Title of Invention	HIGHLY POTENT FULL AND PARTIAL AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS OF THE NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ RECEPTOR
Abstract	Peptide analogs of nociceptin/orphanin FQ, compositions thereof, and their use in treatment of disorders and dysfunctions related to activation or blocking of NOP receptors are described.

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HIGHLY POTENT FULL AND PARTIAL AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS OF THE NOCICEPTIN/ORPHANIN FQ RECEPTOR Field of the invention The present invention relates to nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide analogs capable of modulating the activity of the N/OFQ peptide receptor (NOP receptor), pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptide analogs and their use for treatment of dysfunctions, pathological conditions or pathological states involving said receptor. Background ot the invention In 1994, a new receptor termed ORL1, that is structurally similar to opioid receptors, was cloned; according to recent IUPHAR recommendations, the most appropriate name for this receptor is NOP. Its endogenous ligand (N/OFQ), identified at the end of 1995, is a heptadecapeptide similar to some opioid peptides (e.g. dynorphin A), which however does not bind the classical opioid receptors of mu (MOP), delta (DOP) or kappa (KOP) types. The cellular effects mediated by the NOP receptor are similar to those evoked by classical opioid receptors. From a structural point of view, and from the point of view of signal transduction, the N/OFQ-NOP peptide/receptor system belongs to the opioid family, although it represents a pharmacologically distinct branch. Several studies, carried out between 1996 and 1998, showed that N/OFQ can modulate several functions both in the central nervous system (pain, anxiety, learning, memory, drug abuse, appetite) and at the peripheral level (blood pressure, heart rhythm, kidney, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory functions) (for further details see Massi etal., Peptides 21, 2000). Starting from 1996, the present inventors carried out studies on the N/OFQ-NOP system, leading to the identification of particular NOP receptor ligands, such as i) N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2, which represents the minimal functional fragment with the same activity of the N/OFQ natural ligand (Calo et al., Eur J Pharmacol 311, R3-5, 1996), ii) N/OFQ-NH2 which produces, especially in vivo, more intense and prolonged effects compared to N/OFQ (Rizzi et al., Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 363, 161-165. 2001), iii) [Tyr1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2, a mixed agonist which acts on NOP and on the classical opioid receptors Palo et aL, Can J Physiol Pharmacol 75, 713-8, 1997; Varani et aL, Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 360, 270-7, 1999), iv) [Phe1?(CH2-NH)Gly2]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2, a selective NOP receptor ligand which behaves as pure antagonist, partial agonist or even as full agonist, depending on the preparation/assay under study (Guerrini et a/., Br J Pharmacol 123,163-5, 1998; Okawa et aL, Br J Pharmacol Ml, 123-30, 1999) - based on the detailed analysis of pharmacological action of [Phe1 ?(CH2-NH)Gly2]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 reported by Calo1 etaL {Peptides 21, 935-47, 2000), it turns out that this compound is truly a partial NOP agonist, v) [Nphe1]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2, the first pure competitive antagonist of NOP receptor (Calo et aL, Br J Pharmacol 129,1183-93, 2000; Guerrini etaL, J Med Chem 15, 2805-13, 2000). The action of these ligands have been characterised in several in vitro and in vivo assays (see Calo et aL, Br J Pharmacol 129, 1261-83, 2000). More recently, the Phe4 residue was replaced with fcF)Phe or (pN02)Phe, thereby obtaining potent selective NOP agonists (Guerrini etaL, J Med Chem 44, 3956-64, 2001). Another interesting compound, [Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ, was identified as a highly potent agonist (17-fold more potent than N/OFQ), selective for human recombinant NOP receptors expressed in HEK293 cells (Okada et aL, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 278, 493-8, 2000). The actions of this ligand were further characterized in vitro, using isolated tissues sensitive to N/OFQ, and in vivo in the mouse (Rizzi etaL, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 300, 57-63, 2002). Moreover, Zhang et al., (Zhang et aL, J Med Chem, 45, 5280-5286, 2002) described N/OFQ analogs, characterized by a 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib) residue in position 7 and/or 11, replacing Ala residues and producing an increase of ligand affinity and potency. N/OFQ analogs were described in WO 99/07212, WO 97/07208, WO 99/03491, WO 99/03880, and EP 1422240. The utility of this ligand has been reported in the treatment/prevention of diseases related to hyperalgesia, neuroendocrine functions, stress, locomotor activity and anxiety. Hereafter, the reference sequence of the N/OFQ peptide is the following: H-Phe-Gly-Gly-Phe-Thr-Gly-Ala-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Ala-Asn-Gln-OH Description of the figures Figure 1: Effect of intracerebroventricular (i.e.v., as seen in the upper panels) or intrathecal (i.t, as seen in the lower panels) adminibuation of N/OFQ (10 nmol/mouse) and of UFP-112 (0.1 nmol/mouse) in the tail withdrawal assay (ref. Calo et al. Br J Pharmacol. 