Abstract: A compound which is a benzo[a]phenazine-11-carboxamide derivative of formula (I) wherein each of R1 to R4, which are the same or different, is selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, C1–C6 alkoxy which is unsubstituted or substituted, heteroaryloxy, C1–C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted, nitro, cyano, azido, amidoxime, CO2R10, CON(R12)2, OCON(R12), SR10, SOR11, SO2R11, SO2N(R12)2, N(R12)2, NR10SO2R11, N(SO2R11)2 NR10(CH2)nCN, NR10COR11, OCOR11 or COR10; each of R5 to R7, which are the same or different, is selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1–C6 alkoxy, C1–C6 alkyl, SR10 and N(R12)2; Q is C1–C6 alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by (i) C1–C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted, (ii) hydroxy, provided that the hydroxy group is not ? to either of the N atoms adjacent to Q in formula (I), (iii) CO2R10, or (iv) CON(R12); R8 and R9, which are the same or different, are each hydrogen or C1–C6 alkyl, or R8 and R9 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attach

Abstract: A hydrate of an acid addition bis-salt of an anthranilic acid derivative is produced by a process which comprises: (a) combining, in any order, the anthranalic acid derivative, a pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent, an excess of water and a pharmaceutically acceptable strong acid to form a mixture; (b) warming the mixture until a clear solution forms; (c) filtering the solution while it is warm, to yield a filtrate; and (d) recovering the hydrate as defined above from the filtrate. The hydrate has a defined number of moles of water of crystallisation and possesses better storage stability and dissolution characteristics than conventionally produced hydrates of such acid addition his-salts.

Abstract: A compound which is a benzo[a]phenazine-11-carboxamide derivative of formula (I) wherein each of R1 to R4, which are the same or different, is selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkoxy which is unsubstituted or substituted, heteroaryloxy, C1-C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted, nitro, cyano, azido, amidoxime, CO2R10, CON(R12)2, OCON(R12), SR10, SOR11, SO2R11, SO2N(R12)2, N(R2)2, NR10SO2R11, N(SO2R11)2 NR10(CH2)nCN, NR10COR11, OCOR11 or COR10; each of R5 to R7, which are the same or different, is selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkyl, SR10 and N(R12)2; Q is C1-C6 alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by (i) C1-C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted, (II) hydroxy, provided that the hydroxy group is not ? to either of the N atoms adjacent to Q in formula (I), (iii) CO2R10, or (iv) CON(R12); R8 and R9, which are the same or different, are each hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl, or R8 and R9 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are atta

Abstract: A compound which is a heteroaromatic[a]phenazine carboxamide derivative of formula (I) wherein X is a five- or six-membered heteroaromatic ring which contains one or two nitrogen atoms and which is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6 alkyl, hydroxyl or C1-C6 alkoxy; Q is C1-C6 alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by a hydroxy group; and R1 and R2 which are the same or different are each C1-C6 alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds are inhibitors of topoisomerase I and II and can be used to treat tumours, including tumours which express MDR.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I), wherein &agr;X is ═O, ═N—OR6, &bgr;NHR or &bgr;OH wherein R6 is H or C1-C6 alkyl, bond a is oriented &ggr; or &dgr; and R is H, C1-C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C6-C10 aryl, or C3-C6 cycloalkyl; &egr; is a bond when &zgr; and &eegr; are not bonds or, when X is ═O, &zgr; and &eegr; are both bonds and &egr; is not a bond; R1 and R2, which are the same or different, are H or a halogen; R3 and R4, which are the same or different, are H, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic group or an aromatic group; bond e is oriented &ggr; or &dgr;; and R5 is C1-C6 alkyl; or formula (Ib), or formula (II), or formula (III), has activity as a cytokine production inhibitor and an inhibitor and an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase.

Abstract: Anthranilic acids of formula (I): wherein each of R to R9 is an organic substituent, n is 0 or 1, m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 6, q is 0 or 1, X is a direct bond, O, S, —S—(CH2)p or —O—(CHO2)p— wherein p is from 1 to 6 and Ar is an unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, have activity as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein and may thus be used, inter alia, as modulators of multidrug resistance in the treatment of multidrug resistant cancers, for example to potentiate the cytotoxicity of a cancer drug.

Abstract: A compound which is a bis(acridinecarboxamide) or bis(phenazinecarboxamide) derivative of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each X, which may be the same or different in a given molecule, is --CH.dbd. or --N.dbd. each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 which may be the same or different, H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, OH, SH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, aryloxy, NHR, N(R).sub.2, SR, SO.sub.2 R wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2 or halogen, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form a methylenedioxy group; each of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; Z is (CH.sub.2).sub.n, (CH.sub.2).sub.n O(CH.sub.2).sub.n, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.7)(CH.sub.2).sub.n, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.7)(CH.sub.2).sub.m N(R.sub.7)(CH.sub.2).sub.n or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.2 N(CH.sub.2).sub.n wherein R.sub.7 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A process for producing an acridine carboxamide of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, which may be the same or different, is H or an organic subsituent, x is from 1 to 6 and Y is N(R)2 wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A piperazinedione of general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen;a group of formula --(NH).sub.t --COR.sup.3 wherein t is 0 or 1 and R.sup.3 is an organic substituent as defined herein;a group of formula (D): ##STR2## and a group of formula (E): ##STR3## and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful as modulators of multi-drug resistance.

