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Definitions

• the present invention relates to exendin-4 peptide analogues which - in contrast to the pure GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 - activate both the GLP1 and the Glucagon receptor and their medical use, for example in the treatment of disorders of the metabolic syndrome, including diabetes and obesity, as well as for reduction of excess food intake.
• Exendin-4 is a 39 amino acid peptide which is produced by the salivary glands of the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) (Eng, J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:7402-05,1992). Exendin-4 is an activator of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 ) receptor, whereas it does not activate significantly the glucagon receptor.
• GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1
• Exendin-4 shares many of the glucoregulatory actions observed with GLP-1 .
• Clinical and non-clinical studies have shown that exendin-4 has several beneficial antidiabetic properties including a glucose dependent enhancement in insulin synthesis and secretion, glucose dependent suppression of glucagon secretion, slowing down gastric emptying, reduction of food intake and body weight, and an increase in beta-cell mass and markers of beta cell function (Gentilella R et al., Diabetes Obes Metab., 1 1 :544-56, 2009; Norris SL et al., Diabet Med., 26:837-46, 2009; Bunck MC et al., Diabetes Care., 34:2041 -7, 201 1 ).
• These effects are beneficial not only for diabetics but also for patients suffering from obesity. Patients with obesity have a higher risk of getting diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases.
• exendin-4 is resistant to cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) resulting in a longer half-life and duration of action in vivo (Eng J., Diabetes, 45 (Suppl 2):152A (abstract 554), 1996).
• DPP4 dipeptidyl peptidase-4
• exendin-4 is chemically labile due to methionine oxidation in position 14 (Hargrove DM et al., Regul. Pept., 141 : 1 13-9, 2007) as well as deamidation and isomerization of asparagine in position 28 (WO 2004/035623).
• exendin-4 is shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH2
• amino acid sequence of GLP-1 (7-36)-amide is shown as SEQ ID NO: 2
• Liraglutide is a marketed chemically modified GLP-1 analog in which, among other modifications, a fatty acid is linked to a lysine in position 20 leading to a prolonged duration of action (Drucker DJ et al., Nature Drug Disc. Rev. 9, 267-268, 2010; Buse, J.B. et al., Lancet, 374:39-47, 2009).
• the amino acid sequence of Liraglutide is shown as SEQ ID NO: 195.
• Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide which is released into the bloodstream when circulating glucose is low. Glucagon's amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.
• hypoglycemia when blood glucose levels drop below normal, glucagon signals the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose, causing an increase of blood glucose levels to reach a normal level. Hypoglycemia is a common side effect of insulin treated patients with hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose levels) due to diabetes. Thus, glucagon's most predominant role in glucose regulation is to counteract insulin action and maintain blood glucose levels.
• GLP-1 receptor agonists such as GLP-1 , liraglutide and exendin-4
• FPG and PPG fasting and postprandial glucose
• triple co-agonist peptides which not only activate the GLP-1 and the glucagon receptor but also the GIP receptor are described in WO 2012/0881 16 and by VA Gault et al. (Biochem Pharmacol, 85, 16655-16662, 2013; Diabetologia, 56, 1417-1424, 2013).
• Bloom et al. disclose that peptides which bind and activate both the glucagon and the GLP-1 receptor can be constructed as hybrid molecules from glucagon and exendin-4, where the N-terminal part (e.g. residues 1 -14 or 1 -24) originates from glucagon and the C-terminal part (e.g. residues 15-39 or 25-39) originates from exendin- DE Otzen et al. (Biochemistry, 45, 14503-14512, 2006) disclose that N- and C-terminal hydrophobic patches are involved in fibrillation of glucagon due to the hydrophobicity and/or high ⁇ -sheet propensity of the underlying residues.
• N-terminal part e.g. residues 1 -14 or 1 -24
• the C-terminal part e.g. residues 15-39 or 25-39
• Krstenansky et al. show the importance of the residues 10-13 of glucagon for its receptor interactions and activation of adenylate cyclase.
• residues Tyr10 and Tyr13 which are known to contribute to the fibrillation of glucagon (DE Otzen, Biochemistry, 45, 14503- 14512, 2006) are replaced by Leu in position 10 and Gin, a non-aromatic polar amino acid, in position 13, leading to exendin-4 derivatives with potentially improved biophysical properties.
• compounds of this invention are exendin-4 derivatives with fatty acid acylated residues in position 14.
• This fatty acid functionalization in position 14 results in exendin-4 derivatives with high activity not only at the GLP-1 receptor but also at the glucagon receptor when compared to the corresponding non-acylated exendin-4 derivatives.
• this modification results in an improved pharmacokinetic profile.
• NEP neutral endopeptidase
• DPP4 dipeptidyl peptidase-4
• Compounds of this invention are preferably soluble not only at neutral pH, but also at pH 4.5. This property potentially allows co-formulation for a combination therapy with an insulin or insulin derivative and preferably with a basal insulin like insulin glargine/Lantus ® .
• exendin-4 derivatives which potently activate the GLP1 and the glucagon receptor.
• exendin-4 derivatives - among other substitutions - methionine at position 14 is replaced by an amino acid carrying an -NH 2 group in the side chain, which is further substituted with an unpolar residue (e.g. a fatty acid optionally combined with a linker).
• the invention provides a peptidic compound having the formula (I):
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, His and a-amino- functionalized Gin, wherein Gin may be functionalized in that an H of the a-NH 2 group is substituted by (Ci-C 4 )-alkyl,
• X14 represents an amino acid residue having a side chain with an -NH 2 group, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by -C(O)-R 5 , -C(O)O-R 5 , -
• R 5 may be a moiety comprising up to 50 or up to 100 carbon atoms and optionally heteroatoms selected from halogen, N, O, S and/or P,
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, Glu and Lys,
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Glu, Gin, Leu, Aib and Lys
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Ala and Lys
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Arg, Lys, His, Glu and Aib
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp, Leu and Glu
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asn, Arg, Lys, Aib, Ser, Glu, Ala and Asp,
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly, Ala, D-Ala and Thr,
• X35 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Glu, Arg and Lys, X39 represents Ser or is absent and
• X40 is absent or represents an amino acid residue having a side chain with an -NH 2 group, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is optionally functionalized by -C(O)- R 5 , -C(O)O-R 5 , -C(O)NH-R 5 , -S(O) 2 -R 5 or R 5 , preferably by -C(O)-R 5 , wherein R 5 may be a moiety comprising up to 50 or up to 100 carbon atoms and optionally heteroatoms selected from halogen, N, O, S and/or P,
• R 1 represents the N-terminal group of the peptidic compound and is selected from NH 2 and mono- or bisfunctionalized NH 2 ,
• R 2 represents the C-terminal group of the peptidic compound and is selected from
• the compounds of the invention are GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonists as determined by the observation that they are capable of stimulating intracellular cAMP formation.
• the compounds of the invention exhibit at least a relative activity of 0.1 %, more preferably of 0.2%, more preferably of 0.3% and even more preferably of 0.4% compared to that of GLP-1 (7-36) at the GLP-1 receptor. Furthermore, the compounds exhibit at least a relative activity of 0.1 %, more preferably of 0.2% or of 0.3% or of 0.4% and even more preferably of 0.5% compared to that of natural glucagon at the glucagon receptor.
• the term "activity” as used herein preferably refers to the capability of a compound to activate the human GLP-1 receptor and the human glucagon receptor. More preferably the term “activity” as used herein refers to the capability of a compound to stimulate intracellular cAMP formation.
• the term "relative activity” as used herein is understood to refer to the capability of a compound to activate a receptor in a certain ratio as compared to another receptor agonist or as compared to another receptor. The activation of the receptors by the agonists (e.g. by measuring the cAMP level) is determined as described herein, e.g. as described in the examples.
• the compounds of the invention have an EC 50 for hGLP-1 receptor of 450 pmol or less, preferably of 200 pmol or less; more preferably of 150 pmol or less, more preferably of 100 pmol or less, more preferably of 90 pmol or less, more preferably of 80 pmol or less, more preferably of 70 pmol or less, more preferably of 60 pmol or less, more preferably of 50 pmol or less, more preferably of 40 pmol or less, more preferably of 30 pmol or less, more preferably of 25 pmol or less, more preferably of 20 pmol or less, more preferably of 15 pmol or less, more preferably of 10 pmol or less, more preferably of 9 pmol or less, more preferably of 8 pmol or less, more preferably of 7 pmol or less, more preferably of 6 pmol or less, and more preferably of 5 pmol or less.
• the compounds of the invention have an EC 50 for hGlucagon receptor of 500 pmol or less, preferably of 200 pmol or less; more preferably of 150 pmol or less, more preferably of 100 pmol or less, more preferably of 90 pmol or less, more preferably of 80 pmol or less, more preferably of 70 pmol or less, more preferably of 60 pmol or less, more preferably of 50 pmol or less, more preferably of 40 pmol or less, more preferably of 30 pmol or less, more preferably of 25 pmol or less, more preferably of 20 pmol or less, more preferably of 15 pmol or less, more preferably of 10 pmol or less.
• the compounds of the invention have an EC 50 for hGLP-1 receptor of 450 pmol or less, preferably of 200 pmol or less; more preferably of 150 pmol or less, more preferably of 100 pmol or less, more preferably of 90 pmol or less, more preferably of 80 pmol or less, more preferably of 70 pmol or less, more preferably of 60 pmol or less, more preferably of 50 pmol or less, more preferably of 40 pmol or less, more preferably of 30 pmol or less, more preferably of 25 pmol or less, more preferably of 20 pmol or less, more preferably of 15 pmol or less, more preferably of 10 pmol or less, more preferably of 9 pmol or less, more preferably of 8 pmol or less, more preferably of 7 pmol or less, more preferably of 6 pmol or less, and more preferably of 5 pmol or less, and/or an EC 5 o for hGlucagon
• the EC 50 for both receptors i.e. for the hGLP-1 receptor and the hGlucagon receptor is 100 pmol or less, more preferably 90 pmol or less, more preferably 80 pmol or less, more preferably 70 pmol or less, more preferably 60 pmol or less, more preferably 50 pmol or less, more preferably 40 pmol or less, more preferably 30 pmol or less, more preferably 25 pmol or less, more preferably 20 pmol or less, more preferably 15 pmol or less, more preferably 10 pmol or less.
