| abstract |
The present invention relates to thio-substituted cyclic phosphonate compounds, including bisphosphonates, phosphonoalkylphosphinates, phosphonocarboxylates and phosphonosulfonates, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a safe and effective amount of a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Finally, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing pathological conditions characterized by abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism in humans or other mammals, including treating or preventing osteoporosis and arthritis, in particular rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It is about. This method comprises administering a safe and effective amount of a compound or composition of the invention to a human or other mammal to be so treated. These compounds may be monocyclic or bicyclic, and have the following general structure (I), provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is SR 6 or R 8 SR 6 : |