WO2024014980A1

WO2024014980A1 - Potassium salt of haee peptide for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Info

Publication number: WO2024014980A1
Application number: PCT/RU2023/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Сергей Александрович КОЗИН
Original assignee: Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ЛАЙФМИССИЯ"
Priority date: 2022-07-15
Filing date: 2023-07-12
Publication date: 2024-01-18

Abstract

The invention relates to a monosubstituted or disubstituted potassium salt of the peptide HAEE, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide that is acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus and has the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu. The present invention further relates to a method (and variants thereof) for producing potassium salts of the peptide HAEE, pharmaceutical compositions based on potassium salts of the peptide HAEE, and the use of potassium salts of the peptide HAEE for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Description

POTASSIUM SALT OF NEE PEPTIDE FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

The invention relates to a monosubstituted or disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu. The present invention also relates to a method for producing potassium salts of the HAEE peptide (variants), to pharmaceutical compositions based on potassium salts of the HAEE peptide and the use of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

BACKGROUND ART

Neurodegenerative diseases have a number of common development factors and a number of other general mechanisms (Litvinenko I.V., Krasakov I.V., Bisaga G.N. et al. Modern conception of the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and therapeutic strategy. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2017;117(6 -2):3-10. (In Russ.), doi: 10.17116/jnevro2017117623-10), which may link Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia, neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease in conditions of activation of systemic inflammation (Williams-Gray S.N., Wijeyekoon R., Yarnall A.J. et al. ICICLE-PD study group. Serum immune markers and disease progression in an incident Parkinson's disease cohort (ICICLE-PD). Movement Disorders. 2016;31(7):995- 1003. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.26563). Inflammation is one of the typical pathological processes of the human body. A typical pathological process is manifested by a certain set of characteristic signs. It is currently believed that the neurodegenerative process is secondary to the inflammatory process (Mostafa A., Jalilvand S., Shoja Z. Et al. Multiple sclerosis- associated retrovirus, Epstein-barr virus, and vitamin D status in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Journal of Medical Virology. 2017. doi: 10.1002/jmv.24774; Litvinenko I.V., Krasakov I.V., Bisaga G.N. et al. Modern conception of the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and therapeutic strategy. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2017; 117(6-2):3-10. (In Russ.), doi: 10.17116/jnevro2017117623-10).

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases among older people and is characterized by neuritic plaques, the main component of which is the beta-amyloid peptide (AR). The N-terminal 1-16 region of amyloid beta is the metal-binding domain where zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) bind to peptide A (Guilloreau L., Damian L., Coppel Y., et al. (2006). Structural and thermodynamical properties of Cull amyloid-pi6/28 complexes associated with Alzheimer's disease. JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 11(8), 1024-1038, doi: 10.1007/s00775-006-0154-1). Reducing the level of zinc ions in the blood by binding zinc ions with specific chelating agents and/or blocking the interactions of the A|3 peptide with zinc ions can prevent pathologies associated with these interactions (Ayton S., Lei R., Bush A. Biometals and Their Therapeutic Implications in Alzheimer's Disease. Neurotherapeutics. 2015. 12(1): pp. 109-120). High concentrations of zinc cause precipitation of the Ap peptide and affect the formation in specific parts of the brain (hippocampus, cortex, thalamic nuclei) of extracellular Ap aggregates (amyloid plaques), which are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (Frederickson CJ, Bush AI (2001). Synaptically released zinc: physiological functions and pathological effects. Biometals, 14(3), 353-366, doi: 10.1023/A: 1012934207456. Therefore, the use of zinc and other cations in pharmaceuticals that can interact with targeted targets in the body and treat neurodegenerative diseases , in particular Alzheimer's disease, is a non-trivial solution.

To date, there are no current effective drugs that would cure neurodegenerative diseases. A number of peptides are known from the scientific and patent literature that could be used in the treatment of such diseases.

From WO 2012/056157 and RF patent No. 2679080 a compound is known that is Ac-HAEE-NH ₂ (hereinafter referred to as HAEE). In the abbreviation HAEE, the letters mean: H - histidine, A - alanine, E - glutamic acid. HAEE is capable of inhibiting the interaction of Ap peptides with Zn(II) ions, causing a decrease or prevention of Ap peptide aggregation in the presence of Zn(II) ions at physiological concentrations of Zn(II) ions of 100-400 μM. Higher concentrations of Zn(II) ions, on the order of 1 mmol (mM), suppress interactions between HAEE and the 1-16 region of Ap. It has been shown that incubation of Ap aggregates with HAEE for at least 1 hour at 20, 40, 80, 100 and 150 μM HAEE leads to disaggregation of such aggregates.

From RF patent No. 2679059 it is known that despite the inhibition of the formation of amyloid plaques, the effect of known drugs, in particular HAEE, on improving cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease is on average very limited and there is a need to obtain alternative effective drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, including by reducing or preventing the binding of Zn(ll) ions to the Ap peptide. As an alternative treatment for Alzheimer's disease, it has been proposed to use a peptide with the amino acid sequence (in standard single-letter codes) H[isoD][pS]GYEVHH (where isoD refers to the isomerized aspartic acid residue and pS refers to the phosphorylated serine residue) with open or protected ends of the main polypeptide chain. From RF patent No. 2709539 it is known that short charged peptides of the HAEE type have a very short lifetime in the blood plasma (from several seconds to several minutes) and hardly pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which significantly weakens the effectiveness of their therapeutic effects. In order to overcome these shortcomings, the authors of RF patent No. 2709539 have developed a pharmaceutical composition for the delivery of HAEE across the BBB for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia of the Alzheimer's type (Alzheimer's disease), which can improve the pharmacokinetic characteristics and increase the bioavailability of HAEE.

This composition contains an effective amount of a substance in the form of a complex of HAEE with zinc and human serum albumin (HAEE-Zn-HSA) in the form of a solution for administration with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier selected from a range of neutral carriers and diluents, for example, saline. The resulting pharmaceutical composition allows the bioavailability of the substance in the brain to be increased fivefold and the half-life from the body to be doubled; improve the cognitive functions of experimental animals by 20%. From RF patent No. 2709539 it is known that the pharmaceutical composition HAEE-Zn-HSA is stable in a suitable aqueous buffer system, in the pH range from 4 to 8, in the presence or absence of various salts.

However, it is known that the charge of albumin in a neutral environment is equal to -1, in an alkaline environment it is equal to -2, and in a slightly acidic environment it is equal to 0 (isoelectric state) and albumin precipitates (Biochemistry with exercises and tasks. Edited by A.I. Glukhov , E. S. Severina. GEOTAR-Media, Moscow, 2019. P. 19), therefore this complex should not exist in a slightly acidic environment at pH 4-5.5.

The prototype of the invention was the source WO 2012/056157, which describes a peptide with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus (HAEE). Pharmaceutically acceptable salts for HAEE have not been previously prepared and characterized, and their properties in the solid phase are unknown.

The production of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of medicinal substances helps to improve their solubility, bioavailability, stability and other useful biopharmaceutical characteristics.