• the EC 5 o for hGLP-1 receptor and hGlucagon receptor may be determined as described in the Methods herein and as used to generate the results described in Example 9.
• the compounds of the invention have the ability to reduce the intestinal passage, to increase the gastric content and/or to reduce the food intake of a patient. These activities of the compounds of the invention can be assessed in animal models known to the skilled person and also described herein in the Methods. The results of such experiments are described in Examples 1 1 and 12.
• Preferred compounds of the invention may increase the gastric content of mice, preferably of female NMRI-mice, if administered as a single dose, preferably subcutaneous dose, of 0.02 mg/kg body weight by at least 25%, more preferably by at least 30%, more preferably by at least 40%, more preferably by at least 50%, more preferably by at least 60%, more preferably by at least 70%, more preferably by at least 80%.
• this result is measured 1 h after administration of the respective compound and 30 mins after administration of a bolus, and/or reduces intestinal passage of mice, preferably of female NMRI-mice, if administered as a single dose, preferably subcutaneous dose, of 0.02 mg/kg body weight at least by 45%; more preferably by at least 50%, more preferably by at least 55%, more preferably by at least 60%, and more preferably at least 65%; and/or reduces food intake of mice, preferably of female NMRI- mice, over a period of 22 h, if administered as a single dose, preferably subcutaneous dose of 0.01 mg/kg body weight by at least 10%, more preferably 15%, and more preferably 20%.
• the compounds of the invention have the ability to reduce blood glucose level, and/or to reduce HbA1 c levels of a patient. These activities of the compounds of the invention can be assessed in animal models known to the skilled person and also described herein in the Methods. The results of such experiments are described in Examples 14 and 17.
• Preferred compounds of the invention may reduce blood glucose level of mice, preferably in female leptin-receptor deficient diabetic db/db mice over a period of 24 h, if administered as a single dose, preferably subcutaneous dose, of 0.01 mg/kg body weight by at least 4 mmol/L; more preferably by at least 6 mmol/L, more preferably by at least 8 mmol/L.
• the compounds of the invention lead to a reduction by at least 7 mmol/L; more preferably by at least 9 mmol/L, more preferably by at least 1 1 mmol/L.
• the compounds of the invention preferably reduce the increase of HbA1 c levels of mice over a period of 4 weeks, if administered at a daily dose of 0.01 mg/kg to about the ignition value.
• the compounds of the invention also have the ability to reduce body weight of a patient. These activities of the compounds of the invention can be assessed in animal models known to the skilled person and also described herein in the Methods and in Examples 13 and 16.
• the compounds of the invention have a high solubility at acidic and/or physiological pH values, e.g., at pH 4.5 and/or at pH 7.4 at 25°C, in another embodiment at least 0.5 mg/ml and in a particular embodiment at least 1 .0 mg/ml.
• the compounds of the invention preferably have a high stability when stored in solution.
• Preferred assay conditions for determining the stability is storage for 7 days at 25°C in solution at pH 4.5 or pH 7.
• the remaining amount of peptide is determined by chromatographic analyses as described in the Examples.
• the remaining peptide amount is at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90% and even more preferably at least 95%.
• the compounds of the present invention comprise a peptide moiety Z (II) which is a linear sequence of 39-40 amino carboxylic acids, particularly a-amino carboxylic acids linked by peptide, i.e. carboxamide bonds.
• R 1 is selected from -NH 2 , -NH[(CrC 5 )alkyl], -N[(Ci-C 5 )alkyl] 2> -NH[(C 0 - C 4 )alkylene-(C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl], NH-C(O)-H, NH-C(O)-(C C 5 )-alkyl, NH-C(O)-(C 0 - C 3 )alkylene-(C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl, in which alkyl or cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or up to 5-fold substituted by -OH or halogen selected from F, CI, Br and I, preferably F.
• R 2 is selected from -OH, -O-(CrC 2 o)alkyl, -O(C 0 -C 8 )alkylene-(C 3 - C 8 )cycloalkyl, -NH 2 , -NH[(C C 30 )alkyl], -N[(CrC 30 )alkyl] 2 , -NH[(C0-C8)alkylene-(C 3 - C 8 )cycloalkyl], -N[(C0-C8)alkylene-(C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl] 2 , -NH[(CH 2 -CH 2 -O) 1-4 o-(CrC 4 )alkyl], - NH-(C 3 -C 8 )heterocyclyl or -NH-(C 0 -C 8 )alkylene-aryl, wherein aryl is selected from phenyl and naphthyl, preferably phenyl,
• alkyl or cycloalkyl as described above is unsubstituted or up to 5-fold substituted by -OH or halogen selected from F, CI, Br and I, preferably F.
• the N-terminal group R 1 is NH 2 .
• the C- terminal group R 2 is NH 2 .
• the N-terminal group R 1 and the C- terminal group R 2 are NH 2 .
• position X14 represents an amino acid residue with a functionalized - NH 2 side chain group, such as functionalized Lys, Orn, Dab, or Dap, more preferably functionalized Lys
• X40 represents an amino acid residue with a functionalized -NH 2 side chain group, such as functionalized Lys, Orn, Dab, or Dap, more preferably functionalized Lys.
• An amino acid residue with an -NH 2 side chain group e.g.
• Lys, Orn, Dab or Dap may be functionalized in that at least one H atom of the -NH 2 side chain group is replaced by - C(O)-R 5 , -C(O)O-R 5 , -C(O)NH-R5, -S(0)2-R5 or R 5 , preferably by -C(O)-R 5 , wherein R 5 may be a moiety comprising up to 50 or up to 100 carbon atoms and optionally heteroatoms selected from halogen, N, O, S and/or P.
• R 5 may comprise a lipophilic moiety, e.g. an acyclic linear or branched saturated hydrocarbon group, wherein R 5 particularly comprises an acyclic linear or branched (C 4 -C 3 o) saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and/or a cyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic group, particularly a mono-, bi-, or tricyclic group comprising 4 to 14 carbon atoms and 0, 1 , or 2 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S, e.g.
• a lipophilic moiety e.g. an acyclic linear or branched saturated hydrocarbon group, wherein R 5 particularly comprises an acyclic linear or branched (C 4 -C 3 o) saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and/or a cyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic group, particularly a mono-, bi-, or tricyclic group comprising 4 to 14 carbon atoms and 0, 1 , or 2 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S,
• cyclohexyl phenyl, biphenyl, chromanyl, phenanthrenyl or naphthyl, wherein the acyclic or cyclic group may be unsubstituted or substituted e.g. by halogen, -OH and/or CO 2 H.
• R 5 may comprise a lipophilic moiety, e.g. an acyclic linear or branched (Ci 2 -C 22 ) saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group.
• the lipophilic moiety may be attached to the -NH 2 side chain group by a linker in all stereoisomeric forms, e.g. a linker comprising one or more, e.g. 2, amino acid linker groups such as ⁇ -aminobutyric acid (GABA), ⁇ -aminohexanoic acid ( ⁇ -Ahx), ⁇ -Glu and/or ⁇ -Ala.
• the lipophilic moiety is attached to the -NH 2 side chain group by a linker.
• the lipophilic moiety directly attached to the -NH 2 side chain group.
• amino acid linker groups are ( -Ala)i -4 , (y-Glu)i- 4 , (£-Ahx) -4 , or (GABA) -4 .
• Preferred amino acid linker groups are ⁇ -Ala, ⁇ -Glu, ⁇ - ⁇ 3- ⁇ - ⁇ 3 and y-Glu-y-Glu.
• -C(O)-R 5 groups are listed in the following Table 1 , which are selected from the group consisting of (S)-4-Carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-, (S)-4-Carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 4-Hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 4- ⁇ 3-[(R)- 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxycarbonyl]- propionylamino ⁇ -butyryl-, 4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 4-((Z)-octadec-9-enoylamino)- butyryl-, 6-[(4,4-Diphenyl-cyclohexyloxy)-hydroxy-phosphoryloxy]-hexanoyl-, Hexa
• stereoisomers particularly enantiomers of these groups, either S- or R-enantiomers.
• R in Table 1 is intended to mean the attachment site of -C(O)- R 5 at the peptide back bone, i.e. particularly the ⁇ -amino group of Lys.
• R 5 is selected from the group consisting of (S)-4-carboxy- 4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 53), (S)-4-carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - x70), 4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl (GABA-x53), 4- ⁇ 3-[(R)-2,5,7 I 8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)- 4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxycarbonyl]-propionylam (GABA-x60), 4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl (GABA-x70), 4-((Z)-octadec-9-enoylamino)-butyryl (GABA- x74), 6-[(4,4-Diphenyl-cyclohexyloxy)-hydroxy-phosphoryloxy]-hexano
• propionylamino ⁇ -butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 60), (S)-4-Carboxy-4-((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12- dienoylamino)-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 61 ), (S)-4-Carboxy-4-[6-((2S,3R,4S,5R)-5-carboxy-2,3,4,5- 10 tetrahydroxy-pentanoylamino)-hexanoylannino]-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 64), (S)-4-Carboxy-4- ((2S,3R,4S,5R)-5-carboxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-pentanoylamino)-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 65), (S)-4- carboxy-4-tetradecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 69), (S)-4-(1 1 -Benzyloxycarbonyl- undecanoylamino)-4-car
• R 5 is selected from the group consisting of (S)-4- carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 70), (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino- butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 53), and hexadecanoyl (x53).
