Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a compound for use in treating cardiovascular and/or pulmonary diseases using an inhibitor of glucose-<NUM>-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide with ever-increasing prevalence. Cardiovascular diseases include numerous conditions that affect the heart, heart valves, blood, and blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) of the body. The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse but atherosclerosis and/or hypertension are the most common. Risk factors include elevated plasma total or LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, e.g. hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, or hypoalphalipoproteinemia, and increased inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.

Major cardiovascular diseases including stroke, atherosclerosis, and hypertension, as well as orphan diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, angiosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, are incurable. In addition, medical therapies to treat congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension-associated heart failure are inadequate.

Pulmonary hypertension presents an increase of blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, leg swelling and other symptoms. Pulmonary circulation is a low resistance, low pressure, and high compliant vascular bed. In pulmonary hypertension, the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises above normal levels. Normally, pulmonary artery pressure is maintained around <NUM>-<NUM> mmHg. Pulmonary hypertension is defined when the pressures increase to more than <NUM> mmHg. Pulmonary hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with several different clinical conditions. Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease and the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension is heterogeneous. Severe pulmonary hypertension remains debilitating and deadly. Pulmonary hypertension is divided into five groups wβith diverse etiologies. In all forms of pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary artery pressure increases mainly because of increased pulmonary constriction/resistance and narrowing or remodeling of pulmonary artery and veins. One cause of pulmonary hypertension is alveolar hypoxia, which results from localized inadequate ventilation of well-perfused alveoli or from a generalized decrease in alveolar ventilation. Pulmonary hypertension is also a vascular permeability related disease. Current therapies are inadequate to reverse the complex pulmonary vascular remodeling and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance. Pulmonary hypertension has been historically chronic and incurable with a poor survival rate. Treatment of pulmonary hypertension usually involves continuous use of oxygen. Pulmonary vasodilators (e.g., hydralazine, calcium blockers, nitrous oxide, prostacyclin) have not proven effective, and lung transplant is often required for patients who do not respond to therapy.

Arteriosclerosis, which is induced and progressed by various risk factors, causes thickening of the arterial lumen to interrupt blood flow, resulting in a cardiovascular disease such as aortic aneurysm, angina, myocardial infarction, or cerebral infarction.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the heart cells to elevated levels of biomechanical stress imposed by a variety of extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli including pressure or volume overload, familial/genetic cardiomyopathies, or loss of contractile mass from preceding infarction (<NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>). If sustained, hypertrophy often becomes pathological, accompanied by significant risk of arrhythmia, progression to heart failure, and sudden death (Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra; <NPL>; <NPL>). At the molecular level, pathological hypertrophy is associated with re-induction of the so-called fetal gene program in which the fetal isoforms of genes responsible for regulating cardiac contractility and calcium handling (e.g.. -MHC) are upregulated (Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra; Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra); <NPL>; <NPL>). At the cellular level, the main characteristics of ventricular hypertrophic growth are enhanced protein synthesis and an increase in size of cardiomyocytes (Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra; Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra). As pathologic hypertrophy progresses, these changes in molecular and cellular phenotypes are accompanied by an increase in apoptosis, fibrosis, chamber dilation, and decreased systolic function (Frey et al. (<NUM>), supra).

Heart failure is associated with high morbidity as well as significant mortality. The clinical syndrome of heart failure is the result of heterogeneous myocardial or vascular diseases, and is defined by insufficiency to maintain blood circulation throughout the body. Despite significant advances in the clinical management of heart failure, conventional therapies are ultimately ineffective in many patients who progress to advanced heart failure. In these cases, implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and/or heart transplantation can be the only viable options.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need to develop effective treatments for various cardiovascular disorders. In this disclosure, novel therapies to treat cardiovascular disorders, such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypertension-associated heart failure, atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathies are described.

The invention is as described in the appended claims.

