Patent ID: 7189691

Claim:
A compound of the formula R1-Leu-A2-Val-A4-Ile-A6-Leu-A8-A9-A10-R2 (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a salt thereof, wherein A2, A9 and A10 are selected independently from the group consisting of a hydrophobic amino acid which is naturally occurring in proteins or non-naturally occurring in proteins; wherein A4 is a positively charged amino acid which is naturally occurring in proteins or non-naturally occurring in proteins; wherein A6 and A8 are selected independently from the group consisting of any naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acid; wherein R1 is an optional moiety selected from the group consisting of H, a straight chain, branched, cyclic or heterocyclic C 1-12 alkyl group, a straight chain, branched, cyclic or heterocyclic C 1-12 alkanoyl group, a sequence of one to 5 additional naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acids, a spacer capable of cyclizing the peptide by bridging between the N- and C- termini thereof, an acidic moiety, and a penetration enhancer; and wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, CO 2 H, CONH 2 , an imide group, a sugar, a straight chain, branched, cyclic or heterocyclic C 1-12 alkyl group; a straight chain, branched, cyclic or heterocyclic C 1-12 alkanoyl group; an amide, imide or sugar substituted with at least one of said alkyl or alkanoyl groups, a sequence of one to 5 additional naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acids, and a spacer capable of cyclizing the compound by bridging between the N- and C-termini thereof.