Cytovia, Inc.

Ben Y Tseng

Shailaja Kasibhatla

Sui Xiong Cai

John A Drewe

Han-Zhong Zhang

Nilantha Sudath Sirisoma

Yan Wang

Songchun Jiang

Douglas R Green

Katayoun Jessen

Jared Kuemmerle

Henriette Gourdeau

Denis Labrecque

Kristin P Ollis

Charles Blais

William D Kemnitzer

Nicole Marion English

Serguei Maliartchouk

The present invention is directed to a substituted 4H-chromene represented by the Formula 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer: The present invention also relates to the discovery that compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, is an activator of caspases and inducer of apoptosis, as well as an antivascular agent. Therefore, compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs. Compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, also can be used for the treatment of diseases due to overgrowth of vasculature, such as solid tumors and ocular neovascularization.

Substituted 4-aryl-chromene as activator of caspases and inducer of apoptosis and as antivascular agent and the use thereof

The present invention relates to screening methods useful for drug discovery of apoptosis inducing compounds. In particular, the screening methodology relates to using Apoptosis Inducing Proteins (AIPs) as a target for the discovery of apoptosis activators useful as anticancer agents. The screening methods of the present invention can employ homogenous or heterogeneous binding assays using purified or partially purified AIPs; or whole cell assays using cells with altered levels of one or more AIPs. The invention also contemplates use of gambogic acid or GA-related compounds which bind AIPs and can accordingly be used to raise antibodies useful for drug discovery. Alternatively, labeled GA is used for competitive binding assays for drug discovery. Such assays afford high throughput screening of chemical libraries for apoptosis activators.

Methods of treating diseases responsive to induction of apoptosis and screening assays

The present invention is directed to derivatives of gambogic acid and analogs thereof. Exemplary gambogic acid derivatives of the present invention include, among others, derivatives substituted in the C10 and C28 positions of gambogic acid. The present invention also relates to the discovery that certain preferred compounds of the present invention are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.

Derivatives of gambogic acid and analogs as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis

A method for identifying therapeutically effective immunosuppressive agents by screening such agents for those which induce apoptosis in activated T cells is disclosed. T cells were isolated then activated and treating with various test compounds. A caspase substrate is added to detect caspase activation and apoptosis in the cells. Compounds which stimulate caspase activation and apoptosis are also tested against resting T cells to determine those agents which are more effective in activated T cells compared to resting T cells. Compounds with this selectivity are effective in treating immunopathological disorders such as arthritis, graft rejection, graft versus host disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome and the like.

Method of identifying immunosuppressive agents

Gambogic acid, analogs and derivatives as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Ben Y Tseng