| abstract |
The present invention relates to the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and/or cancer, and a method of weight gain, via the ingestion of polymeric compositions in humans, animals or birds in need of said treatment. The invention provides methods for the treatment of cancer, the treatment and/or prevention of gastrointestinal disease and/or infection and/or diarrhoea, and a method for increasing weight gain in humans, animals or birds comprising administering to said humans, animals or birds an effective amount of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or feed additive, comprising an effective amount of a polymer and/or copolymer, having the repeating polymeric unit (I) wherein R is H or alkyl, usually C1 to C4, or this unit in hydrated, hemiacetal or acetal form, together with a pharmaceutically or veterinarally acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant, excipient and/or controlled release system. <CHEM> |