The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Catherine L Rivier

Jean E Rivier

Wylie W Vale, Jr

John S Porter

Carl A Hoeger

Paula G Theobald

Wayne D Kornreich

Jean-Francois Hernandez

Arnold T Hagler

Marilyn H Perrin

Wylie Walker Vale, Jr

Joachim Spiess

Marvin R Brown

Antonio De Miranda

Guangcheng Jiang

Steven C Koerber

Janos I Varga

R Scott Struthers

Jean F Hernandez

Peptides which include unnatural amino acids and which either promote or inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such peptides that are GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads and may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors. The agonists can be used for control of reproduction processes, to treat precocious puberty, endometriosis, and the like. The peptides are analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is at least one residue of an unnatural amino acid in the 3-, 5-, 6- and/or 8-positions. Unnatural amino acids having the following formula are incorporated in a preferred group of synthesized peptides: ##STR1## Methods for synthesizing such peptides having the triazole side chains are disclosed wherein one side chain modification (or two simultaneously) is carried out on an amino-substituted phenylalanine residue in a peptide chain which is a part of a peptidoresin.

GnRH analogs

CRF antagonists

Analogs of the decapeptide GnRH which include two significantly modified amino acids at positions 5 and 6 inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads and may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors. Particularly effective peptides which are soluble in water at physiologic pH and which have a low tendency to gel when administered in vivo have the following formula:

GNRH antagonists XIII

Improved CRF peptide antagonists have the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.20 is Cys or Glu; R.sub.23 is Cys, Lys or Orn; provided that when R.sub.20 is Cys, R.sub.23 is Cys and when R.sub.20 is Glu, R.sub.23 is Lys or Orn; or a nontoxic addition salt thereof. Specific CRF antagonists disclosed include (cyclo 20-23) [D-Phe.sup.12, Lys.sup.23, Nle.sup.21,38, ]rCRF(12-41); (cyclo 20-23) [D-Phe.sup.12, Orn.sup.23, Nle.sup.21,38 ]rCRF(12-41) and (cyclo 20-23) [D-Phe.sup.12, Cys.sup.20, Cys.sup.23, Nle.sup.21,38 ]rCRF(12-41).

Cyclic CRF analogs

Peptides which include unnatural amino acids and which either inhibit or promote the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such peptides that are GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads. The antagonists may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors, such as prostatic and mammary tumors. The peptides are analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is at least one residue of an unnatural amino acid in the 3-, 5-, 6- and/or 8-positions. Such unnatural amino acids are useful in the synthesis of peptides and have the formula U.sup.* : ##STR1## where W is (CH.sub.2).sub.n or ##STR2## n is an integer from 1 to 6; and j=1, 2 or 3. Preferably, either Y is N--CN, X is NH and R.sub.2 is alkyl, modified alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or methyl pridyl or ##STR3## where R.sub.11 is H or acyl.

Disclosed are improved CRF peptide antagonists such as those having the formula: Y-D-Phe-R.sub.13 -Leu-Leu-Arg-R.sub.17 -R.sub.18 -Leu-R.sub.20 -Nle-R.sub.22 -R.sub.23 -R.sub.24 -R.sub.25 -R.sub.26 -Leu-R.sub.28 -R.sub.29 -Gln-R.sub.31 -R.sub.32 -R.sub.33 -R.sub.34 -Arg-R.sub.36 -R.sub.37 -Nle-R.sub.39 -R.sub.40 -R.sub.41 -NH.sub.2 wherein Y is Ac or hydrogen; R.sub.13 is His, Tyr or Glu; R.sub.17 is Cys, Glu, Asn or Lys; R.sub.18 is Val, Nle or Met; R.sub.20 is D-Cys, Glu, D-Glu, Aib or D-Ala; R.sub.22 is Ala, Aib, Thr, Asp or Glu; R.sub.23 is Arg, Orn, Har or Lys; R.sub.24 is Ala or Aib; R.sub.25 is Asp or Glu; R.sub.26 is Gln, Asn or Lys; R.sub.28 is Ala or Aib; R.sub.29 is Gln, Aib or Glu, R.sub.31 is Ala or Aib; R.sub.32 is His, Aib, Gly, Tyr or Ala; R.sub.33 is Ser, Aib, Asn, Leu, Thr or Ala; R.sub.34 is Asn or Aib; R.sub.36 is Lys, Orn, Arg, Har or Leu; R.sub.37 is Leu or Try; R.sub.39 is Glu, Aib or Asp; R.sub.40 is Ile, Aib, Thr, Glu, Ala, Val, Leu, Nle, Phe, Nva, Gly or Gln; and R.sub.41 is Ala, Ile, Gly, Val, Leu, Nle, Phe, Nva or Gln. Specific CRF antagonists disclosed include [D-Phe.sup.12, D-Ala.sup.20, Nle.sup.21,38,]-rCRF(12-41), [D-Phe.sup.12, Nle.sup.21,38, Aib.sup.33 ]-rCRF(12-41) and (c 17-20) [D-Phe.sup.12, Cys.sup.17, D-Cys.sup.20, Nle.sup.21,38 ]-rCRF(12-41).

