Abstract: The inventors have found that compounds of formula (I) have an effect to protect cartilage. Accordingly the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for protecting cartilage comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof. The pharmaceutical composition can be used for treating and/or preventing a disease associated with cartilage degeneration such as osteoarthritis.

Abstract: The inventors have found that the compounds of formula (I) protect cardiomyocytes. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for protecting a cardiomyocyte comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The pharmaceutical composition may be used for treating or preventing a disease associated with cardiomyocyte death, such as myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, hypertensive heart failure, or dilated cardiomyopathy, especially for treating myocardial infarction.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a compound of formula (I) for treating cerebral infarction, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, a method of manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for treating cerebral infarction comprising use of the compound, use of the compound for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for treating cerebral infarction, or a method for treating cerebral infarction comprising administering the compound or the pharmaceutical composition. The cerebral infarction includes, for example, lacunar infarction, atherothrombotic cerebral infarction, and cardiogenic embolism.

Abstract: The inventors have found that VCP inhibitors protect corneal endothelial cells and corneal epithelial cells. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a composition for protecting a cornea comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. In another aspect the disclosure provides a composition for treating and/or preventing a corneal disease comprising a compound of formula (I). In a further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for ocular irrigation comprising a compound of formula (I). In a still further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for preserving a corneal graft comprising a compound of formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) which improves leptin resistance, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, a method for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance comprising using the compound, use of the compound for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance, and a method for improving leptin resistance comprising administering the compound or the pharmaceutical composition. The improvement of leptin resistance can lead treatment and/or prevention of a disorder associated with leptin resistance, including, particularly, metabolic disorder, obesity, hyperphagia, steatosis, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for removing drusen, suppressing formation of drusen, and/or treating and/or preventing age-related macular degeneration comprising the compound of formula (I) wherein Ra is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, alkyl, halo-substituted alkyl, aryl, halo- or alkyl-substituted aryl, alkoxy, hydroxy- or carboxy-substituted alkoxy, aryloxy, halo- or alkyl-substituted aryloxy, CHO, C(O)-alkyl, C(O)-aryl, C(O)-alkyl-carboxyl, C(O)-alkylene-carboxy ester and cyano, and m is an integer selected from 0 to 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds which can regulate VCP activity. The present invention provides the compound of formula (I) (R is as defined in the description) or oxides, esters, prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof. The compounds can regulate VCP activity, and thus are useful for treating VCP-mediated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) which improves leptin resistance, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, a method for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance comprising using the compound, use of the compound for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance, and a method for improving leptin resistance comprising administering the compound or the pharmaceutical composition. The improvement of leptin resistance can lead treatment and/or prevention of a disorder associated with leptin resistance, including, particularly, metabolic disorder, obesity, hyperphagia, steatosis, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for removing drusen, suppressing formation of drusen, and/or treating and/or preventing age-related macular degeneration comprising the compound of formula (I) wherein Ra is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, alkyl, halo-substituted alkyl, aryl, halo- or alkyl-substituted aryl, alkoxy, hydroxy- or carboxy-substituted alkoxy, aryloxy, halo- or alkyl-substituted aryloxy, CHO, C(O)-alkyl, C(O)-aryl, C(O)-alkyl-carboxyl, C(O)-alkylene-carboxy ester and cyano, and m is an integer selected from 0 to 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents effective to treat eye diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, methods for preparing pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases comprising using the agents, use of the agents in manufacture of pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases and methods for treating eye diseases comprising administering the agents or the pharmaceutical compositions. The eye diseases treated by the present invention include particularly glaucoma, especially normal tension glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa. The present invention provides the compound of formula (I) wherein R is as defined in the description.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents effective to treat eye diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, methods for preparing pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases comprising using the agents, use of the agents in manufacture of pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases and methods for treating eye diseases comprising administering the agents or the pharmaceutical compositions. The eye diseases treated by the present invention include particularly glaucoma, especially normal tension glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa. The present invention provides the compound of formula (I) wherein R is as defined in the description.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds which can regulate VCP activity. The present invention provides the compound of formula (I) (R is as defined in the description) or oxides, esters, prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof. The compounds can regulate VCP activity, and thus are useful for treating VCP-mediated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: A method for screening substances which are useful as effective components of prophylactic or therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases caused by the binding of an aberrant protein and a valosin-containing protein, wherein the aberrant protein and the valosin-containing protein and the candidate substance are made to coexist, and the substance that shows inhibitory action on the binding of the aberrant protein and the valosin-containing protein is identified, is provided.

Abstract: A method for screening substances which are useful as effective components of prophylactic or therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases caused by the binding of an aberrant protein and a valosin-containing protein, wherein the aberrant protein and the valosin-containing protein and the candidate substance are made to coexist, and the substance that shows inhibitory action on the binding of the aberrant protein and the valosin-containing protein is identified, is provided.

Abstract: A method by which a nucleotide sequence, specifically a CAG triplet repeat shown to be expanded in individuals with Machado-Joseph Disease can be identified in a sample obtainable from an individual. The present methods can be used to identify individuals in whom the CAT triplet repeat is expanded, including methods useful to identify the protein encoded by the Machado-Joseph Disease gene.