| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/DK96/00502 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 8, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 8, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 2, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/20811 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 12, 1997The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) in which formula X is hydrogen or hydroxy; R1 and R2 stand for methyl or ethyl, or, when taken together with the carbon atom bearing the group X, can form a C3-C5 carbocyclic ring; Q is either a single bond or a C1-C8 hydrocarbylene in which one of any methylene groups not directly bonded to the carbonyl group may optionally be replaced by an oxygen atom (or methyl by hydroxy); Y is either a single bond or C1-C8 hydrocarbylene; and derivatives of (I) in which one or more of the hydroxy groups are masked as groups which can be reconverted to hydroxy groups in vivo. The compounds show anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects as well as strong activity in inducing differentiation and inhibiting undesirable proliferation of certain cells. |