Abstract: Method for the determination of the renal function wherein the amount of at least one agrin fragment derived by neurotrypsin cleavage of agrin is measured in a sample taken from a patient and the measured amount of the agrin-fragment in the sample is used as indicator for renal function.

Abstract: Modified agrin fragment having in vivo activity, comprising at least the domains LG2 and LG3 of human agrin in covalently interlinked form and modified in such a way that the fragment cannot be cleaved by neurotrypsin for use as medicament.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies capable to specifically binding to a human C44-fragment of agrin, comprising administering to wild-type-mice an immunizing amount of C44y?4-fragment of agrin, isolating antibody producing cells from the immunized mice, fusing them with a myeloma cell line, growing the fused cells in a selection medium, screening the antibodies in the supernatants of hybridoma cells for binding to C44-fragment of agrin and isolating the hybridoma cells producing the desired monoclonal antibodies

Abstract: The invention relates to acylamino-phthalic acid amides and related compounds of formula (I) wherein A is —CON—R3R4, —NR5COR6, —NHR7, —OR8, —SR9, —CH2NR10R11, —(CH2)2-R12, —CH?CH—R12, —C?C—R12, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted thiophenyl, or optionally substituted 1,2,3-triazol-4-yl, W is hydrogen, hydroxy or carboxymethoxy, Y is carboxy, methoxycarbonyl or 2H-tetrazol-5-yl, and the various substituents R have the meanings indicated in the description. These compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of skeletal muscle atrophy, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, and as cognitive enhancers.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel acylamino-hydroxy-benzamides of formula (I), wherein R1 is phenyl substituted by phenyl, phenoxy, phenylamino or heteroaryl, all optionally further substituted; bicyclic aryl, monocyclic heteroaryl substituted by optionally substituted phenyl, or bicyclic heteroaryl, R2 is hydrogen or methyl, and R3 and R4 have the meanings indicated in the description. These compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of skeletal muscle atrophy, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, and as cognitive enhancers.

Abstract: Modified agrin fragment having in vivo activity, comprising at least the domains LG2 and LG3 of human agrin in covalently interlinked form and modified in such a way that the fragment cannot be cleaved by neurotrypsin for use as medicament.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining whether a compound is a neurotrypsin inhibitor, characterized in that the compound is incubated together with neurotrypsin, a variant thereof or a fragment comprising the protease domain and with a protein or peptide comprising agrin, a variant thereof or a fragment comprising the ?- or the ?-cleavage site of agrin, in an aqueous buffer solution, and the amount of cleavage of agrin is measured. Additionally, the invention relates to inhibitors of neurotrypsin found by this method, in particular to compounds of formula wherein Hal1 and Hal2 are fluorine, chlorine or bromine, and the use of such inhibitors for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases caused by deficiency of synapses, for example skeletal muscle atrophy, schizophrenia, and cognitive disturbance.

Abstract: Method for the detection of the in-vivo activity of neurotrypsin wherein the amount of the 22-kDa-fragment of agrin is measured in a sample taken from a patient and the measured amount of the 22-kDa-fragment of agrin in the sample is used to calculate the activity of neurotrypsin, use of the method for diagnosis and monitoring of neurotrypsin-related disturbances and use of the 22-kDa-fragment of agrin as biomarker for neurotrypsin-related disturbances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining whether a compound is a neurotrypsin inhibitor, characterized in that the compound is incubated together with neurotrypsin, a variant thereof or a fragment comprising the protease domain and with a protein or peptide comprising agrin, a variant thereof or a fragment comprising the ?- or the ?-cleavage site of agrin, in an aqueous buffer solution, and the amount of cleavage of agrin is measured. Additionally, the invention relates to inhibitors of neurotrypsin found by this method, in particular to compounds of formula wherein Hal1 and Hal2 are fluorine, chlorine or bromine, and the use of such inhibitors for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases caused by deficiency of synapses, for example skeletal muscle atrophy, schizophrenia, and cognitive disturbance.