The inventors have found that compounds of formula (I) have an effect to protect cartilage. Accordingly the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for protecting cartilage comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof. The pharmaceutical composition can be used for treating and/or preventing a disease associated with cartilage degeneration such as osteoarthritis.

The present invention relates to compounds of: ##STR00001##
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A is C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.6 alkenyl, C(O)—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—CH.sub.3 or CH(OH)—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—CH.sub.3 wherein n is 3 or 4; R.sub.1 is H, F or OH; R.sub.2 is C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.6 alkenyl, C(O)—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—CH.sub.3 or CH(OH)—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—CH.sub.3 wherein n is 3 or 4; R.sub.3 is H, F, OH or CH.sub.2Ph; R.sub.4 is H, F or OH; Q is 1) (CH.sub.2).sub.mC(O)OH wherein m is 1 or 2, 2) CH(CH.sub.3)C(O)OH, 3) C(CH.sub.3).sub.2C(O)OH, 4) CH(F)—C(O)OH, 5) CF.sub.2—C(O)OH, or 6) C(O)—C(O)OH;
and compositions comprising the same and the method using the same for the prevention or treatment of various fibrotic diseases and conditions in subjects, including pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis, skin fibrosis, renal fibrosis, pancreas fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, cardiac fibrosis or macular degeneration.

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising phytoene, phytofluene, and zeta carotene, and methods of using the same, such as for reducing collagen loss.

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising phytoene, phytofluene, and zeta carotene, and methods of using the same, such as for reducing collagen loss.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cartilage disorders using expression vectors including a nucleic acid encoding a suicide gene, and a fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF-18) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. The present invention relates to expression vectors, and methods of use thereof for promoting the proliferation of cells responsible for the production and maintenance of tissues, such as chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, and synoviocytes.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cartilage disorders using expression vectors including a nucleic acid encoding a suicide gene, and a fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF-18) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. The present invention relates to expression vectors, and methods of use thereof for promoting the proliferation of cells responsible for the production and maintenance of tissues, such as chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, and synoviocytes.

A method of treating ischemia in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of adherent cells of a tissue selected from the group consisting of a placenta and an adipose tissue, thereby treating the ischemia in the subject. A method of treating a medical condition requiring connective tissue regeneration and/or repair is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to biomarkers associated with the clinical response to an FGF-18 compound before or during treatment of a cartilage disorder. The present invention more particularly relates to specific proteins present in the blood, serum, synovial fluid or in the urine, which can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of cartilage disorders. The invention further discloses specific proteins that are related to cartilage response to an FGF-18 compound treatment as well as diagnostic tools and kits based on their expression profile. Thus, the invention can be used in predicting the response to an FGF-18 compound treatment, before starting the treatment with FGF-18 or during the treatment. It could be used for selecting/identifying subjects to be treated by intra-articular administration of an FGF-18 compound. The use of these biomarkers in diagnostics could result in increased benefit and reduced risk in subjects.

The present invention relates to biomarkers associated with the clinical response to an FGF-18 compound before or during treatment of a cartilage disorder. The present invention more particularly relates to specific proteins present in the blood, serum, synovial fluid or in the urine, which can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of cartilage disorders. The invention further discloses specific proteins that are related to cartilage response to an FGF-18 compound treatment as well as diagnostic tools and kits based on their expression profile. Thus, the invention can be used in predicting the response to an FGF-18 compound treatment, before starting the treatment with FGF-18 or during the treatment. It could be used for selecting/identifying subjects to be treated by intra-articular administration of an FGF-18 compound. The use of these biomarkers in diagnostics could result in increased benefit and reduced risk in subjects.

Provided are compositions and methods relating to methods and compositions to treat tendon injury.