Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ethan R Signer

Malcolm L Gefter

Mark A Findeis

Gary Fred Musso

James Wakefield

Howard Benjamin

Michael Kelley

Joseph Chin

Jung-Ja Lee

Arvind Hundal

Susan Molineaux

Marc B Garnick

Christopher C Arico-Muendel

Kathryn Phillips

Neil J Hayward

Laura Kasman

Michael J Reed

Sonja Komar-Panicucci

David I Israel

William Kubasek

Sonja A Komar

Alicia Peticolas

Farah Natoli

Kuanghui Lu

Martin P Keough

William Goodwin

Ling Chai

Compounds that modulate the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides are disclosed. The modulators of the invention can promote amyloid aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural amyloid aggregation. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds modulate the aggregation of natural &#x3b2; amyloid peptides (&#x3b2;-AP). In a preferred embodiment, the &#x3b2; amyloid modulator compounds of the invention are comprised of an A&#x3b2; aggregation core domain and a modifying group coupled thereto such that the compound alters the aggregation or inhibits the neurotoxicity of natural &#x3b2; amyloid peptides when contacted with the peptides. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural &#x3b2;-AP aggregation when the natural &#x3b2;-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Modulators of amyloid aggregation

Compounds that modulate natural &#x3b2; amyloid peptide aggregation are provided. The modulators of the invention comprise a peptide, preferably based on a &#x3b2; amyloid peptide, that is comprised entirely of D-amino acids. Preferably, the peptide comprises 3&#x2013;5 D-amino acid residues and includes at least two D-amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of D-leucine, D-phenylalanine and D-valine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the peptide is a retro-inverso isomer of a &#x3b2; amyloid peptide, preferably a retro-inverso isomer of A&#x3b2;. In certain embodiments, the peptide is modified at the amino-terminus, the carboxy-terminus, or both. Preferred amino-terminal modifying groups include cyclic, heterocyclic, polycyclic and branched alkyl groups. Preferred carboxy-terminal modifying groups include an amide group, an alkyl amide group, an aryl amide group or a hydroxy group. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Modulators of &#x3b2;-amyloid peptide aggregation comprising D-amino acids

Compounds that modulate natural &bgr; amyloid peptide aggregation are provided. The modulators of the invention comprise a peptide, preferably based on a &bgr; amyloid peptide, that is comprised entirely of D-amino acids. Preferably, the peptide comprises 3-5 D-amino acid residues and includes at least two D-amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of D-leucine, D-phenylalanine and D-valine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the peptide is a retro-inverso isomer of a &bgr; amyloid peptide, preferably a retro-inverso isomer of A&bgr; . In certain embodiments, the peptide is modified at the amino-terminus, the carboxy-terminus, or both. Preferred amino-terminal modifying groups include cyclic, heterocyclic, polycyclic and branched alkyl groups. Preferred carboxy-terminal modifying groups include an amide group, an alkyl amide group, an aryl amide group or a hydroxy group. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Modulators of &bgr;-amyloid peptide aggregation comprising D-amino acids

An anchor library is described. A collection of recombinant vectors having a nucleic acid encoding a displayed peptide sequence is provided. The displayed peptide sequence of each of the vectors comprises X (Y ) X (Y ) X (Y ) X , wherein each X , X , X and X is an amino acid residue and any of X , X , X and X can be the same or different from any one other, wherein each Y , Y and Y is alanine or glycine or a combination of alanine and glycine that is respectively c , c and c amino acid residues long and any of Y , Y and Y if present can be the same or different from any one other, wherein each of c , c and c is 0 to about 20, wherein X and X are each attached to an amino acid residue that flanks the displayed peptide sequence. Preferably, at least about 10 to about 10 permutations of all possible permutations of the displayed peptide sequence are present in the anchor library. Preferably, the library does not contain more than about 10% of displayed peptide sequences different from the first mentioned displayed peptide sequences. Also described are methods of making anchor libraries and methods of using anchor libraries to identify a peptide sequence that binds to a target. Recombinant vectors, filamentous phage, nucleic acid molecules and proteins are also provided.

