Procept Corporation

Dana-farber-cancer Institute Inc.

Raymond J Patch

Theresa M Sampo

Kevin J Willis

Peter V Pallai

Shyam K Singh

Gerard P Palace

Zhan Shi

Edith A Neidhardt

Kevin W McDonald

Timothy D Ocain

Ellis L Reinherz

Linda K Clayton

John C Roberts

Methods for identifying agents which enhance the activity of a caspase according to the invention are described, as well as methods for enhancing caspase activity and methods for enhancing apoptosis in a lymphocyte.

Methods of identifying agents which enhance caspase activity

This invention pertains to the discovery that condensation polymers of an aldehyde and aromatic sulfonic acids and fractions thereof, such as formaldehyde naphthalenesulfonic acid condensation polymers, can abrogate HIV gp120 binding to CD4, as demonstrated in CD4/gp120 binding assays. In addition to gp120 binding inhibition, the compounds have been shown to inhibit HIV-induced syncytia formation and infectivity of CD&plus; cells. The use of this compound has been shown to be non-cytotoxic and non-inhibitory to antigen induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Based on these findings, these compounds can be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as AIDS-related complex (ARC), AIDS-related dementia and non-symptomatic HIV infection. The compounds can also be used to treat blood preparations.

Compound for inhibiting HIV infectivity

This invention pertains to the discovery that condensation polymers of an aldehyde and aromatic sulfonic acids and fractions thereof, such as formaldehyde naphthalenesulfonic acid condensation polymers, can abrogate HIV gp120 binding to CD4, as demonstrated in CD4/gp120 binding assays. In addition to gp120 binding inhibition, the compounds have been shown to inhibit HIV-induced syncytia formation and infectivity of CD+ cells. The use of this compound has been shown to be non-cytotoxic and non-inhibitory to antigen induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Based on these findings, these compounds can be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as AIDS-related complex (ARC), AIDS-related dementia and non-symptomatic HIV infection. The compounds can also be used to treat blood preparations.

This invention pertains to the discovery that condensation polymers of an aldehyde and aromatic sulfonic acids and fractions thereof, such as formaldehyde naphthalene-sulfonic acid condensation polymers, can abrogate HIV gp120 binding to CD4, as demonstrated in CD4/gp120 binding assays. In addition to gp120 binding inhibition, the compounds have been shown to inhibit HIV-induced syncytia formation and infectivity of CD+ cells. The use of this compound has been shown to be non-cytotoxic and non-inhibitory to antigen induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Based on these findings, these compounds can be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as AIDS-related complex (ARC), AIDS-related dementia and non-symptomatic HIV infection. The compounds can also be used to treat blood preparations.

The present invention is a method of protecting a sulfonic acid functional group in an organic molecule as a substituted or unsubstituted neopentyl sulfonate ester. The method allows the conversion of R--SO.sub.3 --H to R'--SO.sub.3 --H, wherein R and R' are different organic radicals. Also disclosed is a method of increasing the bioavailability of drugs with a sulfonic acid functional group by protecting the sulfonic acid functional group as a substituted neopentyl sulfonate ester which has a masked heteroatom nucleophile. The masked nucleophile can be liberated in vivo, resulting in removal of the neopentyl protecting group and regeneration of the parent drug.

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Framingham, MA, United States of America

Raymond J Patch