Patent ID: 7407952

Claim:
A method of antagonizing the binding of α 4 β 1 integrin to its cognate extracellular matrix receptors in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound having the structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof, wherein A is —(CR 4 R 4a ) m — where m is 1, 2 or 3; R 2 and R 4 are, at each occurrence, the same or different and independently an amino acid side chain moiety or amino acid side chain derivative; R 2a and R 4a are, at each occurrence, the same or different and independently hydrogen, hydroxy, —COOH, —CONH 2 , —R 5 , —OR 5 , —COOR 5 , —COR 5 or —CONHR 5 , where R 5 is lower alkyl optionally substituted with halogen or hydroxy; and R 1 and R 3 are the same or different and independently an amino acid, an amino acid side chain moiety, an amino acid side chain derivative, a peptide, a peptide derivative, a solid support, or a protein; wherein said method is used to treat a condition associated with excessive α 4 β 1 integrin-mediated cell adhesion in a mammal in need of such treatment, and said condition is treated by a reduction in the binding of α 4 β 1 integrin to its cognate extracellular matrix receptors; and wherein said condition is multiple sclerosis, allergic airway response, metastatic melanoma, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease.