WARF TECHNOLOGIES

The hormonally active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃, has shown promise for treating diseases ranging from osteoporosis to cancer to psoriasis. However, the hormone mobilizes calcium from bones and increases intestinal absorption of dietary calcium. Effective therapeutic concentrations can lead to hypercalcemia; a condition characterized by elevated blood calcium levels, alterations in mental status, muscle weakness and calcification of soft tissues and organs such as the heart and kidneys. Therefore, a need exists for new compounds that provide desirable therapeutic effects without causing dose-limiting hypercalcemia.

UW–Madison researchers have developed vitamin D analogs,(20S)-3-desoxy-2-methylene-1a,25-diydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D₃ and (20R)-3-desoxy-2-methylene-1a,25-diydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D₃.These compounds exhibit promising anti-cancer activities: high receptor binding, and the arrest and induced-differentiation of proliferating cells. High calcemic mobilization suggests particular effectiveness in the treatment of bone diseases.

• Therapy for bone diseases, osteoporosis and osteosarcoma
• Prevention and treatment of leukemia, skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer

• High bone calcium mobilization
• Lower intestinal calcium transport activity
• Can be administered in many forms

For More Information About the Inventors

• Margaret Clagett-Dame

Tech Fields

• Therapeutics & Vaccines : Autoimmune disorders
• Therapeutics & Vaccines : Oncology
• Therapeutics & Vaccines : Vitamin D