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Updated: Dec 12, 2025

In Vitro Imaging and Quantification of the Drug Targeting Efficiency of Fluorescently Labeled GnRH Analogues
Published on: March 21, 2017
Identification and Optimization of Pyrrolidine Derivatives as Highly Potent Ghrelin Receptor Full Agonists
Martin Cooper, Antonio Llinas, Peter Hansen
1Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Mölndal SE-43183, Sweden.
Abstract:
Muscle atrophy and cachexia are common comorbidities among patients suffering from cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and several other chronic diseases. The peptide hormone ghrelin exerts pleiotropic effects including the stimulation of growth hormone secretion and subsequent increase of insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, an important mediator of muscle growth and repair. Ghrelin also acts on inflammation, appetite, and adipogenesis and therefore has been considered a promising therapeutic target for catabolic conditions. We previously reported on the synthesis and properties of an indane based series of ghrelin receptor full agonists which led to a sustained increase of insulin-like growth factor-1 in a dog pharmacodynamic study. Herein we report on the identification of a series of pyrrolidine or piperidine based full agonists and attempted optimization to give compounds with profiles suitable for progression as clinical candidates.
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