Abstract: Compounds according to formula I in which formula R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, represent halogen, (C1-C6)hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted with one or two hydroxyl group or one or more fluorine atoms, or, together with the carbon atom to which they are both attached, R1 and R2 form a (C3-C6)carbocyclic ring, or one of R1 and R2 taken together with R3 forms a direct bond, such that a triple bond is constituted, or R1 and R2 represent both hydrogen; R3 when not forming a direct bond with one of R1 and R2 represents hydrogen or (C1-C3)hydrocarbyl; X represents (E)-ethylene, (Z)-ethylene, ethynylene, or a bond; Y and Z independently represent hydrogen or methyl; and prodrugs and stereo isomeric forms thereof are provided together with their use in therapy, and their use in the manufacture of medicaments.

Abstract: Vitamin D compounds formula I wherein R represents hydrogen, or R represents (C1-C6)alkyl, phenyl, or (C7-C9)aralkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from (C1-C3)alkyl, F, phenyl; n is an integer having the value 0, 1, or 2; and X represents hydroxy or halogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), in which formula X is hydrogen or hydroxy or protected hydroxy; R1 an R2 stand for hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, or, when taken together with the carbon atom bearing the group X, R1 and R2 can form a C3-C5 carbocyclic ring; Q is a C3-C6 hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbylene indicating the diradical obtained after removal of 2 hydrogen atoms for a straight or banched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, in which one of any CH2 groups may optionally be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group, such that the carbon atom (C-22) directly bonded to C-20 is an sp2 or sp3 hybridized carbon atom, i.e. bonded to 2 or 3 other atoms; and in which another of the CH2 groups may be replaced by phenylene, and where Q may optionally be substituted with one or more hydroxy or C1-C4-alkoxy groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), in which formula X is hydrogen or hydroxy; R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, stand for hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl radical; or R1 and R2, taken together with the carbon atom bearing the group X, can form a C3-C6 carbocyclic ring, R3 stands for a C1-C3 alkyl radical, an aryl or an aralkyl radical, or for YR4, in which Y stands for the radicals —CO—S—, —CS—O— or —CS—S—, and R4 stands for a C1-C3 alkyl radical or an aryl or an aralkyl radical; Q is (CH2)n, n being 1-4. R1, R2 and Q independently may optionally be substituted with one or more fluorine atoms. The compounds show strong activity in inducing differentiation and inhibiting undesirable proliferation of certain cells as well as immunomodulating and antiinflammatory effects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a series of new compounds, salts thereof and to methods for the preparation of the compounds which have the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 stands for an unsubstituted or substituted phenoxy, phenylthio, benzyl, phenylsulfinyl, or anilino radical;R.sub.2 stands for a -YR.sub.2 ' radical, in which Y represents -O-, -S-, or -NH-, and R.sub.2 ' represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl or -alkynyl; or methyl or ethyl substituted with phenyl, furyl, thienyl or pyridyl;R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 which can be the same or different, and unsubstituted or substituted, stand for hydrogen or for a straight or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl or -alkynyl radical, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, a phenyl, or a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring system containing not more than two hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen, or for a C.sub.1 -C.sub.