125, 375-378, 1998).Control animals received one i.c.v. injection of saline (2 [il/mouse). Each point represents the mean ± s.e.m. of at least 4 experiments. Figure 2: Duration of the effects of N/OFQ (10 nmol/mouse) and UFP-112 (0.1 nmol/mouse), administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice (ref. Rizzi et al., Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol. 363, 161-165,2001). Control animals received one i.c.v. injection of saline (2 ul/mouse). Each point represents the mean ± s.e.m. of at least 4 experiments. Figure 3: Kinetics of action and reversibility of the effects of equi-effective concentrations of N/OFQ and UFP-112 in the vas deferens of mouse after electrical stimulation. Vas deferens contraction, induced by electrical stimulation, is inhibited in presence of UFP-112 or N/OFQ. Detailed description of the invention The terms used in this patent have a meaning known in the art, as for example in the IUPHAR on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification, Pharm. Rev. (2003) Vol 55, No 4, p.597, as reported here: Efficacy - a concept that expresses the degree to which different agonists produce varying responses, even when occupying the same proportion of receptors. Potency - an expression of the activity of a compound, defined in terms of the concentration or amount needed to produce a defined effect. The potency is measured as pECsofor agonists and as pA2for antagonists. Objects of the present invention are N/OFQ peptide analogs, of general formula (I) Xaa1-?-Gl/-G!y3-Xbb4-Thr5-Gl/-X^ Xff15-R (I) where Xaa1 is Pheor N-benzyl-glycine (Nphe); ? represents the bond between the first two amino acid residues and is chosen between CO-NH and Chfe-NH and Chfe-O; Xbb4 is Phe or fpX)Phe where "X" represents H, CI, Br, I, F, N02, CN and "p" indicates the para- position in the phenyl ring of Phe; Xcc7 and Xdd11 are chosen between: Ala; 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 2~amino-2- methyl-butyric acid (Iva); 2-amino-2-ethyl-butyric (Deg) acid; 2-amino-2-propyI-pentanoic acid (Dpg); (CaCH3)Leu; (CaCH3)Val; 1-amino-cyclopropan-carboxylic acid (AC3C); 1-amino-cyclopentan-carboxylic acid (AC5C) and 1-amino-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid (Ac6c); Xee14 e Xff15 are chosen between Arg, Lys, Orn, omoArg, diaminobutyric acid, diaminopropionic acid, or Trp; R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2 or Asn-Gln-OH or the amino acid Asn with either an amide (-NH2) or a carboxylic (-OH) terminal group or an amino (-NH2) or a hydroxy! (-OH) terminal group. Furthermore, the invention includes pharmaceutical^ acceptable salts of these compounds (I), particularly organic and mineral acid salts such as, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphates, sulphates, acetates, succinates, ascorbates, tartrates, gluconates, benzoates, maleates, fumarates and stearates. The compounds according to the invention, which fall under formula I, have a proven pharmacological activity, even 100-fold higher than the peptide ligands known in the art. It is therefore possible to hypothesize a synergistic effect of the permutations according to formula I: for positions 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, and 15 and the bond between the first two amino acid residues. A higher activity of the compounds of formula I and particularly of the preferred compounds, preferably agonists and more preferably [(pF)Phe4,Aib7,Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2 is demonstrated with respect to affinity, potency, protease resistance, in vitro kinetics of action, and, above all, duration of their action in vivo. Preferred compounds are formula (I) compounds, in which ? is CO-NH or CH2-NH or CHa-O, Xaa1 is Phe or Nphe, Xbb4 is Phe or (pX)Phe where "(pX)" is defined as above, Xcc7 and Xdd11 are defined as above, Xee14 and Xff15 are Arg, Lys, Orn, omoArg, or Trp; R is-NH2or-OH or Asn-NH2 or Asn-OH or Asn-Gln-NH2or Asn-Gln-OH. More preferred are those compounds of formula (I) in which ? is CO-NH or CH2-NH or CH2-0; Xaa1 is Phe or Nphe; Xbb4 is Phe or (pF)Phe or (pN02)Phe; Xcc7 and Xdd11 are Ala; 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 2-amino-2- methyl-butyric acid (Iva); 2-amino-2-ethyl- butyric (Deg) acid; 2-amino-2-propyi-p^ntanoic acid (Dpg); (CaCH3)Leu; (CaCH3)Val; 1-amino-cyclopropan-carboxyiic acid (Ac3c); 1-amino-cyclopentan-carboxylic acid (Acsc) and 1-amino-cycloexane-carboxyIic acid (Ac6c); Xee14 and Xff15 are Arg or Lys; R is Asn-Gin-NH2 or -NH2. Even more preferred are the peptide analogs having formula (I) in which variable residues have the meaning reported in the following table: Among these, even more preferred are compounds in which ? is CO-NH or CH2-NH or CH2-0; Xaa1 is Phe or Nphe; Xbb4 is Phe or (pF)Phe or (pN02)Phe; Xcc7 and Xdd11 are Ala; 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 