Abstract: A steroid derivative compound of formula (I) in which: one of R1 and R2 is hydroxy and the other is hydrogen; or R1 and R2 together represent oxo; R3 is hydrogen or hydroxy; and the dotted lines represent single or double carbon-carbon bonds; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof are useful for the prevention or treatment of pain, for improving nerve regeneration after nerve injury or damage or disease, for the prevention or treatment of brain injury, damage or disease and for neuroprotection. Particularly useful compounds are 11-hydroxy-?4-androstene-3,17-dione and 11-oxo-?4-androstene-3,17-dione or their derivatives.

Abstract: There is provided the use of a GALR2-specific agonist in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of brain injury, damage or disease, wherein the brain injury or damage is caused by one of: embolic, thrombotic or haem-orrhagic stroke; direct or indirect trauma or surgery to the brain or spinal cord; ischaemic or embolic damage to the brain during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery or renai dialysis; reperfusion brain damage following myocardial infarction; brain disease; chemical damage as the result of excess alcohol consumption or administration of chemotherapy agents for cancer treatment; radiation damage; or immunological damage as the result of bacterial or virai infection. The brain disease may be one of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or variant Creutzfeld Jacob Disease.

Abstract: A steroid derivative compound of formula (I) in which: one of R1 and R2 is hydroxy and the Vehicle other is hydrogen; or R1 and R2 together represent oxo; R3 is hydrogen or hydroxy; and the dotted lines represent single or double carbon-carbon bonds; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof are useful for the prevention or treatment of pain, for improving nerve regeneration after nerve injury or damage or disease, for the prevention or treatment of brain injury, damage or disease and for neuroprotection. Particularly useful compounds are 11-hydroxy-?4-androstene-3,17-dione and 11-oxo-?4-androstene-3,17-dione or their derivatives.

Abstract: There is provided the use of a GALR2-specific agonist in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of brain injury, damage or disease, wherein the brain injury or damage is caused by one of: embolic, thrombotic or haemorrhagic stroke; direct or indirect trauma or surgery to the brain or spinal cord; ischaemic or embolic damage to the brain during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery or renai dialysis; reperfusion brain damage following myocardial infarction; brain disease; chemical damage as the result of excess alcohol consumption or administration of chemotherapy agents for cancer treatment; radiation damage; or immunological damage as the result of bacterial or virai infection. The brain disease may be one of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or variant Creutzfeld Jacob Disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to galanin and its uses. In particular, the invention provides a knockout mouse which lacks a functional galanin gene. The mouse may be used to investigate the effects of galanin. It has also been unexpectedly discovered that galanin antagonists may be used in the management of pain, particularly painful neuropathies, the suppression of pain, in the suppression of lactation, in the treatment of prolactinoma and in anaesthesia.