CYTOKINE PRODUCTION INHIBITORS, FORMULATIONS THEREOF AND THEIR USE IN MEDICINE, AND METHODS FOR THEIR IDENTIFICATION

摘要

Compounds or ligands which inhibit the binding of alpha -oxoaldehyde-modified arginine residues include those of formula (I) wherein R1 is an aryl or alkyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; and R3 and R4 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, and aryl and alkyl groups; including salts, esters or hydrated forms thereof. Such compounds may be formulated in association with a pharmaceutical carrier therefor and used to treat or prevent chronic clinical complications associated with diabetes mellitus, macrovascular disease, and amyloidosis associated with Alzheimer's disease and chronic renal dialysis. Certain alpha -oxoaldehyde-modified arginine residues are also disclosed together with their use in a method of screening test compounds for therapeutic activity.