier which may be in the form of a ampoule, capsule, sachet, paper, or other container. When the carrier serves as a diluent, it may be solid, semi-solid, or liquid material which acts as a vehicle, excipient, or medium for the active compound. The active compound can be adsorbed on a granular solid container for example in a sachet. Some examples of suitable carriers are water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, polyhydroxyethoxylated castor oil, peanut oil, olive oil, gelatine, lactose, terra alba, sucrose, cyclodextrin, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, gelatine, agar, pectin, acacia, stearic acid or lower alkyl ethers of cellulose, silicic acid, fatty acids, fatty acid amines, fatty acid monoglycerides and diglycerides, pentaerythritol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene, hydroxymethylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Similarly, the carrier or diluent may include any sustained release material known in the art, such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate, alone or mixed with a wax. The formulations may also include wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, preserving agents, sweetening agents or flavouring agents. The formulations of the invention may be formulated so as to provide quick, sustained, or delayed release of the active ingredient after administration to the patient by employing procedures well known in the art.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be sterilised and mixed, if desired, with auxiliary agents, emulsifiers, salt for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers and/or colouring substances and the like, which do not deleteriously react with the active compounds. 8

The route of administration may be any route, which effectively transports the active compound to the appropriate or desired site of action, such as oral, nasal, pulmonary, transdermal or parenteral e.g. rectal, depot, subcutaneous, intravenous, intraurethral, intramuscular, intranasal, ophthalmic solution or an oint- ment.

If a solid carrier is used for oral administration, the preparation may be tabletted, placed in a hard gelatine capsule in powder or pellet form or it can be in the form of a troche or lozenge. If a liquid carrier is used, the preparation may be in the form of a syrup, emulsion, soft gelatine capsule or sterile injectable liquid such as an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid suspension or solution.

For nasal administration, the preparation may contain a compound of formula I dissolved or suspended in a liquid carrier, in particular an aqueous carrier, for aerosol application. The carrier may contain additives such as solubilizing agents, e.g. propylene glycol, surfactants, absorption enhancers such as lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) or cyclodextrin, or preservatives such as parabenes.

For parenteral application, particularly suitable are injectable solutions or suspen- sions, preferably aqueous solutions with the active compound dissolved in poly- hydroxylated castor oil.

Tablets, dragees, or capsules having talc and/or a carbohydrate carrier or binder or the like are particularly suitable for oral application. Preferable carriers for tab- lets, dragees, or capsules include lactose, corn starch, and/or potato starch. A syrup or elixir can be used in cases where a sweetened vehicle can be employed.

A typical tablet which may be prepared by conventional tabletting techniques may contain: 9

Core:

Active compound (as free compound or salt thereof) 100 mg

Colloidal silicon dioxide (Aerosil) 1.5 mg

Cellulose, microcryst. (Avicel) 70 mg Modified cellulose gum (Ac-Di-Sol) 7.5 mg

Magnesium stearate Ad.

Coating:

HPMC approx. 9 mg *Mywacett 9-40 T approx. 0.9 mg

*Acylated monoglyceride used as plasticizer for film coating.

Any novel feature or combination of features described herein is considered essential to this invention.

Pharmacological effects:

Male Sprague Dawley rats ( 300±25 g) were anaesthetised with pentobarbital sodium (50 mg/kg i.p.) and polyethylene catheters were positioned in both femoral veins for the intravenous administration of drugs, such as nociceptin and analogues, and into the left femoral artery in order to measure arterial blood pressure and heart rate. The trachea was cannulated with polyethylene tubing and the rat was pithed, ventilated and drug treated as described by Nuki Y. et al. (Effects of Dorsal Rhizotomy on Depressor Response to Spinal Cord Stimulation Mediated by Endogenous Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide in the Pithed Rat. J. Neurosurg. 1993; 79:899-904).

Examples:

Prior administration of nociceptin and related analogs inhibited the depressor 10

response to spinal cord stimulation accordingly:

Structure dose (mg/kg) mean reduction (% of maximal depressor response) nociceptin 0.1 29 ± 9

0.3 23 ± 6

Ac-Arg-Tyr-Ty r-Arg-Trp-Lys-N H2 0.1 54 ± 12

0.3 32 ± 7

A clear dose-response was observed for the hexapeptide, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp- Lys-NH2- In all animals examined, the effect of both nociceptin and the hexapeptide was seen when repeated a second time after a second non-antagonised depressor response.

