Cannabinoids are present in the Indian hemp Cannabis Sativa L. and have been used as medicinal agents for centuries (Mechoulam, R.; Feigenbaum, J. J. Prog.

Med. Chem. 1987, 24, 159). However, only within the past ten years the research in the cannabinoid area has revealed pivotal information on cannabinoid receptors and their (endogenous) agonists and antagonists. The discovery and the subsequent cloning of two different subtypes of Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) stimulated the search for novel cannabinoid receptor antagonists (Munro, S.; Thomas, K. L. ; Abu-Shaar, M. Nature 1993,365, 61. Matsuda, L. A. ; Bonner, T. I. Cannabinoid Receptors, Pertwee, R. G. Ed. 1995,117, Academic Press, London). In addition, pharmaceutical companies became interested in the development of cannabinoid drugs for the treatment of diseases connected with disorders of the cannabinoid system. The wide distribution of CB1 receptors in the brain, in combination with the strictly peripheral localisation of the CB2 receptor, makes the CB1 receptor a very interesting molecular target for CNS-directed drug discovery in the areas of both psychiatric and neurological disorders (Consroe, P.

Neurobiology of Disease 1998,5, 534. Pop, E. Curr. Opin. In CPNS Investigational Drugs 1999, 1, 587. Greenberg, D. A. Drug News Perspect.

1999, 12, 458). Hitherto, three types of distinct CB1 receptor antagonists are known. Sanofi disclosed their diarylpyrazole congeners as selective CB1 receptor antagonists. A representative example is SR-141716A, which is currently undergoing Phase II clinical development for psychotic disorders (Dutta, A. K. ; Sard, H.; Ryan, W.; Razdan, R. K.; Compton, D. R.; Martin, B. R. Med. Chem. Res.

1994,5, 54. Lan, R.; Liu, Q.; Fan, P.; Lin, S.; Fernando, S. R.; McCallion, D.; Pertwee, R.; Makriyannis, A. J. Med. Chem. 1999,42, 769. Nakamura-Palacios, E. M.; Moerschbaecher, J. M.; Barker, L. A. CNS Drug Rev. 1999,5, 43).

Aminoalkylindoles have been disclosed as CB1 receptor antagonists. A

representative example is lodopravadoline (AM-630), which was introduced in 1995. AM-630 is a CB, receptor antagonist, but sometimes behaves as a weak partial agonist (Hosohata, K.; Quock, R. M.; Hosohata, Y.; Burkey, T. H.; Makriyannis, A.; Consroe, P.; Roeske, W. R.; Yamamura, H. I. Life Sc. 1997, 61, PL115). More recently, researchers from Eli Lilly described aryl-aryl substituted benzofurans as selective CB1 receptor antagonists (e. g. LY-320135) (Felder, C. C.; Joyce, K. E.; Briley, E. J.; Glass, M.; Mackie, K. P.; Fahey, K. J.; Cullinan, G. J.; Hunden, D. C.; Johnson, D. W.; Chaney, M. O.; Koppel, G. A.; Brownstein, M.

J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1998,284, 291). Recently, 3-alkyl-5, 5'- diphenylimidazolidinediones were described as cannabinoid receptor ligands, which were indicated to be cannabinoid antagonists (Kanyonyo, M. ; Govaerts, <BR> <BR> S. J.; Hermans, E.; Poupaert, J. H. , Lambert, D. M. Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1999, 9, 2233). Interestingly, many CB, receptor antagonists have been reported to behave as inverse agonists in vitro (Landsman, R. S.; Burkey, T. H.; Consroe, P.; Roeske, W. R.; Yamamura, H. I. Eur. J. PharmacoL 1997,334, R1). Recent reviews provide a nice overview of the current status in the cannabinoid research area (Mechoulam, R.; Hanus, L. ; Fride, E. Prog. Med. Chem. 1998,35, 199.

Lambert, D. M. Curr. Med. Chem. 1999,6, 635. Mechoulam, R. ; Fride, E.; Di Marzo, V. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1998,359, 1). From the international patent application WO 01/70700 4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole compounds are known which exhibit potent and selective cannabis CB-receptor antagonistic activity.

It is an objective of the invention to provide improved methods of treatment and/or prophylaxis which are particularly suitable in patient groups with enhanced need of safety and tolerability, e. g. in the treatment of obesity patients, in particular such as juvenile obesity patients and/or patients subject to long term treatment, e. g. in drug induced obesity in juvenile or adolescent patients.

