Sankyo Company, Limited

Masahiro Nishijima

Tomowo Kobayashi

Masami Arai

Tetsuo Hiraoka

Masao Shiozaki

Noboru Ishida

Yuzuru Akamatsu

Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## in which: R.sup.1 is hydroxy, protected hydroxy, fluorine, or --OP(O)(OH).sub.2 ; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aliphatic acyl; R.sup.4 is hydroxy, protected hydroxy, or --OP(O)(OH).sub.2, where at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 is --OP(O)(OH).sub.2 ; and R.sup.5 is hydroxy, protected hydroxy, or fluorine; provided that, except where at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is fluorine, then at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is a substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aliphatic acyl having (i) at least one halogen substituent and (ii) at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy and C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aliphatic acyloxy or at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is a substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aliphatic acyl which is substituted by at least one halogen-substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aliphatic carboxylic acyloxy; have Lipid A-like activity and may be used for the treatment, prophylaxis, diagnosis and support of an animal suffering a disease or disorder arising from a deficiency in the immune system or from a tumor. They may be prepared by phosphorylation of corresponding compounds lacking a phosphoryl group.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Masahiro Nishijima