The present invention provides compositions for use in modulating smoothened dependent pathway activation. The present invention provides analogs of cyclopamine of formulas
that can be used to counteract the phenotypic effects of unwanted activation of a hedgehog pathway, such as resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, Ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function mutations. The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in treating cancers.