In particular, the present invention provides a compound comprising N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one; or a compound having the formula of Formula I:
<CHM>
wherein R is sulfamide, or any combination thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt (crystal and/or amorphous), non-salt amorphous form, solvate, poly-morph, or tautomer thereof, for use in a method of treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder, wherein the cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder is selected from pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, medial hypertrophy, or combinations thereof, and wherein the amount of the compound used in the method of treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder is between <NUM>/day to <NUM>/day.

Also described herein is a method for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of Glucose-<NUM>-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, poly-morph, tautomer or prodrug thereof.

Also described herein is a method wherein the inhibitor comprises a compound having the formula of Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the inhibitor comprises a compound comprising N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one; or a compound having the formula of Formula I, N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one, or any combination thereof.

Also described herein is a method for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder, wherein the cardiovascular disorder comprises pulmonary hypertension-associated heart failure, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation, stroke, acute neointimal formation following iatrogenic interventions, atherosclerosis, or combinations thereof.

The compounds for use of the invention may be used to treat a cardiovascular disorder selected from pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, medial hypertrophy, or combinations thereof.

Also described herein is a method for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder, wherein the cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder comprises angiosarcoma, hemangioscarcoma, Timothy Syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder comprises any of the groups of pulmonary hypertension <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, or combinations thereof. Also described herein is a method as described above for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder, wherein the disorder comprises scleroderma, categorized as pulmonary hypertension group I.

Also described herein is a method which further comprises treating the subject with a diuretic, a vasodilator, an inotropic agent, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a beta blocker, a neurohumoral blocker, an aldosterone antagonist, histone deactylase inhibitors, erythropoietin, or combinations thereof.

Also described herein is a method which further comprises treating the subject with a medical device and/or surgery. Also described herein is a method in which the medical device comprises a bi-ventricular pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a ventricular assist device (VAD), a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), or combinations thereof.

Also described herein is a use of a compound having the formula of Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, or any combination thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt (crystal and/or amorphous), non-salt amorphous form, solvate, poly-morph, tautomer or prodrug thereof in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder in a subject in need thereof.

As described herein we provide methods as well as one or more agents/compounds that inhibit G6PD for the treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of cardiovascular conditions described herein, or related pulmonary conditions, or predisposition to such a condition.

The present disclosure provides for methods of treating or preventing a cardiovascular disorder and/or a related pulmonary disorder in a subject. As described herein is a method, in which a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of Glucose-<NUM>-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is administered. Also described herein is an inhibitor which may be a compound having the formula according to Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII. In certain embodiments, the present composition comprises one or more of the following compounds: N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; and (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one; or is a compound of Formula I. Table <NUM> lists the structures of exemplary compounds of the present disclosure.

Also described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula IV, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt (crystal and/or amorphous), non-salt amorphous form, solvate, poly-morph, tautomer or prodrug thereof. Also described herein is a compound which further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient and/or adjuvant.

Also described herein is an agent/composition, which may be specifically administered to lung or cardiac cells, to inhibit gene function and prevent one or more of the symptoms and processes associated with the progression of cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions. Such treatment may also be useful in treating patients who already exhibit cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions, to reverse or alleviate one or more of the disease processes. Additionally, approaches utilizing one or more additional inhibitors including an inhibitor of protein kinase G and blocker of endothelin A or B receptor or any combination of these, are also expected to be useful for treating certain conditions.

"Patient" or "subject" refers to mammals and includes human and veterinary subjects, including avians. The subject may be, for example, mammalian.

Glucose-<NUM>-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) generates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced (NADPH), a key cofactor for various redox-sensitive enzymes like: NADPH oxidases, glutathione/thioredoxin reductases, and other reductive and anabolic reactions in the cell (<NPL>). We have shown that G6PD is involved in regulation of coronary and pulmonary artery contraction and relaxation (<NPL>), and pulmonary artery SMC phenotype (<NPL>). Glucose-<NUM>-phosphate dehydrogenase has been shown to be associated with progressive pulmonary artery remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.