Thus, the problems to be solved by the invention are to obtain an effective remedy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the form of previously unknown potassium salts of HAEE, including monosubstituted (HAEE-K) and disubstituted (HAEE-K ₂ ) potassium salts of HAEE, including in solid form, the development of pharmaceutical compositions based on such a drug and its use for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention provides potassium salts of the HAEE peptide.

In the present invention, it has been found that in order to enhance the therapeutic effect of the HAEE peptide for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, it is useful to use potassium salts of HAEE. The use of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases changes the mechanism of action of the HAEE peptide associated with the conformational structure of the HAEE peptide, which leads to an unexpectedly high therapeutic effect.

This is confirmed by the experimental introduction of the native HAEE peptide and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide into the body of experimental animals. It was found that the 3D structure of the native HAEE peptide, which was introduced into the blood plasma of wild-type mice in the form of an aqueous solution, differs from the 3D structure of the native HAEE in the original aqueous solution, which is confirmed by HPLC by changing the time of release from the chromatographic column of the sample HAEE extracted from blood plasma relative to the time of release of the HAEE sample extracted from the original aqueous solution. At the same time, the 3D structure of HAEE in the form of potassium salts remained unchanged under similar experimental conditions (that is, after extraction of the HAEE peptide from the initial aqueous solution of the potassium salt and after extraction from the blood plasma of wild-type mice after a 2-minute exposure) and corresponded to the 3D structure -structure of the native HAEE peptide extracted from the original aqueous solution. According to mass spectrometry data, the chemical structure of the HAEE peptide in all experimental samples remained unchanged for both the native peptide and the peptide in the potassium salt. The change in the release time of the native HAEE peptide or the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide from the chromatographic column is mainly due to differences in the hydrophobic interactions of the HAEE peptide with the column material, and these interactions, in turn, are determined by the prevailing 3D structure of the HAEE peptide in a particular sample. Thus, from the experimental data obtained, it follows that the 3D structure of the HAEE peptide, which corresponds to the “unfolded” conformation of the peptide and is prevalent for the native HAEE peptide in the original aqueous solution, corresponds to the 3D structure of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in an aqueous solution and remains unchanged in the case of exposure of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in the blood plasma, while the native HAEE peptide in the blood plasma loses its “unfolded” conformation.

In this case, the term 3O structure is used as a synonym for spatial structure or the relative arrangement of atoms in the HAEE molecule in three-dimensional space. The HPLC method is based primarily on intermolecular interactions at the interface. The change in the release time of HAEE from the chromatographic column reflects a change in intermolecular interactions HAEE with a sorbent, which is a consequence of differences in the spatial structure of HAEE molecules in the native state and in the form of a potassium salt.

It is known that disruption of the 3D structure of oligopeptides can lead to a decrease in their functions and a decrease in therapeutic effect (Sikora, K., JaSkiewicz, M., Neubauer, D., Migofi, D., & Kamysz, W. (2020). The role of counter-ions in peptides - an overview. Pharmaceuticals, 13(12), 442.). It was previously shown that for optimal interaction with protein partners, the HAEE peptide must be in an “unfolded” conformation (Barykin E. R., Garifulina A. I., Tolstova A. R., Anashkina A. A., Adzhubei A. A., Mezentsev Y. V., Shelukhina I. V., Kozin S. A., Tsetlin V. I., Makarov A. A. Tetrapeptide Ac-HAEE-NH(2) Protects a4₽2 nAChR from Inhibition by Ap // International journal of molecular sciences. - 2020. - T. 21, No. 17. - C. 6272; Zolotarev YA, Mitkevich VA, Shram SI, Adzhubei AA, Tolstova AP, Talibov OB, Dadayan AK, Myasoyedov NF, Makarov AA, Kozin SA. Pharmacokinetics and Molecular Modeling Indicate nAChRa4-Derived Peptide HAEE Goes through the Blood-Brain Barrier. Biomolecules 2021 Jun 18;11(6):909). In the native HAEE peptide, the imidazole group of the histidine amino acid residue can form stable polar bonds with the carboxyl groups of the side chains of glutamic acid amino acid residues, which does not contribute to maintaining the biologically significant “unfolded” conformation of this peptide and, as a result, reduces the beneficial therapeutic effects of HAEE.

Thus, one of the advantages of this invention is to increase the therapeutic effectiveness of the HAEE peptide in the form of the HAEE potassium salt due to the preservation of the ZO structure of this salt in the “unfolded” conformation.

The invention also relates to the use of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as pathologies accompanied by neuroinflammatory processes. The potassium salt of the HAEE peptide can effectively influence neurodegenerative diseases, in particular those caused by inflammatory causes, restoring impaired cognitive functions.

The potassium salt of HAEE peptide can be used in either solid or liquid form and remains stable for at least 2 years.

The technical result of the invention is:

- the possibility of using the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular those caused indirectly by inflammatory causes, which leads to the effective restoration of cognitive functions;

- increased stability of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide compared to HAEE;

- stability of the “unfolded” conformation of the 3D HAEE molecule after the dissolution of the potassium salt of HAEE in the blood plasma compared to HAEE. The potassium salts of the HAEE peptide claimed in the present invention, in accordance with the production method used, can be obtained in amorphous form, as confirmed by x-ray phase analysis (Fig. 1,2).

Potassium salts of the HAEE peptide are characterized by a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograviometry (TG) curve (DSC-TGA). The HAEE molecule on the DSC curve is characterized by a broad peak with an onset at 62 °C and a maximum at 89 °C; a double melting peak at 203 and 227.5 °C with an onset at 188 °C (Figure 3). The error for multiple measurements is estimated at ± 3 °C.

HAEE-K on the DSC curve is characterized by three endothermic maxima: the first broad endothermic peak starts at 60 °C and has a maximum at 102 °C; the second begins at 162 °C with a maximum at 188 °C, the third peak begins at 198 °C with a maximum at 228 °C. (Fig. 4).

HAEE-K ₂ on the DSC curve is characterized by four endothermic peaks. The first broad peak begins at 60 °C with a maximum at 105 °C, the second weak peak begins at 155 °C with a maximum at 163 °C, the third peak begins at 215 °C with a maximum at 236 °C, and the fourth melting maximum is observed at 242 °C (Figure 5).

DSC curves show that the thermal behavior of the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide (Fig. 4,5) differs from the behavior of HAEE (Fig. 3), the melting point of the dipotassium salt and the onset of melting of the monopotassium salt are higher compared to the melting point of HAEE, which ensures higher stability, as confirmed by the results of the accelerated storage test.

The FTIR spectrum of the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide is shown in FIG. 6. The IR spectra of potassium salts repeats all the main lines of the HAEE IR spectrum.

In the IR spectrum of HAEE-K, a new maximum is observed at 2980 cm' ¹ (amine salts RNH ₃ ⁺ ), peak 1530 has shifted and broadened to the region of 1550 cm' ¹ (plane deformation vibrations -NH ₂ ). There was a change in the intensities of the peaks at 1250 and 1310 cm' ¹ (CN). A new maximum appeared at 985 cm' ¹ (Fig. 6,7).