Peptides which include unnatural amino acides and which either inhibit or promote the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such peptides that are GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads. The antagonists may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors, such as prostatic and mammary tumors. The peptides are analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is at least one residue of an unnatural amino acid in the 3-position, the 5-position, the 6-position and/or the 8-position. Such unnatural amino acids are useful in the synthesis of peptides and have the formula U*: ##STR1## where n is an integer from 1 to 6; Y is N--CN, N--CONHR.sub.9, S, O or CH--NO.sub.2 ; R.sub.9 is H, Ac, lower alkyl, aromatic or heterocyclic; X is NH, O, S, M.sub.1 (CH.sub.q).sub.p M.sub.2 or M.sub.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.p' --M.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.p' --M.sub.3, where M.sub.1 is NR.sub.10, O, S or CHR.sub.3 wherein R.sub.3 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl or purinyl, q is 1 or 2; p, p' and p' are integers between O and 6; R.sub.10 is H, lower alkyl or the like, and M.sub.2 and M.sub.3 are M.sub.1, COOH, CONH.sub.2, COOR.sub.3 or CN; R.sub.1 is H, alkyl, modified alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or a direct bond to X; R.sub.2 is R.sub.1, OH, NH.sub.2, NHR.sub.1, or heterocycle.

Several known members of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family have been synthesized and tested, including human and rat CRF which have the formula: H-Ser-Glu-Glu-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Leu-Asp-Leu-Thr-Phe-His- Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Glu-Met-Ala-Arg-Ala-Glu-Gln- Leu-Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-His-Ser-Asn-Arg-Lys-Leu-Met-Glu- Ile-Ile-NH.sub.2. Peptides are herein disclosed that are potent competitive antagonists of CRF in mammals. One which has been found to be particularly potent is: H-D-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Glu-Nle-Ala- Arg-Ala-Glu-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-His-Ser-Asn- Arg-Lys-Leu-Nle-Glu-Ile-Ile-NH.sub.2. One that has shown particularly prolonged duration of potency is: H-D-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Glu-Nle-Ala- Arg-Ala-Glu-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-His-Ser-Asn- Arg-Lys-CML-Nle-Glu-Ile-Ile-NH.sub.2. These antagonists or pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof, dispersed in a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable liquid or solid carrier, can be administered to mammals, including humans, to achieve a prevent elevation of ACTH, .beta.-endorphin, .beta.-lipotropin, other products of the pro-opiomelanocortin gene and corticosterone levels and/or a lowering of brain mediated responses to stress over an extended period of time. They may also be used to affect mood, memory and learning, as well as diagnostically.