Glycolysis, glucose flux through the PPP, and the activity of NADPH producing isocitrate dehydrogenase-<NUM> and -<NUM> are increased in pulmonary artery of idiopathic- and heritable-pulmonary hypertension patients, and in endothelial cells and fibroblasts from idiopathic pulmonary hypertension patients. G6PD expression and activity are increased in: (a) endothelin-<NUM> treated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from pulmonary hypertension patients; (b) hypoxic cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells; and (c) lungs of pulmonary hypertensive rat models. G6PD is a major supplier of NADPH (<NUM>% by G6PD + <NUM>% by isocitrate dehydrogenase) for: anabolic reactions and superoxide production from NADPH oxidases in the cell. Excess NADPH generation contributes to pathogenic "reductive stress" in cardiovascular system.

G6PD-derived NADPH plays a key role in stimulating proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis of cells (<NPL>). Ectopic expression of G6PD increases rat PASMC proliferation (<NPL>) and contributes to the HIF1α-induced endothelial growth (<NPL>). Additionally, our findings suggest that hyper-activation of G6PD in CD133+ progenitor cells promote their self-renewal (<NPL>). CD133+ cells potentially participate in the PA remodeling process in PAH (<NPL>). Conversely, inhibition of G6PD increases the rate of apoptosis of X laevis oocytes, HEK293 cells, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma cells (<NPL>;<NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>). In PH, the PASMC and endothelial cell proliferation is accompanied by decreased expression of pro-apoptotic genes (<NPL>). Therefore, altogether these findings allude stimulation of G6PD activity by endothelin-<NUM> or by hypoxia likely inhibits apoptosis and promotes proliferation of PASMC, and contributes to progressive PA remodeling and to the pathogenesis of HPH and PAH.

G6PD deficiency is common in humans, and several point mutations have been found in this enzyme in different ethnic groups around the world. Epidemiological studies suggest that individuals who harbor a Mediterranean-type non-synonymous mutation [single nucleotide polymorphism in exon <NUM>: dbSNP rs5030868] have <NUM>% less G6PD activity as compared to normal individuals and are less likely to have cardiovascular diseases (<NPL>), including sickle cell anemia-associated PH.

Illustrative nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences of human G6PD are known and published, e.g., in GenBank Accession Nos. NM_000402, AH003054. <NUM> etc..

Also described herein are methods in which the level of G6PD is decreased in a cardiac and/or lung cells. Also described herein are treatments which may be targeted to, or specific to, diseased cells. The expression of G6PD may be specifically decreased only in diseased cells (i.e., those cells which are predisposed to the cardiovascular condition and/or related pulmonary condition, or exhibiting cardiovascular condition and/or related pulmonary condition already), and not substantially in other non-diseased cells. In these methods, expression of G6PD may not be substantially reduced in other cells, i.e., cells which are non-diseased cells. Thus, the level of G6PD may remain substantially the same or similar in non-diseased cells in the course of or following treatment.

Cell specific reduction of G6PD levels and/or activity may be achieved by targeted administration, i.e., applying the treatment only to the targeted cells and not other cells. However, also described herein is the down-regulation of G6PD expression in other cells (e.g., a portion of non-diseased cells, and not substantially in other cell or tissue types).

The methods and compositions described here may reduce the level and/or activity of G6PD, G6PD polynucleotides, G6PD nucleotides and G6PD nucleic acids, as well as variants, homologues, derivatives and fragments of any of these. The inhibitors targeting G6PD may also be used for the methods of treatment or prophylaxis described.

The terms "G6PD polynucleotide", "G6PD nucleotide" and "G6PD nucleic acid," "G6PD nucleic acid" may be used interchangeably, and should be understood to specifically include both cDNA and genomic G6PD sequences. These terms are also intended to include a nucleic acid sequence capable of encoding a G6PD polypeptide and/or a fragment, derivative, homologue or variant of this.

By "down-regulation" or "reduction" is meant any negative effect on the condition being studied; this may be total or partial. Thus, where the level or activity of a protein is being detected, the present agent is capable of reducing, ameliorating, or abolishing the level or activity of the protein. The down-regulation of the level or activity of the protein achieved by the present agent may be at least <NUM>%, such as at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>% or more compared to the level or activity of the protein in the absence of the present agent.