• R 5 is (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 53).
• position X14 and/or X40 represents Lysine (Lys).
• Lys at position 14 and optionally at position 40 is functionalized, e.g. with a group -C(O)R 5 as described above.
• X40 is absent and X14 is Lys functionalized with -C(O)-R 5 , -C(O)O-R 5 , -C(O)NH-R5, -S(O)2- R5 or R5, preferably by -C(O)-R 5 , wherein R 5 is as defined above.
• X14 is Lys functionalized with C(O)-R 5 , wherein R 5 is selected from the group consisting of (S)-4- carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 53), (S)-4-carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino- butyryl ( ⁇ - ⁇ 70), 4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl (GABA-x53), 4- ⁇ 3-[(R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl- 2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxycarbonyl]-propionylamino ⁇ -butyryl- (GABA-x60), 4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl (GABA-x70), 4-((Z)-octadec-9-enoylamino)- butyryl (GABA-x74), 6-[(4,4-Dipheny
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• R 1 is NH 2 , R is NH 2 or
• R 1 and R 2 are NH 2 .
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, His and a-amino- functionalized Gin, wherein Gin may be functionalized in that an H of the a-NH 2 group is substituted by (Ci -C 4 )-alkyl,
• X14 represents an amino acid residue selected from Lys, Orn, Dab and Dap, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by -C(O)-R 5 ,
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, Lys and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Glu, Gin, Leu and Lys
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Arg, Lys and Aib,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp, Leu and Glu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asn, Arg, Lys, Aib, Ser, Glu, Asp and Ala,
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly, Ala, D-Ala and Thr
• X35 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala or Glu
• X39 is Ser or is absent
• X40 is either absent or represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group can be functionalized by -C(O)-R 5 and
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents an amino acid residue selected from Lys and Orn, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by -C(O)-R 5 ,
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Gin and Lys,
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Arg, Lys and Aib
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp, Leu and Glu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asn, Arg, Lys, Aib, Ser and Ala,
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly, Ala or Thr,
• X35 represents Ala
• X39 is Ser or is absent
• X40 is either absent or represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group can be functionalized by -C(O)-R 5 and
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Lys and Aib.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by one of the groups selected from 3-(3-octadecanoylamino-propionyl-amino)-propionyl-, 4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 4- ⁇ 3-[(R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12- trimethyl-tridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxycarbonyl]-propionylamino ⁇ -butyryl-, 4- octadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 4-((Z)-octadec-9-enoylamino)-butyryl-, hexadecanoyl-, (S)-4-carboxy-4-((Z)-octadec-9-enoylamino)-butyryl-, (S)-4- carboxy-4-(4-dodec
• X15 represents Glu
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Gin and Lys,
• X18 represents Ala
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds of formula (I), wherein
• X2 represents Aib
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-Carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- and (S)-4-Carboxy-4- octadecanoylamino-butyryl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Glu
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and Lys,
• X18 represents Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and Lys,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly and D-Ala
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-Carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl-; X15 represents Asp,
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents Arg
• X18 represents Arg
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly and D-Ala
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group can be functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4- ⁇ 3-[(R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12- trimethyl-tridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxycarbonyl]-propionylamino ⁇ -butyryl-, (S)-4- carboxy-4-((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoylamino)-butyryl-, (S)-4-carboxy-4- tetradecanoylamino-butyryl-, (S)-4-carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl-, 2- ((S)-4-carboxy-4- ⁇ 3-[3-((2S,3R,4S,5R)-5-carboxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy- pentanoylamino)-
• X15 represents Asp
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents Arg
• X18 represents Arg
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents Asn
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X39 is Ser
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- or hexadecanoyl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu or Asp
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents Arg
• X18 represents Arg
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asn, Arg, Lys, Aib, Ser, Glu and Asp,
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly, Ala, D-Ala and Thr
• X35 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Glu, Arg and Lys
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- or hexadecanoyl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Glu, Lys and Aib,
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Lys and Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Lys and Aib,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala and Asn
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Orn or Dab, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-;
• X15 represents Glu
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents Arg
• X18 represents Arg
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- or hexadecanoyl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Lys
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala and Asn
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X39 represents Ser or is absent, X40 is absent or represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is optionally functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- and R 2 is NH 2 , NH(Ci-Ci 8 ) alkyl, which are unsubstituted or monosubstituted by OH or 3- fold-substituted by F, N[(C C 6 ) alkyl] 2 , NH(CH 2 -CH 2 -O) 1-24 -(C C 4 ) alkyl-COOH, NH-pyrrolidine (N-pyrrolidin-1 -yl-amido), NH-benzyl (N-benzyl-amido) or N- morpholine (1 -morpholin-4-yl), particularly by NH 2 , NH-CH 2 -CH 3 , NH-(CH 2 ) 2 - CH 3 , NH-
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, His, Asn and N a -methylated Gin [Gin (a-NHCH 3 )],
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- or hexadecanoyl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Lys
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Glu
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Arg and Aib,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala and Asn
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds of formula (I), wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser, D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, His and N a -methylated Gin [Gin (a-NHCH 3 )],
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl- or hexadecanoyl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp,
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Lys
• X17 represents Arg
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and Aib,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala and Asn
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds of formula (I), wherein
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from D-Ser and Aib,
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and His,
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-, (S)-4-carboxy-4-((S)-4- carboxy hexadecanoylamino-butyrylamino)-butyryl-, or (S)-4-carboxy-4- octadecanoylamino-butyryl-;
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Glu and Asp
• X16 represents Glu
• X17 represents Glu
• X18 represents Ala
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Lys
• X21 represents Leu
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• X40 is absent.
• a still further preferred embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• the functionalized Lys in position 14 is functionalized at its ⁇ -amino group with -C(O)-R 5 , and-C(O)-R 5 is (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoyl-amino-butyryl, (S)-4-carboxy-4- octadecanoylamino-butyryl, hexadecanoyl or octadecanoyl.
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Aib and D-Ser
• X3 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and His;
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by one of the groups selected from (S)-4-Carboxy-4-hexadecanoylamino-butyryl-, (S)-4-
• X15 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Glu
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ser and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Gin, Lys, Aib and Leu;
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Ala;
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin, Aib and Lys;
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp, Glu and Lys;
• X28 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asn, Ser, Aib, Ala and Arg
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly, Thr, Ala and D-Ala
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• X2 represents an amino acid residue selected from Aib and D-Ser
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized by one of the groups selected from (S)-4-carboxy-4-hexadecanoyl-amino-butyryl, (S)-4- carboxy-4-octadecanoylamino-butyryl, hexadecanoyl and octadecanoyl;
• X15 represents Glu;
• X16 represents Ser
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Gin and Lys;
• X18 represents Ala
• X20 represents Gin
• X21 represents Asp
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents Gly
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• a further embodiment relates to a group of compounds, wherein
• X2 represents Aib
• X3 represents Gin
• X14 represents Lys, wherein the -NH 2 side chain group is functionalized, particularly by (S)-4-Carboxy-4-henicosanoylamino-butyryl- and (S)-4-Carboxy-4- octadecanoylamino-butyryl-;
• X15 represents Asp
• X16 represents an amino acid residue selected from Lys and Glu
• X17 represents an amino acid residue selected from Arg and Glu
• X18 represents an amino acid residue selected from Ala and Arg
• X20 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gin and Lys,
• X21 represents an amino acid residue selected from Asp and Leu,
• X28 represents Ala
• X29 represents an amino acid residue selected from Gly and D-Ala
• X35 represents Ala
• X40 is absent.
• the invention provides a peptidic compound having the formula (I): R 1 - Z - R 2 (I),
• the invention provides a peptidic compound having the formula (I):
• the invention provides a peptidic compound having the formula (I):
• Z is a peptide moiety having the formula (lie)
• the invention provides a peptidic compound having the formula (I):
• peptidic compounds of the invention are the compounds of SEQ ID NO: 4-181 , as well as salts and solvates thereof.
• peptidic compounds of the invention are the compounds of SEQ ID NO: 4-181 and 196-223 as well as salts and solvates thereof.
• Further specific examples of peptidic compounds of the invention are the compounds of SEQ ID NO: 7, 1 1 -13, 22, 24-31 , 34-39, 44-48, 86, 97, 123-124, 130-159, 164, 166, 173- 176, as well as salts and solvates thereof.
• peptidic compounds of formula (I) are the compounds of SEQ ID NO: 7, 1 1 -13, 22, 24-31 , 34-39, 44-48, 86, 97, 123-124, 130-159, 164, 166, 173-176, 196-223, 226-229 as well as salts and solvates thereof.
• the compound of the invention is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs.: 25, 31 , 133, 148, 153, 155 and 158. In other embodiments, the compound of the invention is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs.: 209, 210, 21 1 , 212 and 213.
• the compound of the invention is represented by SEQ ID NO.: 97 (see Table 10).
• the compound of formula (I) is represented by SEQ ID NO.: 24 (see Table 10).
• the invention further provides a nucleic acid (which may be DNA or RNA) encoding said compound, an expression vector comprising such a nucleic acid, and a host cell containing such a nucleic acid or expression vector.
• a nucleic acid which may be DNA or RNA
• the present invention provides a composition comprising a compound of the invention in admixture with a carrier.
• the composition is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition and the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• the compound of the invention may be in the form of a salt, e.g. a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate, e.g. a hydrate.
• the present invention provides a composition for use in a method of medical treatment, particularly in human medicine.
• the nucleic acid or the expression vector may be used as therapeutic agents, e.g. in gene therapy.
