NOVEL 1ALPHA-HYDROXYVITAMIN D2 EPIMER AND DERIVATIVES

摘要

The invention provides a new vitamin D2 compound, 1 alpha -hydroxy-24-epi-vitamin D2 and certain hydroxy-protected derivatives thereof. The new compound exhibits a distinctive activity pattern comprising high potency in stimulating intestinal calcium transport and little or no activity in inducing bone calcium mobilization or the differentiation of undifferentiated cells in culture, thereby evincing utility in the treatment of diseases characterized by loss of bone mass.