Patent ID: 7790408

Claim:
A method to identify from a library of test compounds, a potential therapeutic agent, or analog thereof useful to treat in humans a disorder, or condition relating to serum triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, reverse cholesterol transport, or production of secretions from mucous membranes, monosaturated fatty acids, wax esters, and the like, comprising: (a) measuring biological activity of a vertebrate stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in an in vitro assay; (b) contacting said SCD1 with a test compound from said library; and c) subsequently measuring said biological activity in the presence of said test compound to determine if said compound modulates SCD1 biological activity; wherein a test compound which modulates said biological activity in absence of coenzyme A and which does not substantially inhibit Δ-5 desaturase, or Δ-6 desaturase is said therapeutic agent, or an analog thereof.