The invention provides synthetic peptides which are extremely potent in stimulating the release of pituitary GH in animals, including humans and also resist enzymatic degradation in the body. The peptides have the sequence: (B)R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -Ala-(Q.sub.1)R.sub.5 -Phe-Thr-R.sub.8 -Ser(Q.sub.2)R.sub.10 -Arg-R.sub.12 -(Q.sub.3)R.sub.13 -Leu-R.sub.15 -Gln-(Q.sub.4)Leu-R.sub.18 -(Q.sub.5)Ala-Arg-R.sub.21 -(Q.sub.6)R.sub.22 -(Q.sub.7)Leu-R.sub.24 -R.sub.25 -(Q.sub.8)R.sub.26 -(Q.sub.9)R.sub.27 -R.sub.28 -Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-R.sub.34 -Asn-Gln-Glu-R.sub.38 -R.sub.39 -R.sub.40 -Arg-R.sub.42 -R.sub.43 -R.sub.44 wherein R.sub.1 is Tyr, D-Tyr, Met, Phe, D-Phe, pCl-Phe, Leu, His or D-His; B is H, C.sup.a Me, N.sup.a Me, desamino, Ac or For; R.sub.2 is Ala, D-Ala, NMA or D-NMA; R.sub.3 is Asp or D-Asp; R.sub.5 is Ile or Leu; R.sub.8 is Ser, Asn, Lys, Arg, Asp or Glu; R.sub.10 is Tyr, D-Tyr or Phe; R.sub.12 is Arg or Lys; R.sub.13 is Ile, Val, Leu or Ala; R.sub.15 is Gly or Ala; R.sub.18 is Ser or Tyr; R.sub.21 is Lys, D-Lys, Arg or D-Arg; R.sub.22 is Leu, Ile, Ala or Val; R.sub.24 is Gln or His; R.sub.25 is Asp or Glu; R.sub.26 is Ile or Leu; R.sub.27 is Met, D-Met, Ala, Nle, Ile, Leu, Nva or Val; R.sub.28 is Asn or Ser; R.sub.34 is Ser or Arg; R.sub.38 is Arg or Gln; R.sub.39 is Gly or Arg; R.sub.40 is Ala or Ser; R.sub.42 is Phe, Ala or Val; R.sub.43 is Asn or Arg; R.sub.44 is a natural amino acid; Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.9 are either H or C.sup.a Me, provided however that one of Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.9 is C.sup.a Me. These peptides may also be used diagnostically, and the C-terminus can be shortened to residue-29.

GRF Analogs VIIA

Peptides which inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads. These peptides may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors, such as prostatic and mammary tumors. The peptides include cyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic analogs of the decapeptide GnRH, and preferably there are at least two covalent bonds between the residues in the 4- and 10-positions, the residues in the 5- and 8-positions and the residues in the 1- and 3-positions, respectively. Examples of such bonds include a disulfide linkage between Cys residues, an amide linkage between a side chain amino group and a side chain carboyxl group, a dicarba linkage between side-chain alkyl groups, and a carba linkage between a side-chain alkyl group and a side-chain sulfhydryl group.

Cyclic GnRH antagonists

Synthetic peptides which stimulate the release of pituitary GH in animals, including humans, and are more resistant to enzymatic degradation in the body than hGRF having the sequence: (B)R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 R.sub.3 -Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-R.sub.8 -Ser-R.sub.10 -Arg-R.sub.12 R.sub.13 -Leu-R.sub.15 -Gln-Leu-R.sub.18 -Ala-Arg-R.sub.21 -R.sub.22 -Leu-R.sub.24 -R.sub.25 -Ile-R.sub.27 -R.sub.28 -R.sub.29 -Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-R.sub.34 -Asn-Gln-Glu-R.sub.38 R.sub.39 -R.sub.40 -Arg-R.sub.42 -R.sub.43 -R.sub.44 wherein R.sub.1 is Tyr, D-Tyr, Met, D-Met, Phe, D-Phe, pCl-Phe, Leu, His or D-His; B is H, C.sup.a Me, N.sup.1 Me, desamino, Ac or For; R.sub.2 is Ala, D-Ala, NMA or D-NMA; R.sub.3 is Asp or D-Asp; R.sub.8 is Ser, Asn, Lys, Arg, Asp or Gln; R.sub.10 is Tyr, D-Tyr or Phe; R.sub.12 is Arg or Lys; R.sub.13 is Ile, Val, Leu or Ala; R.sub.15 is Gly, Ala or .beta.-Ala; R.sub.18 is Ser or Tyr; R.sub.21 is Lys, D-Lys, Arg or D-Arg; R.sub.22 is Leu, Ile, Ala or Val; R.sub.24 is Gln or His; R.sub.25 is cys, abu, asp, glu, orn, lys, dab or dap; R.sub.27 is Met, D-Met, Ala, Nle, Ile, Leu, Nva or Val; R.sub.28 is Asn or Ser; R.sub.29 is cys, abu, asp, glu, orn, lys, dab or dap; R.sub.34 is Ser or Arg; R.sub.38 is Arg or Gln; R.sub.39 is Gly or Arg; R.sub.40 is Ala or Ser; R.sub.42 is Phe or Ala; R.sub.43 is Asn or Arg; R.sub.44 is a natural amino acid, such as Leu or Val. C-terminal sequences of from 1 to 15 residues beginning at R.sub.44 and extending as far as up to R.sub.29 may be deleted. These peptides as well as their nontoxic salts may also be used diagnostically.