• the compounds of formula (I) are suitable for therapeutic application without an additionally therapeutically effective agent. In other embodiments, however, the compounds are used together with at least one additional therapeutically active agent, as described in "combination therapy”.
• the compounds of formula (I) are particularly suitable for the treatment or prevention of diseases or disorders caused by, associated with and/or accompanied by disturbances in carbohydrate and/or lipid metabolism, e.g. for the treatment or prevention of hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, type 1 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Further, the compounds of the invention are particularly suitable for the treatment or prevention of degenerative diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases.
• the compounds described find use, inter alia, in preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss.
• preventing is meant inhibiting or reducing when compared to the absence of treatment, and is not necessarily meant to imply complete cessation of a disorder.
• the compounds of the invention may cause a decrease in food intake and/or increase in energy expenditure, resulting in the observed effect on body weight.
• the compounds of the invention may have a beneficial effect on circulating cholesterol levels, being capable of improving lipid levels, particularly LDL, as well as HDL levels (e.g. increasing HDL/LDL ratio).
• the compounds of the invention can be used for direct or indirect therapy of any condition caused or characterised by excess body weight, such as the treatment and/or prevention of obesity, morbid obesity, obesity linked inflammation, obesity linked gallbladder disease, obesity induced sleep apnea. They may also be used for treatment and prevention of the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, or stroke. Their effects in these conditions may be as a result of or associated with their effect on body weight, or may be independent thereof.
• Preferred medical uses include delaying or preventing disease progression in type 2 diabetes, treating metabolic syndrome, treating obesity or preventing overweight, for decreasing food intake, increase energy expenditure, reducing body weight, delaying the progression from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes; delaying the progression from type 2 diabetes to insulin-requiring diabetes; regulating appetite; inducing satiety; preventing weight regain after successful weight loss; treating a disease or state related to overweight or obesity; treating bulimia; treating binge eating; treating atherosclerosis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, IGT, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, hepatic steatosis, treatment of beta-blocker poisoning, use for inhibition of the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, useful in connection with investigations of the gastrointestinal tract using techniques such as X-ray, CT- and NMR-scanning.
• ITT impaired glucose tolerance
• Further preferred medical uses include treatment or prevention of degenerative disorders, particularly neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ataxia, e.g spinocerebellar ataxia, Kennedy disease, myotonic dystrophy, Lewy body dementia, multi-systemic atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, primary lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, prion-associated diseases, e.g.
• neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ataxia, e.g spinocerebellar ataxia, Kennedy disease, myotonic dystrophy, Lewy body dementia, multi-systemic atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, primary lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, prion-associated diseases, e.g.
• Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease multiple sclerosis, telangiectasia, Batten disease, corticobasal degeneration, subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, Tabes dorsalis, Tay-Sachs disease, toxic encephalopathy, infantile Refsum disease, Refsum disease, neuroacanthocytosis, Niemann-Pick disease, Lyme disease, Machado-Joseph disease, Sandhoff disease, Shy-Drager syndrome, wobbly hedgehog syndrome, proteopathy, cerebral ⁇ -amyloid angiopathy, retinal ganglion cell degeneration in glaucoma, synucleinopathies, tauopathies, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), dementia, cadasil syndrome, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Alexander disease, seipinopathies, familial amyloidotic neuropathy, senile systemic amyloidosis, serpinopathies, AL (light chain) amyloido
• amino acid sequences of the present invention contain the conventional one letter and three letter codes for naturally occurring amino acids, as well as generally accepted three letter codes for other amino acids, such as Aib (a-aminoisobutyric acid), Orn (ornithin), Dab (2,4-diamino butyric acid), Dap (2,3-diamino propionic acid), Nle (norleucine), GABA ( ⁇ -aminobutyric acid) or Ahx ( ⁇ -aminohexanoic acid).
• Aib a-aminoisobutyric acid
• Orn ornithin
• Dab 2,4-diamino butyric acid
• Dap 2,3-diamino propionic acid
• Nle nodeucine
• GABA ⁇ -aminobutyric acid
• Ahx ⁇ -aminohexanoic acid
• native exendin-4" refers to native exendin-4 having the sequence HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1 ).
• the invention provides peptidic compounds as defined above.
• the peptidic compounds of the present invention comprise a linear backbone of amino carboxylic acids linked by peptide, i.e. carboxamide bonds.
• the amino carboxylic acids are a-amino carboxylic acids and more preferably L-a-amino carboxylic acids, unless indicated otherwise.
• the peptidic compounds preferably comprise a backbone sequence of 39-40 amino carboxylic acids.
• the peptidic compounds may be functionalized (covalently linked) with chemical moieties at their N-terminus, C-terminus and at least one side chain.
• the N-terminus of the peptidic compound may be unmodified, i.e. an NH 2 group or a mono- or bisfunctionalized NH 2 group.
• the peptidic compounds may be unmodified, i.e. have a OH group or be modified, e.g. with functionalized OH group or an NH 2 group or a monofunctionalized or bisfunctionalized NH 2 group as described above (see R)
• alkyl refers to saturated, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals.
• the alkyl groups can be linear, i.e. straight-chain, or branched.
• alkanediyl or "alkylene”, as used herein, refers to saturated, divalent hydrocarbon radicals. As far as applicable, the preceding explanations regarding alkyl groups apply correspondingly to alkanediyl groups, which thus can likewise be linear and branched.
• cycloalkyl refers to a monovalent radical of a saturated or partially saturated hydrocarbon ring system, which can be monocyclic.
• cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.
• heterocycloalkyl or “heterocyclyl”, as used herein unless otherwise indicated, refers to a cycloalkyl as defined above, in which 1 , 2 or 3 carbon atoms are replaced by nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms, provided that the heterocycloalkyl system is stable and suitable as a subgroup for the desired purpose of the compound of the formula (I) such as use as a drug substance.
• the number of ring heteroatoms which can be present in a heterocyclic group is 1 , 2, 3 or 4, in another embodiment 1 , 2 or 3, in another embodiment 1 or 2, in another embodiment 2, in another embodiment 1 , wherein the ring heteroatoms can be identical or different.
• the heterocycloalkyl group can be attached by any ring carbon atom or saturated ring nitrogen atom.
• Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.
• the peptidic compounds of the present invention may have unmodified side chains or carry at least one modification at one of the side chains.
• sequence of the peptidic moiety (II) differs from native exendin-4 at least at one of those positions which are stated to allow variation.
• Amino acids within the peptide moiety (II) can be considered to be numbered consecutively from 0 to 40 in the conventional N-terminal to C-terminal direction.
• Reference to a "position" within peptidic moiety (II) should be constructed accordingly, as should reference to positions within native exendin-4 and other molecules.
• amino acid residues at position 14 and optionally at position 40, having a side chain with an -NH 2 group, e.g. Lys, Orn, Dab or Dap are conjugated to a functional group, e.g. acyl groups.
• a side chain with an -NH 2 group e.g. Lys, Orn, Dab or Dap
• a functional group e.g. acyl groups.
• one or more selected amino acids of the peptides in the present invention may carry a covalent attachment at their side chains. In some cases those attachments may be lipophilic. These lipophilic side chain attachments have the potential to reduce in vivo clearance of the peptides thus increasing their in vivo half-lives.
• the lipophilic attachment may consist of a lipophilic moiety which can be a branched or unbranched, aliphatic or unsaturated acyclic moiety and/or a cyclic moiety selected from one or several aliphatic or unsaturated homocycles or heterocycles, aromatic condensed or non-condensed homocycles or heterocycles, ether linkages, unsaturated bonds and substituents, e.g. hydroxy and/or carboxy groups.
• the lipophilic moiety may be attached to the peptide either by alkylation, reductive amination or by an amide bond or a sulfonamide bond in case of amino acids carrying an amino group at their side chain, an ester bond in case of amino acids carrying a hydroxy group at their side chain or thioether or thioester linkages in case of amino acids carrying a thiol group at their side chain or it may be attached to a modified side chain of an amino acid thus allowing the introduction of a lipophilic moiety by click-chemistry or Michael-addition.
• Nonlimiting examples of lipophilic moieties that can be attached to amino acid side chains include fatty acids, e.g. C 8 -3o fatty acids such as palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid, and/or cyclic groups as described above or derivatives thereof. There might be one or several linkers between the amino acid of the peptide and the lipophilic attachment.
• Nonlimiting examples of those linkers are ⁇ -alanine, ⁇ -glutamic acid, ⁇ -aminobutyric acid and/or ⁇ -aminohexanoic acid or dipeptides, such as -Ala- -Ala and/or y-Glu-y-Glu in all their stereo-isomer forms (S and R enantiomers).
• a side chain attachment is palmitic acid which is covalently linked to the a-amino group of glutamic acid forming an amide bond.
• the ⁇ - carboxy group of this substituted glutamic acid can form an amide bond with the side chain amino group of a lysine within the peptide.
• the present invention provides a composition comprising a compound of the invention as described herein, or a salt or solvate thereof, in admixture with a carrier.
• the invention also provides the use of a compound of the present invention for use as a medicament, particularly for the treatment of a condition as described below.
• the invention also provides a composition wherein the composition is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition, and the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• Peptide synthesis The skilled person is aware of a variety of different methods to prepare peptides that are described in this invention. These methods include but are not limited to synthetic approaches and recombinant gene expression. Thus, one way of preparing these peptides is the synthesis in solution or on a solid support and subsequent isolation and purification. A different way of preparing the peptides is gene expression in a host cell in which a DNA sequence encoding the peptide has been introduced. Alternatively, the gene expression can be achieved without utilizing a cell system. The methods described above may also be combined in any way.
• a preferred way to prepare the peptides of the present invention is solid phase synthesis on a suitable resin.
• Solid phase peptide synthesis is a well established methodology (see for example: Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, III., 1984; E. Atherton and R. C. Sheppard, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis. A Practical Approach, Oxford-IRL Press, New York, 1989).