It has now surprisingly been found that selective CB1-antagonists in general, prodrugs thereof, tautomers thereof and salts thereof, show a unique pharmacological profile and therefore are particularly suited for the use in the manufacture of a medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of obesity patients, in particular of obesity in juvenile patients and/or drug induced obesity in juvenile, as well as adolescent, patients. In this regard selective CB-antagonistic compounds are highly valuable in providing medicaments for paediatric use on the one hand, and for the general use in drug induced obesity.

The term"selective"means that preferably there is no substantial other activity

than the CB1-receptor antagonistic activity, or that at least the CB1-receptor antagonistic activity is substantially overcompensating any other activity.

The outstanding unique pharmacological profile of selective CB-antagonistic compounds includes particularly high safety and tolerability which make the compounds particularly suitable in patient groups with enhanced need of safety and tolerability, in particular such as juvenile patients and/or patients subject to long term treatment, e. g. in drug induced obesity.

Due to the potent and selective CB1 antagonistic activity the compounds used according to the invention are suitable also for use in paediatric treatment and/or prophylaxis of other disorders than juvenile obesity and drug induced obesity in juvenile patients. The other disorders include those known from the literature for the concerned selective CB1 antagonistic compound, e. g. paediatric treatment and/or prophylaxis may pertain to psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, anxiety, depression, attention deficits, memory disorders and appetite disorders, neurological disorders such as dementia, distonia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, cerebral ischaemia, as well as for the treatment of pain disorders and other CNS- diseases involving cannabinoid neurotransmission, and in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular disorders, in young patients.

The whole content of the literature mentioned in the description of the present invention is incorporated by reference into the present application.

The selective CB, antagonistic compounds used in the present the invention can be obtained according to known methods. Suitable ways of synthesis for the compounds used according to the present invention are described in the state of the art, e. g. in the documents cited in the present application and incorporated by reference.

Examples of selective CB, antagonistic compounds being relevant in the context of the present invention and incorporated by reference are for example (but not being limited thereto): 1) Diarylpyrazole congeners disclosed by Sanofi as selective CB1 receptor antagonists, e. g. as representative example the compound SR-141716A, rimonabant and related compounds described e. g. in EP 0969835, SR- 147778, SR-140098 (Central mediation of the cannabinoid cue: activity of

a selective CB1 antagonist, SR 141716A Perio A, Rinaldi-Carmona M, Maruani J Behavioural Pharmacology 1996,7 : 1 (65-71) ) ; WIN-54461 disclosed by Sanofi-Winthrop (Cannabinoid receptor ligands : Clinical and neuropharmacological considerations relevant to future drug discovery and development. Pertwee RG, Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 1996,5 : 10 (1245-1253)) 2) Aminoalkylindoles having been disclosed as CB1 receptor antagonists, e. g. as a representative example the compound lodopravadoline (AM- 630), 3) Aryl-aryl substituted benzofurans described by Eli Lilly as selective CB receptor antagonists, e. g. LY-320135 (Cannabinoid receptor ligands : Clinical and neuropharmacological considerations relevant to future drug discovery and development. Pertwee RG, Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 1996,5 : 10 (1245-1253)), 4) Compounds described by Merck & Co, e. g. AM 251 and AM 281 (Conference: 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, USA, 10-15.11. 2001), and substituted imidazolyl derivatives disclosed e. g. in US 2003-114495 or WO 03/007887, 5) Azetidine derivatives described by Aventis Pharma e. g. in WO 02/28346 or EP 1328269, 6) CP-55940 from Pfizer Inc. (Comparison of the pharmacology and signal transduction of the human cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, Felder CC, Joyce KE, Briley EM, Mansouri J, Mackie K, Blond 0, Lai Y, Ma AL, Mitchell RL, Molecular Pharmacology 1995,48 : 3 (443)), 7) Diaryl-pyrazine-amide derivatives from Astra Zeneca described e. g. in the WO 03/051851, 8) ACPA and ACEA from Med. Coll. Wisconsin (Univ. Aberdeen), ("Effects of AM 251 & AM 281, cannabinoid CB1 antagonists, on palatable food intake in lewis rats"J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 289, No3,1427-33, 1999), 9) Pyrazol derivatives described by the University of Conneticut e. g. in the WO 01/29007, 10) HU-210 (International Association for the Study of Pain-Ninth World Congress (Part II) Vienna, Austria, Dickenson AH, Carpenter K, Suzuki R, IDDB MEETING REPORT 1999, August 22-27) and HU-243 (Cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists, Barth F, Current Opinion in Therapeutic Patents 1998,8 : 3 (301-313) ) from Yissum R&D Co Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, 11) 0-823 from Organix Inc. (Drug development pipeline : 0-585, 0-823, O- 689, 0-1072, nonamines, Orgaix, Altropane Organix Inc, Company

