Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds of the general formulas and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where J is a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or bicyclic ring structure, L is a linker, W is a heteroatom unit with at least one cationic center, hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor, Q includes a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic ring, R6, R7, y and z are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atom marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration, and optionally with one or two additional ring substituents as defined, which compounds bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and are optionally an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of deriving a peptidomimetic of a biologically active metallopeptide, wherein the peptidomimetic includes at least one non-peptide ring structure defining a template space superimposable on a corresponding defined template space of the metallopeptide, and where the peptidomimetic further includes at least two elements independently including an amino acid residue, amino acid side chain moiety or derivative thereof, the elements defining and occupying a similar descriptor space as corresponding elements of the metallopeptide. The invention further relates to peptidomimetics with a template space heterocyclic ring structure, including 5-, 6- and 8-membered and 5-5- and 6-5-bicyclic fused ring structure melanocortin receptor-specific peptidomimetics.

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific pyrrolidine compounds having the structure: 1

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific piperazine or ketopiperazine compounds having the structure: 1

Abstract: Melanocortin receptor-specific bicyclic compounds having the structure: 1