• Solid phase synthesis is initiated by attaching an N-terminally protected amino acid with its carboxy terminus to an inert solid support carrying a cleavable linker.
• This solid support can be any polymer that allows coupling of the initial amino acid , e.g.
• the polymer support must be stable under the conditions used to deprotect the a-amino group during the peptide synthesis.
• the a-amino protecting group of this amino acid is removed.
• the remaining protected amino acids are then coupled one after the other in the order represented by the peptide sequence using appropriate amide coupling reagents, for example BOP (benzotriazol-1 -yl-oxy-tris- (dimethylamino)-phosphonium), HBTU (2-(1 H-benzotriazol-1 -yl)-1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethyl- uronium), HATU (O-(7-azabenztriazol-1 -yl-oxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium) or DIC ( ⁇ , ⁇ '-diisopropylcarbodiimide) / HOBt (1 -hydroxybenzotriazol), wherein BOP, HBTU and HATU are used with tertiary amine bases.
• the liberated N-terminus can be functionalized with groups other than amino acids,
• peptide is cleaved from the resin. This can be achieved by using King's cocktail (D. S. King, C. G. Fields, G. B. Fields, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 36, 1990, 255- 266).
• the raw material can then be purified by chromatography, e.g. preparative RP- HPLC, if necessary.
• Potency As used herein, the term “potency” or “in vitro potency” is a measure for the ability of a compound to activate the receptors for GLP-1 or glucagon in a cell-based assay. Numerically, it is expressed as the "EC50 value", which is the effective concentration of a compound that induces a half maximal increase of response (e.g. formation of intracellular cAMP) in a dose-response experiment.
• the compounds of the invention are for use in medicine, particularly human medicine.
• the compounds of the invention are agonists for the receptors for GLP-1 and for glucagon (e.g. "dual agonists") and may provide an attractive option for targeting the metabolic syndrome by allowing simultaneous treatment of obesity and diabetes.
• Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as atherosclerotic vascular disease, e.g. heart disease and stroke.
• Defining medical parameters for the metabolic syndrome include diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, raised fasting glucose, insulin resistance, urinary albumin secretion, central obesity, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, elevated LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL cholesterol.
• Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health and life expectancy and due to its increasing prevalence in adults and children it has become one of the leading preventable causes of death in modern world. It increases the likelihood of various other diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoe, certain types of cancer, as well as osteoarthritis, and it is most commonly caused by a combination of excess food intake, reduced energy expenditure, as well as genetic susceptibility.
• Diabetes mellitus often simply called diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar levels, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.
• the most common types of diabetes are: (1 ) type 1 diabetes, where the body fails to produce insulin; (2) type 2 diabetes, where the body fails to use insulin properly, combined with an increase in insulin deficiency over time, and (3) gestational diabetes, where women develop diabetes due to their pregnancy. All forms of diabetes increase the risk of long- term complications, which typically develop after many years.
• macrovascular disease arising from atherosclerosis of larger blood vessels
• microvascular disease arising from damage of small blood vessels.
• macrovascular disease conditions are ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
• microvascular diseases are diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, as well as diabetic neuropathy.
• the receptors for GLP-1 and glucagon are both members of the family B of G-protein coupled receptors. They are highly related to each other and share not only a significant level of sequence identity, but have also similar mechanisms of ligand recognition and intracellular signaling pathways.
• the peptides GLP-1 and glucagon are homologous to each other, with similar length and regions of high sequence identity. Both are produced from a common precursor, preproglucagon, which is differentially processed in a tissue-specific manner to yield e.g. GLP-1 in intestinal endocrine cells and glucagon in alpha cells of pancreatic islets.
• the incretin hormone GLP-1 is secreted by intestinal endocrine cells in response to food and enhances meal-stimulated insulin secretion.
• targeting of the GLP-1 receptor with suitable agonists offers an attractive approach for treatment of metabolic disorders, including diabetes.
• the receptor for GLP-1 is distributed widely, being found mainly in pancreatic islets, brain, heart, kidney and the gastrointestinal tract. In the pancreas, GLP-1 acts in a strictly glucose-dependent manner by increasing secretion of insulin from beta cells. This glucose-dependency shows that activation of GLP-1 receptors is unlikely to cause hypoglycemia.
• GLP-1 has been shown to promote glucose sensitivity, neogenesis, proliferation, transcription of proinsulin and hypertrophy, as well as antiapoptosis.
• Other relevant effects of GLP-1 beyond the pancreas include delayed gastric emptying, increased satiety, decreased food intake, reduction of body weight, as well as neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. In patients with type 2 diabetes, such extrapancreatic effects could be particularly important considering the high rates of comorbidities like obesity and cardiovascular disease.
• Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide hormone that is produced by pancreatic alpha cells and released into the bloodstream when circulating glucose is low.
• An important physiological role of glucagon is to stimulate glucose output in the liver, which is a process providing the major counterregulatory mechanism for insulin in maintaining glucose homeostasis in vivo.
• Glucagon receptors are however also expressed in extrahepatic tissues such as kidney, heart, adipocytes, lymphoblasts, brain, retina, adrenal gland and gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a broader physiological role beyond glucose homeostasis. Accordingly, recent studies have reported that glucagon has therapeutically positive effects on energy management, including stimulation of energy expenditure and thermogenesis, accompanied by reduction of food intake and body weight loss. Altogether, stimulation of glucagon receptors might be useful in the treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
• Oxyntomodulin is a 37-amino acid peptide hormone consisting of glucagon with an eight amino acids encompassing C-terminal extension. Like GLP-1 and glucagon, it is preformed in preproglucagon and cleaved and secreted in a tissue-specific manner by endocrinal cells of the small bowel. Oxyntomodulin is known to stimulate both, the receptors for GLP-1 and glucagon and is therefore the prototype of a dual agonist.
• the compounds of the invention may be used for treatment of glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, increased fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke or any combination of these individual disease components.
• the compounds of the invention may be used for control of appetite, feeding and calory intake, increase of energy expenditure, prevention of weight gain, promotion of weight loss, reduction of excess body weight and altogether treatment of obesity, including morbid obesity.
• Further disease states and health conditions which could be treated with the compounds of the invention are obesity-linked inflammation, obesity-linked gallbladder disease and obesity-induced sleep apnea.
• the effects of the compounds of the invention may be mediated in whole or in part via an effect on body weight, or independent thereof.
• diseases to be treated are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, or other degenerative diseases as described above.
• composition indicates a mixture containing ingredients that are compatible when mixed and which may be administered.
• a pharmaceutical composition may include one or more medicinal drugs. Additionally, the pharmaceutical composition may include carriers, buffers, acidifying agents, alkalizing agents, solvents, adjuvants, tonicity adjusters, emollients, expanders, preservatives, physical and chemical stabilizers e.g. surfactants, antioxidants and other components, whether these are considered active or inactive ingredients.
• Guidance for the skilled in preparing pharmaceutical compositions may be found, for example, in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, (20th ed.) ed. A. R. Gennaro A. R., 2000, Lippencott Williams & Wilkins and in R.C.Rowe et al (Ed), Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, PhP, May 2013 update.
• exendin-4 peptide derivatives of the present invention, or salts thereof, are administered in conjunction with an acceptable pharmaceutical carrier, diluent, or excipient as part of a pharmaceutical composition.
• a "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is a carrier which is physiologically acceptable (e.g. physiologically acceptable pH) while retaining the therapeutic properties of the substance with which it is administered.
• Standard acceptable pharmaceutical carriers and their formulations are known to one skilled in the art and described, for example, in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, (20th ed.) ed. A. R. Gennaro A. R., 2000, Lippencott Williams & Wilkins and in R.C.Rowe et al (Ed), Handbook of Pharmaceutical excipients, PhP, May 2013 update.
• One exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is physiological saline solution.
• carriers are selected from the group of buffers (e.g. citrate/citric acid), acidifying agents (e.g. hydrochloric acid), alkalizing agents (e.g. sodium hydroxide), preservatives (e.g. phenol), co-solvents (e.g. polyethylene glycol 400), tonicity adjusters (e.g. mannitol), stabilizers (e.g. surfactant, antioxidants, amino acids).
• buffers e.g. citrate/citric acid
• acidifying agents e.g. hydrochloric acid
• alkalizing agents e.g. sodium hydroxide
• preservatives e.g. phenol
• co-solvents e.g. polyethylene glycol 400
• tonicity adjusters e.g. mannitol
• stabilizers e.g. surfactant, antioxidants, amino acids
• Concentrations used are in a range that is physiologically acceptable.
• Acceptable pharmaceutical carriers or diluents include those used in formulations suitable for oral, rectal, nasal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, and transdermal) administration.
• the compounds of the present invention will typically be administered parenterally.
• pharmaceutically acceptable salt means salts of the compounds of the invention which are safe and effective for use in mammals.
• Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may include, but are not limited to, acid addition salts and basic salts.
• acid addition salts include chloride, sulfate, hydrogen sulfate, (hydrogen) phosphate, acetate, citrate, tosylate or mesylate salts.
• basic salts include salts with inorganic cations, e.g. alkaline or alkaline earth metal salts such as sodium, potassium, magnesium or calcium salts and salts with organic cations such as amine salts. Further examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, (20th ed.) ed.
• solvate means complexes of the compounds of the invention or salts thereof with solvent molecules, e.g. organic solvent molecules and/or water.
• solvent molecules e.g. organic solvent molecules and/or water.
• the exendin-4 derivative can be in monomeric or oligomeric form.
• terapéuticaally effective amount of a compound refers to a nontoxic but sufficient amount of the compound to provide the desired effect.
• the amount of a compound of the formula I necessary to achieve the desired biological effect depends on a number of factors, for example the specific compound chosen, the intended use, the mode of administration and the clinical condition of the patient.
