Patent ID: 6924265

Claim:
A method of inhibiting transferrin recentor (TfR) binding to transferrin, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound comprising the formula: Z 1 —X 1 —X 2 —X 3 —X 4 —X 5 —X 6 —X 7 —X 8 —X 9 —X 10 —X 11 —X 12 —X 13 —X 14 —X 15 —X 16 —X 17 —Z 2 wherein: X 1 is Gly; X 2 is Trp or Ala; X 3 is Asp or Ala; X 4 is His; X 5 is Met; X 6 is Phe; X 7 is Thr; X 8 is Val; X 9 is Asp or Ala; X 10 is Phe; X 11 is Trp; X 12 is Thr; X 13 is Ile; X 14 is Met; X 15 is Glu; X 16 is Asn; X 17 is His or Ala; Z 1 is H 2 N—; Z 2 is —C(O)OH; and each “—” between residues X 1 through X 17 is an amide linkage; wherein the compound reduces cell-associated binding of transferrin as measured in an in vitro cellular binding assay and produces at least an additive effect with soluble HFE/β 2 m heterodimers in reducing cell-associated binding of transferrin as measured in the assay.