Use of Melanocortins to Treat Insulin Sensitivity

Abstract

The present invention relates to peptide ligands of the melanocortin receptors, in particular the melancortin-4 receptor, and as such, are useful in the treatment of disorders responsive to the activation of this receptor, such as insulin resistance.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method of treating insulin resistance in a subject in need thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of D-Phe-c(Cys-His-D-(Et)Tyr-hArg-Bip-β-Ala-D-Cys)-Thr-NH 2  (SEQ ID NO:26) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said subject is a child. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the child is obese. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the child is normal weight or lean. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the child suffers from Type II diabetes. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said subject is an adult. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said subject is an elderly adult. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the D-Phe-c(Cys-His-D-(Et)Tyr-hArg-Bip-β-Ala-D-Cys)-Thr-NH 2  (SEQ ID NO:26) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated as a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a sustained release composition. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said administration is oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal, transdermal or intranasal. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein said administration is continuous. 
     
     
         47 . A method of treating insulin resistance in a subject in need thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of:
 c[Hydantoin(C(O)-(Asp-His))-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH 2  (SEQ ID NO: 274)   c[Hydantoin(C(O)-(Asp-A 3 c))-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH 2 ; (SEQ ID NO: 274)   c[Hydantoin(C(O)-(Asp-A 5 c))-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH 2 ; (SEQ ID NO: 274)   c[Hydantoin(C(O)-(Asp-A 6 c))-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH 2 ; (SEQ ID NO: 274)   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said subject is a child. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said subject is an adult. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the child is obese. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the child suffers from Type II diabetes. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated as a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a sustained release composition. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said administration is oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal, transdermal or intranasal. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein said administration is continuous.