• An appropriate "effective" amount in any individual case may be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art using routine experimentation
• the "therapeutically effective amount” of a compound of the formula (I) is about 0.01 to 50 mg/dose, preferably 0.1 to 10 mg/dose.
• compositions of the invention are those suitable for parenteral (for example subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal or intravenous), oral, rectal, topical and peroral (for example sublingual) administration, although the most suitable mode of administration depends in each individual case on the nature and severity of the condition to be treated and on the nature of the compound of formula I used in each case.
• Suitable pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of separate units, for example capsules, tablets and powders in vials or ampoules, each of which contains a defined amount of the compound; as powders or granules; as solution or suspension in an aqueous or nonaqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. It may be provided in single or multiple dose injectable form, for example in the form of a pen.
• the compositions may, as already mentioned, be prepared by any suitable pharmaceutical method which includes a step in which the active ingredient and the carrier (which may consist of one or more additional ingredients) are brought into contact.
• the pharmaceutical composition may be provided together with a device for application, for example together with a syringe, an injection pen or an autoinjector. Such devices may be provided separate from a pharmaceutical composition or prefilled with the pharmaceutical composition.
• a device for application for example together with a syringe, an injection pen or an autoinjector.
• Such devices may be provided separate from a pharmaceutical composition or prefilled with the pharmaceutical composition.
• Combination therapy The compounds of the present invention, dual agonists for the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, can be widely combined with other pharmacologically active compounds, such as all drugs mentioned in the Rote Liste 2012 and/or the Rote Liste 2013, e.g.
• the active ingredient combinations can be used especially for a synergistic improvement in action. They can be applied either by separate administration of the active ingredients to the patient or in the form of combination products in which a plurality of active ingredients are present in one pharmaceutical preparation. When the active ingredients are administered by separate administration of the active ingredients, this can be done simultaneously or successively.
• active substances which are suitable for such combinations include in particular those which for example potentiate the therapeutic effect of one or more active substances with respect to one of the indications mentioned and/or which allow the dosage of one or more active substances to be reduced.
• Therapeutic agents which are suitable for combinations include, for example, antidiabetic agents such as: Insulin and Insulin derivatives, for example: Glargine / Lantus ® , 270 - 330U/ml_ of insulin glargine (EP 2387989 A ), 300U/ml_ of insulin glargine (EP 2387989 A), Glulisin / Apidra ® , Detemir / Levemir ® , Lispro / Humalog ® / Liprolog ® , Degludec / DegludecPlus, Aspart, basal insulin and analogues (e.g.LY-2605541 , LY2963016, NN1436), PEGylated insulin Lispro, Humulin ® , Linjeta, SuliXen ® , NN1045, Insulin plus Symlin, PE0139, fast-acting and short- acting insulins (e.g.
• Linjeta PH20, NN1218, HinsBet
• API-002 hydrogel
• oral, inhalable, transdermal and sublingual insulins e.g. Exubera ® , Nasulin ® , Afrezza, Tregopil, TPM 02, Capsulin, Oral-lyn ® , Cobalamin ® oral insulin, ORMD-0801 , NN1953, NN1954, NN1956, VIAtab, Oshadi oral insulin.
• insulin derivatives which are bonded to albumin or another protein by a bifunctional linker.
• GLP-1 , GLP-1 analogues and GLP-1 receptor agonists for example: Lixisenatide / AVE0010 / ZP10 / Lyxumia, Exenatide / Exendin-4 / Byetta / Bydureon / ITCA 650 / AC- 2993, Liraglutide / Victoza, Semaglutide, Taspoglutide, Syncria / Albiglutide, Dulaglutide, rExendin-4, CJC-1 134-PC, PB-1023, TTP-054, Langlenatide / HM-1 1260C, CM-3, GLP-1 Eligen, ORMD-0901 , NN-9924, NN-9926, NN-9927, Nodexen, Viador-GLP-1 , CVX-096, ZYOG-1 , ZYD-1 , GSK-2374697, DA-3091 , MAR-701 , MAR709, ZP-2929, ZP-3022
• DPP-4 inhibitors for example: Alogliptin / Nesina, Trajenta / Linagliptin / BI-1356 / Ondero / Trajenta / Tradjenta / Trayenta / Tradzenta, Saxagliptin / Onglyza, Sitagliptin / Januvia / Xelevia / Tesave / Janumet / Velmetia, Galvus / Vildagliptin, Anagliptin, Gemigliptin, Teneligliptin, Melogliptin, Trelagliptin, DA-1229, Omarigliptin / MK-3102, KM- 223, Evogliptin, ARI-2243, PBL-1427, Pinoxacin.
• SGLT2 inhibitors for example: Invokana / Canaglifozin, Forxiga / Dapagliflozin, Remoglifozin, Sergliflozin, Empagliflozin, Ipragliflozin, Tofogliflozin, Luseogliflozin, LX- 421 1 , Ertuglifozin / PF-04971729, RO-4998452, EGT-0001442, KGA-3235 / DSP-3235, LIK066, SBM-TFC-039,
• Biguanides e.g. Metformin, Buformin, Phenformin
• Thiazolidinediones e.g. Pioglitazone, Rivoglitazone, Rosiglitazone, Troglitazone
• dual PPAR agonists e.g. Aleglitazar, Muraglitazar, Tesaglitazar
• Sulfonylureas e.g. Tolbutamide, Glibenclamide, Glimepiride/Annaryl, Glipizide
• Meglitinides e.g. Nateglinide, Repaglinide, Mitiglinide
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors e.g.
• GPR1 19 agonists e.g. GSK-263A, PSN-821 , MBX-2982, APD-597, ZYG-19, DS-8500
• GPR40 agonists e.g. Fasiglifam / TAK-875, TUG-424, P-1736, JTT-851 , GW9508.
• Suitable combination partners are: Cycloset, inhibitors of 1 1 -beta-HSD (e.g. LY2523199, BMS770767, RG-4929, BMS816336, AZD-8329, HSD-016, BI-135585), activators of glucokinase (e.g. TTP-399, AMG-151 , TAK-329, GKM-001 ), inhibitors of DGAT (e.g. LCQ-908), inhibitors of protein tyrosinephosphatase 1 (e.g.
• Trodusquemine inhibitors of glucose-6-phosphatase, inhibitors of fructose-1 ,6-bisphosphatase, inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase, inhibitors of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase, inhibitors of pyruvate dehydrokinase, alpha2-antagonists, CCR-2 antagonists, SGLT-1 inhibitors (e.g. LX-2761 ).
• One or more lipid lowering agents are also suitable as combination partners, such as for example: HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors (e.g. Simvastatin, Atorvastatin), fibrates (e.g. Bezafibrate, Fenofibrate), nicotinic acid and the derivatives thereof (e.g. Niacin), PPAR- (alpha, gamma or alpha/gamma) agonists or modulators (e.g. Aleglitazar), PPAR-delta agonists, ACAT inhibitors (e.g. Avasimibe), cholesterol absorption inhibitors (e.g. Ezetimibe), Bile acid-binding substances (e.g.
• HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors e.g. Simvastatin, Atorvastatin
• fibrates e.g. Bezafibrate, Fenofibrate
• nicotinic acid and the derivatives thereof e.g. Niacin
• HDL-raising compounds such as: CETP inhibitors (e.g. Torcetrapib, Anacetrapid, Dalcetrapid, Evacetrapid, JTT-302, DRL-17822, TA-8995) or ABC1 regulators.
• suitable combination partners are one or more active substances for the treatment of obesity, such as for example: Sibutramine, Tesofensine, Orlistat, antagonists of the cannabinoid-1 receptor, MCH-1 receptor antagonists, MC4 receptor agonists, NPY5 or NPY2 antagonists (e.g. Velneperit), beta-3-agonists, leptin or leptin mimetics, agonists of the 5HT2c receptor (e.g. Lorcaserin), or the combinations of bupropione/naltrexone, bupropione/zonisamide, bupropione/phentermine or pramlintide/metreleptin.
• Other suitable combination partners are:
• gastrointestinal peptides such as Peptide YY 3-36 (PYY3-36) or analogues thereof, pancreatic polypeptide (PP) or analogues thereof.
• Glucagon receptor agonists or antagonists GIP receptor agonists or antagonists, ghrelin antagonists or inverse agonists, Xenin and analogues thereof.
• angiotensin II receptor antagonists e.g. telmisartan, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan, tasosartan, azilsartan
• ACE inhibitors e.g. telmisartan, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan, tasosartan, azilsartan
• ACE inhibitors e.g. telmisartan, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan, tasosartan, azilsartan
• ACE inhibitors e.g. telmisartan, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, eprosartan, irbe
• this invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof combined with at least one of the active substances described above as a combination partner, for preparing a medicament which is suitable for the treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions which can be affected by binding to the receptors for GLP-1 and glucagon and by modulating their activity.
• This is preferably a disease in the context of the metabolic syndrome, particularly one of the diseases or conditions listed above, most particularly diabetes or obesity or complications thereof.
• the use of the compounds according to the invention, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more active substances may take place simultaneously, separately or sequentially.
• the use of the compound according to the invention, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with another active substance may take place simultaneously or at staggered times, but particularly within a short space of time. If they are administered simultaneously, the two active substances are given to the patient together; if they are used at staggered times, the two active substances are given to the patient within a period of less than or equal to 12 hours, but particularly less than or equal to 6 hours.
• this invention relates to a medicament which comprises a compound according to the invention or a physiologically acceptable salt of such a compound and at least one of the active substances described above as combination partners, optionally together with one or more inert carriers and/or diluents.
• the compound according to the invention, or physiologically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and the additional active substance to be combined therewith may both be present together in one formulation, for example a tablet or capsule, or separately in two identical or different formulations, for example as so-called kit-of-parts.
