Small molecules that increase the conversion of food to body weight gain

A method of increasing weight gain in an animal, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to reduce the amount of food required to increase weight gain in the animal.

A method of increasing the conversion of food to body weight in an animal, comprising administering an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof,
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to increase conversion of food to body weight.

A method of treating or preventing weight loss associated with disease in an mammal, comprising administering an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to treat or prevent weight loss.

A method of treating cachexia in an animal, comprising administering an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof,
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to treat or prevent cachexia in an animal.

A method of decreasing mortality among a population of livestock animals, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to decrease mortality in the population of livestock animals.

A method of improving feed efficiency in an animal, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to improve feed efficiency in the animal.

A method of increasing the ability of an animal to withstand environmental stressors selected from the group consisting of food deprivation, temperature changes and exposure to one or more pathogens, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to enable the animal to withstand environmental stressors.

A method of increasing production of a desired product selected from the group consisting of milk, meat, wool, caviar, feathers, fur and hoofs, by an animal, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof;
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to increase production of a desired product.

A method of preventing one or more bacterial or viral diseases in an animal raised in crowded living conditions, comprising administering to the animal an amount of a compound of Formula I

• wherein:
• the group A is SO3H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or physiologically hydrolyzable derivative thereof,
• the group R1 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an arylalkyl or an alkenyl;
• the group R2 is H, a linear or branched lower alkyl, an alkenyl, an arylalkyl, an acyl, a carbonate ester, an allyloxy carbonyl, a cycloalkoxycarbonyl, an unsubstituted arylalkoxycarbonyl or a substituted arylalkoxycarbonyl;
• or the groups R1 and R2 taken together form, with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a 5 to 7 membered ring;
• and
• the groups L1 and L2 are, independently, a hydrocarbon linking group, a cycloalkyl, or an interphenylene;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula I is not beta-alethine;
• which amount is sufficient to prevent one or more of said diseases.