Naphthalene-containing melanocortin receptor-specific small molecule

A method of decreasing food intake and/or decreasing body weight in a mammal without eliciting a sexual response, comprising administration to a mammal in need thereof of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a melanocortin receptor compound of the formula:

• wherein:
• L is a conformationally restricted ring system consisting of a single non-aromatic heterocyclic ring system, with the single ring comprising 6 atoms;
• R1 is a linker unit comprising from one to six backbone atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon (C), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) and an unsubstituted naphthalene group;
• R2 is —(CH2)4NH2, —(CH2)3NHC(NH2)═NH, —(CH2)3NHCOCH3, —(CH2)3NHCOOCH3, —(CH2)2NHC(NH2)═NH, —(CH2)2NHCONH2, —(CH2)4NHCOH, —(CH2)4NHCOCH3, —(CH2)3NHCONHCH3, —(CH2)3NHSO2NH2, —(CH2)3NHSO2CH3, —(CH2)3NH2, —(CH2)3NH(C═NH)NHMe, —(CH2)3NH(C═NH)NHEt, —(CH2)3NH(C═NH)NHPr, —(CH2)3NH(C═NH)NHPr-i, —(CH2)3NH(C═NH)NH2, —(CH2)4NHCONH2, —(CH2)4NH(C═NH)NH2,
• R3 comprises a linker unit and at least one carbocyclic aromatic ring;
• and
• Rx comprises from zero to three additional pendant groups;
• or an enantiomer, stereoisomer or diastereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.