Abstract: A method for reducing oxalate levels in a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of non-absorbable amine polymers such as a polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts and copolymers thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

Abstract: The invention features a method for treating obesity in a patient by administering to the patient a polymer that has been substituted with one or more groups that inhibit lipases, which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of fat. The invention further relates to the polymers employed in the methods described herein as well as novel intermediates and methods for preparing the polymers.

Abstract: Phosphate-binding polymers are provided for removing phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract. The polymers are orally administered, and are useful for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing bile salts from a patient in need thereof and compositions useful in the method. The method comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a salt of an alkylated and crosslinked polymer. The alkylated and crosslinked polymer salt comprises the reaction product of crosslinked polymers, or salts and copolymers thereof having amine containing repeat units, with at least one aliphatic alkylating agent.

Abstract: A method for removing bile salts from a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a non-absorbable amine polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

Abstract: A method for treating a microbial infection in a mammal, such as a human, comprising treating the mammal with a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising an amino group or an ammonium group attached to the polymer backbone via an aliphatic spacer group. The polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. In one embodiment, the polymer is a copolymer comprising a monomer having a pendant ammonium group and a hydrophobic monomer.

Abstract: The invention features a method for treating obesity in a patient by administering to the patient a polymer that has been substituted with one or more groups that inhibit lipases, which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of fat. The invention further relates to the polymers employed in the methods described herein as well as novel intermediates and methods for preparing the polymers.

Abstract: A method for treating a microbial infection in a mammal, such as a human, comprising treating the mammal with a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising an amino group or an ammonium group attached to the polymer backbone via an aliphatic spacer group. The polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. In one embodiment, the polymer is a copolymer comprising a monomer having a pendant ammonium group and a hydrophobic monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing bile salts from a patient in need thereof and compositions useful in the method. The method comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a salt of an alkylated and crosslinked polymer. The alkylated and crosslinked polymer salt comprises the reaction product of crosslinked polymers, or salts and copolymers thereof having amine containing repeat units, with at least one aliphatic alkylating agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating obesity, a method for reducing the absorption of dietary fat, and a method for treating hypertriglyceridemia in a patient and to particular polymers for use in the methods or in a manufacture of a medicament. The methods comprise the step of orally administering to a mammal, such as a human, a therapeutically effective amount of one or more fat-binding polymers. The administration of the fat-binding polymer of the invention facilitates the removal of fat from the body prior to digestion, with minimal side effects and low toxicity. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more fat-binding polymers are administered in combination with one or more lipase inhibitors, for example, lipstatin and tetrahydrolipstatin.

Abstract: A method for treating pathogenic toxins in a mammal, such as a human, comprising treating the mammal with a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising a cationic group attached to the polymer backbone. The polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. In one embodiment, the polymer is a copolymer comprising a monomer having a pendant ammonium group and a hydrophobic monomer.

Abstract: A method for reducing oxalate levels in a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of non-absorbable amine polymers such as a polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts and copolymers thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

Abstract: The invention features a method for treating obesity in a patient by administering to the patient a polymer that has been substituted with one or more groups that inhibit lipases, which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of fat. The invention further relates to the polymers employed in the methods described herein as well as novel intermediates and methods for preparing the polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a viral infection in an animal, such as a human, by administering to the animal a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising a plurality of pendant hydrophobic groups and a plurality of pendant acid functional groups. The acid functional groups are connected directly to the polymer backbone or via an aliphatic spacer group of 1 to about 20 atoms in length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating obesity, a method for reducing the absorption of dietary fat, and a method for treating hypertriglyceridemia in a patient and to particular polymers for use in the methods or in a manufacture of a medicament. The methods comprise the step of orally administering to a mammal, such as a human, a therapeutically effective amount of one or more fat-binding polymers. The administration of the fat-binding polymer of the invention facilitates the removal of fat from the body prior to digestion, with minimal side effects and low toxicity. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more fat-binding polymers are administered in combination with one or more lipase inibitors, for example, lipstatin and tetrahydrolipstatin.

Abstract: The present invention includes polymerizable monomers comprising an acid-functionalized glycoside moiety. The monomer can have a polymerizable functional group, such as an olefinic bond, to which the acid-functionalized glycoside moiety is attached by a spacer group, for example, an alkylene group, or an alkylene group wherein one or more carbon atoms are substituted by heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms. The present invention also includes polymers comprising pendant acid-functionalized glycoside moieties. The present invention also provides a method for treating a microbial infection in a mammal by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising one or more acid-functionalized glycoside moieties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing bile salts from a patient in need thereof and compositions use full in the method. The method comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a salt of an alkylated and crosslinked polymer. The alkylated and crosslinked polymer salt comprises the reaction product of polymers, or salts and copolymers thereof having amine containing repeat units, with at least one aliphatic alkylating agent and a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The present invention includes polymerizable monomers comprising a fucoside moiety. In one embodiment, the monomer has a polymerizable functional group, such as an olefinic bond, to which the fucoside moiety is attached by a spacer group, for example, an alkylene group, or an alkylene group wherein one or more carbon atoms are substituted by heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms. The present invention also includes polymers comprising one or more fucoside moieties, such as pendant fucoside moieties, which can inhibit or prevent rotavirus infection in a mammal. Such a polymer can comprise, for example, a monomer of the present invention. The polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer, and can have, for example, a polyacrylamide, polyacrylate or polystyrene backbone.

Abstract: A method for reducing oxalate levels in a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of non-absorbable amine polymers such as a polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts and copolymers thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sequestering bile acids in a patient and to particular polymers for use in the method. The method comprises the step of orally administering to a mammal, such as a human, a therapeutically effective amount of a new class of water-insoluble noncrosslinked amine polymers.The water-insoluble noncrosslinked amine polymer comprises an amine-containing monomer or repeat unit which has one or more substituents bound to an amine nitrogen of the amine polymer. The substituent or substituents which are bound to the amine nitrogens of the amine polymer include a hydrophobic moiety and/or a quaternary amine-containing moiety.