| abstract |
The invention provides the use of dipyridoxyl or aminopolycarboxylic acid based chelating agents, metal chelates and salts thereof, in the manufacture of a therapeutic agent for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of atherosclerosis and related conditions in the human or non-human animal body. Preferred compounds for use in the method of the invention are compounds of formula (I) or a metal chelate or salt thereof (wherein in formula (I) each R1 independently represents hydrogen or -CH2COR5; R5 represents hydroxy, optionally hydroxylated alkoxy, amino or alkylamido; each R2 independently represents a group XYR6; X represents a bond, or a C1-3 alkylene or oxoalkylene group optionally substituted by a group R7; Y represents a bond, an oxygen atom or a group NR6; R6 is a hydrogen atom, a group COOR8, an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl group optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from COOR8, CONR82, NR82, OR8, =R8, =O, OP(O)(OR8)R7 and OSO3M; R7 is hydroxy, an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl or aminoalkyl group; R8 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl group; M is a hydrogen atom or one equivalent of a physiologically tolerable cation, e.g. an alkali or alkaline earth cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine cation, such as a meglumine ion; R3 represents a C1-8 alkylene group, preferably a C1-6, e.g. a C2-4 alkylene group, a 1,2-cycloalkylene group, or a 1,2-arylene group; each R4 independently represents hydrogen or C1-3 alkyl; and each R9 independently may be absent or represents hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl). |