61 results about "GLYCOCERAMIDES" patented technology

Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors and compositions containing the same are disclosed. Methods of using the glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and conditions wherein inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase provides a benefit, like Gaucher disease and Fabry disease, also are disclosed.

Novel prodrugs of amino ceramide-like compounds are provided which inhibit glucosyl ceramide (GlcCer) formation by inhibiting the enzyme GlcCer synthase, thereby lowering the level of glycosphingolipids. The compounds of the present invention have improved GlcCer synthase inhibition activity and are therefore highly useful in therapeutic methods for treating various conditions and diseases associated with altered glycosphingolipid levels.

This invention relates in general to methods and compositions for reversing the drug resistance of cancer cells. In particular this invention is directed to inhibition of drug resistance in cancer cells or to the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by the use of glucosylceramide synthase antisense compounds. This invention is further directed to compositions comprising glucosylceramide synthase antisense compounds and a kit or drug delivery system comprising the compositions.

Novel amino ceramide-like compounds (1) are provided which inhibit glucosyl ceramide (GlcCer) formation by inhibiting the enzyme GlcCer synthase, thereby lowering the level of glycosphingolipids. The compounds of the present invention have improved GlcCer synthase inhibition activity and are therefore highly useful in therapeutic methods for treating various conditions and diseases associated with altered glycosphingolipid levels.

Methods for treatment of disorders associated with glycolipid accumulation, such as Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis. Inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthesis include N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, N-butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin, and N-nonyldeoxynojirimycin; 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol and structurally related analogues thereof; and agents capable of increasing the rate of neuronal glycolipid degradation.

A compound is represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method of treating a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The subject has type 2 diabetes; renal hypertrophy or hyperplasia associated with diabetic nephropathy; Tay-Sachs; Gaucher's; or Fabry's disease. Methods of decreasing plasma TNF-α, lowering blood glucose levels, decreasing glycated hemoglobin levels, inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase, and lowering glycosphingolipid concentrations in a subject in need thereof respectively comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

α-Galactosylceramides and glycosylceramides (“ceramide-like glycolipids”) that modulate NK T cells. The ceramide-like glycolipids vary in the cytokines induced in NK T cells and vary in the antigen-presenting cells that are capable of efficiently presenting the compounds to NK T cells. Pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids are provided, as are pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids combined with dendritic cells. Methods utilizing the ceramide-like glycolipids in vaccines, to activate NK T cells, to stimulate the immune system, and to treat mammals are also provided. The invention also provides methods of evaluating a compound for its ability to activate an NK T cell in the presence of a cell expressing a CD1d protein.

A method of treating a glomerular disease selected from the group consisting of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, collapsing glomerulopathy, proliferative lupus nephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis and membranous nephropathy in a subject comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor.

A compound for use in treating polycystic kidney disease is represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method of treating polycystic kidney disease in a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Methods of treating in polycystic kidney disease in a subject in need thereof respectively comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention relates to inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) useful for the treatment metabolic diseases, such as lysosomal storage diseases, either alone or in combination with enzyme replacement therapy.

The present invention discloses a therapeutic target for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. It was found that inhibition of non-lysosomal glucosylceramidase (GBA2) sufficiently restores chloride current in cells from CF patients carrying the common delF508-CFTR mutation. With the catalytic centre (4) of the enzyme positioned on top of the membrane bilayer face particularly potent inhibitors are found in deoxynojirimycin derivatives having a group that is capable of inserting in the membrane bilayer.

α-Galactosylceramides and glycosylceramides (“ceramide-like glycolipids”) that modulate NK T cells. The ceramide-like glycolipids vary in the cytokines induced in NK T cells and vary in the antigen-presenting cells that are capable of efficiently presenting the compounds to NK T cells. Pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids are provided, as are pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids combined with dendritic cells. Methods utilizing the ceramide-like glycolipids in vaccines, to activate NK T cells, to stimulate the immune system, and to treat mammals are also provided. The invention also provides methods of evaluating a compound for its ability to activate an NK T cell in the presence of a cell expressing a CD1d protein.

This invention pertains to pharmaceutical formulations which comprise (i) a drug (e.g., an amphiphilic drug) (e.g., an anthracycline) (e.g., doxorubicin) and (ii) a short-chain sphingolipid (e.g., a short-chain glycosphingolipid or a short-chain sphingomyelin) (e.g., N-octanoyl-glucosylceramide, referred to as C8-GlcCer) (e.g., N-hexanoyl-sphingomyelin, referred to herein as C6-SM), and which provide improved drug delivery and efficacy. The short-chain sphingolipidis selected from compounds of the following formula: wherein: R1 is independently: an O-linked saccharide group; or an O-linked polyhydric alcohol group; or: R1 is independently: an O-linked (optionally N-(C1-4alkyl)-substituted amino)-C1-6alkyl-phosphate group; or an O-linked (polyhydric alcohol-substituted)-C1-6alkyl-phosphate group; R2 is independently C3-9alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R3 is independently C7-19alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R4 is independently —H, —OH, or —O—C1-4alkyl; RN is independently —H or C1-4alkyl; the bond marked with an alpha (α) is independently a single bond or a double bond; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a double bond, then R5 is —H; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a single bond, then R5 is —H or —OH; the carbon atom marked (*) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; the carbon atom marked (**) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, esters, ethers, chemically protected forms thereof. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is a liposomal pharmaceutical formulation prepared using a mixture of lipids comprising, at least, vesicle-forming lipids (e.g., phospholipids) (e.g., phosphatidylcholines) (e.g., fully hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC)) (e.g., dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)) and said short-chain sphingolipid, and optionally cholesterol and optionally a vesicle-forming lipid which is derivatized with a polymer chain (e.g., a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) which is derivatized with polyethyleneglycol (PEG)) (e.g., N-(carbonyl-methoxypolyethylene glycol 2000)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine sodium salt (MPEG2000-DSPE). The present invention also pertains to methods for the preparation and use of such formulations.

