Abstract: Novel ingestible polymeric phosphonium salts have the formula: ##STR1## wherein P' represents a cross-linked and non-digestible polymer backbone; R is a lower alkyl radical; X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; n, n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are, independently, integers varying from 0 to 6 inclusive, with the proviso that when m.sub.1 .gtoreq.1, n.sub.2 .gtoreq.1; and o.sub.1, o.sub.2, p.sub.1 p.sub.2, q.sub.1 and q.sub.2 are, independently, integers varying from 1 to 6 inclusive. The polymeric phosphonium salts of the invention are highly efficient sorbents for bile acids and salts and can thus be used for reducing hypercholesterolemia in affected humans.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel ingestible cross-linked homopolymers having functional groups consisting of linear or branched amines, of the formula: ##STR1## and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the formulae: ##STR2## wherein P(or POLYMER .parallel.-) represents a hydrophobic, cross-linked and non-digestible homopolymer backbone; R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; m is an integer varying from 1 to 6 inclusive; and n, o and p are, independently, integers varying from 2 to 12 inclusive. The amine functionalized and cross-linked homopolymers of the invention are highly efficient adsorbents for bile acids and salts and can thus be used for reducing hypercholesterolemia in affected humans.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel ingestible polymeric amines in linear or branched form of the formula: ##STR1## and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the formulae: ##STR2## wherein P represents a hydrophilic, cross-linked and digestable polymer backbone; R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; m is an integer varying from 1 to 10 inclusive; and n, o and p are, independently, integers varying from 2 to 12 inclusive. The polymeric amines of the invention are highly efficient adsorbents for bile acids and salts and can thus be used for reducing hypercholesterolemia in affected humans.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel ingestible cross-linked homopolymers having functional groups consisting of linear or branched amines, of the formula: ##STR1## and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the formulae: ##STR2## wherein P represents a hydrophilic, cross-linked and non-digestible homopolymer backbone; R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; m is an integer varying from 1 to 10 inclusive; and n, o and p are, independently, integers varying from 2 to 12 inclusive. The amine functionalized and cross-linked homopolymers of the invention are highly efficient adsorbents for bile acids and salts and can thus be used for reducing hypercholesterolemia in affected humans.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a metal ion coordinated polyamine resin in which a non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable chelating metal ion is coordinated with a cross-linked and non-digestible polymeric amine selected from the group consisting of: (a) polyamine resins with a hydrophilic backbone, of the formula: ##STR1## wherein P represents a hydrophilic, cross-linked and non-digestible homopolymer backbone, m is an integer varying from 1 to 10 inclusive, and n, o and p are, independently, integers varying from 2 to 12 inclusive; (b) polyamine resins with a hydrophobic backbone, of the formula:P'--[NH(CH.sub.2).sub.n ].sub.m NH.sub.2 (II)wherein P' represents a hydrophobic, cross-linked and non-digestible homopolymer backbone, m is an integer varying from 0 to 6 inclusive and n is an integer varying from 2 to 12 inclusive; and (c) cross-linked copolymers of a polyethylenepolyamine containing from 2 to 6 ethylene units and epichlorohydrin.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a novel polymer addition product comprising hydrophilic polymer backbone having a molecular weight of at least about 5,000 and to which are attached amino acid containing pendants, the pendants containing at least one arginine or lysine amino acid. The polymeric compounds of the invention are highly efficient adsorbents for bilirubin and other bile pigments, as well as for bile acids such as cholic acid.