The invention concerns
a peptide based on biologically active CCK-8. The
peptide has improved characteristics for the treatment of at least one of
obesity and type 2 diabetes and has the structure:(Z)-Asp1-Aaa2(X)-Aaa3Gly4Trp5Aaa6Asp7(Y)Aaa8K,wherein the amino acids may be either D or L amino acids; the bond between
amino acid residues is either
a peptide bond or a non-
peptide isostere bond; Aaa2 is selected from the group comprising Tyr and Phe; when Aaa2 is Tyr, X is selected from the group comprising SO3H−, PO3H2− and a
polymer moiety of the general formula —O—(CH2—O—CH2)n—H, in which n is an integer between 1 and about 22, wherein the X is covalently bound to the para phenyl
oxygen of Tyr, and, when Aaa2 is Phe, X is CH2SO3Na, wherein the X is covalently bound to the para phenyl position of Phe; Aaa3 is selected from the group comprising Met,
norleucine, 2-aminohexanoic acid and Thr; Aaa6 is selected from the group comprising Met,
norleucine, 2-aminohexanoic acid and Phe; Aaa8 is selected from the group comprising Phe and Met; Y is covalently bound to the
nitrogen of Aaa8 and is selected from the group consisting of H and CH3; K is selected from the group consisting of the hydroxyl group of Phe8, an
amide covalently bound to Phe8, an ester covalently bound to Phe8, a salt of the hydroxyl group of Phe8, a salt of an
amide covalently bound to Phe8, a salt of an ester covalently bound to Phe8 and a
polymer moiety of the general formula —O—(CH2—O—CH2)n—H, in which n is an integer between 1 and about 22; and Z comprises at least one
amino acid modification, wherein said at least one modification comprises an N-terminal extension, or an N-terminal modification, but excludes Asp1-glucitol CCK-8 where Aaa2 is Tyr and X is SO3H−.The peptides, and Asp1-glucitol CCK-8, are useful to at least one of inhibit
food intake, induce satiety, stimulate
insulin secretion, moderate blood glucose excursions, enhance glucose disposal and exhibit enhanced stability in
plasma compared to native CCK-8