2-amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva); Xee14 is Arg; Xff15 is Lys; R is Asn-Gln-NH2 or -NH2. represented by the following formulas: synthesis, synthetic methods of organic chemistry, or any combination of the above. The choice of the synthesis scheme will obviously depend on the composition of a given peptide. Preferably, synthetic methods are employed that are based on appropriate combinations of solid phase techniques and classical solution phase methods, involving low production costs, particularly on an industrial scale. In detail, said methods comprise: i) Synthesis in solution of peptide chain fragments through sequential coupling of N-protected amino acids, suitably activated, to an amino acid or a C-protected peptide chain, with isolation of the intermediates, subsequent selective deprotection of N and C-terminal ends of said fragments, and their repeated coupling until the desired peptide is obtained. Where necessary, side chains aredeprotected. ii) Solid phase synthesis of the peptide chain from the C-terminal end toward the N-terminal end on an insoluble polymeric support. The peptide is removed from the resin by hydrolysis with anhydrous fluoridric acid or trifluoroacetic acid, with simultaneous deprotection of the side chains. At the end of the synthesis, peptides can be purified and isolated by treatment with suitable solvents and by chromatographic techniques, such as HPLC. The peptide analogs according to the invention act on the NOP receptor as i) full agonists, when they present the structure [Phe1?(CO-NH)Gly2], ii) partial agonists, when they present the structure [Phe?CH2NH)GIy2'or [Phe1?(CH2-OJGly2], and as pure antagonists, when they present the structure [Nphe1?(CO-NhOGly2]. In addition, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the peptide analogs described here, possibly in combination with pharmaceutical^ acceptable vehicles and excipients. The compositions of the invention can be administered through the oral or parenteral route, or through the respiratory, rectal, spinal, intrathecal, intravesical or topical route, as injectable preparation, capsule, tablet, granulate, solution, suspension, syrup, suppository, nasal spray, cream, ointment, gel, controlled release preparation or other. The principles and the methods for preparation of pharmaceutical composition are well known to the experts in the field and are described, for instance, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18° Edition, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa, 1990. Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention will contain an effective amount of peptides (or of their derivatives) generally ranging between 0.001 and 100 mg, preferably between 0.01 and 10 mg. The daily dose will vary depending on the type of pathology/dysfunction, age, sex and patient's body weight, the general health status and other variables which need to be evaluated on a cases by case basis. 7 Considering the activity profile shown by the peptides of the invention in biological tests, the pharmaceutical compositions containing said peptides can be used for treatment of dysfunctions, conditions or pathological states, comprising neurological and neuro-sensory dysfunctions. It is desirable to obtain a potent and prolonged NOP receptor activationfor the treatment of anxiety, anorexia, hypertension, tachycardia, water retention disorders, hyponatremia, congestive heart failure, smooth muscle motor dysfunctions in gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary tracts (especially urinary incontinence following neurogenic bladder), inflammatory states, or peripheral or spinal analgesia, particularly for the treatment of chronic pain, or, even more, in cough control. Moreover, it will be possible to use the antagonists for treatment of memory, mood, locomotor activity (e.g. Parkinson's disease), food intake disorders (e.g. bulimia), or, more in general, for treatment of obese patients. The high molecular weight of these compounds, and the presence within them of residues that can be positively charged at physiological pH make it unlikely that they can cross the blood-brain barrier. Said compounds can exert central effects following local administration, even though they show predominantly a peripheral distribution. For instance, agonist compounds can induce analgesia at the level of the central nervous system, following intrathecal or spinal administration. EXPERIMENTAL PART 1. Peptide synthesis 1.1 General scheme of synthesis The peptides of the invention were prepared by solid phase synthesis using a resin 4-(2'J4'-dimethoxyphenyl-Fmoc-aminomethylphenoxyacetamido-norleucyl-resin (Rink-Amide MBHA resin). Fmoc amino acids fluoremylmethoxycarbonyl) have been condensed using [0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1 -yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluroniumexafluorophosphate] (HATU) as reagent for activation of the carboxylic function. Fmoc groups have been removed by use of 20% piperidine in DMF (dimethylformamide) and the resin bound to the protected peptide has been treated with the K reagent in order to obtain the raw peptide. Compounds containing a modified peptide bond between the first two amino acid residues [Phe1?(CH2-NH)Gly2] or [Phe1?