A synthetic compound having a formula (Vb): wherein the saccharide portion is selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, an N-acetylated derivative thereof and an N-deacetylated derivative thereof; X is a member selected from the group consisting of H, -OR 1, -NR 1 R 2, -SR 1 and -CHR 1 R 2; Y is -OR 1 or -SR 1; Z is a member selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR 1; ea ch R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, - CH 2 R 3, -CH(halo) 2, -C(=M)R 3, -C(=M)-p-R 3, -SO 2 R 3, -SO 3, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl and haloalkyl; wherein M and p are independently selected from O, NR 4 and S; R 3 is H, alkyl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkyl; R 4 is H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl, or haloalkyl; R 6, R 7 and R 8 are independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, thioalkyl, thioaryl, -CN, - NR 9 R 10, - C(=O)R 9, -C(=O)OR 9, or -C(=O)NR 9 R 10, where R 6, R 7 and R 8 are optionally substituted with at least one group selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, and thiohaloalkyl; and where R 6 and R 7, or R 7 and R 8, or R 6 and R 8, or R 6, R 7 and R 8 may each independently be taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group; preferably, where R 6 and R 7, or R 7 and R 8, or R 6 and R 8, or R 6, R 7 and R 8 may each independently be taken together with the atoms to which they are attached forms an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; where the moiety contains a mono-, bi- or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system; with the proviso that when R 7 of formula (Vb) is an alkyl group or a C 11 alkenyl group, X is not a -NH-fatty acid group and Y is not -OH; R 9, and R 10 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkyl, where R 9, and R 10 are optionally substituted, preferably substituted with at least one group selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, and thiohaloalkyl; or where R 9 and R 10 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S; and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, geometric isomers and solvates thereof. the saccharide portion is selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, an N-acetylated derivative thereof and an N-deacetylated derivative thereof; X is a member selected from the group consisting of H, -OR 1, -NR 1 R 2, -SR 1 and -CHR 1 R 2; Y is -OR 1 or -SR 1; Z is a member selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR 1; ea ch R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, - CH 2 R 3, -CH(halo) 2, -C(=M)R 3, -C(=M)-p-R 3, -SO 2 R 3, -SO 3, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl and haloalkyl; wherein M and p are independently selected from O, NR 4 and S; R 3 is H, alkyl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkyl; R 4 is H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl, or haloalkyl; R 6, R 7 and R 8 are independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, thioalkyl, thioaryl, -CN, - NR 9 R 10, - C(=O)R 9, -C(=O)OR 9, or -C(=O)NR 9 R 10, where R 6, R 7 and R 8 are optionally substituted with at least one group selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, and thiohaloalkyl; and where R 6 and R 7, or R 7 and R 8, or R 6 and R 8, or R 6, R 7 and R 8 may each independently be taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group; preferably, where R 6 and R 7, or R 7 and R 8, or R 6 and R 8, or R 6, R 7 and R 8 may each independently be taken together with the atoms to which they are attached forms an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; where the moiety contains a mono-, bi- or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system; with the proviso that when R 7 of formula (Vb) is an alkyl group or a C 11 alkenyl group, X is not a -NH-fatty acid group and Y is not -OH; R 9, and R 10 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkyl, where R 9, and R 10 are optionally substituted, preferably substituted with at least one group selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, and thiohaloalkyl; or where R 9 and R 10 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S; and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, geometric isomers and solvates thereof.