Abstract: The present invention relates to a c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor containing an azole compound (I) substituted by a nitrogen-containing aromatic group having substituent(s)(except a compound represented by the formula: ) or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new immortalized hepatocyte culture of human (preferably human fetal) normal cell origin. The immortalized hepatocyte culture of human normal cell origin of the present invention is useful in, for example, screening for compounds or salts thereof having therapeutic/preventive effects on hepatic insufficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel esterase proteins, Specifically, the present invention provides proteins having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 7, or salts thereof; their partial peptides or salts thereof: DNAs encoding the proteins; recombinant vectors containing the DNAs; transformants, a method of manufacturing the proteins; pharmaceuticals comprising the proteins or DNAs; antibodies to the proteins; a method of screening compounds or salts thereof having an activity of promoting the esterase activity of the proteins; the compounds obtained by the screening; and pharmaceuticals comprising the said compounds; etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel protein having a lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase-like activity, etc. or its salt, a precursor protein of the protein or its salt, a partial peptide of the protein or its salt; a DNA coding for the protein; a recombinant vector; a transformant; a method for producing the protein, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein, the partial peptide or its salt; and an antibody to the protein or the partial peptide. The protein, the partial peptide or its salt, and the DNA are useful as an agent for treating or preventing arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, hypercalorism, obesity or hypertriglyceridemia. The antibody can be used in assay of the protein, the partial peptide or its salt. The protein, the partial peptide or its salt is useful as a reagent for the screening for candidate medical compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having a steroid C17,20-lyase-inhibitory activity and useful for the therapy and prophylaxis of tumor such as prostatism, breast cancer and the like, and a method for efficiently separating an optically active compound of this compound from a mixture of optical isomers thereof, a compound of the formula: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, and a method for obtaining an optically active compound by optically resolving a mixture of optical isomers by the use of a resolving agent such as tartranilic acid and the like.

Abstract: The anti-19P2 ligand monoclonal antibodies of the invention (in particular P2L-1Ca) have very high binding ability and can neutralize the arachidonic acid metabolite releasing activity of the 19P2 ligand. Therefore, they can be used, among others, as diagnostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents for various diseases caused by some or other abnormality in the pituitary function modulating activity (e.g. prolactin secretion promoting activity), central nervous system modulating activity and pancreatic function modulating activity, among others, supposedly possessed by the 19P2 ligand. The immunoassay method using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention by the sandwich technique (in particular the sandwich technique using the monoclonal antibody and an antibody recognizing an intermediate portion of the 19P2 ligand) can assay the 19P2 ligand or a derivative thereof specifically and with high sensitivity.

Abstract: A process for producing crystals of 2-ethoxy-1-[[2?-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-1H-benzimdazole-7-carboxylic acid (compound (I)), characterized by dissolving or suspending the compound (I) or a salt thereof in a solvent comprising an aprotic polar solvent and crystallizing it. By the process, the contaminants which are contained in the compound (I) or its salt and are difficult to remove, such as tin compounds, analogues of the compound (I), and a residual organic solvent, can be easily removed. Crystals of the compound (I) can be efficiently and easily mass-produced in high yield on an industrial scale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence identical to or substantially identical to an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 35 and having an ability of binding to a receptor protein comprising an amino acid sequence identical to or substantially identical to an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or a precursor thereof, its amide or ester, or a salt thereof. An inventive peptide-encoding DNA or equivalent can be employed in (1) a development of a receptor binding assay system using an expression system of a recombinant receptor protein and a screening for a pharmaceutical candidate compound, and (2) a development of a pharmaceutical having a reduced side effect such as a memory function improving agent, a appetite improving agent, an uterine, renal, prostatic, testicular or skeletal muscle function regulating agent.

Abstract: The RFRP-3 peptide of the present invention which is an agent for promoting prolactin secretion is useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for various diseases associated with prolactin secretion, such as hypoovarianism, seminal vesicle hypoplasia, menopausal syndrome and hypothyroidism.