• FIGURES Figure 1 Effect of s.c. administration of compound SEQ ID NO: 97 and comparators on gastric emptying and intestinal passage in female NMRI-mice. Data are mean+SEM. " * " indicates statistical significance versus vehicle, "#” versus comparators, respectively.
• Figure 2 Effect of SEQ ID NO: 97, 0.1 and 0.01 mg/kg, s.c, on 22-hours food intake in female NMRI-mice. Data are mean+SEM. * p ⁇ 0.05.
• Figure 3 Acute effect of s.c. administration of compound SEQ ID NO: 97 on blood glucose in female diet-induced obese C57BL/6NCrl mice (9 months on high-fat diet). Data are mean+SEM. * p ⁇ 0.05.
• Figure 4. Acute effect of s.c. administration of compound SEQ ID NO: 97 on blood glucose in female leptin-receptor deficient diabetic db/db mice. Data are mean+SEM. * p ⁇ 0.05.
• FIG. 1 Body weight development during 3 weeks of subcutaneous treatment with SEQ ID NO: 24 in male high-fat fed C57BL/6N Crl mice. Data are mean+SEM.
• Figure 8 Relative body weight change in % during 3 weeks of subcutaneous treatment with SEQ ID NO: 24 in male high-fat fed C57BL/6N Crl mice. Data are mean+SEM.
• Figure 10 Acute effect of s.c. administration of compound SEQ ID NO: 24 on blood glucose in female leptin-receptor deficient diabetic db/db mice. Data are mean+SEM.
• Rink-Amide resins (4-(2',4'-Dimethoxyphenyl-Fmoc-aminomethyl)- phenoxyacetamido-norleucylaminomethyl resin, Merck Biosciences; 4-[(2,4- Dimethoxyphenyl)(Fmoc-amino)methyl]phenoxy acetamido methyl resin, Agilent Technologies) were used for the synthesis of peptide amides with loadings in the range of 0.3-0.4 mmol/g. Suppliers were Merck Biosciences and Agilent Technologies.
• the solid phase peptide syntheses were performed on a Prelude Peptide Synthesizer (Protein Technologies Inc) using standard Fmoc chemistry and HBTU/DIPEA activation. DMF was used as the solvent. Deprotection: 20% piperidine/DMF for 2 x 2.5 min. Washes: 7 x DMF. Coupling 2:5:10 200 mM AA / 500 mM HBTU / 2M DIPEA in DMF 2 x for 20 min. Washes: 5 x DMF.
• the crude peptides were purified either on an Akta Purifier System or on a Jasco semiprep HPLC System. Preparative RP-C18-HPLC columns of different sizes and with different flow rates were used depending on the amount of crude peptide to be purified. Acetonitrile + 0.1 % TFA (B) and water + 0.1 % TFA (A) were employed as eluents. Product-containing fractions were collected and lyophilized to obtain the purified product.
• the target concentration was 1 .0 mg/mL pure compound. Therefore, solutions from solid samples were prepared in different buffer systems with a concentration of 1 .0 mg/mL compound based on the previously determined content. HPLC-UV was performed after 2 h of gentle agitation from the supernatant, which was obtained by 20 min of centrifugation at 4000 rpm.
• solubility was then determined by comparison with the UV peak areas obtained with a stock solution of the peptide at a concentration of 2 mg/mL in pure water or a variable amount of acetonitrile (optical control that all of the compound was dissolved). This analysis also served as starting point (tO) for the stability testing.
• % remaining peptide [(peak area peptide t7) x 100]/peak area peptide to.
• % precipitate 100-([% remaining peptide] + [ % soluble degradation products])
• This precipitate includes non-soluble degradation products, polymers and/or fibrils, which have been removed from analysis by centrifugation.
• Agonism of compounds for the two receptors was determined by functional assays measuring cAMP response of HEK-293 cell lines stably expressing human GLP-1 or glucagon receptor.
• cAMP content of cells was determined using a kit from Cisbio Corp. (cat. no. 62AM4PEC) based on HTRF (Homogeneous Time Resolved Fluorescence). For preparation, cells were split into T175 culture flasks and grown overnight to near confluency in medium (DMEM / 10% FBS). Medium was then removed and cells washed with PBS lacking calcium and magnesium, followed by proteinase treatment with accutase (Sigma-Aldrich cat. no. A6964).
• Detached cells were washed and resuspended in assay buffer (1 x HBSS; 20 mM HEPES, 0.1 % BSA, 2 mM IBMX) and cellular density determined. They were then diluted to 400000 cells/ml and 25 ⁇ -aliquots dispensed into the wells of 96-well plates. For measurement, 25 ⁇ of test compound in assay buffer was added to the wells, followed by incubation for 30 minutes at room temperature. After addition of HTRF reagents diluted in lysis buffer (kit components), the plates were incubated for 1 hr, followed by measurement of the fluorescence ratio at 665 / 620 nm. In vitro potency of agonists was quantified by determining the concentrations that caused 50% activation of maximal response (EC50).
• Bioanalytical screening method for quantification of peptide GLP1 -GCG receptor agonists in mice Mice were dosed 1 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c). The mice were sacrificed and blood samples were collected after 0.25, 1 , 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours post application. Plasma samples were analysed after protein precipitation via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS). PK parameters and half-life were calculated using WinonLin Version 5.2.1 (non-compartment model).
• mice Female NMRI-mice of a body weight between 20 and 30 g were used. Mice were adapted to housing conditions for at least one week.
• mice were overnight fasted, while water remained available all the time. On the study day, mice were weighed, single-caged and allowed access to 500 mg of feed for 30 min, while water was removed. At the end of the 30 min feeding period, remaining feed was removed and weighed. 60 min later, a coloured, non-caloric bolus was instilled via gavage into the stomach. The test compound / reference compound or its vehicle in the control group was administered subcutaneously, to reach Cmax when coloured bolus was administered. After another 30 min, the animals were sacrificed and the stomach and the small intestine prepared. The filled stomach was weighed, emptied, carefully cleaned and dried and reweighed. The calculated stomach content indicated the degree of gastric emptying.
• the small intestine was straightened without force and measured in length. Then the distance from the gastric beginning of the gut to the tip of the farthest travelled intestinal content bolus was measured. The intestinal passage was given as relation in percent of the latter distance and the total length of the small intestine.
• mice Female NMRI-mice of a body weight between 20 and 30 g were used. Mice were adapted to housing conditions for at least one week and for at least one day single-caged in the assessment equipment, when basal data were recorded simultaneously. On the study day, test product was administered subcutaneously close to the lights-off phase (12 h lights off) and assessment of feed consumption was directly started afterwards. Assessment included continued monitoring (every 30 min) over 22 hours. Repetition of this procedure over several days was possible. Restriction of assessment to 22 hours was for practical reasons to allow for reweighing of animals, refilling of feed and water and drug administration between procedures. Results could be assessed as cumulated data over 22 hours or differentiated to 30 min intervals.
• mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) injected with vehicle solution and weighed for 3 days to acclimate them to the procedures.
• Acute effect on blood glucose in fed DIP mice initial blood samples were taken just before first administration (s.c.) of vehicle (phosphate buffer solution) or the exendin-4 derivatives at doses of 3, 10, and 100 pg/kg (dissolved in phosphate puffer), respectively. The volume of administration was 5 mL/kg. The animals had access to water and their corresponding diet during the experiment, food consumption was determined at all time points of blood sampling.
• vehicle phosphate buffer solution
• exendin-4 derivatives dissolved in phosphate puffer
• Comparable data can also be obtained when using male mice.
• mice Female BKS.Cg-m +/+ Leprdb/J (db/db) and BKS.Cg-m +/+ Leprdb/+ (lean control) mice were obtained from Charles River Laboratories, Germany, at an age of 9 - 10 weeks. The animals were housed in groups in a specific pathogen-free barrier facility on a 12-h light/dark cycle with free access to water and rodent-standard chow.
• HbA1 c is a glycosylated form of haemoglobin whose level reflects the average level of glucose to which the erythrocyte has been exposed during its lifetime. In mice, HbA1 c is a relevant biomarker for the average blood glucose level during the preceding 4 weeks (erythrocyte life span in mouse ⁇ 47 days).
• Comparable data can also be obtained when using male mice.
• the ivDde- group was cleaved from the peptide on resin according to a modified literature procedure (S.R. Chhabra et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 39, (1998), 1603), using 4% hydrazine hydrate in DMF. Hereafter Palm-Glu(YOSu)-OtBu was coupled to the liberated amino-group.
• the peptide was cleaved from the resin with King's cocktail (D. S. King, C. G. Fields, G. B. Fields, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 36, 1990, 255-266).
• the crude product was purified via preparative HPLC on a Waters column (Sunfire, Prep C18) using an acetonitrile/water gradient (both buffers with 0.1 % TFA).
• the solid phase synthesis was carried out on Novabiochem Rink-Amide resin (4-(2',4'- Dimethoxyphenyl-Fmoc-aminomethyl)-phenoxyacetamido-norleucylaminomethyl resin), 100-200 mesh, loading of 0.34 mmol/g.
• the Fmoc-synthesis strategy was applied with HBTU/DIPEA-activation. In position 14 Fmoc-Lys(ivDde)-OH and in position 1 Boc- His(Boc)-OH were used in the solid phase synthesis protocol.
• the ivDde-group was cleaved from the peptide on resin according to a modified literature procedure (S.R.
• the crude product was purified via preparative HPLC on a Waters column (Sunfire, Prep C18) using an acetonitrile/water gradient (both buffers with 0.1 % TFA). Finally, the molecular mass of the purified peptide was confirmed by LC-MS.
