Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Elizabeth A Allegretto

Marcus F Boehm

Alex M Nadzan

J Wesley Pike

The present invention relates to non-secosteroidal compounds which activate and modulate the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Because compounds of the present invention display many of the beneficial properties of 1,25(OH),D,, but with reduced calcium mobilization effects, they may be used advantageously to treat and prevent conditions that show vitamin D sensitivity. Such disease states typically show abnormal calcium regulatory, abnormal immune responsive, hyperproliferative, and/or neurodegenerative characteristics.

Vitamin D3 mimics

The present invention features peptides derived from RXRX, and antibodies elicited by the peptides. These antibodies bind specifically to RXRX subtypes in its native, functional conformation. Methods are disclosed for detection of RXRX with the antibodies in immunological assays. In addition, this invention describes a hormone-binding immunoprecipitation assay which utilizes both the retinoid receptor subtype specific antibodies and retinoid receptor ligands to detect and measure RXR and RAR subtypes in a sample. A method is also disclosed for determining the profile of retinoid receptor subfamily members with the retinoid receptor ligands.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Elizabeth A Allegretto