In the IR spectrum of HAEE-K, a new maximum is observed at 1675 cm' ¹ (plane bending vibrations -NH ₂ ). The maxima at 1645 cm' ¹ and 1530 cm' ¹ are shifted (plane bending vibrations -NH2 / C=O / [6(NH)]). In the region of 1300-700 cm' ¹ , new weak maxima are observed at 1315 and 1305 cm' ¹ (-COO-carboxylic acid vibrations), at 1275 cm' ¹ (CN) and at 700 cm' ¹ (non-planar bending vibrations -NH ₂ ) . The maximum at 1205 cm' ¹ (aliphatic amines) disappeared in the IR spectrum. The maximum at 1130 ^cm'1 shifted to the region of 1145 ^cm'1 (CN shaft). There was a narrowing and increase in the intensity of the peak at 3275 cm' ¹ . (NH group). (Fig. 6,7). The difference between the IR spectrum of HAEE-K ₂ and NALE is the shift of the maxima at 1530 cm' ¹ to the region of 1645 cm' ¹ (plane deformation vibrations -NH ₂ ), changes in the intensity of the peaks are observed in the region of 1180-1310 cm' ¹ (CN) . (Fig. 6,7).

Thus, in the IR spectrum of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide, changes in bond vibrations in the HAEE molecule, mainly amino groups, occurred, which is associated with the formation of potassium salts.

The method for preparing potassium salts of the HAEE peptide consists of mixing aqueous solutions of HAEE and an aqueous solution of a potassium compound in stoichiometric ratios at room temperature, stirring for 5-30 minutes and drying the solution.

To obtain HAEE-K, the stoichiometric ratio of the components HAEE: K must be 1:1 by moles. To obtain HAEE-K _2, the stoichiometric ratio of the components HAEE:K must be 1.2 moles.

During mixing, heating up to 50 °C is allowed.

Drying is carried out using standard methods of organic chemistry, mainly under vacuum. The drying temperature should not exceed 50 °C. Potassium salts of the HAEE peptide can be obtained in the form of a lyophilisate using standard freeze-drying. For freeze drying, the solution is pre-frozen.

In the claimed production method, potassium compounds are potassium hydroxide, bicarbonate or potassium carbonate.

A variant of the method for obtaining potassium salts of the HAEE peptide consists of mixing at room temperature aqueous solutions of HAEE and an aqueous solution of potassium sulfate or potassium hydrogen sulfate in stoichiometric ratios, stirring for 5-10 minutes, adding stoichiometric amounts of an aqueous solution of barium hydroxide to precipitate the sulfate anion, stirring for 10-30 minutes, removing the precipitate of barium sulfate and drying the solution.

To obtain HAEE-K, the stoichiometric ratio of the components HAEE: K must be 1:1 by moles. To obtain HAEE-K _2, the stoichiometric ratio of the components HAEE: K should be 1:2 by moles.

After adding the barium hydroxide solution, heating to 50 °C is allowed during stirring. To precipitate the sulfate anion, the stoichiometric ratio of the components SO ₄ ² ':Ba ²⁺ must be 1:1 by moles.

Removal of barium sulfate precipitate is carried out by filtration or centrifugation and decantation of the supernatant containing a solution of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

When preparing potassium salts of the HAEE peptide, depending on the drying method, a residual moisture content of up to 5% by weight may remain. At the same time, potassium salts of the HAEE peptide do not absorb additional water during storage and are stable for a long time.

Another object of the invention is pharmaceutical compositions with an effective amount of potassium salt of the HAEE peptide and the presence of excipients. As a medicine, the monosubstituted or disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide can be used without excipients in the form of a lyophilized substance.

The effective amount of potassium salt of the HAEE peptide depends on the type of neurodegenerative disease, body weight, route of administration, and therefore can vary widely from 0.1 to 100 mg, more preferably from 5 to 50 mg.

The pharmaceutical composition of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide may be in solid form or in the form of an aqueous solution. Solid compositions of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide contain an effective amount thereof and optionally excipients. A solid pharmaceutical composition can be prepared by drying a solution of the active substance and a set of auxiliary components or adding auxiliary substances to the potassium salt powder of the HAEE peptide.

The dried or lyophilized potassium salt of the HAEE peptide may be in an amorphous form, which corresponds to the diffraction pattern in FIG. 12.

Excipients are selected from pharmaceutically acceptable additives. Such substances may be mannitol, povidone K 17, trometamol, disodium edetate, sodium chloride, sucrose, histidine, poloxamer 407, and other pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

The pharmaceutical composition of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in the form of an aqueous solution contains an effective amount of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, water, as well as a set of pharmaceutically acceptable additives and salts. Such substances may be mannitol, povidone K 17, trometamol, disodium edetate, sodium chloride, sucrose, histidine, poloxamer 407, and other pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

Another object of the invention is the use of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which consists of administering the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide as part of the described pharmaceutical compositions to the patient in an effective amount. The effective amount of HAEE peptide potassium salt depends on the type of neurodegenerative disease, body weight, route of administration, can therefore vary widely from 0.1 to 100 mg, preferably from 5 to 50 mg.

Administration of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide to the patient can be carried out using all possible types of external, enteral, inhalation and parenteral routes of administration (including intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, cutaneous, transdermal, intramuscular, intrathecal, subarachnoid, oral, intranasal, sublingual, buccal, rectal administration). When administering the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in solid form, the preferred route of administration is sublingual. When administering the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide in solution form, the preferred routes of administration are intravenous and intranasal.

The possibility of therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases was shown by the example of Alzheimer's disease, as one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, modeled on transgenic mice of the APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) line (Jankowsky, J. L., Slant, H. H., Ratovitski, T„ Jenkins, N. A., Copeland, N. G., & Borchelt, D. R. (2001). Co-expression of multiple transgenes in mouse CNS: a comparison of strategies. Biomolecular engineering, 17(6), 157-165, doi: 10.1016/S1389-0344(01)00067 -3), which exhibit characteristic cognitive signs of pathology. This model can be considered a model of indirect inflammatory action in cognitive impairment.

In the present invention, potassium salts of the HAEE peptide were administered six times intravenously at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg, after which a valid test for cognitive abilities “Marble Burying Test” was performed [Santana-Santana M., Bayascas J.R., Gimenez- Llort L. (2021). Sex-Dependent Signatures, Time Frames and Longitudinal Fine-Tuning of the Marble Burying Test in Normal and AD-Pathological Aging Mice. Biomedicines, 9(8), 994, doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9080994), quantifying more than 2/3 of the buried beads as a percentage of the total number of beads. The greater the number of buried balls (BPS), the higher the cognitive abilities of mice.

According to the results of testing in the control group of wild-type mice, which were injected with saline, the CVS value was 50.6 ± 13.3 (%). This value was taken as a reference value. In the control group of transgenic mice of the APP/PS1 line, which were injected with saline solution, the value of the CVS = 12.6 ± 4.2 (%), which indicates a strong deterioration in the behavioral reflexes of transgenic mice of the APP/PS1 line compared to wild-type animals and reflects the disabling effect of overexpression of human beta-amyloid, associated with neuroinflammation and the formation of amyloid plaques, on the processes of nervous activity. In the group of transgenic mice of the APP/PS1 line that received HAEE, the CVS value was 20.6 ± 7.3 (%). A group of transgenic mice of the APP/PS1 line that received monosubstituted and disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide showed values of KZS = 44.3 ± 11.1 (%) and KZS = 49.2 ± 10.2 (%), respectively (Table 4). These data indicate that the use of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide significantly improves the behavioral reflexes of APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and the effect of this use is significantly greater than that observed for HAEE. HAEE-K ₂ at the trend level has greater efficiency compared to HAEE-K.