Anchor libraries and identification of peptide binding sequences

Compounds that modulate the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides are disclosed. The modulators of the invention can promote amyloid aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural amyloid aggregation. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds modulate the aggregation of natural &bgr; amyloid peptides (&bgr;-AP). In a preferred embodiment, the &bgr; amyloid modulator compounds of the invention are comprised of an A&bgr; aggregation core domain and a modifying group coupled thereto such that the compound alters the aggregation or inhibits the neurotoxicity of natural &bgr; amyloid peptides when contacted with the peptides. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural &bgr;-AP aggregation when the natural &bgr;-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Compounds that modulate natural &bgr; amyloid peptide aggregation are provided. The modulators of the invention comprise a peptide, preferably based on a &bgr; amyloid peptide, that is comprised entirely of D-amino acids. Preferably, the peptide comprises 3-5 D-amino acid residues and includes at least two D-amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of D-leucine, D-phenylalanine and D-valine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the peptide is a retro-inverso isomer of a &bgr; amyloid peptide, preferably a retro-inverso isomer of A&bgr;,. In certain embodiments, the peptide is modified at the amino-terminus, the carboxy-terminus, or both. Preferred amino-terminal modifying groups include cyclic, heterocyclic, polycyclic and branched alkyl groups. Preferred carboxy-terminal modifying groups include an amide group, an alkyl amide group, an aryl amide group or a hydroxy group. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

This invention provides peptide compounds that bind to either a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or a fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and, accordingly, are useful for modulating FGFR activity. Preferably, the FGFR is FGFR2-IIIC. Preferably, the FGF is basic FGF. Preferably the peptide compound comprises an amino acid sequence: (Y/F)-(L/F/I)-(R/D/E/S/Y/G)-(Q/L/Y)-Y-(M/L/K/R)-(L/M/D/E/N/S)-(R/L/S/T)-(L/F/M/V) (SEQ ID NO: 1). The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptide compounds of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention still further provides methods of modulating FGFR activity using the peptide compounds of the invention.

Peptide compounds useful for modulating FGF receptor activity

Compounds that modulate natural .beta. amyloid peptide aggregation are provided. The modulators of the invention comprise a peptide, preferably based on a .beta. amyloid peptide, that is comprised entirely of D-amino acids. Preferably, the peptide comprises 3-5 D-amino acid residues and includes at least two D-amino acid residues independently selected from the group consisting of D-leucine, D-phenylalanine and D-valine. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the peptide is a retro-inverso isomer of a .beta. amyloid peptide, preferably a retro-inverso isomer of A.beta..sub.17-21. In certain embodiments, the peptide is modified at the amino-terminus, the carboxy-terminus, or both. Preferred amino-terminal modifying groups include cyclic, heterocyclic, polycyclic and branched alkyl groups. Preferred carboxy-terminal modifying groups include an amide group, an alkyl amide group, an aryl amide group or a hydroxy group. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Modulators of .beta.-amyloid peptide aggregation comprising D-amino acids

Compounds that modulate the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides are disclosed. The modulators of the invention can promote amyloid aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural amyloid aggregation. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds modulate the aggregation of natural .beta. amyloid peptides (.beta.-AP). In a preferred embodiment, the .beta. amyloid modulator compounds of the invention are comprised of an A.beta. aggregation core domain and a modifying group coupled thereto such that the compound alters the aggregation or inhibits the neurotoxicity of natural .beta. amyloid peptides when contacted with the peptides. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural .beta.-AP aggregation when the natural .beta.-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

A.beta. peptides that modulate .beta.-amyloid aggregation

Compounds that act to modulate the aggregation of natural .beta. amyloid peptides (.beta.-AP) are disclosed. The .beta. amyloid modulators of the invention can promote .beta.-AP aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural .beta.-AP aggregation. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural .beta.-AP aggregation when the natural .beta.-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and methods of altering natural .beta.-AP aggregation using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

Modulators of .beta.-amyloid peptide aggregation

Compounds that act to modulate the aggregation of natural .beta. amyloid peptides (.beta.-AP) are disclosed. The .beta. amyloid modulators of the invention can promote .beta.-AP aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural .beta.-AP aggregation. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural .beta.-AP aggregation when the natural .beta.-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Preferred .beta. amyloid modulators comprise amino-terminally biotinylated .beta. amyloid peptide compounds. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and methods of altering natural .beta.-AP aggregation using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Ethan R Signer