(CH2-0)Gly2] have been obtained by condensation of Boc-Phe-CHO on the protected peptide(2-17) or (2-16) or (2-15) bound to the resin during the last synthesis step, thus reducing in situ the intermediate 'Imino" derivative with NaBH3CN, or condensing the fragment Boc-[Phe1?(CH2-0)Gly2]-OH (that was obtained following the methods reported in the literature: Balboni et al. J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans I, 1998, pg 1645-1651) on the protected peptide(3-17) or (3-16) or (3-15) bound to the resin during the last synthesis step, using HATU as condensing agent. The analytical control of both raw and final products was done by analytical HPLC in theBeckmann System Gold 168, using aAlltech C-18 column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 jam). Compounds were analysed using a binary eluting system composed of solvent A: 35 mM NaH2P04 (pH 2.1) and solvent B: 59 mM NaH2P04 (pH 2.1)-acetonitrile (60:40 v/v), programming the gradient according to the physico-chemical properties of the compounds to be analysed, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and at a wave length of 220 nm. The raw peptide has been purified by use of the a Water preparative HPLC Delta Prep 4000 system, using a Water radial packing column Delta-LC 40 mm (30 x 40 cm, C18, 300 A, 15 |im) that was eluted with the same mobile phase used for analytical HPLC and with a gradient programmed according to the analytical profile of the raw reaction products. The molecular weight of the final compound was obtained by electro-spray mass spectrometry using the instrument micromass ZMD2000. For the intermediates of some peptides, a spectroscopic 1HNMR analysis was performed using a Bruker 200MHz instrument. 12 Procedure. Peptide analogs b), c) and d) described above were prepared according to the procedures described here below. The resin Rink-Amide MBHA (0.65 mmol/g, 0.2 g) was treated with piperidine (20%) in DMF and condensed with Fmoc-Gln(Trt)-OH, activating the carboxylic function with HATU. The following Fmoc amino acids were coupled sequentially to the elongating peptide chain: Fmoc-Asn(Trt)-OH, Fmoc-Lys(Boc)-OH, Fmoc-Arg(Pmc)-OH, Fmoc-Lys(Boc)-OH, Fmoc-Arg(Pmc)-OH, Fmoc-Ala-OH, Fmoc-Ser(tBu)-OH, Fmoc-Lys(Boc)-OH, Fmoc-Arg(Pmc)-OH, Fmoc-Aib-OH, Fmoc-Gly-OH, Fmoc-Thr(tBu)-OH, Fmoc-(pF)Phe-OH, Fmoc-Gly-OH, Fmoc-Gly-OH, Fmoc-Phe-OH. All Fmoc amino acids (4 equivalents) were coupled to the elongating peptide chain using HATU (4 equivalents) and diisopropylethylamine (4 equivalents) in DMF; the coupling reaction was performed for one hour. In order to optimize the synthesis yield, and make purification of the compounds easier, double coupling with one hour acylation time was necessary for the Aib residue. Piperidine (20%) in DMF was used to remove Fmoc groups in each step. Following deprotection of the last NP-Fmoc group, the peptide resin was washed with methanol and dried under vacuum to yield [(pF)Phe4,Aib7,Arg14,Lys15]-N/OFQ(1-17)-Rink-Amide MBHA-Protected resin. This protected peptide resin was treated with the K reagent (TFA / H2O / phenol / ethanedithiol / thioanisole 82.5: 5: 5: 2.5: 5; v/v; 10 ml_ / 0.2 g resin) for 1 h at room temperature. After filtering the exhausted resin, the solvent was concentrated under vacuum and the residue was ground in ether. The raw peptide was purified by preparative reverse phase HPLC, and a white powder was obtained following lyophilization. The synthesis of [Phe1?(CH2-NH)Gly2,(pF)Phe45Aib7,Arg14,Lys15]-N/OFQ-NH2 (peptide c) was made starting from the intermediate [(pF)Phe4,Aib7Arg14,Lys15]-N/OFQ-(2-17)-resin synthetized as described above. This intermediate (0.2 g, 0.65 mmol/g, 0.13 mmol) was resuspended and swollen in methanol containing 1% (V/V) acetic acid (2 mL). After 20 minutes, a solution containing Boc-Phe-CHO (0.065 g, 0.26 mmol) and NaBH3CN (0.033 g, 0.52 mmol) solubilized in methanol (0.8 mL) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5h. The resin was then washed with methanol and treated with reagent K as described above. The synthesis of [Phe1?(CH2-0)Gly2,(pF)Phe4,Aib7,Arg14JLys15]N/OFQ-NH2 (peptide d) was made starting from the intermediate [(pF)Phe4,Aib7Arg14,Lys15]-N/OFQ(3-17)-resin synthesized as described above. This intermediate (0.2 g, 0.65 mmol/g, 0.13 mmol) was acylated at the last step with Boc-Phe[?(CH2-0)]Giy-OH (4 equivalents, 0.16 g, 0.52 mmol) activating the carboxylic function with HATU under the same conditions described for the normal acylation steps. Subsequently, the resin was washed with methanol and treated with reagent K as described above 2. Pharmacological tests. 2.1 Materials and methods The compounds were tested in vitro on Hamster oocytes membranes expressing the human recombinant NOP receptor pHOhNOp) (receptor binding experiments and GTP?S binding stimulation experiments) and on the mouse vas deferens after electrical stimulation. The conditions used to study the effects of the compounds in bioassay experiments (mouse vas deferens) are described in Bigoni et al. (Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 359, 160-7, 1999), while the conditions used to study the effects in CHOhNOP cells are described in Mc Donald et al. fJaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 367, 183-187, 2003). In each series of experiments, the activity of new compounds was compared to that of the natural N/OFQ peptide. 