Thus, potassium salts of the HAEE peptide can be effectively used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular those caused by inflammatory complications, restoring cognitive functions to normal.

Histochemical analysis of the hippocampal region of the brain of experimental mice showed that the number of plaques (PB) per brain section in the control group of wild mice was zero, in the control group of transgenic APP/PS1 mice the PB value was 31.7 ± 4.9, in the group in mice treated with HAEE, the BF value was 24.7±3.4. In the group of mice treated with HAEE-K and HAEE-K ₂ , the BF value was 9.2±3.1 and 8.7±2.8, respectively.

Thus, the results of histochemical analysis showed that the administration of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide led to an almost 4-fold decrease in the amyloid load in the hippocampus of transgenic APP/PS1 mice, and according to this indicator, the effectiveness of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide was approximately three times higher than that detected for HAEE .

One of the mechanisms of action of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide on the possibility of treating neurodegenerative diseases may be its binding to beta-amyloid. The kinetic characteristics of the interaction between potassium salts of the HAEE peptide and immobilized human beta-amyloid were calculated, which turned out to be equal to k _on = (1.43+0.06) x 10 ³ M' ¹ s'¹; ko _ff =

K _D = (4.14±0.30) x 10' ⁶ M for HAEE-K and values of k _on = (1.36±0.06) x

k _off = (5.84±0.06) x 10' ³ s'¹; K _D = (4.29±0.3) x 10' ⁶ for HAEE-K ₂ . Since the value of K _D W ^{is 4} M, this interaction is biologically significant. Unlike potassium salts, the native HAEE peptide did not bind to beta-amyloid under similar experimental conditions.

This difference between the native HAEE peptide and the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide may influence the pharmacological properties, which was confirmed by different cognitive recovery tests - the effectiveness of HAEE was significantly lower than the effectiveness of the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide. This effect can be associated with the above-mentioned HPLC-MS data, which showed changes in the 3D structure of native HAEE after its introduction into the blood plasma, while the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide before and after its introduction into the blood plasma has the same retention time on the HPLC chromatogram and, accordingly, a stable 3D structure. This means that the ion potassium plays a protective role in maintaining the “unfolded” conformation of the HAEE peptide in these salts, which may also prevent interaction with elements of the blood plasma, since it is known that the introduction of native HAEE into the peripheral circulatory system of mice, rats and rabbits leads to the formation of stable HAEE complexes with transport and receptor proteins (Zolotarev YA, Mitkevich VA, Shram SL et al. Pharmacokinetics and Molecular Modeling Indicate nAChRa4-Derived Peptide HAEE Goes through the Blood-Brain Barrier. Biomolecules. 2021. 11(6): p. 909, doi: 10.3390/biom11060909).

Taken together, we can conclude that the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide have much greater therapeutic efficacy compared to HAEE and these substances are biononequivalent to each other, since after the introduction of the potassium salt into the body, HAEE exists in the blood plasma solution in an “unfolded” conformation and has mechanism of action different from HAEE.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES.

Fig. 1. X-ray diffraction pattern of HAEE-K.

Fig. 2. X-ray diffraction pattern of HAEE-K ₂ .

Fig. 3. DSC-TGA curve HAEE. 1 -DSC curve; 2 - TG curve.

Fig. 4. DSC-TGA curve HAEE-K.

Fig. 5. DSC-TGA curve HAEE-K ₂ .

Fig. 6. IR spectra with Fourier transform HAEE (1), HAEE-K ₂ (2) and HAEE-K (3).

Fig. 7. IR spectrum with Fourier transform in the characteristic region 1800-700 cm' ¹ . NAEE (1), NAEE-K ₂ (2) and NAEE-K (3).

Fig. 8. Arrangement of atoms in the HAEE molecule for ¹ H-NMR analysis.

Fig. 9. ¹ H-NMR spectrum of HAEE.

Fig. 10. ¹ H-NMR spectrum of HAEE-K.

Fig. 11. ¹ H-NMR spectrum of HAEE-K ₂ .

Description of devices.

Powder X-ray phase analysis (XRD) was performed on a Rigaku Ultima IV diffractometer (Japan), tube voltage - 40 kV, tube current - 30 mA, tube anode material - Cu. Goniometer: 0/O vertical type, the sample is motionless. Goniometer radius - 185 mm/285 mm. The maxima in the diffraction pattern accumulated over 1 hour. The angle 20 ranged from 3 to 70 degrees.

The study of melting point, thermal behavior and mass loss was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC-TGA) on a NETZSCH STA 449 C device (Germany) in an inert atmosphere at a heating rate of 10 deg/min. Elemental analysis was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with an EDXA attachment on a TESCAN MIRA3 microscope (Czech Republic). The area of the measured area is 0.04 mm ² , the number of measurements is 3.

Infrared radiation spectra (IR spectra) were obtained on a Spectrum Two IR-Fourier spectrometer (Perkin Elmer, USA) with a diffuse reflection attachment in the range of 4000-600 ^cm'1 with a resolution of 2 ^cm'1 , the number of scans was 10.

^1H NMR spectra were obtained on a Bruker Avance IIIHD 500 NMR spectrometer, operating frequency 500.13 MHz for ^1H nuclei.

High-resolution mass spectrometry was carried out using an LTQ FT Ultra mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Germany), which combines Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance and ion trap technologies. Electrospray ionization (ESI) was performed using an Ion Max source (Thermo Scientific, Germany) with a metal spray capillary. The following lonMax source parameters were used: flow rate was 3 μL/min; the temperature of the heated capillary was 200°C; the atomizing gas was turned off; the electrospray capillary voltage was +3.8 kV in the positive mode and -2.5 kV in the negative mode. Identification of molecular ions was carried out using specialized software Qual Browser (Thermo Corp., Germany).

The interaction with beta-amyloid was recorded by a biosensor based on the effect of surface plasmon resonance (SPPR) in aqueous buffer systems at physiological pH values. BPPR experiments were carried out on a BIAcore 3000 instrument (GE Healthcare, USA) using an CM4 optical chip in accordance with the manufacturer’s protocols. A synthetic analogue of the 42-membered human amyloid beta (Ap42), with a tetraglycylcysteine peptide fragment (-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys) added at the C-terminus, was used as a ligand.

The ligand (DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGLMVGGWIAGGGGC) was immobilized on the surface of the optical chip through the disulfide bond of the thiol group of the C-terminal cysteine residue. Potassium salts HAEE or HAEE were used as analytes.

Drying of frozen samples was carried out in penicillin vials on a Heto FD 2.5 sublimator at a pressure of 0.1 -0.2 mbar.

