Polysialic acid and use for treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases

摘要

The present invention relates to a branched or unbranched free or glycosidically bound polysialic acid according to general formula (1) as given as follows (poly-±(2 †’ 8 or 2 †’ 9)Neu5Ac) n (1) wherein Neu5Ac is N-acetylneuraminic acid, and n is an integer in the range from 14 to 26 and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a polysaccharide composition comprising the polysialic acid (1), and the use as a medicament, particularly in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of degenerative, demyelinating and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, and degenerative or inflammatory retinal diseases.