2.2 Results. In receptor binding experiments, all compounds tested proved capable of displacing completely the tritiated N/OFQ from the human recombinant NOP receptor. Compounds exhibited very different receptor affinities (pKj) depending on the various chemical modifications. In general, compounds with structure [Phe1?(CO-NH)Gly2] showed higher affinity than those having the structure [Phe1 ? (CH2-NH)Gly2] and extremely higher affinity than those having the structure [Nphe1? (CO-NH)Gly2]. Furthermore the compounds having the combined modifications [(pF)Phe4,Aib7,Arg14,Lys15] showed greater affinity than those having single modifications. In the functional tests involving stimulation of GTP?S binding and in the tests involving inhibition of the twitch induced by electrical stimulation of the mouse vas deferens, compounds having the structure [Piie1?(CO-NH)Gly2] mimicked the effects of N/OFQ, and in particular induced similar maximal effects, therefore acting as full agonists, while compounds having the structure [Phe1?(CH2- NHJGly2] acted as partial agonists since their maximal effects were lower than with N/OFQ. At last, compounds having the structure [Nphe^^O-NHJGly2] did not produce any effect perse but acted as competitive antagonists of N/OFQ. To simplify, Table 1 reports the results obtained with the compounds [(pF)Phe4,Aib7Arg14)Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2 (UFP-112), [Phe1 ? (CH2- NH)Gly2,(pF)Phe4,Aib7Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2 (UFP-113), [Nphe1,Aib7Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2 (UFP-111), and with the reference peptide N/OFQ. As it is highlighted in Table 1, the compound UFP-113 behaves as partial NOP receptor agonist, evoking maximal effects that are lower than N/OFQ, both in the GTP?S assay and in the inhibition assay of contraction induced by electrical stimulation of mouse vas deferens. UFP-111 proved to be a pure and potent antagonist selective for the NOP receptor. The analysis by Schild (performed in both GTP?S experiments and with the mouse vas deferens system) indicates that the compound behaves as competitive antagonist of NOP receptor with potency values (expressed as pA2) of 8.68 and 7.46, respectively (see Table 1). 2.3. Selectivity of the UFP-112 compound. UFP-112 effects are mediated by NOP receptor activation, as shown by the fact that the action of this peptide in the mouse vas deferens was not modified in presence of naloxone (a non-selective antagonist of classical opioid receptors, but not of the NOP receptor) but turned out to be effectively antagonized by UFP-101 which is a selective NOP receptor antagonist ([Nphe1,Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2, Calqetal., Br J Pharmacol 136, 303-311, 2002). UFP-101 used in competition with UFP-112 showed a potency value (pA2 6.81) similar to that obtained when it is used in competition with the endogenous agonist N/OFQ (pA2 6.91). This shows that the three molecules (N/OFQ, UFP-112 e UFP-101) interact with the same receptor: the NOP receptor. This is further shown by the results obtained with tissues from knock-out mice (Ref. Nishi, M. et al., Unrestrained nociceptive response and disregulation of hearing ability in mice lacking the nociceptin/orphaninFQ receptor. Embo J 16 (8): 1858-64, 1997) for the NOP receptor gene (NOP'/_) (see Table 2). Table 2 - effects of the agonist N/OFQ and UFP112 and of the agonist DOP, D-Pen2,D-Pen5enkephalin (DPDPE), on the vas deferens of wild type (NOP^) and knock-out mice for the NOP receptor (NOP'/_). The inhibitory effect on the contraction induced by electrical stimulation, evoked by UFP-112 (similar to what is found with N/OFQ) disappeared in the vas deferens isolated from NOP"7' mice, confirming that the biological actions of UFP-112 are only due to the interaction with the NOP receptor. The compound [D-Pen^D-Pen^-Enkephalin, DPDPE (Ref. Life Sci. 1983;33 Suppl 1:447-50), a selective DOP agonist, was used as the positive control. This control shows which are the tissues derived from NOP receptor knockout mice that respond normally to inhibitory stimuli that do not use the NOP receptor. 2.4 Pharmacological tests on selectivity of the compounds according to the invention The compounds have been tested in vitro on membranes of Hamster oocytes (CHO) expressing the human recombinant NOP receptor (CHOhNOp), as in paragraph 2.1, according to Mc Donald et al. {Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 367,183-187, 2003). The studies on selectivity of these compounds for the NOP receptor were performed by receptor binding studies on membranes of CHO cells transfected with human recombinant opioid receptors of mu (MOP), delta (DOP) and kappa (KOP) type, using the same method as for CHOhhiop. Selectivity studies were performed by competition experiments according to the methods described in Mc Donald et al. (Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 367, 183-187, 2003). To measure the pKj for N/OFQ, tritiated N/OFQ was used as radioligand, whereas [3H]-Diprenorphine was used for the classical opioid receptors. The activity