Abstract: The invention provides methods for treatment, prevention or management of obesity, obesity related disorders, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome in a subject by administering a ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) inhibitor and/or a ghrelin receptor antagonist to the subject. The invention also provides ghrelin receptor antagonists of formula (VII): A11-A12-A13-Gly-Ser-A14-Phe-Leu-A15-A16-A17-A18, wherein each of A11, A12, and A13 is independently absent, an amino acid, or an amino protecting group; each of A15-A16-A17, and A18 is independently absent or an amino acid; and A14 is a serine conjugated with a —C(O)C1-C20alky or a di-aminopropionic acid conjugated with a —C(O)C1-C20alkyl group, provided that at least one of A11, A12, or A13 is present.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:36, as well as derivatives thereof comprising various N-terminal and C-terminal chemical moieties, substituted analogs thereof, and fragments thereof. The peptides of the invention are useful for treating and preventing a Flavivirus invention. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides, and methods of treating or preventing Flavivirus infections, are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment, management or prevention of injuries to one or more of the organs of the body, such as the brain, heart, lung, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, of humans or other mammals caused by one or more anticancer agents. The methods of this invention consist of the administration of an effective amount of one or more pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-like compounds, which includes native human PACAP38, native human PACAP27, native human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), their agonists, analogs, fragments, and derivatives, with activities toward one or more of the PACAP/VIP receptors, including all of their various isoforms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of decreasing the rate of proliferation of medullary thyroid carcinoma cells which comprises contacting medullary thyroid carcinoma cells with one or more SSTR2 agonist. A preferred selective somatostatin receptor type-2 (SSTR-2) agonist cyclo[Tic-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Abu-Phe] is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:36, as well as derivatives thereof comprising various N-terminal and C-terminal chemical moieties, substituted analogs thereof, and fragments thereof. The peptides of the invention are useful for treating and preventing a Flavivirus invention. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides, and methods of treating or preventing Flavivirus infections, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting fusion between the virion envelope of Flaviviruses and membranes of the target cell, the process that delivers the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The invention provides for methods which employ peptides or peptide derivatives to inhibit Flavivirus:cell fusion. The present invention is based in part on the discovery that E1 envelope glycoprotein of hepaciviruses and E2 envelope glycoprotein of pestivirus have previously undescribed structures, truncated class II fusion proteins. The present invention provides peptides and methods of treatment and prophylaxis of diseases induced by Flaviviruses.

Abstract: The invention features conjugates of therapeutic or cytotoxic agents and biologically active peptides and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention features conjugates of therapeutic or cytotoxic agents and biologically active peptides and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention features somatostatin antagonists having a D-amino acid at the second residue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting fusion between the virion envelope of Flaviviruses and membranes of the target cell, the process that delivers the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The invention provides for methods which employ peptides or peptide derivatives to inhibit Flavivirus:cell fusion. The present invention is based in part on the discovery that E1 envelope glycoprotein of hepaciviruses and E2 envelope glycoprotein of pestivirus have previously undescribed structures, truncated class II fusion proteins. The present invention provides peptides and methods of treatment and prophylaxis of diseases induced by Flaviviruses.

Abstract: The invention features somatostatin antagonists having a D-amino acid at the second residue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of glucagon-like peptide-1, the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, to methods of using such analogues to treat mammals and to pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor comprising said analogues.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds that have been demonstrated to be modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, iso forms and variants thereof). These compounds are useful as antagonists of the ghrelin receptor as well as inverse agonist, partial agonist or a combination of these activities as medicaments for treatment and prevention of a range of medical conditions including, but not limited to, metabolic and/or endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and obesity-associated disorders, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, and hyperproliferative disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting fusion between the virion envelope of Flaviviruses and membranes of the target cell, the process that delivers the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The invention provides for methods which employ peptides or peptide derivatives to inhibit Flavivirus:cell fusion. The present invention is based in part on the discovery that E1 envelope glycoprotein of hepaciviruses and E2 envelope glycoprotein of pestivirus have previously undescribed structures, truncated class II fusion proteins. The present invention provides peptides and methods of treatment and prophylaxis of diseases induced by Flaviviruses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a somatostatin antagonist according to formula (I): A1-cyclo {D-Cys-A2-D-Trp-A3-A4-Cys}-A5Y1, wherein A1 is an optionally substituted aromatic a-amino acid; A2 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A3 is Dab, Dap, Lys or Om; A4 is ?-Hydroxyvaline, Ser, Hser, or Thr; A5 is an optionally substituted D- or L-aromatic amino acid; and Y1 is OH, NH2 or NHR1? where RI is (C1-6)alkyl; wherein each said optionally substituted aromatic amino acid is optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO2, OH, CN, (C1-6) alkyl, (C2-6) alkenyl, (C2-6) alkynyl, (C1-6)alkoxy, Bzl, O-Bzl, and NR9R10? wherein R9 ad R10 each is independently H, O, or (C1-6) alkyl; and wherein the amine nitrogen of each of amide peptide bond and the amino group of A1 of formula (I) is optionally substituted with a methyl group, provided that there is at least one said methyl group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing a peptide using solid-state chemistry in which at least one amide bond is N-methylated, wherein said method of synthesis utilizes N-Boc protected amino acids. For example, the a peptide is first synthesized using N-BOC protected amino acids and 4-methylbenzylhydrylamine functionalized 1% cross linked polystyrene resin until reaching the amide bond to be N-methylated. Then, the amino group at the desired methylation site is methylated. If desired, the synthesis of additional peptide using N-BOC protected amino acids may continued until the desired peptide is complete.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a somatostatin antagonist according to formula (I), wherein A1 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A2 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A3 is Dab, Dap, Lys or Orn; A4 is ?-Hydroxyvaline, Ser, Hser, or Thr; A5 is an optionally substituted D- or L-aromatic -amino acid; and Y1 is OH, NH2 or NHR1, or NHR1, where R1 is (C1-6)alkyl; wherein each said optionally substituted aromatic -amino acid is optionally substituted with one or more substituents substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO2, OH, CN, (C1-6)alkyl, (c2-6)alkenyl, (c2-6)alkynyl, (C1-6)alkoxy, Bzl, O-Bzl, and NR9R10, where R9 ad R10 each is independently H, O, or (C1-6)alkyl; and wherein the amine nitrogen of each of amide peptide bond and the amino group of A1 of formula (I) is optionally substituted with a methyl group, provided that there is at least one said methyl group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and to uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of glucagon-like peptide-1, the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, to methods of using such analogues to treat mammals and to pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor comprising said analogues.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptide agents and uses thereof that are analogs of biologically active peptides such as somatostatin and bombesin. The compounds of the invention have the general formula X-Y-Z-Q, where X is a cytotoxic agent, therapeutic agent, detectable label or chelating group, and Q is a biologically active peptide. In peptide agents of the invention Y is optionally a hydrophilic polymer or peptide, and Z is a linking peptide bonded to Q at the amino terminus of Q, having two, three, four, or five, amino acid residues selected to link X to Q, while retaining the biological activity of Q. Methods of using these peptide agents in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases are also disclosed.

Abstract: Claimed are a series of somatostatin agonists and uses thereof, according to formula (I), A1-cyclo[Cys-A2-D-Trp-A3-A4-Cys]-A5-Y1, ??(I) wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and Y1 are as defined in specification provided that the amine nitrogen of at least one peptide bond is substituted with a methyl group or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.