Claims

11CLAIMS:

1. Use of a compound of the general formula I

A¹- A²- A³- A⁴- A⁵- A⁶ - Y (I)

wherein

A¹ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys, D-His, acylated Arg, acylated Lys, acylated His, acylated D-Arg, acylated D-Lys or acylated D-His;

A² is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A³ is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A⁴ is Lys, Arg, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His;

A⁵ is Phe, Tyr, Trp, lie, D-Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-lle; A⁶ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His and

Y is OH or NH₂ or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of migraine, Type II diabetes, sepsis, inflammation and/or vasomotor disturbances.

2. Use according to claim 1 wherein said amino acids are all in the L stereochemical configuration.

3. Use according to any one of the claims 1-2 wherein A¹ comprises acetylated Arg.

4. Use according to any one of the claims 1-3 wherein A² comprises Tyr.

5. Use according to any one of the claims 1-4 wherein A³ comprises Tyr.

6. Use according to any one of the claims 1-5 wherein A⁴ comprises Arg or Lys. 12

7. Use according to any one of the claims 1-6 wherein A⁵ comprises Trp or lie.

8. Use according to any one of the claims 1-7 wherein A⁶ comprises Arg or Lys.

9. Use according to any one of the claims 1-8 wherein Yis NH₂

10. Use according to claim 1 wherein said amino acids are all in the D stereochemical configuration.

11. Use according to any one of the claim 1-9 wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of

Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Arg-N H₂, Ac-Arg-Ty r-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Lys-N H₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-I le-Lys-N H₂, Ac-Arg-Ty r-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Arg-N H₂ and Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Lys-NH₂.

12. Use according to any one of the claims 1-11 wherein said composition is in a form suitable for oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonal, or parenteral administration.

13. Use according to any one of the claims 1-12 wherein said compound is administered as a dose in the range from about 0.001 to about 10 g per patient per day.

14. Use according to any one of the claims 1-13 wherein said vasomotor disturbances are hot flushes or hot flashes. 13

15. A method for the treatment of vasomotor disturbances, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the general formula I

A¹- A²- A³- A⁴- A⁵- A⁶ - Y (I)

wherein

A¹ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys, D-His, acylated Arg, acylated Lys, acylated His, acylated D-Arg, acylated D-Lys or acylated D-His; A² is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A³ is Tyr, Trp, Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-Phe;

A⁴ is Lys, Arg, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His;

A⁵ is Phe, Tyr, Trp, lie, D-Phe, D-Tyr, D-Trp or D-lle;

A⁶ is Arg, Lys, His, D-Arg, D-Lys or D-His and Y is OH or NH₂

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said amino acids are in the L stereochemical configuration.

17. The method according to any one of the claims 15-16 wherein A¹ comprises acetylated Arg.

18. The method according to any one of the claims 15-17 wherein A² comprises Tyr.

19. The method according to any one of the claims 15-18 wherein A³ comprises Tyr.

20. The method according to any one of the claims 15-19 wherein A⁴ comprises Arg or Lys. 14

21. The method according to any one of the claims 15-20 wherein A⁵ comprises Trp or lie.

22. The method according to any one of the claims 15-21 wherein A⁶ comprises Arg or Lys.

23. Use according to any one of the claims 15-22 wherein Y is NH₂

24. The method according to claim 15 wherein said amino acids are all in the D stereochemical configuration.

25. The method according to any one of the claims 15-23 wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of

Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Arg-NH₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Lys-N H₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-I le-Lys-N H₂, Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Arg-NH₂ and Ac-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Lys-Trp-Lys-NH₂.

26. The method according to any one of the claims 15-25 wherein said composition is in a form suitable for oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonal, or parenteral administration.

27. The method according to any one of the claims 15-26 wherein said compound is administered as a dose in the range from about 0.001 to about 10 g per patient per day.

28. The method according to any one of the claims 15-27 wherein said vasomotor disturbances are hot flushes or hot flashes.