of the new compounds was compared to that of the natural peptide N/OFQ. In receptor binding experiments, performed on membranes of transfected CHO cells, UFP-111, UFP-112 and UFP-113 showed a higher selectivity (>100 fold) for the NOP receptor than MOP, KOP and DOP receptors (see Table 3). Table 3 Affinity (pKj) of UFP-112, UFP-113 and UFP-111 for the NOP, MOP, DOP and KOP receptors transfected in CHO cells (Ref. Mc Donald et al. {Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 367,183-187, 2003). Data are the mean of 4 experiments. • Note 1 - The tritiated ligand used is [3H]N/OFQ • Note 2 - DAMGO means [D-Ala(2),N-MePhe(4),Gly-ol(5)]enkephalin • Note 3 - The tritiated ligand used is [3H]-Diprenorphine 3. In vivo studies on the efficacy of the full agonist compound UFP-112 The compound UFP-112; that is a full agonist, was tested in vivo in mice, in different assays: 1) tail withdrawal assay, according to the experimental protocols described by Calo et al., {Br J Pharmacol 125, 373-378, 1998) and Rizzi et al. (Clin Pharmacol 18,56, 2004); 2) measurement of food intake in fed animals, as described by Rizzi et al. (National Congress of the Italian Society of Neuroscience and joint Italian-Swedish Neuroscience Meetings, Ischia (Napoli) 1-4 October 2005); 3) assay for measurement of spontaneous locomotor activity, as described by Rizzi et al., (Naunyn Schmieclebergs Arch Pharmacol 363,161 -165,2001. In each assay, UFP-112 and N/OFQ activities were measured as equi-effective doses. As UFP-112 shows about 100-fold higher potency, peptide UFP-112 was used at doses comprising between 0.001 and 0.1 nmol and N/OFQ was used at doses comprising between 0.1 and 10 nmol. In the analgesiometric tail withdrawal test in mice, UFP-112 at equi-effective doses mimicked the effects of the natural ligand N/OFQ, although it showed its action for a longer period (> 120 minutes). UFP-112, in the dose range between 0.001-0.1 nmol, induces pro nociceptive effects, if injected via the intracerebroventricular (.c.v.) route, whereas it evoked antinociceptive effects when it was administered intrathecal^ (j.t.) (see Figure 1). Said effects (similar to what is found with N/OFQ) are mediated by NOP receptor activation because they are absent in NOP"7" mice. N/OFQ and UFP-112 at equi-effective doses were examined in the test of food intake by fed mice. Both compounds induced a significant increase of food intake, and also in these assays UFP-112 proved to be 100 fold more potent than N/OFQ. In this test, the hyperphagic effects of N/OFQ and UFP-112 are exclusively due to NOP receptor activation because such effects were present in NOP+/+ mice but absent in NOP"'" mice. In order to investigate the duration of UFP-112 action in vivo, experiments were performed in mice that compared the duration (from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.) of the effect of equi-effective doses of N/OFQ (10 nmol) and UFP-112 (0.1 nmol), both administered i.c.v., on the spontaneous locomotor activity. Both peptides inhibited the locomotor activity, but the effect of N/OFQ ended 60 minutes after i.c.v. injection while the effect induced by UFP-112 ended after about 6h (see Figure 2). 4. Metabolic stability of N/OFQ and of the new derivatives UFP-111, UFP-112 and UFP-113 in brain homoqenates and in the plasma. Plasma and brain tissue samples were obtained from male Swiss mice (JVIorini, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 25-30 g). The animal, sacrificed by ether anesthesia, was perfused with physiological heparin solution injected through a needle placed in the left ventricle. Blood was then withdrawn and was centrifuged at 14000 xg for 2 minutes at room temperature. After separation from the pellet, the plasma was aliquoted and stocked at -80° C. After blood withdrawal, the animal was perfused further with a physiological solution for 2 minutes before brain removal. The brain tissue was homogenized in 5 vol. (w/v) of Tris/HCI (50 mM, pH 7.4, 0°C) with a ultra-Turrax (Janke Kunkel, Staufen, FRG) 3 times for 15 seconds each. The supernatant obtained by centrifugation (3000 xg for 15 min at 4°C) was decanted and then stocked at -80°C. The protein content of the preparations, determined by. the Bradford method, as described in Anal. Biochem., 72, 248-254, 1976, was approximately 8 \igf\i\ for the brain homogenate and 17 \ig/[i\ for the plasma An aliquot of 100 \x\ solution of each peptide (3 mg/500 \i\ Tris) was incubated (at a final concentration of 6 \igf\i\) with brain homogenate or plasma (450 |jl) in a total volume of 1 ml, containing Tris/HCI 50 mM pH 7.4 buffer. Incubation of the aliquots was carried out at 37 °C for various periods up to 240 min. At different incubation times, an aliquot of the solution (100 ^l) was removed and the degradation was blocked by addition of 4.5% TFA solution (200 \i\). After centrifugation (3000 rpm for 15 minutes) an aliquot (100 \i\) of supernatant was injected into RP-HPLC. HPLC analysis was performed in a Kromasil 100-5C18 column (4.6 x 250 mm) using a Beckman System Gold chromatography system equipped with a variable wave length UV detector. The experimental conditions for elution included a gradient analysis with water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B), both