Cyclic GRF analogs

The invention provides synthetic peptides which are extremely potent in stimulating the release of pituitary GH in animals, including humans, which have resistance to enzymatic degradation in the body, and which have the sequence: (B)R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-R.sub.8 -Ser-(Q.sub.1)R.sub.10 - Arg-R.sub.12. (Q.sub.2)R.sub.13 -Leu-R.sub.15 -Gln-Leu-Ser-(Q.sub.3)Ala-Arg. R.sub.21 -(Q.sub.4)R.sub.22 -Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-R.sub.27 -R.sub.28 -Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Arg-R.sub.42 -R.sub.43 -R.sub.44 wherein R.sub.1 is Tyr, D-Tyr, Met, Phe, D-Phe, pCl-Phe, Leu, His or D-His; B is H, C.sup.a Me, N.sup.a Me, desamino, Ac or For; R.sub.2 is Ala, D-Ala, NMA or D-NMA; R.sub.3 is Asp or D-Asp; R.sub.8 is Ser, Asn, Lys, Arg, Asp or Gln; R.sub.10 is Tyr, D-Tyr or Phe; R.sub.12 is Arg or Lys; R.sub.13 is Ile, Val, Leu or Ala; R.sub.15 is Gly or Ala; R.sub.21 is Lys, D-Lys or D-Arg; R.sub.22 is Leu, Ile, Ala or Val; R.sub.27 is Met, D-Met, Ala, Nle, Ile, Leu, Nva or Val; R.sub.28 is Asn or Ser; R.sub.42 is Phe, Ala or Val; R.sub.43 is Asn or Arg; R.sub.44 is a natural amino acid; Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.4 are either H or C.sup.a Me, provided however that any or all of the residues between R.sub.30 and R.sub.44, inclusive, may be deleted. These peptides as well as their nontoxic salts may also be used diagnostically.

GRF analogs VII

Peptides which inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. Administration of an effective amount of such GnRH antagonists prevents ovulation of female mammalian eggs and/or the release of steroids by the gonads. These peptides may be used to treat steroid-dependent tumors, such as prostatic and mammary tumors. The peptides are cyclic analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is a covalent bond between the residue in the 4-position and the residue in the 10-position. Examples of such bonds include the disulfide linkage between Cys residues, an amide linkage between a side chain amino group and a side chain carboxyl group, a dicarba linkage between side-chain alkyl groups, and a carba linkage between a side-chain alkyl group and a side-chain sulfhydryl group.

GnRH antagonists IX

Several polypeptide analogs of the known members of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family have been synthesized and tested including human and rat CRF which have the formula: H-Ser-Glu-Glu-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Leu-Asp-Leu-Thr-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu-Val- Leu-Glu-Met-Ala-Arg-Ala-Glu-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-His-Ser-Asn-Arg-Lys-Leu -Met-Glu-Ile-Ile-NH.sub.2. Peptides are herein disclosed that are potent competitive antagonists of CRF in mammals. One which has been found to be particularly potent is: H-Leu-Asp-Leu-Thr-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu-Met-Leu-Glu-Met-Ala-Lys-Ala-Glu- Gln-Glu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Ala-Ala-Leu-Asn-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Glu-Glu-Ala-NH.sub.2. These antagonists or pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof, dispersed in a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable liquid or solid carrier, can be administered to mammals, including humans, to achieve a prevent elevation of ACTH, .beta.-endorphin, .beta.-lipotropin, other products of the pro-opiomelanocortin gene and corticosterone levels and/or a lowering of brain-mediated responses to stress over an extended period of time. They may also be used to affect mood, memory and learning, as well as diagnostically.

Peptides which are LRF analogs that inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads can be effective to suppress androgen-dependent behavior when administered to male mammals. The peptides are LRF antagonists having a binding affinity at least about 15 times that exhibited by LRF and having an ICR.sub.50 of less than 1/1. Examples of peptides which may be used are those having the structure: R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -D-Trp-Ser-Tyr-R.sub.4 -Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH.sub.2 wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, formyl, acetyl, acrylyl, benzoyl and allyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of dehydro Pro, dehydro D-Pro, Thz and D-Thz; R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of pCl-D-Phe, pF-D-Phe, pNO.sub.2 -D-Phe and 3,4 Cl-D-Phe; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of D-Trp and (imBzl) D-His; and Leu may be substituted by N.alpha.MeLeu. Effective suppression of androgen-dependent behavior is achieved at a daily dosage level of not more than about 3 mg. per Kg. of body weight.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Catherine L Rivier