Abstract: Diketopiperazines of formula (A): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.8 is H or an organic radical as described herein and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof have activity as inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor.

Abstract: A new treatment schedule for administration of N-?2-(dimethylamino)ethyl!acridine-4-carboxamide and other related carboxamide anticancer drugs in which the drug is administered in a divided-dose schedule comprising two or more administrations at frequent intervals, for example every hour. Schedules to produce cyclic peaks/troughs in plasma levels are mentioned. The compounds can be used for circumventing multidrug resistance in cancers and may, for example, be used in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, especially non-topo II inhibitors. Treatment of melanoma and advanced colon cancer is included.

Abstract: Diketopiperazines of the formula ##STR1## where one or both of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which are different, are chosen from X and a phenyl group substituted by X, C(O)X, OC(O)CH.sub.2 X, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 X, CH.sub.2 X, CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.n X, O(CH.sub.2).sub.n CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.n X ##STR2## and, where appropriate, the other of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a phenyl group optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from halogen, nitro, methoxy, NHC(O)R.sub.12, CO.sub.2 H, O(CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12 R.sub.13), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and (CH.sub.2).sub.n C(O)OR.sub.12 ; X is a five- or six-membered heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, imidazolyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, thienyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, quinolyl, isoquinotyl and indolyl, the heteroatom(s) of the said heterocyclic ring, when nitrogen, being optionally substituted by hydrogen, methyl, oxygen, tertiary-butyloxycarbonyl, or SO.sub.

Abstract: Piperazine derivatives of the formula ##STR1## their esters and salts are useful as modulators of multiple drug resistance.

Abstract: Piperazine derivatives of formula (A): ##STR1## wherein .sub.-------- denotes an optional bond, provided that either .sub.----.sup.a.sub.---- and .sub.----.sup.c.sub.---- are both bonds and .sub.----.sup.b.sub.---- and .sub.----.sup.d.sub.---- are not bonds, or .sub.----.sup.b.sub.---- and .sub.----.sup.d.sub.---- are both bonds and .sub.----.sup.a.sub.---- and .sub.----.sup.c.sub.---- are not bonds; each of R.sub.14 and R.sub.15 is independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by an organic functional group; and each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.10, which may be the same or different, is independently hydrogen or an organic functional group; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof have utility as modulators of multiple drug resistance (MDR).

Abstract: A diketopiperazine of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 which may be the same or different; is hydrogen or a nitro group;Y is ##STR2## --O-- or --S--, wherein each of R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 which may be the same or different, is hydrogen or a nitro group;n is 0, 1 or 2;m is an integer of 1 to 6;each R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group; andX is selected from(i) a phenyl group of the following formula ##STR3## and the salts and esters thereof; have activity as inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor.

Abstract: Diketopiperazines of the formula: ##STR1## where each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.10, which may be the same or different, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylthio, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, phenyl, -cyano, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 COOH, --CO.sub.2 R.sup.11, --NHCOR.sup.11, --NHSO.sub.2 R.sup.13, --SO.sub.2 R.sup.13, --CON(R.sup.11 R.sup.12), --SOR.sup.13, --SO.sub.2 N(R.sup.11 R.sup.12), --N(R.sup.11 R.sup.12), and --O(CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sup.11 R.sup.12), --O(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sup.11, --OCOR.sup.11, --CH.sub.2 OCOR.sup.11, --CH.sub.2 NHCOR.sup.11, --CH.sub.2 NHCOOR.sup.13, --CH.sub.2 SR.sup.11, --CH.sub.2 SCOR.sup.11, --CH.sub.2 S(O).sub.m R.sup.13 wherein m is 1 or 2, --CH.sub.2 NHCO(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sup.11, --N(R.sup.11)COR.sup.12, --NHCOCF.sub.3, --NHCO(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sup.11, --NHCO(CH.sub.2).sub.n OCOR.sup.11 and --NHCO(CH.

Abstract: A new treatment schedule for administration of N-?2-(dimethylamino)ethyl!acridine-4-carboxamide and other related carboxamide anticancer drugs in which the drug is administered in a divided-dose schedule comprising two or more administrations at frequent intervals, for example every hour. Schedules to produce cyclic peaks/troughs in plasma levels are mentioned. The compounds can be used for circumventing multidrug resistance in cancers and may, for example, be used in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, especially non-topo II inhibitors. Treatment of melanoma and advanced colon cancer is included.

Abstract: Sesquiterpenes obtainable from the fungal strain Acremonium strictum XO6/15/458, and phannaceutically and veterinarily acceptable salts thereof, are inhibitors of the binding of benzodiazepine to the GABA-benzodiazepine-Cl ionophore receptor complex. These compounds are prepared by (i) fermenting, in a source of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic salts, fungal strain XO6/15/458 (IMI 354451) or a mutant thereof which produces the sesquiterpenes, (ii) isolating the sesquiterpenes from the fermentation medium; and (iii) if desired, converting the sesquiterpene into a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salt.

Abstract: Vinigrol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is useful as a tumour necrosis factor antagonist. Vinigrol may therefore be used to treat endotoxic shock, inflammation, infection or cachexia.