The accelerated storage test was carried out in a Memmert HCP50 chamber at 40 °C and 75% humidity. Samples were taken once a month for 6 months and the content of the active substance was determined by HPLC. OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

The invention is illustrated by the following examples, but is not limited to them.

Example 1. Preparation of monosubstituted potassium salt of peptide HAEE (HAEE-K).

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 10 ml of KOH with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 15 minutes at room temperature. The resulting solution was divided into two parts of 55 ml.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 7 mm. Hg Art. at a temperature of 40 °C. We obtained a white powder of monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 87%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.015 mbar for 24 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 98%. The product was a white powder of the monopotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

A study of samples of the monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide showed that, regardless of the drying method, they have identical characteristics (Fig. 1, 4, 6, 7, 10).

Another option for the method of producing HAEE-K is the use of potassium bicarbonate.

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 10 ml of KHCO ₃ with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 30 minutes at a temperature of 40 °C until the emission of carbon dioxide bubbles stopped. The resulting solution was divided into two parts of 55 ml.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 8 mm. Hg Art. at a temperature of 35 °C. We obtained a white powder of monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 84%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 36 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 97% . The product was a white powder of the monopotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

Another option for the method of obtaining HAEE-K is the use of potassium carbonate. To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 5 ml of K ₂ CO ₃ with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 25 minutes at a temperature of 50 °C until the emission of carbon dioxide bubbles stopped. The resulting solution was divided into two parts of 50 and 55 ml.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 6 mm. Hg Art. at room temperature. We obtained a white powder of monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 83%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 30 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 97% . The product was a white powder of the monopotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

Another option for the method of obtaining HAEE-K is the use of potassium sulfate.

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 5 ml of K ₂ SO ₄ with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then 5 ml of Ba(OH) ₂ solution with a concentration of 0.01 M was added to the resulting solution and stirred for 20 minutes at a temperature of 35°C. The resulting solution with the sediment was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 15 min, and the supernatant was decanted, which was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 9 mm. Hg Art. at 30°C. We obtained a white powder of monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 82%.

In another embodiment of the invention, 5 ml of K ₂ SO ₄ with a concentration of 0.01 M (or 5 ml of KHSO ₄ with a concentration of 0.02 M) was added to 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ¹⁰ ' 3 M and stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then 5 ml of Ba(OH) ₂ solution with a concentration of 0.01 M was added to the resulting solution and stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The resulting solution with the precipitate was filtered through a paper filter under vacuum. The filtered solution was poured into 2 ml penicillin vials and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20°C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 32 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 91%. The product was a white powder of the monopotassium salt of the HAEE peptide. A study of samples of monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide obtained from potassium sulfate showed that, regardless of the method of filtration and drying, they have identical characteristics (Fig. 1, 4, 6, 7, 10).

All obtained HAEE-K samples are characterized by an amorphous shape in the diffraction pattern (Fig. 1). In the DSC curve, in contrast to HAEE (Fig. 3), HAEE-K is characterized by three endothermic maxima: the first broad endothermic peak starts at 60 °C and has a maximum at 102 °C; the second begins at 162 °C with a maximum at 188 °C, the third peak begins at 198 °C with a maximum at 228 °C. (Fig. 4).

Using DSC-TGA it was shown that the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide can contain a residual moisture content of up to 5% by weight.

Elemental analysis (EDXA) of HAEE-K showed a potassium content in the samples of 7±0.5 wt%.

In the IR spectrum with the Fourier transform of HAEE-K compared to HAEE, a new maximum is observed at 1675 cm' ¹ (plane bending vibrations -NH ₂ ). The maxima at 1645 ^cm'1 and 1530 ^cm'1 are shifted (plane deformation vibrations - NH2 / C=O / [6(NH)]). In the region of 1300-700 cm' ¹ , new weak maxima are observed at 1315 and 1305 cm' ¹ (-COO-carboxylic acid vibrations), at 1275 cm' ¹ (CN) and at 700 cm' ¹ (non-planar bending vibrations -NH ₂ ) . The maximum at 1205 cm' ¹ (aliphatic amines) disappeared in the IR spectrum. The maximum at 1130 cm' ¹ shifted to the region of 1145 cm' ¹ (CN val.). There was a narrowing and increase in the intensity of the peak at 3275 cm' ¹ . (NH group). (Fig. 6,7).

The original HAEE sample was characterized by NMR ¹ H[500.13Mhz; _D2O ; 298K; d, ppm]: 1.27 (ZN, d, j=7.13Hz, CH ₃ (16)), 1.87 (5H, m, CH ₃ (3), 1/2CH ₂ (21),1/2CH ₂ (33)), 1.99 (2Н, sx, j=7.45Hz 1/2СН ₂ (21),1/2СН ₂ (33)), 2.28 (4Н, t, 2СН ₂ (22.34 )), 3.13, 3 .03 (2H, t, CH ₂ (8)), 4.19 (ZN, t, ZSN (15,20,29)), 4.56 (1 H, t, j=6.86Hz, CH(5)), 7.19 ( 1H, s, CH(10)), 8.50 (1H, s, CH(12)) (Fig. 8,9).

In HAEE-K, the position of the chemical shifts of the protons in the HAEE molecule changed and is shown in Fig. 10, which indicates the influence of the potassium ion on the HAEE molecules in solution and, therefore, the preservation of the steric structure of the HAEE molecule both in solid form in the form of a potassium salt and in solution, which is important for pharmacological properties. The signal shifts are presented in Table 1; signals differing by 0.02-0.03 ppm were considered significant.

The displacement of proton signals from certain groups in the molecule shows their contribution to the electrostatic interaction with the potassium ion during salt formation; the greater the interaction, the greater the shift observed in ^{the 1} H-NMR spectrum of certain CH groups of the molecule. Therefore, the greatest interaction is observed in atoms 21, 22, 33, 34 (Glu), which indicates the formation of a salt at the carboxyl group of glutamate.

Example 2. Preparation of disubstituted potassium salt of peptide HAEE (HAEE-K ₂ ).

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 10 ml of KOH with a concentration of 0.02 M was added and stirred for 20 minutes at room temperature. The resulting solution was divided into two equal parts of 55 ml.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 6 mm. Hg Art. at a temperature of 40 °C. We obtained a white powder of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 87%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 28 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 97% . The product was a white powder of the dipotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

A study of samples of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide showed that, regardless of the drying method, they have identical characteristics (Fig. 2, 5, 6, 7, 11).

Another option for the method of producing HAEE-K ₂ is the use of potassium bicarbonate.

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 10 ml of KHCO ₃ with a concentration of 0.02 M was added and stirred for 30 minutes at a temperature of 40°C until the emission of carbon dioxide bubbles stopped. The resulting solution was divided into two equal parts of 55 ml.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 8 mm. Hg Art. at a temperature of 35 °C. We obtained a white powder of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 84%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 34 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 98% . The product was a white powder of the dipotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

Another option for the method of producing HAEE-K ₂ is the use of potassium carbonate.

To 100 ml of HAEE buffer solution with pH = 7 and a concentration of 10' ³ M, 10 ml of K ₂ CO ₃ with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 20 minutes at temperature 50 °C until the emission of carbon dioxide bubbles stops. The resulting solution was divided into two equal parts.

