The present invention relates to obeticholic acid:

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or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or amino acid conjugate thereof. Obeticholic acid is useful for the treatment or prevention of a FXR mediated disease or condition, cardiovascular disease or cholestatic liver disease, and for reducing HDL cholesterol, for lowering triglycerides in a mammal, or for inhibition of fibrosis. The present invention also relates to processes for the synthesis of obeticholic acid.

Provided herein are 19-nor C3,3-disubstituted steroids of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein, , R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4a, and R.sup.4b are as defined herein, and A is a carbon bound substituted or unsubstituted 5-to6-membered heteroaryl ring as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus. ##STR00001##

Provided herein are 19-nor C3,3-disubstituted steroids of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein, , R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4a, and R.sup.4b are as defined herein, and A is a carbon bound substituted or unsubstituted 5-to6-membered heteroaryl ring as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus. ##STR00001##

Methods of preventing or retarding or reversing or abolishing the onset of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.

Methods of preventing or retarding or reversing or abolishing the onset of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.

Provided is a derivative of 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Also provided is a protein conjugated to the above derivative. Further provided is an antibody composition comprising antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. Additionally, a method of making antibodies that specifically bind to 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Also, a method of assaying for 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Additionally provided is a kit for detecting 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol. A method of detecting an enzyme or enzymes utilized in phase II drug metabolism is also provided. Also, a method of detecting an enzyme that synthesizes 22-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 26-hydroxycholesterol or 27-hydroxycholesterol is provided. Further provided is a method of evaluating progression of multiple sclerosis in a patient. Also provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for multiple sclerosis in a patient is effective. Further, a method of evaluating progression of Huntington's disease in a patient is provided. Additionally provided is a method of determining whether a treatment for Huntington's disease in a patient is effective.

Disclosed herein is an improved and efficient process for synthesis of vitamin D3 and its analogue Calcifediol from Ergosterol. Particularly, the present invention discloses the synthesis of key intermediate 3β-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy-22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchola-5,7-diene (5), and novel intermediate β-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy-22-iodo-23,24-bisnorchola-5,7-diene (9) by a simple and cost effective process. The industrially viable processes for preparation of said intermediate(s) results in providing provitamins with various side chains and the desired products in high yield.

Disclosed herein is an improved and efficient process for synthesis of vitamin D3 and its analogue Calcifediol from Ergosterol. Particularly, the present invention discloses the synthesis of key intermediate 3β-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy-22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchola-5,7-diene (5), and novel intermediate β-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy-22-iodo-23,24-bisnorchola-5,7-diene (9) by a simple and cost effective process. The industrially viable processes for preparation of said intermediate(s) results in providing provitamins with various side chains and the desired products in high yield.

Described herein are compounds that inhibit or prevent protein aggregation, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds in the treatment of conditions, diseases, or disorders associated with protein aggregation.

Described herein are compounds that inhibit or prevent protein aggregation, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds in the treatment of conditions, diseases, or disorders associated with protein aggregation.