Morvus Technology Limited

Enzacta R & D Limited

Richard J Knox

Philip John Burke

Roger Melton

There is provided the use as reducing agents of alpha-hydroxycarbonyl compounds capable of forming cyclic dimers. There is also provided corresponding methods of reducing reducible compounds, particularly reduction-activated prodrugs. Examples of the alpha-hydroxycarbonyl compounds used are dihydroxyacetone, glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, erythrose, xylulose, erythrulose or 3-hydroxy-2-butanone.

Use of alpha-hydroxy carbonyl compounds as reducing agents

Use of an orally or nasally available formulation of Tretazicar for poisoning vermin. An orally available or nasally available formulation of Tretazicar, wherein in the orally available formulation the Tretazicar is protected from acid hydrolysis, and provided that the formulation is not solid Tretazicar in a gelatin capsule. A formulation of Tretazicar in which the Tretazicar is protected from acid hydrolysis, wherein the formulation is present in a liquid form. A combination of Tretazicar and bait. A method of poisoning vermin comprising making available to the vermin an orally or nasally available formulation of Tretazicar and allowing the vermin to ingest or inhale the formulation of Tretazicar.

Vermin poison

Method of combating a parasitic protozoal infection of a host organism, wherein the parasite causing the infection is associated with an enzyme system capable of activating tretazicar into a cytotoxic form. The method is carried out by administering tretazicar to the host organism.

Method of combating infection

A compound comprising a target cell-specific portion and human NAD(P)H:quinone reductase 2 (NQO2) or a variant or fragment or fusion or derivative thereof which has substantially the same activity as NQO2 towards a given prodrug, or a polynucleotide encoding said NQO2 or said variant or fragment or fusion or derivative. A recombinant polynucleotide comprising a target cell-specific promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding human NAD(P)H:quinone reductase 2 (NQO2) or a variant or fragment or fusion or derivative thereof which has substantially the same activity as NQO2 towards a given prodrug. The compounds and polynucleotides are useful in a method of treating a patient in conjunction with a suitable prodrug. A method of treating a human patient with a target cell to be destroyed wherein the target cell expresses NQO2 the method comprising administering to the patient a prodrug which is converted to a substantially cytotoxic drug by the action of NQO2 and nicotinamide riboside (reduced) (NRH) or an analogue thereof which can pass reducing equivalents to NQO2.

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Carmarthen, United Kingdom

Richard J Knox