Use of compounds for the regulation of food intake

Abstract

Compounds that are ligands for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1A (GHS-R 1A), as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds, are useful for the manufacture of medicaments for the regulation of food intake.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . The use of a compound that is a ligand for the receptor GHS-R 1A, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the regulation of food intake.  
     
     
         2 . The use according to    claim 1   , wherein the compound does not induce a therapeutic effective growth hormone release at the therapeutic dose of the compound.  
     
     
         3 . The use according to claims  1  or  2 , wherein the medicament is for humans.  
     
     
         4 . The use according to any one of claims  1 - 3 , wherein the medicament is a non-injectable medicament.  
     
     
         5 . The use according to any one of claims  1 - 4 , wherein the ligand is an agonist.  
     
     
         6 . The use according to any one of claims  1 - 4 , wherein the ligand is an antagonist.  
     
     
         7 . The use according to any one of claims  1 - 5 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of adenosine, ghrelin and ghrelin homologues.  
     
     
         8 . A method for the regulation of food intake, which method comprises administering an effective amount of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  to a patient in need of such a treatment.  
     
     
         9 . A method for identifying compounds for the regulation of food intake, characterized by screening out compounds that act as ligands for the GHS receptor type 1A (GHS-R 1A).  
     
     
         10 . Compounds identified by a method according to    claim 9   .  
     
     
         11 . The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the regulation of Body Mass Index (BMI).  
     
     
         12 . The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of anorexia.  
     
     
         13 . The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of lack of appetite in children with a growth hormone deficiency.  
     
     
         14 . The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of obesity.  
     
     
         15 . The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of Type II diabetes.  
     
     
         16 . The use of a compound according to any one of claims  1 , 2  or  5 - 7  for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of wasting associated with AIDS.  
     
     
         17 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 , 2 or  5 - 7  or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         18 . A composition according to    claim 17    in unit dosage form, comprising from about 0.05 to about 2000 mg, preferably from about 0.1 to about 500 mg of a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition for the regulation of food intake, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  2  or  5 - 7  or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical composition according to any one of the claims  17 - 19  for oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonal or parenteral administration.