Abstract: The present invention is concerned with compounds of the general Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful as melanin concentrating hormone receptor antagonists, particularly MCH-1R antagonists. As such, compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment or prevention of obesity or eating disorders associated with excessive food intake and complications thereof, osteoarthritis, certain cancers, AIDS wasting, cachexia, frailty (particularly in elderly), mental disorders stress, cognitive disorders, sexual function, reproductive function, kidney function, locomotor disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADD), substance abuse disorders and dyskinesias, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, memory function, and spinal muscular atrophy. Compounds of formula I may therefore be used in the treatment of these conditions, and in the manufacture of a medicament useful in treating these conditions.

Abstract: The present invention features polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences related to the dog, ferret and rhesus monkey MCH-1R. Preferred polypeptides and nucleic acid contain a region common to the dog, ferret and rhesus monkey MCH-1R, which is not present in the human, rat, or mouse MCH-1R.