containing 0.1 % TFA, at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min. The following protocol was used for gradient analysis, selected on the basis of the physico-chemical characteristics of the analyte: linear gradient from 5% to 40% B in 20 minutes; linear gradient from 40% to 60% B in 5 minutes; linear gradient from 60% to 5% B in 5 minutes. The eluate was monitored at 220 nm. The half life (T1/2) was obtained by linear regression with t-he least square method, diagramming the peak areas of each derivative as a function of the incubation times, using at least five points for each analysis. Data are shown in Table 3 as mean ± standard deviation, and are obtained from at least 3 separate experiments. Table 3. TVfe (min) of N/OFQ and derivatives in the mouse plasma and brain N/OFQ showed half lives in the plasma of about 1 h, which are very different compared to those obtained with the brain homogenate, which were about 3 min. All studied peptides according to the invention exhibited significantly longer half lives compared to the natural peptide. In particular, the plasma TI/2 of UFP-111 and UFP-113 is about twice as long as N/OFQ, while the V/2 of UFP-112 is almost three-fold longer than N/OFQ. The longer half lives exhibited by the derivatives, as compared to N/OFQ, were more pronounced in brain homogenate than in plasma. In fact, the TVa of all derivatives were more than 3-fold longer than the value exhibited by N/OFQ (3 min.) in the brain tissue. These data show that the chemical modifications of UFP-111, 112 and 113 sequences increase their potency as agonists or antagonists, compared to N/OFQ: such modifications modulate their efficacy on the NOP receptor and determine an important reduction of susceptibility to degradation by peptidases present both in the plasma and in brain tissue. This important characteristic is certainly crucial to prolong the action of these molecules in vivo, as well-documented for UFP-112 in the series of experiments summarized in section 3 (in vivo studies). 5. Kinetics of the inhibitory effects of UFP-112 on mouse vas deferens In the electrically stimulated vas deferens of mouse, both the kinetics of action of UFP-112 and the reversibility of the effects after washing were much slower than with N/OFQ (see figure 3). This was shown by the inhibitory effect on vas deferens contraction induced by electrical stimulation. Together with the metabolic stability data, this might explain the longer in vivo action of UFP-112 compared to the endogenous ligand N/OFQ. 6 Biological activity of some compounds of formula I in the mouse vas deferens after electrical stimulation. Table 4 summarizes the results obtained in the mouse vas deferens after electrical stimulation, in presence of a series of compounds of formula I, carrying different chemical modifications in position 7 and 11 of the agonist model N/OFQ-NH2. These data show that different amino acidic replacements do not change the efficacy of the compounds which all act as full agonists but in some cases (for example [Ac5c11]N/OFQ-NH2 and [D/L-lva11]N/OFQ-NH2) increase the potency compared to the reference sequence. It should be noted that the increase in potency, obtained as result of these individual modifications (2-fold compared to the reference sequence), is lower than the increase in potency obtained as result of the combined modification at different positions, as in compound UFP-112 (table 1), whose potency increases more than 100-fold. Table 4: Potency, as measured in electrically stimulated vas deferens of mouse, of a series of compounds with general formula I obtained with various chemical modifications in position 7 and 11 FOR NATIONAL PHASE 1. Peptide having general formula (I) (I) wherein: Xaa1 is chosen from a group consisting of Phe or N-benzyl-glycine (Nphe); qj represents the bond between the first two amino acid residues and is chosen from a group consisting of CO-NH and CH2-NH and CH2-0; Xbb4 is Phe or pXPhe where "X" is chosen from a group consisting of H, CI, Br, I, F, N02 and CN and "p" indicates the para- position in the phenyl ring of Phe; Xcc7 is chosen from a group consisting of 2~amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 2-amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva); 2-amino-2-ethyl-butyric acid (Deg); 2-amino-2- propyl-pentanoic acid (Dpg); (CaCH3) Leu; (CaCH3) Val; 1-amino-cyclopropan- carboxyilic acid (Ac3c); 1-amino-cyclopentan-carboxylic acid (AC5C) and 1-amino- cyclohexane-carboxylic acid (AC6C); Xdd11 is chosen from a group consisting of Ala; 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 2-amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva); 2-amino-2-ethyl-butyric acid (Deg); 2- amino-2-propyl-pentanoic acid (Dpg); (CaCHs)Leu; (CaCH3)Val; 1 -amino- cyclopropan-carboxyilic acid (Ac3c); 1-amino-cyclopentan-carboxylic acid (AC5C) and 1-amino-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid (AC6C); Xee14 and Xff15 are chosen from group consisting of Arg; Lys; Orn; omoArg; diaminobutyric acid; diaminopropionic acid and Trp; R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2 or Asn-Gln-OH or the amino acid Asn with either an amide (-NH2) or a carboxylic (-OH) terminal group or an