Compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases

A method for treating Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or Alzheimer's Disease in a host animal, the method comprising administering a composition comprising one or more selective vasopressin Vla receptor antagonists to the host animal, wherein at least one of the antagonists is a compound of the formula:

• or a salt thereof, wherein
• A is a carboxylic acid, an ester, or an amide;
• B is a carboxylic acid, an ester, or an amide;
• or B is an alcohol or thiol, or a derivative thereof;
• R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl;
• R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halo, haloalkyl, cyano, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, or a substituent selected from the group consisting
• of —CO2R8, —CONR8R8′, and —NR8(COR9);
• where R8 and R8′ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted arylalkyl;
• or R8 and R8′ are taken together with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclyl group;
• and where R9 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, and R8R8′N—(C1-C4 alkyl);
• R3 is an amino, amido, acylamido, or ureido group, which is optionally substituted;
• or R3 is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl group attached at a nitrogen atom;
• and
• R4 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkylcarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted arylhaloalkyl, optionally substituted arylalkoxyalkyl, optionally substituted arylalkenyl, optionally substituted arylhaloalkenyl or optionally substituted arylalkynyl.