The disclosure relates to
malonic acid and derivatives thereof of formula (I) below for use as an agent for promoting
metallothionein biosynthesis in a patient:X and Y are each independently selected from —O−M+, —OR1, and —NR2R3, M+ is selected from monovalent or polyvalent
metal cations, and R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from
hydrogen and saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or
cyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, and one or more carbon atoms are optionally substituted for O or N, R2 and R3 being optionally connected to form a heterocyclic
hydrocarbon radical together with the
nitrogen atom. The disclosure also relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of formula (I).