The term "compound" refers to a chemical compound (naturally occurring or synthesized), such as a biological macromolecule (e.g., nucleic acid, protein, non-peptide, or organic molecule), or an extract made from biological materials such as bacteria, plants, fungi, or animal (particularly mammalian) cells or tissues, or even an inorganic element or molecule. The compound may be an antibody.

Also described herein is an anti-G6PD agent, which is provided as an injectable or intravenenous composition and administered accordingly. The dosage of the anti- G6PD agent inhibitor may be between about <NUM>/kg/<NUM> weeks to about <NUM>/kg/<NUM> weeks. The anti- G6PD agent inhibitor may be provided in a dosage of between <NUM>-<NUM>/day, such as at least <NUM>/day, less than <NUM>/day or between <NUM>/day to <NUM>/day.

In one embodiment, the compound is an androstane-derivative. In another embodiment, the compound is a preganane-derivative. In certain embodiments, the steroid inhibition of G6PD has been substantially developed; the 3β-alcohol can be replaced with 3β-H-bond donors such as sulfamide, sulfonamide, and urea. In certain embodiments, improved potency was achieved by replacing the androstane nucleus with a pregnane nucleus, provided a ketone at C-<NUM> is present. In certain embodiments, for pregnan-<NUM>-ones a <NUM>-hydroxyl group is incorporated.

In certain embodiments, the present compound has an IC50 in inhibiting G6PD activity ranging from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the present compound displays at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, at least <NUM> fold, or at least <NUM> fold, efficacy to inhibit G6PD activity in vitro and in vivo than dehydroepiandrosterone or epiandrosterone.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a compound comprising N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one; or a compound having the formula of Formula I, for use in methods for treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a related pulmonary disorder in a patient, comprising administering to the patient any one of the said compounds. Also described herein are compounds of Formula II, for use in methods for treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a related pulmonary disorder in a patient, comprising administering to the patient any one of the compounds having the formula of Formula II:
<CHM>.

In Formula I, R is sulfamide. Also described herein are compounds for use in the methods described herein wherein in Formula I, R is urea, carbamate or sulfonamide.

In Formula II, R is sulfonamide or sulfamide; R' is H or OH.

Also described herein are compounds of Formula III or Formula IV, or V and methods for treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a related pulmonary disorder in a patient, comprising administering to the patient any one of the compounds having Formula III, Formula IV or Formula V:
<CHM>
Wherein:.

The compounds of Class/ Formula III may be obtained as inorganic or organic pharmaceutically acceptable salts using methods known to those skilled in the art (<NPL>). It is well known to one skilled in the art that an appropriate salt which include but not limited to inorganic salts which may be sodium, calcium, potassium or magnesium and the like or equivalent thereof or hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, phosphoric, nitric or sulfate and the like. <CHM>
Where:.

The compounds of Class/Formula V may be obtained as inorganic or organic pharmaceutically acceptable salts using methods known to those skilled in the art (<NPL>). It is well known to one skilled in the art that an appropriate salt which include but not limited to inorganic salts which may be sodium, calcium, potassium or magnesium and the like or equivalent thereof or hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, phosphoric, nitric or sulfate and the like.

Also described herein are compositions comprising compounds of Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII. In certain embodiments, the present composition comprises one or more of the following compounds: N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide (Formula VI, R=sulfonamide, also called "compound 14f" herein); N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea (Formula VII, R=Urea, also called "compound 7e" herein); or (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one (Formula VIII, R=OH; R'=O; also called "compound <NUM>" herein). <CHM>
<CHM>
<CHM>
R=OH, R'=O.

