American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc.

Other

University College Dublin

Heinz Nau

Ciaran M Regan

Alan O'Connell

Mohamed Mohey Elmazar

Ralf-Siegbert Hauck

Ursula Bojic

This invention relates to a method for the treatment and prevention of migraine and affective illness by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the valproic acid analog 2-n-propyl-4-hexynoic acid. The compound 2-n-propyl-4-hexynoic acid is an effective anti-migraine and anti-affective illness drug with greatly reduced adverse effects including neurotoxicity and teratogenic potential compared to valproic acid. This invention thus provides an improved method for treating and preventing migraine and affective illness.

Use of valproic acid analog for the treatment and prevention of migraine and affective illness

Neurotrophic and antiproliferative compounds related to the antiepileptic drug valproate are provided. These compounds are useful for promoting neuronal function as in neurodegenerative disorders and for treating neoplastic disease.

Antiproliferative and neurotrophic molecules

Alpha-fluorinated alkynoic acids and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds are provided, which are useful for the treatment and prevention of seizures such as are associated with epilepsy. The compounds of the invention exhibit reduced side effects, relative to valproic acid, with regard to sedation and teratogenic potential.

Alpha-fluoro alkynoic acids with anticonvulsant activity

The invention provides compounds which are effective antiepileptics and at the same time display only a slight sedative and teratogenic effect and have the formula ##STR1## where the compounds of the formulae (I) and (II) can also be mono- or polyunsaturated, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group, R.sup.5 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 -alkyl group, and at least one of the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 in the compounds of the formulae (I) and (II) is different from hydrogen, where the compounds of the formula (I), in the case where a center of asymmetry is present on the carbon atom in position 2, and the compounds of the formulae (II), (III) and (IV) are in the form of their racemate, their pure enantiomers or a mixture of their enantiomers which differs from the racemate, and pharmaceutically compatible salts thereof.

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Hannover, Germany

Heinz Nau