Communication 1999, August 10; IDDb database) and 0-2093 from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche ("A structure/activity relationship study on arvanil, endocannabinoid and vanilloid hybrid. ", Marzo DV, Griffin G, Petrocellis L, Brandi I, Bisogno T, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 2002,300 : 3 (984-991)), 12) 3-Alkyl-5, 5'-diphenylimidazolidinediones which were described as cannabinoid receptor ligands, 13) CB1 antagonistic compounds currently under development by Bayer AG (IDDb database: company communication 2002, February 28).

The CB1 antagonistic compounds used according to the invention can be brought into forms suitable for paediatric administration, as well as for the administration in treating drug induced obesity by means of usual processes using auxiliary substances and/or liquid or solid carrier materials.

Hence, in a further aspect the invention also pertains to a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one selective CB, antagonistic compound as an active component for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of CB, receptor related diseases in juvenile patients and/or for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of drug induced obesity in juvenile as well as adolescent patients, and at least one auxiliary excipient. In such a pharmaceutical composition the selective CB1 antagonistic compound is preferably present in an amount effectively suited for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a psychiatric disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, a cardiovascular disorder, or a combination of said disorders, in a juvenile patient in need of such treating.

In a further embodiment of the invention in the pharmaceutical composition the selective CBt antagonistic compound is present in an amount effectively suited for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of drug induced obesity in juvenile as well as adolescent patients in need of such treating.

Finally the invention also includes a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of CB, receptor related diseases in juvenile patients, in particular juvenile obesity, and/or for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of drug induced obesity in juvenile as well as adolescent patients, characterized in that a compound of formula (I) is administered to said patient in need of such treating. The method of treatment and/or prophylaxis according to the invention may be further characterized in that it is a paediatric treating which is directed to psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, anxiety, depression, attention deficits, memory disorders and appetite

disorders, neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, distonia, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, ischemia, pain and other CNS-diseases involving cannabinoid neurotransmission, in young patients.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention the method of treatment and/or prophylaxis is directed to the treating of obesity in juvenile patients. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the method of treatment and/or prophylaxis is directed to the treating of drug induced obesity in juvenile or adolescent patients. This drug induced obesity may be in particular caused by drugs like atypical antipsychotics.

In one embodiment of the invention the method of treatment and/or prophylaxis is directed to the treating of obesity in juvenile patients. Thus, it is advantageous that Cannabinoid antagonists are suitable for the treatment of Childhood Obesity and related Comorbidities as for example Type 2 Diabetes. There is a clear medical need for improved therapy as obesity has become an increasingly important medical problem not only in the adult population but increasingly in children and (young and older) adolescents. In national surveys from the 1960s to the 1990s in the United States, the prevalence of overweight in children grew from 5% to 11% (Sorof and Daniels 2002). In Canada as another example childhood obesity has tripled in the past 20 years (Spurgeon 2002). Obesity in childhood causes a wide range of serious complications, and increases the risk of premature illness and death later in life, raising public-health concerns (Ebbeling, Pawlak et al. 2002). Over the last decades a tremendous increase of cases of type 2 diabetes was observed, especially also in children. This epidemic trend is clearly reflecting the increasing rates of obesity. Type-2-diabetes was in the past considered a disease of adults and older individuals, not a paediatric condition (Arslanian 2002). One of the main risk factor of paediatric type 2 diabetes is obesity.

Type 2 diabetes in children (as is in adults) is part of the insulin resistance syndrome (Rosenbloom 2002) that includes hypertension, dyslipidemia and other atherosclerosis risk factors, and hyperandrogenism seen as premature adrenarche and polycystic ovary syndrome. Other outcomes related to childhood obesity include left ventricular hypertrophy, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, orthopedic problems, and severe psychosocial problems.

In addition primary hypertension has become increasingly common in children again associated obesity as a major independent risk factor. Obese children are at approximately a 3-fold higher risk for hypertension than non-obese children (Sorof and Daniels 2002). The benefits of weight loss for blood pressure reduction in children have been demonstrated in both observational and interventional studies.