The compounds used in the methods of the present invention include all hydrates, solvates, and complexes of the compounds used by this invention. If a chiral center or another form of an isomeric center is present in a compound of the present invention, all forms of such isomer or isomers, including enantiomers and diastereomers, are intended to be disclosed herein. Compounds containing a chiral center may be used as a racemic mixture, an enantiomerically enriched mixture, or the racemic mixture may be separated using well-known techniques and an individual enantiomer may be used alone. The compounds described in the present invention are in racemic form or as individual enantiomers. The enantiomers can be separated using known techniques, such as those described in <NPL>) IUPAC. In cases in which compounds have unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds, both the cis (Z) and trans (E) isomers are disclosed. In cases wherein compounds may exist in tautomeric forms, such as keto-enol tautomers, each tautomeric form is contemplated as being included within this invention whether existing in equilibrium or predominantly in one form.

When the structure of the compounds used in this invention includes an asymmetric carbon atom such compound can occur as racemates, racemic mixtures, and isolated single enantiomers. All such isomeric forms of these compounds are disclosed. Each stereogenic carbon may be of the R or S configuration. It is to be understood accordingly that the isomers arising from such asymmetry (e.g., all enantiomers and diastereomers) are disclosed. Such isomers can be obtained in substantially pure form by classical separation techniques and by stereochemically controlled synthesis, such as those described in "<NPL>. For example, the resolution may be carried out by preparative chromatography on a chiral column.

Also disclosed are all isotopes of atoms occurring on the compounds disclosed herein. Isotopes include those atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers. By way of general example and without limitation, isotopes of hydrogen include tritium and deuterium. Isotopes of carbon include carbon-<NUM> and carbon-<NUM>.

It will be noted that any notation of a carbon in structures throughout this application, when used without further notation, are intended to represent all isotopes of carbon, such as <NUM>C, <NUM>C, or <NUM>C. Furthermore, any compounds containing <NUM>C or <NUM>C may specifically have the structure of any of the compounds disclosed herein.

It will also be noted that any notation of a hydrogen in structures throughout this application, when used without further notation, are intended to represent all isotopes of hydrogen, such as <NUM>H, <NUM>H, or <NUM>H. Furthermore, any compounds containing <NUM>H or <NUM>H may specifically have the structure of any of the compounds disclosed herein.

Isotopically-labeled compounds can generally be prepared by conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the Examples disclosed herein using appropriate isotopically-labeled reagents in place of the non-labeled reagents employed.

The compounds of the instant invention may be in a salt form. As used herein, a "salt" is salt of the instant compounds which has been modified by making acid or base, salts of the compounds. In the case of compounds used for treatment of cancer, the salt is pharmaceutically acceptable. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as phenols. The salts can be made using an organic or inorganic acid. Such acid salts are chlorides, bromides, sulfates, nitrates/nitrites, esters, phosphates, sulfonates, formates, tartrates, maleates, malates, citrates, benzoates, salicylates, ascorbates, and the like. Phenolate salts are the alkaline earth metal salts, sodium, potassium or lithium. The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" in this respect, refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic acid or base addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or by separately treating a purified compound of the invention in its free base or free acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid or base, and isolating the salt thus formed. Representative salts include the hydrobromide, hydrochloride, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, nitrate/nitrite, ester, acetate, valerate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, laurate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, tosylate, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, napthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lactobionate, and laurylsulphonate salts and the like. (See, e.g., <NPL>).

As used herein, "alkyl" includes both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having the specified number of carbon atoms and may be unsubstituted or substituted. The Alkyls are C1-C10 alkyls, or a subset or individual thereof. In a non-limiting example, where the alkyl is C1-C5 as in "C1-C5 alkyl", it is defined to include groups having <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> carbons in a linear or branched arrangement and specifically includes methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, and pentyl. Alkyl may optionally be substituted with phenyl or substituted phenyl to provide substituted or unsubstituted benzyl.

Heterocyclyl means a saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic radical containing <NUM> to <NUM> ring atoms and preferably <NUM> to <NUM> ring atoms selected from carbon or nitrogen but not limited to pyrrolidine.