Abstract: This invention provides a heterocyclic compound having potent tyrosine kinase-inhibiting activity represented by the formula: wherein m is an integer of 1 to 3; n is an integer of 1 or 2; R1 is a halogen atom or an optionally halogenated C1-2 alkyl group; each of R2 and R3 is, same or different, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group; R4 is a group represented by the formula: wherein p is an integer of 2 to 5; R5 is a C1-4 alkyl group substituted by alkoxycarbonyl group, carbamoyl group, carbamoyloxy group, alkylsulfonyl group, alkylsulfinyl group, sulfamoyl group, carbamoylamino group, alkylsulfonylamino group, acylamino group, and the like; or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutical composition comprising thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an intermediate for thienopyrimidine derivatives having the GnRH antagonistic activity at an industrial large scale. The process for production of the present invention relates to a process for producing a compound represented by the formula (III): wherein respective symbols have the same meanings as those described below, or a salt thereof, which comprises subjecting a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 denotes hydrogen, nitro, halogen, phthalimido, mono- or di-(alkylcarbonyl)amino or alkoxy, or a salt thereof, to an acid halogenating reaction, which is successively reacted with malonic acid ester and magnesium alkoxide, treated with an acid, and reacted with sulfur and a compound represented by the formula: NCCH2COOR2 [wherein R2 denotes alkyl or aryl], or a salt thereof, in the presence of primary amine.

Abstract: The protein of the present invention and a DNA encoding the same can be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as infectious diseases. The protein of the present invention is also useful as a reagent for screening a compound or its salt capable of promoting or inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention. Furthermore, a compound or its salt inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention and a neutralization antibody inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention can also be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

Abstract: According to the process as shown in the following scheme having a step for reacting Compound (I) with Compound (II) to produce Compound (III), benzylpiperidine compounds useful as synthesis starting materials of pharmaceutical agents, agricultural chemicals and the like can be produced conveniently by a short step: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an amino-protecting group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, an alkoxy group optionally having substituents or a heterocyclic group optionally having substituents, and R3 is a lower alkyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an optically active form of a compound represented by the formula (I) having a steroid C17,20-lyase inhibitory activity and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of prostatism, tumor such as breast cancer, and the like or a salt thereof, which method includes reacting a mixture of optically active compounds of a naphthalene derivative represented by the formula: wherein R is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, R1 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heteromonocyclic group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, * shows the position of an asymmetric carbon, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a hydroxy group, a thiol group, an amino group, a carbamoyl group, an acyl group or a halogen atom, and R7 is bonded with R6 or R8 to form, together with a carbon atom on a naphthalene ring, a 5 or 6-membered ring containing an oxygen atom, with an op

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide excellent preventives and/or remedies for heart diseases. Specifically, the present invention provides heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, preventives and/or remedies for heart diseases, comprising a compound represented by the following formula: wherein R represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or an optionally substituted amino group; or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: [wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; R2 is a cyclic hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted; R3 is halogen atoms, a carbamoyl group which may be substituted, a sulfamoyl group which may be substituted, an acyl group derived from sulfonic acid, a C1-4 alkyl group which may be substituted, a C1-4 alkoxy group which may be substituted, an amino group which may be substituted, a nitro group or a cyano group; R4 is hydrogen atoms or a hydroxy group; n is 0 or 1; and p is 0 or 1 to 4]; or a salt thereof, has potent CCR5 antagonistic activity and can be advantageously used as a medicament for inhibition of HIV infection to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, especially for the treatment or prevention of AIDS.

Abstract: This invention provides a convenient and industrially advantageous process producing amine derivatives having the action of inhibiting the secretion and accumulation of amyloid &bgr; protein. In Compound (I), the ether linkage is selectively cleaved without cleaving the amide linkage present in the same molecule and tertiary amines are not converted into quaternary salts, and thus Amine Derivative (V) with good qualities having the action of inhibiting the secretion and accumulation of amyloid &bgr; protein can be obtained in high yield.

Abstract: A sustained-release composition containing a hydroxynaphthoic acid salt of a biologically active substance and a biodegradable polymer, a method of its production, and a pharmaceutical composition containing said sustained-release composition.

Abstract: Novel acylhydrazine derivatives exhibiting an inhibitory activity against activated blood coagulation factor X, which are compounds of general formula (I) or salts thereof, wherein R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, or alternatively R1 and R2 or the substituent of X1 and R2 may be united to form an optionally substituted ring; X1 and X2 are each free valency, optionally substituted alkylene, or optionally substituted imino; D is oxygen or sulfur; A is —N(R3)—Y— or —N═Y—, R3 is hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, or acyl; Y is an optionally substituted chain hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted cyclic group; and Z is (1) optionally substituted amino, (2) optionally substituted imidoyl, or (3) an optionally substituted nitrogenous heterocycle group.

Abstract: A method for producing a compound of the formula: wherein R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group and ring A is an imidazole ring which is optionally substituted further, or a salt thereof, which method comprises reacting a compound of the formula: wherein ring A is as defined above, or a salt thereof, and a compound of the formula: R—M1  (II) wherein M1 is an alkali metal atom or a group of the formula: —Mg—Y1 where Y1 is a halogen atom, and R is as defined above, or a salt thereof, and bringing the resulting product into contact with an acid.