The first part was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 6 mm. Hg Art. at room temperature. We obtained a white powder of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 83%.

The second part of the solution with a volume of 55 ml was poured into penicillin vials with a volume of 5 ml and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 ° C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 30 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 97% . The product was a white powder of the dipotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

Another option for the method of obtaining HAEE-K ₂ is the use of potassium sulfate.

To 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of ^10'3 M, 10 ml of K ₂ SO ₄ with a concentration of 0.01 M was added and stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then 5 ml of Ba(OH) ₂ solution with a concentration of 0.01 M was added to the resulting solution and stirred for 20 minutes at a temperature of 35 °C. The resulting solution with the sediment was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 15 min, and the supernatant was decanted, which was dried on a rotary evaporator under a vacuum of 7 mm. Hg Art. at 30 °C. We obtained a white powder of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide; the product yield, taking into account losses, was 86%.

In another embodiment of the invention, 10 ml of K ₂ SO ₄ with a concentration of ^0.01 M (or 5 ml of KHSO ₄ with a concentration of 0.02 M) was added to 100 ml of an aqueous solution of HAEE with a concentration of 10' 3 M and stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then 5 ml of Ba(OH) ₂ solution with a concentration of 0.01 M was added to the resulting solution and stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The resulting solution with the precipitate was filtered through a paper filter under vacuum. The filtered solution was poured into 2 ml penicillin vials and frozen in a refrigeration unit at -20 °C and then freeze-dried in a standard mode at a pressure of 0.02 mbar for 32 hours. The product yield, taking into account losses, was 91%. The product was a white powder of the dipotassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

A study of samples of the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide obtained from potassium sulfate showed that, regardless of the method of filtration and drying, they have identical characteristics (Fig. 2, 5, 6, 7, 11). All obtained HAEE-K ₂ samples are characterized by an amorphous shape in the diffraction pattern (Fig. 2). In the DSC curve, in contrast to HAEE (Fig. 3), HAEE-K ₂ is characterized by four endothermic peaks. The first broad peak begins at 60 °C with a maximum at 105 °C, the second weak peak begins at 155 °C with a maximum at 163 °C, the third peak begins at 215 °C with a maximum at 236 °C, and the fourth melting maximum is observed at 242 °C (Fig. 5).

Using the DSC-TGA method, it was shown that the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide can contain a residual moisture content of up to 5% by weight.

Elemental analysis (EDXA) of HAEE-K ₂ showed a potassium content in the samples of 13±1 wt%.

The IR spectrum with the Fourier transform of HAEE-K ₂ compared to HAEE is characterized by a shift of the maxima at 1530 cm' ¹ to the region of 1645 cm' ¹ (plane bending vibrations -NH ₂ ), changes in the intensity of the peaks are observed in the region of 1180-1310 cm' ¹ (CN). (Fig. 6,7).

In HAEE-K _2, the position of the chemical shifts of protons in the HAEE molecule changed and is shown in Fig. 10, which indicates the influence of the potassium ion on the HAEE molecules in solution and, therefore, the preservation of the steric structure of the HAEE molecule both in solid form in the form of a potassium salt and in solution, which is important for pharmacological properties. The signal shifts are presented in Table 1; signals differing by 0.02-0.03 ppm were considered significant.

The displacement of proton signals from certain groups in the molecule shows their contribution to the electrostatic interaction with the potassium ion during salt formation; the greater the interaction, the greater the shift observed in ^{the 1} H-NMR spectrum of certain CH groups of the molecule. Therefore, interaction is observed at atoms 21, 22, 33, 34 (Glu), which indicates the formation of a salt at the carboxyl group of glutamine. Unlike HAEE-K, in HAEE-K ₂ the imidazole group of the histidine fragment is included in the interaction, as can be seen from the shift of signals at protons 8, 10, 12 (His1).

Example 3. HPLC and mass spectrometry of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide.

Characterization of potassium salts in aqueous solution was carried out by high-resolution mass spectrometry using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance technology by measuring the exact mass of characteristic molecular ions in both positive and negative ionization modes. To carry out measurements, samples of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide in an aqueous solution with a concentration of 20 μM were added to a mixture of water and acetonitrile in a ratio of 1:1 with the addition of formic acid (to achieve a final concentration of 0.1%). Mass spectrometric analysis of an aqueous solution of potassium salts, carried out with a positive mode of an electrospray ionization source, showed the presence the molecular ion [HAEE+H] with a monoisotopic mass of 526.2304 m/z and the molecular ion [HAEE+K] with a monoisotopic mass of 564.1858 m/z. When using the negative mode of an electrospray ionization source to analyze potassium salts of the HAEE peptide in an aqueous solution, the molecular ion [HAEE-H] with a monoisotopic mass of 524.2164 m/z and the molecular ion [HAEE+K-2H] with a monoisotopic mass of 562.1746 were identified m/z.

A comparative analysis of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide and the native HAEE peptide by HPLC-MS (2.5 ng/ml, 0.5% FA - formic acid, 50% MeOH (1:1)) showed that in aqueous solutions in vitro at physiological pH values, the chromatographic mobility of HAEE-K and HAEE-K ₂ is almost identical to that for HAEE under the same chromatographic conditions. The time for the chromatographic peak to leave the column for HAEE-K was 2.86 minutes, for HAEE-K ₂ - 2.87 minutes, for HAEE - 2.85 minutes. Taking into account molecular modeling data known from the literature (Barykin E.R., Garifulina A.I., Tolstova A.R. et al. (2020). Tetrapeptide Ac-HAEE-NH ₂ Protects a4p2 nAChR from Inhibition by AJ3. International journal of molecular sciences , 21(17), 6272, doi: 10.3390/ijms21176272), the above results indicate that the spatial structures of the main peptide chain of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide and the HAEE peptide under in vitro conditions are identical and are characterized by an “unfolded” conformation.

After introducing potassium salts of the HAEE peptide intravenously into the body of healthy mice (n = 5), followed by blood sampling from animals and extraction of the fraction containing HAEE from the collected blood samples, it was found that the time of HAEE release in the chromatograms of samples prepared from animal blood samples was which were administered HAEE-K or HAEE-K ₂ did not change and amounted to 2.86 minutes and 2.87 minutes, respectively. However, it was unexpectedly found that the time of release of the main HAEE peak in the chromatogram of the sample prepared from blood samples of animals injected with the HAEE peptide became 1.27 minutes and only about 8% of HAEE appeared in the chromatographic peak at a time of 2.85 minutes.

The data obtained indicate that in blood samples the conformation of the HAEE peptide differs sharply from the conformation observed under the same conditions for the potassium salt. Only 8% of HAEE is in the “unfolded” conformation after its interaction with blood plasma elements. Thus, in blood samples, the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide retains its conformation (presumably “unfolded”) unchanged, while HAEE acquires a different conformation, which is characterized by a much more compact structure, presumably “helical”. This means that the HAEE molecule in the form of a potassium salt is resistant to changes in conformation in blood plasma. According to the present invention, to achieve a therapeutic effect from potassium salts of the HAEE peptide and from HAEE their introduction into the body and presence in the blood plasma is required, therefore, the fundamental differences in the spatial structure of these molecules in the blood plasma, based on the general concepts of biochemistry and physiology, indicate a different molecular mechanism of action of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide and native HAEE, which excludes their bioequivalence.

