| abstract |
Heterocyclic dipeptide compounds of formula I wherein the generic symbols are of particular interest and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are growth hormone secretagogues and which increase endogenous growth hormone levels. These compounds are useful for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, congestive heart failure, aging-related weakness, obesity, for accelerating bone fracture healing, protein catabolic response attenuation after major surgery, reducing cachexia and protein loss due to chronic disease, accelerating wound healing, accelerating recovery of burn patients or patients undergoing major surgery to increase muscle strength, motility, skin thickness, metabolic homeostasis or renal homeostasis. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for increasing endogenous production or release of growth hormone in a human or other animal comprising the above-mentioned compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a growth hormone secretagogue selected from the group consisting of GHRP-6, Hexarelin, GHRP-1, as an active ingredient growth hormone release factor (GRF), IGF-1, IGF-2, and B-HT920. Intermediates for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) |