The present invention provides a method for the treatment of immune mediated or immune related diseases or disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders and cancer in mammalian subjects. This method comprises the administration of a naturally occurring, mammalian intermediary metabolite or T cell receptor ligand, preferably a glucosylceramide, to a mammalian subject. In a preferred embodiment, such mammalian subjects are human beings.

Methods for treatment of disorders associated with glycolipid accumulation, such as Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis. Inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthesis include N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, N-butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin, and N-nonyldeoxynojirimycin; 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol and structurally related analogues thereof; and agents capable of increasing the rate of neuronal glycolipid degradation.

The invention relates to the use of β-glycolipids as immunomodulators. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of β-glycolipids, preferably, β-lactosyl-ceramide, β-glucosylceramide, β-galactosyl-ceramide, ceramid and β-lactosyl-ceramide, as well as any mixture or combination thereof for the treatment of immune related disorders. The present invention further relates to a process for the modulation of the Th1 / Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells, in a subject suffering from an immune related disorder. Therapeutic compositions and method for the preparation of these compositions are also provided.

Methods for the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections caused by microorganisms producing glucosylceramide are provided. In particular, methods for diagnosing or predicting dissemination of a fungal infection from the lungs to the blood stream of a patient are provided. Methods for treating a fungal infection and / or preventing the dissemination of a fungal infection from the lungs to the blood stream or to other organs of a patient, and methods for preventing or treating a fungal infection in a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a fungal glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor to a patient. Such methods are particularly useful for use with patients at risk to develop fungal infections, such as HIV or cancer patients, patients hospitalized in intensive care units, or patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs such as transplant patients.

The invention provides an alpha-galactosyl ceramide new isomer and its synthetic method. Configuration of sphingosine chain is changed to 4,5-cis double bond sphingosine chain. According to the invention, reaction steps are shortened, yield is raised, and aftertreatment and purification steps are omitted. The synthetic method can be used for total synthesis of similar glycosyl ceramide and satisfies wide range of development, research and application of different glycosyl ceramide.

Described herein are compounds of Formula I, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments containing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or conditions associated with the enzyme glucosylceramide synthase (GCS).

In one aspect, B1,4GalT-V, an isoform of the enzyme lactosylceramide synthase, is provided as a biomarker for cancer. Also provided are methods and compositions directed at cancers characterized by the overexpression or upregulation of the lactosylceramide synthase isoform B1,4GalT-V.

The present invention relates to a combination therapy for the treatment of immune-related disorders. More particularly, the invention relates to oral or mucosal synergistic compositions combining beta-glycolipids, preferably, β-glycosphin-golipids with immunoglobulin molecules specific for at least one antigen derived from a component of the immune system, specifically an anti-CD3 antibody. The invention further provides methods kits and uses of the combined compositions of the invention for immune-modulation and thereby for the treatment of immune-related disorders. In a preferred embodiment, anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) is orally administered in combination with β-glucosylceramide (also known as glycocerebroside) in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.

Described herein are compounds of Formula I, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments containing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or conditions associated with the enzyme glucosylceramide synthase (GCS).

Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors and compositions containing the same are disclosed. Methods of using the glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and conditions wherein inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase provides a benefit, like Gaucher disease and Fabry disease, also are disclosed.

Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors and compositions containing the same are disclosed. Methods of using the glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and conditions wherein inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase provides a benefit, like Gaucher disease and Fabry disease, also are disclosed.

The invention provides application of a biomarker phosphatidylinositol (22: 0 / 19: 0) in preparation of a detection reagent for diagnosing cerebral infarction of a white matter lesion patient. The risk of cerebral infarction of the white matter lesion patient is judged by combining the biomarker lipophosphatidylinositol (22: 0 / 19: 0) with glucosylceramide (d18: 0 / 24: 1 (15Z)), beta-hydroxyethyl ethanolamine, tomatidine, phosphatidylserine (22: 6 / 20: 1) or decanoyl carnitine. Cerebral infarction can be prevented in advance.

Described herein are compounds of Formula I, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments containing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or conditions associated with the enzyme glucosylceramide synthase (GCS).

The present invention relates to a composition for the protection of keratinous fibers containing at least one compound chosen from ceramides and glycoceramides, at least one cationic polymer, and at least one amphoteric polymer; to a process and kit for protecting keratinous fibers from damage caused by chemical treatment by applying, prior to chemical treatment, to the keratinous fibers a leave-in composition comprising at least one compound chosen from ceramides and glycoceramides.