Example 4. Stability of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide.

The stability of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide was determined in an accelerated storage test for 6 months, which corresponds to 2 years of storage under normal conditions (Table 2). Potassium salts of the HAEE peptide retained their color and consistency, did not gain water (the weight of the sample did not increase within 1-2%) and did not lose the active substance. The HAEE sample gained water over time (up to 7% wt.) and, according to HPLC data, degraded to 67.4% of the active substance in 6 months. Thus, the stability of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide turned out to be significantly higher compared to HAEE.

Example 5. Pharmaceutical compositions based on potassium salts of the HAEE peptide.

Pharmaceutical compositions based on potassium salts of the HAEE peptide may contain the active substance in an effective amount (Table 3). These compositions were prepared separately for each of the monosubstituted and disubstituted potassium salts of the HAEE peptide. The dosage composition is calculated individually and can vary from 0.1 mg to 100 mg per person per day, more preferably from 1 to 50 mg.

The compositions of the pharmaceutical compositions are presented in Table 3. The conversion was made to the dosage of the active substance. Other ratios of the active substance in the pharmaceutical composition are possible in the range from 0.1 to 100 mg. The weight of the tablets varies from 100 to 400 mg, the tablets can be coated.

Example 6. The effect of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide on behavioral functions and the severity of cerebral amyloidosis in experimental animals.

To model a neurodegenerative disease, a model of Alzheimer's disease was chosen, which is the most common neurodegenerative disease in older people.

Male transgenic mice of the APPswe/PSEN1dE9 line were used for the experiments. Mice of this line are also known as APP/PS1. APP/PS1 mice, from 4 to 6 months of age, display characteristic cognitive features of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology and have significant amounts of congophilic amyloid plaques in specific brain regions, including the hippocampus and cortex (Borchelt DR, Ratovitski T, Van Lare J., et al (1997) Accelerated amyloid deposition in the brains of transgenic mice coexpressing mutant presenilin 1 and amyloid precursor proteins. Neuron, 19(4), 939-945, doi: 10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80974-5).

For testing, 8-month-old animals were used, grouped into the following experimental groups (n = 12 in each group):

1. control 1. Wild-type mice injected intravenously with saline;

2. control 2. APP/PS1 transgenic mice injected intravenously with saline;

3. APP/PS1 transgenic mice injected intravenously with HAEE;

4. APP/PS1 transgenic mice injected intravenously with HAEE-K;

5. transgenic mice APP/PS1, which were intravenously injected with HAEE-K ₂ .

HAEE preparations and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide were injected into the retro-orbital venous plexus in accordance with a known procedure (Yardeni T., Eckhaus M., Morris H.D. et al. (2011). Retro-orbital injections in mice. Lab animal, 40(5), 155-160, doi: 10.1038/laban0511-155). Injections at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg were performed monthly, from the age of

2 to 7 months (inclusive), a total of 6 injections were made with HAEE preparations and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide.

At the age of 8 months, behavioral functions were tested, then the animals were euthanized, followed by brain sampling and histochemical analysis of the number of congophilic plaques in the areas CA1, CA2, CAZ and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus according to a well-known procedure (Kozin S.A., Barykin E.R., Telegin G.B., et al. Intravenously Injected Amyloid-|3 Peptide With Isomerized Asp7 and Phosphorylated Ser8 Residues Inhibits Cerebral p-Amyloidosis in ApPP/PS1 Transgenic Mice Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Frontiers in neuroscience, 2018, 12, 518-518, doi: 10.3389/fnins .2018.00518).

6.1. Analysis of the improvement in behavioral functions in 8-month-old male APP/PS1 transgenic mice under the influence of HAEE and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide was carried out using the “Burrow of Balls” test. APP/PS1 transgenic mice and wild-type mice were used as controls. For the test, mice were placed in cages with fresh bedding containing eighteen beads arranged in a 3 x 6 matrix. The mice were left in the cage for 30 minutes, after which the percentage of more than two-thirds of beads buried was determined. of the total number of balls. The burying behavior is a sign of obsessive-compulsive behavior. Due to the repetitive and perseverative nature of burying, this behavior may represent neuropsychiatric symptoms such as perseverative behavior and/or stereotypic behavior. Both are neuropsychiatric symptoms commonly present in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. According to the testing results, the level of behavior of the control group of wild-type mice was characterized by the value of KZS = 50.6 ± 13.3 (%). This value is considered as a reference value. In the control group of transgenic APP/PS1 mice, the value of the CVS = 12.6±4.2 (%), which indicates a strong deterioration in the behavioral reflexes of APP/PS1 mice compared to wild-type animals and reflects the disabling effect of overproduction of human beta-amyloid on the processes nervous activity. In the group of mice treated with HAEE, the CVS value was 20.6±7.3 (%). For the groups of mice treated with HAEE-K and HAEE-K ₂ , the value of the CVS was 44.3 ± 9.9 (%) and 49.2 ± 10.2 (%) respectively (Table 4).

These data indicate that the use of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide significantly improves the behavioral reflexes of APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and the effect of this use significantly exceeds that observed for HAEE.

6.2. Histochemical analysis of congophilic amyloid plaques in the areas CA1, CA2, CAZ and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was carried out according to previously described procedures (Kozin SA, Barykin E.R., Telegin GB, et al. Intravenously Injected Amyloid-P Peptide With Isomerized Asp7 and Phosphorylated Ser8 Residues Inhibits Cerebral |3- Amyloidosis in APPP/PS1 Transgenic Mice Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Frontiers in neuroscience, 2018, 12, 518-518, doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00518). The brains of mice were removed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde. The process of pouring the sample into paraffin was carried out as follows: poured 75% ethanol and left overnight, then changed to 96% ethanol and kept for 5 minutes, 96% ethanol - 10 minutes, 100% ethanol - 10 minutes (two changes), ethanol-chloroform (1:1) - 30 minutes, and left in pure chloroform overnight. Paraffin embedding was carried out at 60°C for 3 hours (three shifts). Embedding of tissues in paraffin blocks was carried out on a Leica EG 1160 device. Serial sections of the brain (8 μm) were cut using a Leica RM2265 microtome and placed on glass slides. For deparaffinization, hydration and staining of sections, the following steps were carried out: slides were sequentially placed in xylene for three shifts (10 minutes each), 96% ethanol - 5 minutes, 90% ethanol - 2 minutes, 75% ethanol - 2 minutes, water - 5 minutes (three shifts), Congo red solution - 5 minutes, then potassium hydroxide solution and water were added. ImMu-Mount medium (Thermo Scientific) was used for mounting. Slices covering the brain region from 0.48 to 1.92 mm relative to the midline in lateral stereotaxic coordinates (Franklin K., Paxinos, G. (2008). The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates. New York, NY: Academic Press), used to quantify congophilic amyloid plaques in the hippocampus. Every 15th section was analyzed, resulting in 10 sections per animal. Amyloid plaques were identified by Congo red staining and manually counted. Mean values and standard deviation were calculated for each group of mice. number of plaques per section. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of the distribution. For pairwise comparison of the study groups, the Mann-Whitney test was used. The significance level used was 99.9% (P < 0.001).