Public concerns are rising because of a rapid development of the childhood obesity epidemic in genetically stable populations. Driving factors are assumed to be mainly adverse environmental factors for which straightforward recommendations of life style modifications exists. Obesity and it's related co- morbidities are very serious medical conditions and state of the art measures and treatment of obesity and especially childhood obesity remain largely ineffective at the time being (Ebbeling, Pawlak et al. 2002). The management of type 2 diabetes in is also especially difficult in children and the adolescent age group (Silink 2002). Craving for and over consumption of palatable food is one of the important factors of life-style related obesity in humans and especially also in children and adolescents. Treatment of type 2 diabetes and other c-morbid conditions by the degree of metabolic derangement and symptoms: The only data on the use of oral hypoglycemic agents in children with type 2 diabetes has been with metformin (Rosenbloom 2002).

Thus, CB1 antagonists used according to the present invention offer a unique opportunity for the treatment of obesity by interacting with these"driving forces".

They are superior to current medical treatments and especially suited for pediatric treatment because of their outstanding safety profile and/or tolerability. Treatment of obesity especially childhood obesity is besides efficacy dictated by safety.

Obesity in childhood is a medical condition that is likely to require long-term management. The safety profile of CB1 antagonists according to the present invention are suggested to be superior to current standard medications, and these CB, antagonists will be especially suited for the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity and related co-morbidities.

Literature : <BR> <BR> Arslanian, S. (2002). "Type 2 diabetes in children : clinical aspects and risk<BR> factors. "Horm Res 57 Suppl 1: 19-28.<BR> <P>Ebbeling, C. B. , D. B. Pawlak, et al. (2002)."Childhood obesity: public-health<BR> crisis, common sense cure. "Lancet 360 (9331) : 473-82.

Rosenbloom, A. L. (2002)."Increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents : treatment considerations."Paediatr Drugs 4 (4): 209-21.

Silink, M. (2002)."Childhood diabetes: a global perspective. "Horm Res 57 Suppl 1: 1-5.

Sorof, J. and S. Daniels (2002)."Obesity hypertension in children : a problem of epidemic proportions."Hypertension 40 (4): 441-7.

Spurgeon, D. (2002)."Childhood obesity in Canada has tripled in past 20 years." BiWi 324 (7351): 1416.

In another embodiment of the invention the method of treatment and/or prophylaxis is directed to the treating of drug induced obesity in juvenile or adolescent patients. Drug induced weight gain is also of major concern and subject to high medical need of improved treatments. Again, in this context the CB1 antagonists according to the present invention are suggested to be superior to current standard medications, and these CB1 antagonists will be especially suited for the treatment and prevention of drug induced obesity in juvenile as well as in adolescent patients.

Regarding drug induced weight gain, it is reported by Zimmermann, U. , T. Kraus, et al. (2003,"Epidemiology, implications and mechanisms underlying drug- <BR> <BR> induced weight gain in psychiatric patients. "J Psychiatr Res 37 (3): 193-220) that body weight gain frequently occurs during drug treatment of psychiatric disorders and is often accompanied by increased appetite or food craving. While occurrence and time course of this side effect are difficult to predict, it ultimately results in obesity and the morbidity associated therewith in a substantial part of patients, often causing them to discontinue treatment even if it is effective.

Weight gain appears to be most prominent in patients treated with some of the second generation antipsychotic drugs and with some mood stabilizers. Marked weight gain also frequently occurs during treatment with most tricyclic antidepressants.

Very large weight gains are associated with drugs like for example the atypical antipsychotics clozapine and olanzapine. Some atypical antipsychotics, however, tend to cause significant weight gain, which may lead to poor compliance and <BR> <BR> other adverse health effects (Nasrallah, H. (2003). "A review of the effect of atypical antipsychotics on weight."Psychoneuroendocrinology 28 Suppl 1: 83- <BR> <BR> 96. ). The mechanisms involved in antipsychotic drug-related weight gain are as

yet uncertain, although serotoninergic, histaminic, and adrenergic affinities have been implicated along with other metabolic mechanisms. The atypical antipsychotics vary in their propensity to cause weight change with long-term treatment. Follow-up studies show that the largest weight gains are associated with clozapine and olanzapine, and the smallest with quetiapine and ziprasidone.

Risperidone is associated with modest weight changes that are not dose related.

Given the equivalent efficacy of atypical antipsychotics, weight-gain profile is a legitimate factor to consider when constructing an algorithm for treatment due to the serious medical consequences of obesity. In this regard co-administration of CB1 antagonist according to the invention is suggested to work beneficially.