Abstract: The present invention provides 2-piperidone compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have a potent activity of inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells and thus are useful as medicaments, as well as antitumor agents containing these compounds. The 2-piperidone compound is represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 represents —(CH2)nR1a {wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 5, and R1a represents amino, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group}, and R2 and R3 independently represent lower alkyl which may be substituted by lower alkoxycarboyl; lower alkenyl, aralkyl or lower alkynyl which may be substituted by substituted or unsubstituted aryl or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of assaying for and arresting, preventing and/or reversing the impairment of central and peripheral nervous system function comprising reducing &bgr;-amyloid plaque burden by the administration of compounds that reduce apoE expression. The compounds used in the method of the invention may be: 1) inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase; 2) inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis; 3) inhibitors of protein isoprenylation, specifically geranylgeranylation; and/or 4) inhibitors of NF-&kgr;B activation or function. Assays for compounds with inhibit apoE expression from microglial cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides phosphonylating agents and phosphonylation conditions that are compatible with the acid- and base-sensitive compounds and which promote a regioselective and reproducible conversion to a phosphonate compound. Also provided are intermediates that may be used to prepare phosphonate derivatives of cyclic peptides antifungal agent and a process for converting the phosphonates to the desired phosphonic acid prodrugs.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting sexual precocity comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are independently hydrogen, --CH.sub.3, ##STR2## wherein Ar is optionally substituted phenyl; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, hexamethyleneamino, and piperidino; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of solvate thereof.