In the control group of wild-type mice (group 1), no amyloid plaques were detected (Table 4). Congophilic amyloid plaques visualized in the CA1, CA2, CAZ and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of the brain of transgenic animals were similar in localization and size distribution in the brain parenchyma. However, quantification of amyloid plaques revealed significant differences between groups. In control group 2 (APP/PS1 transgenic mice), the average number of plaques in regions per brain section (BS) was BL = 31.7 ± 4.9. In group 3, in which transgenic APP/PS1 mice were treated with HAEE, the BF value was 24.7 ± 3.4. In group 4, in which APP/PS1 transgenic mice were treated with HAEE-K, the BF value was 9.2 ± 3.1. In group 5, in which transgenic APP/PS1 mice were administered HAEE-K ₂ , the BN value was 8.7 ± 2.8. Thus, the results of histochemical analysis showed that intravenous injections of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide led to an almost 4-fold decrease in the amyloid load in the hippocampus of transgenic APP/PS1 mice, and according to this indicator, the effectiveness of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide was approximately three times higher than that detected for NAEE.

Example 7. Specific binding of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide to human beta-amyloid (A₽42).

Additionally, the binding of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide to beta-amyloid was assessed as one of the mechanisms of action of this salt in neurodegenerative lesions associated with beta-amyloid. Salt formation between the analyte in solution (potassium salt of the HAEE peptide or native HAEE) and the immobilized 42-membered human beta-amyloid (ligand) was studied using BPPR. Based on the results of such experiments, the kinetic parameters of interactions and the value of the dissociation constant (K _D ) of the interaction were calculated. If the value of K _D £ 10" ⁴ M, then the interaction between the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide and beta-amyloid is biologically significant.

No interactions were detected between HAEE and the ligand. On the contrary, when potassium salts of the HAEE peptide were introduced, their interaction with immobilized A₽42 was detected at its various concentrations of 150, 300, 500, 1000, 1500 μM. Based on the data obtained, the kinetic characteristics of the interaction between potassium salts of the HAEE peptide and immobilized human

Thus, based on the above results, the formation of stable intermolecular complexes between 42-membered human beta-amyloid (A042) and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide has been proven. Unlike the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide, the native HAEE peptide does not interact with Ap42 under identical experimental conditions.

The results obtained in this Example of the present invention indicate the absence of the ability of HAEE to bind to A(342. On the contrary, the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide are able to bind to Ap42. Despite the fact that both HAEE and the potassium salts of the HAEE peptide when introduced into the circulatory system of transgenic APP/ mice PS1 improve cognitive function and reduce the number of amyloid plaques in experimental animals (Examples 6.1 and 6.2 of the present invention), the results obtained indicate different molecular mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of HAEE and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide, which, in turn, excludes the bioequivalence of HAEE and potassium salts of the peptide HAEE when used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases Therefore, we can conclude that HAEE and potassium salts of the HAEE peptide are not bioequivalent to each other.

Table 1. Shift of proton signals in the ¹ H-NMR spectrum of potassium salts of HAEE compared to HAEE.

Table 2. Data on the stability of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide in an accelerated storage test (40 °C, 75% humidity) for 6 months.

WO 2024/014980 PCT/RU2023/000207

Table 3. Composition of pharmaceutical compositions with potassium salts (HAEE-K and HAEE-Kg) of the HAEE peptide. IM - intramuscular administration, IV - intravenous administration. 100.0 92.1 71.9

Table 4. Effect of potassium salts of the HAEE peptide on cognitive functions in mice in the “bead burying” test and on the number of amyloid plaques.

The significance level used was 99.9% (P < 0.001).

Claims

CLAIM

1. Potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu.

2. The salt according to claim 1, which is a monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

3. Salt according to claim 1, which is a disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide.

4. Salt according to claim 1, which is an amorphous phase in solid form.

5. Salt according to claim 1, which is characterized by the diffraction pattern shown in Fig. 12.

6. Salt according to claim 1, which is characterized by the differential scanning calorimetry curve presented in Fig. 4.5.

7. Salt according to claim 1, which is characterized by the IR spectrum shown in Fig. 6.

8. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, containing as an active substance the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu. in an effective amount and pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, in which the monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is used as the active substance.

10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, in which the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is used as the active substance.

11. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, which is presented in solid or liquid form.

12. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, in which the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is in the form of an amorphous form.

13. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 12, in which the amorphous form of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is characterized by the diffraction pattern shown in FIG. 12.

14. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, wherein the effective amount of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is from 0.1 to 100 mg.

15. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, in which the effective amount of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is from 5 to 50 mg.

16. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

17. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, intended for the restoration of cognitive functions impaired due to neurodegenerative functions.

18. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17, used for inflammatory causes of diseases.

19. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, in which the auxiliary pharmaceutically acceptable additives are mannitol, povidone K 17, trometamol, disodium edetate, sodium chloride, sucrose, histidine, poloxamer 407.

20. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, which is a lyophilisate.

21. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8, intended for administration by intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, cutaneous, transdermal, intramuscular, intrathecal, subarachnoid, oral, intranasal, sublingual, buccal, rectal route.

22. A method for producing the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu, which consists in the fact that an aqueous or buffer solution of the HAEE peptide mixed with an aqueous solution of potassium compounds in stoichiometric proportions at room temperature, stirred and dried.

23. The production method according to claim 22, wherein the potassium compound is potassium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate.

24. The production method according to claim 22, in which stirring is carried out for 5-30 minutes.

25. The production method according to claim 22, in which the solution is heated to 50 °C while stirring.

26. The production method according to claim 22, in which drying is carried out under vacuum at a temperature of no more than 50 °C.

27. A method for producing the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu, which consists in the fact that an aqueous or buffer solution of the HAEE peptide mixed with an aqueous solution of potassium sulfate or potassium hydrogen sulfate in stoichiometric proportions at room temperature, stirred, add a stoichiometric amount of barium hydroxide, separate the precipitate and dry.

28. The production method according to claim 27, in which after adding barium hydroxide, the solution is heated to 50 °C.

29. Use of the potassium salt of the HAEE peptide, where HAEE is a synthetic peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus and amidated at the C-terminus, with the amino acid sequence His-Ala-Glu-Glu, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

30. Use according to claim 29, in which the monosubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is used as the active substance.

31. Use according to claim 29, in which the disubstituted potassium salt of the HAEE peptide is used as the active substance.

32. Use according to claim 29, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

33. Use according to claim 29, for the restoration of cognitive functions impaired due to neurodegenerative diseases.

34. Use according to claim 29, for restoration of cognitive functions in inflammatory causes of diseases.

35. Application according to claim 29 when administered intravenously, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, cutaneously, transdermal, intramuscular, intrathecal, subarachnoid, oral, intranasal, sublingual, buccal, rectal.

36. Use according to claim 29, which is therapeutically bioequivalent to the use of HAEE in its native form.