Abstract: A melanocortin-4 receptor agonist cyclic peptide of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, R7a, R7b, x, y and z are as defined in the specification, and a method of treating sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction, and other melanocortin 4 receptor responsive conditions and disorders.

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds with diamine groups of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where W is a diamine heteroatom unit with at least one cationic center, hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor, J, Q, L1, L2, L3, R1a, R1b, R2a, R2b and X are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atom marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration. Compounds disclosed herein bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist as to one or more melanocortin receptors, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, including specifically treatment of obesity and related conditions.

Abstract: A melanocortin receptor-specific compound of the general formula of structure I: where X, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a and R5b are as defined in the specification, which compound binds with high affinity to one or more melanocortin receptors and is optionally an agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A melanocortin-4 receptor agonist cyclic peptide of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, R7a, R7b, x, y and z are as defined in the specification, and a method of treating sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction, and other melanocortin 4 receptor responsive conditions and disorders.

Abstract: A method of modulating energy homeostasis in a mammal without eliciting a sexual response by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition including a melanocortin receptor compound of the formula: where R1 is a bond or a linker unit including from one to six backbone atoms and an unsubstituted naphthalene group, and L, R2, R3 and Rx are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where X, W, J, Q, L1, L2, L3, R1a, R1b, R2a, and R2b are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atom marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration. Compounds disclosed herein bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist as to one or more melanocortin receptors, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, including specifically treatment of obesity and related conditions.

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where J is a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or bicyclic ring structure, W is a heteroatom unit with at least one cationic center, hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor, Q is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic ring group, L, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, r, x and y are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atoms marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration. Compounds disclosed herein bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist as to one or more melanocortin receptors, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, including specifically treatment of obesity and related conditions.

Abstract: Provided are methods for selecting melanocortin receptor-specific compounds for attenuating food intake and for treatment of specific disease conditions, including treatment of obesity and related energy homeostasis or feeding disorders characterized by excess weight gain, without inducing a sexual response, and methods for selecting compounds for treatment of sexual dysfunction. Further provided are pharmaceutical preparations defined by such methods, and methods and preparations for attenuating food intake and treatment of said conditions.

Abstract: Methods for selection of compounds for treatment of obesity, compounds selected by the disclosed methods, and methods of treatment of obesity, wherein a selective melanocortin-4 receptor compound is identified, which compound is further characterized in that it attenuates the binding of both an agonist, including alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and an inverse agonist, including agouti-related protein, to a melanocortin receptor, including melanocortin-4 receptor.

Abstract: A melanocortin receptor-specific compound of the general formula of structure I: where X, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a and R5b are as defined in the specification, which compound binds with high affinity to one or more melanocortin receptors and is optionally an agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A melanocortin receptor-specific compound of the general formula of structure I: where X, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a and R5b are as defined in the specification, which compound binds with high affinity to one or more melanocortin receptors and is optionally an agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A highly selective melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist cyclic hexapeptide of the formula where R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, x, y and z are as defined in the specification, and a method of treating body weight disorders, including cachexia, sarcopenia and wasting syndrome or disease, and treating inflammation and immune disorders.

Abstract: A highly selective melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist cyclic peptide of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, R7, x, y and z are as defined in the specification, and a method of treating body weight disorders, including cachexia, sarcopenia and wasting syndrome or disease, and treating inflammation and immune disorders.

Abstract: A melanocortin receptor-specific compound of the general formula of structure I: 1