• the solid phase synthesis was carried out on Agilent Technologies Rink-Amide resin (4- [(2,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)(Fmoc-amino)methyl]phenoxyacetomido methyl resin) , 75-150 ⁇ , loading of 0.38 mmol/g.
• the Fmoc-synthesis strategy was applied with HBTU/DIPEA- activation.
• Fmoc-Lys(ivDde)-OH and in position 1 Boc-His(Boc)-OH were used in the solid phase synthesis protocol.
• the ivDde-group was cleaved from the peptide on resin according to a modified literature procedure (S.R. Chhabra et al., Tetrahedron Lett.
• the solid phase synthesis was carried out on Agilent Technologies CI-Trt-CI resin (2,a- Dichlorobenzhydryl-polystyrene crosslinked with divinylbenzene) , 75-150 ⁇ , loading of 1 .4 mmol/g.
• Fmoc-Ser-OAIIyl was synthesized according to literature (S. Ficht, R.J.Payne, R.T. Guy, C.-H. Wong, Chem. Eur. J. 14, 2008, 3620-3629) and coupled via the side chain hydroxyl function onto CI-Trt-CI-resin using DIPEA in dichloromethane.
• Fmoc- synthesis strategy was applied with HBTU/DIPEA-activation.
• Fmoc- Lys(ivDde)-OH and in position 1 Boc-His(Boc)-OH were used in the solid phase synthesis protocol.
• the ivDde-group was cleaved from the peptide on resin according to a modified literature procedure (S.R. Chhabra et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 39, (1998), 1603), using 4% hydrazine hydrate in DMF.
• Fmoc-Glu-OtBu was coupled to the liberated amino- group using HBTU/DIPEA for activation followed by the removal of the Fmoc-group with 20% piperidine in DMF.
• Palmitic acid was coupled onto the resulting amino group after activation with HBTU/DIPEA.
• the allyl-ester group was removed employing the procedure described in literature (S. Ficht, R.J.Payne, R.T. Guy, C.-H. Wong, Chem. Eur. J. 14, 2008, 3620-3629) followed by activation of the C-terminus with HOBt/DIC in DMF and addition of n-propylamin.
• the peptide was cleaved from the resin with King's cocktail (D. S. King, C. G. Fields, G. B. Fields, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 36, 1990, 255-266).
• the crude product was purified via preparative HPLC on a Waters column (Sunfire, Prep C18) using an acetonitrile/water gradient (both buffers with 0.1 % TFA).
• Table 3 List of peptides that can be synthesized in an analogous way.
• Potencies of peptidic compounds at the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors were determined by exposing cells expressing human glucagon receptor (hGlucagon R) or human GLP-1 receptor (hGLP-1 R) to the listed compounds at increasing concentrations and measuring the formed cAMP as described in Methods.
• Example 1 1 Effect of SEQ ID NO: 97 on gastric emptying and intestinal passage in female NMRI-mice
• SEQ ID NO: 97 reduced intestinal passage by 67% (versus 44% and 34%, respectively) and increased gastric content by 90% (versus 19% and 21 %, respectively) (p ⁇ 0.0001 versus vehicle control and versus comparators, 1 -W-ANOVA, followed by Newman-Keul's post-hoc test) (Fig. 1 a, b).
• SEQ ID NO: 97 demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction of feed intake, reaching 23% (p ⁇ 0.0001 ) and 66% (p ⁇ 0.0001 , 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test) at the end of the study, respectively (Fig. 2).
• Example 13 Acute and subchronic effects of SEQ ID NO: 97 after subcutaneous treatment on blood glucose and body weight in female diet-induced obese (DIP) C57BL/6NCrl mice (10 months on high fat diet) 1 ) Glucose profile
• mice After blood sampling to determine the blood glucose baseline level, fed diet-induced obese female C57BL/6NCrl mice were administered 3, 10 or 100 pg/kg of SEQ ID NQ: 97 or phosphate buffered solution (vehicle control on standard or high-fat diet) subcutaneously. At predefined time points, more blood samples were taken to measure blood glucose and generate the blood glucose profile over 24 h.
• SEQ ID NO: 97 demonstrated a significant dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose compared to DIO control mice, lasting at least 8 h in the low and medium dose group and > 24 h in the high dose group (p ⁇ 0.0001 , 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 3, mean ⁇ SEM).
• Example 14 Acute and subchronic effects of SEQ ID NO: 97 after subcutaneous treatment on blood glucose and HbA1 c in female leptin-receptor deficient diabetic db/db mice
• mice After blood sampling to determine the blood glucose baseline level, fed diabetic female db/db mice were administered 3, 10 or 100 pg/kg of SEQ ID NO: 97 or phosphate buffered solution (vehicle-treated db/db control) subcutaneously. At predefined time points, more blood samples were taken to measure blood glucose and generate the blood glucose profile over 24 h.
• SEQ ID NO: 97 demonstrated a significant decrease in blood glucose compared to db/db control mice, lasting up to 8 h in the low and medium dose group and > 24 h in the high dose group (p ⁇ 0.0001 for lean control mice; p ⁇ 0.01 1 - 8 h after treatment for low and medium dose, p ⁇ 0.0002 4 - 24 h for high dose; 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 4, mean ⁇ SEM). 2. Blood glucose & HbA1 c Female diabetic mice were treated for 4 weeks once daily subcutaneously with 3, 10 or 100 pg/kg SEQ ID NO: 97 or vehicle.
• Blood glucose and HbA1 c were determined before start of treatment and at the end of the study after 4 weeks of treatment. Before treatment started, no significant differences in blood glucose levels could be detected between db/db groups, only the lean control animals had significant lower glucose levels. During the 4 weeks of treatment, glucose levels increased in the vehicle- treated db/db control group, indicating a worsening of the diabetic situation. All SEQ ID NO: 97-treated animals displayed a significant lower blood glucose level than the db control mice at the end of the study (p ⁇ 0.0001 for lean control mice; p ⁇ 0.01 in SEQ ID NO: 97 groups; 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 5, mean ⁇ SEM).
• HbA1 c Corresponding to blood glucose, at the beginning of the study, no significant differences in HbA1 c levels could be detected between db/db groups, only the lean control animals had significant lower levels.
• HbA1 c increased in the vehicle-treated db/db control group, corresponding to the increasing blood glucose levels.
• Animals treated with high dose SEQ ID NO: 97 displayed a significant lower HbA1 c level than the db control mice at the end of the study (p ⁇ 0.0001 , 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 6, mean ⁇ SEM).
• inventive exendin-4 derivatives comprising a functionalized amino acid in position 14 has been tested versus corresponding compounds having in this position 14 a 'non-functionalized' amino acid.
• the reference pair compounds and the corresponding EC50 values at GLP-1 and Glucagon receptors are given in Table 8. As shown, the inventive exendin-4 derivatives show a superior activity in comparison to the compounds with a 'non-functionalized' amino acid in position 14. Table 8. Comparison of exendin-4 derivatives comprising a non-functionalized amino acid in position 14 vs. exendin-4 derivatives comprising a functionalized amino acid in position 14.
• Example 16 Acute and chronic effects of SEQ ID NO: 24 after subcutaneous treatment on body weight in male diet-induced obese (DIP) C57BL/6NCrl mice Body weight
• mice Male obese C57BL/6NCrl mice were treated for 3 weeks twice daily subcutaneously with 0.5, 1 .5, 5 or 15 pg/kg SEQ ID NQ: 24 or vehicle. Body weight was recorded daily, and body fat content was determined before the start and after 3 weeks of treatment. Treatment with SEQ ID NO: 24 reduced body weight significantly at dosages of 1 .5, 5 and 15 pg/kg ( * : p ⁇ 0.05, 1 -W-ANOVA, post hoc Dunnett's Test, Table 9, Fig. 7 and 8). These changes resulted from a decrease in body fat, as shown by the absolute changes in body fat content (Table 9, Fig. 9).
• Example 17 Acute and chronic effects of SEQ ID NO: 24 after subcutaneous treatment on blood glucose and HbA1 c in female leptin-receptor deficient diabetic db/db mice
• Glucose profile After blood sampling to determine the blood glucose baseline level, fed diabetic female db/db mice were administered 50 pg/kg of SEQ ID NO: 24 or phosphate buffered solution (vehicle-treated db/db control) twice daily subcutaneously. At predefined time points, more blood samples were taken to measure blood glucose and generate the blood glucose profile over 24 h.
• SEQ ID NO: 24 demonstrated a significant decrease in blood glucose compared to db/db control mice, lasting > 24 h (p ⁇ 0.001 ; 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 10, mean ⁇ SEM). 2. Blood glucose & HbA1 c
• mice Female diabetic mice were treated for 4 weeks subcutaneously with 50 pg/kg SEQ ID NO: 24 or vehicle twice daily. Blood glucose and HbA1 c were determined before start of treatment and at the end of the study after 4 weeks of treatment. Before treatment started, no significant differences in blood glucose levels could be detected between db/db groups, only the lean control animals had significant lower glucose levels. During the 4 weeks of treatment, glucose levels increased in the vehicle- treated db/db control group, indicating a worsening of the diabetic situation.
• the SEQ ID NO: 24-treated animals displayed a significant lower blood glucose level than the db control mice at the end of the study (p ⁇ 0.01 in SEQ ID NO: 24 group; 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 1 1 , mean ⁇ SEM).
• HbA1 c Corresponding to blood glucose, at the beginning of the study, no significant differences in HbA1 c levels could be detected between db/db groups, only the lean control animals had significant lower levels.
• HbA1 c increased in the vehicle-treated db/db control group, corresponding to the increasing blood glucose levels.
• Animals treated with SEQ ID NO: 24 displayed a significantly lower HbA1 c level than the db control mice at the end of the study (p ⁇ 0.001 , 2-W-ANOVA-RM, post hoc Dunnett's Test; Fig. 12, mean ⁇ SEM).

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