| abstract |
2-alkylidene-18,19-dinorvitamin D compounds are disclosed along with the pharmaceutical uses of these compounds and methods for the synthesis of these compounds. These compounds are characterized by low bone calcium mobilization activity and high intestinal calcium transport activity. This provides a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of diseases where bone formation is desired, in particular osteoporosis as well as autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and lupus. These compounds also exhibit significant activity in inhibiting the growth of undifferentiated cells and inducing differentiation into monocytes, thus demonstrating their use as anticancer agents and the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis. These compounds also increase bone strength and bone crush strength and thus prove to be used together in bone replacement procedures such as hip and knee joints. |