amino (- NH2) or a hydroxyl (-OH) terminal group; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 3. Peptide according to claim 1, wherein: Xaa1 is Phe; Xbb4 is (pX)Phe where "X" is chosen from a group consisting of H, F, N02 and "p" indicates the para- position in the phenyl ring of Phe; Xcc7 is chosen from a group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib), 1-amino- cyclopentan-caboxylic acid (Ac5c) and 2-amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva); Xdd11 is chosen from a group consisting of Ala; 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib); 1- amino-cyclopentan-caboxylic acid (Acsc), 2-amino-2-methyI-butyric acid (Iva); Xee14isArg; Xff15 is Lys and R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2 or Asn-NH2 or the amino (-NH2) group; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 4. The peptide according to claim 3, wherein ip is CO-NH; "X" is F; Xcc7 is 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib) and Xdd11 is Ala and R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 5. The peptide according to claim 3 wherein ip is CH2-NH; "X" is F; Xcc7 is 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib) and Xdd11 is Ala and R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 6. Peptide according to claim 2, wherein: Xaa1 is N-benzyl-glycine (Nphe); qi is CO-NH; Xbb4 is Phe; Xcc7 is chosen from a group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib) or 2- amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva); Xdd11 is chosen from a group consisting of Ala or 2-amino-2-methyl-propionic acid (Aib) or 2-amino-2-methyl-butyric acid (Iva) and R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2 or the amino (-NH2) group; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 7. The peptide according to claim 6, wherein Xcc7 is 2-amino-2-methyi-propionic acid (Aib); Xdd11 is Ala and R represents the dipeptide Asn-Gln-NH2; and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. 8. Compositions comprising peptides according to claims 1-7. 9. Pharmaceutical composition comprising as active principle the peptides according to claims 1-7 combined with pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles and/or excipients. 10. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 to be administered through the oral, topical, respiratory, rectal, intraspinal, intrathecal, intravesical or parenteral route. 11 Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10, wherein the administration is through the intrathecal and parenteral route. 12. Use of a peptide according to claims 1-7 for the preparation of a medicament to be used for the treatment or prevention of neurological and neuro-sensory dysfunctions. 13. Use of a peptide according to claims 3-5 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of hypertension, tachycardia, water retention disorders, hyponatremia, heart failure, dysfunction of smooth muscle motility in gastrointestinal, respiratory and genitourinary tracts, inflammatory states, peripheral or spinal analgesia, chronic pain management and for the attenuation of cough. 14. The use according to claim 13. SAID smooth ruscle notilitty Disfunction diseases including neurogenic urinary bladder incontinence or for urinary bladder hyperactivity, respiratory dysfunction or chronic pain management. 15The use of a peptide according to claim 12 for the for the preparation of a tranquilliser or a medicament to treat or prevent anorexia. 16. Use of a peptide according to claims 6-7 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of memory and mood dysfunctions, locomotor activity and food intake disorders

Documents:

4061-CHENP-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 26-12-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 24-11-2011.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 05-12-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY FRECEIVED 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 26-12-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 FORM-3 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 1 11-10-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 OTHERS 26-12-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 27-11-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 01-11-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 17-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 FORM-1 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 FORM-3 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 FORM-6 09-07-2008.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 07-05-2012.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 POWER OF ATTORNEY 27-11-2013.pdf

4061-CHENP-2007 POWER OF ATTORNEY 17-05-2012.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-abstract.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-claims.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-correspondnece-others.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-description(complete).pdf

4061-chenp-2007-drawings.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-form 1.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-form 3.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-form 5.pdf

4061-chenp-2007-pct.pdf