As used herein the term "aryl" refers to aromatic monocyclic or multicyclic groups containing from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. Aryl groups include, but are not limited to groups such as unsubstituted or substituted phenyl. When referring to said aryl being substituted, said substitution may be at any position on the ring, other than the point of attachment to the other ring system of a compound of the invention. Therefore, any hydrogen atom on the aryl ring may be substituted with a substituent defined by the invention. In embodiments where the aryl is a phenyl ring, said substitution may be at the meta- and/or ortho- and/or para- position relative to the point of attachment. Aryl may optionally be substituted with a heterocyclyl-C(O)- moiety which includes a pyrrolidinyl-C(O)- moiety.

The term "heteroaryl" as used herein, represents a stable monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic ring of up to <NUM> atoms in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic and contains from <NUM> to <NUM> heteroatoms or particularly <NUM> to <NUM> heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N and S. Bicyclic aromatic heteroaryl groups include phenyl, pyridine, pyrimidine or pyridazine rings that are (a) fused to a <NUM>-membered aromatic (unsaturated) heterocyclic ring having one nitrogen atom; (b) fused to a <NUM>- or <NUM>-membered aromatic (unsaturated) heterocyclic ring having two nitrogen atoms; (c) fused to a <NUM>-membered aromatic (unsaturated) heterocyclic ring having one nitrogen atom together with either one oxygen or one sulfur atom; or (d) fused to a <NUM>-membered aromatic (unsaturated) heterocyclic ring having one heteroatom. selected from O, N or S. Heteroaryl groups within the scope of this definition include but are not limited to: benzoimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyrazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiophenyl , benzoxazolyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, cinnolinyl, furanyl, indolinyl, indolyl, indolazinyl, indazolyl, isobenzofuranyl, isoindolyl, isoquinolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, naphthpyridinyl , oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, oxazoline, isoxazoline, oxetanyl, pyranyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyridopyridinyl , pyridazinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazolopyridyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, triazolyl, azetidinyl, aziridinyl, <NUM>,<NUM>- dioxanyl, hexahydroazepinyl, dihydrobenzoimidazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, dihydrobenzoxazolyl, dihydrofuranyl, dihydroimidazolyl, dihydroindoIyI, dihydroisooxazolyl, dihydroisothiazolyl, dihydrooxadiazolyl, dihydrooxazolyl, dihydropyrazinyl, dihydropyrazolyl, dihydropyridinyl, dihydropyriinidinyl, dihydropyrroIyI, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydrotetrazolyl, dihydrothiadiazolyl, dihydrothiazolyl, dihydrothienyl, dihydrotriazolyl, dihydroazetidinyl, methylenedioxybenzoyl , tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, acridinyl, carbazolyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, pyrrazolyl, indolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, indolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, tetra-hydroquinoline. In cases where the heteroaryl substituent is bicyclic and one ring is non-aromatic or contains no heteroatoms, it is understood that attachment is via the aromatic ring or via the heteroatom containing ring, respectively. If the heteroaryl contains nitrogen atoms, it is understood that the corresponding N-oxides thereof are also encompassed by this definition.

In the compounds of the present disclosure, the alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl groups can be further substituted by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms be alternative non-hydrogen groups. These include, but are not limited to, <NUM>-<NUM> groups selected from alkyl, alkoxy, halo, hydroxy, mercapto, amino, carboxy, cyano and carbamoyl.

The term "substituted" refers to a functional group as described above in which one or more bonds to a hydrogen atom contained therein are replaced by a bond to non- hydrogen or non-carbon atoms, provided that normal valencies are maintained and that the substitution results in a stable compound. Substituted groups also include groups in which one or more bonds to a carbon (s) or hydrogen (s) atom are replaced by one or more bonds, including double or triple bonds, to a heteroatom. Examples of substituent groups include the functional groups described above, and, in particular, halogens (i.e., F, Cl, Br, and I); alkyl groups, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropryl, n-butyl , tert-butyl, and trifluoromethyl; hydroxyl; alkoxy groups, such as methoxy, ethoxy, n- propoxy, and isopropoxy; aryloxy groups, such as phenoxy; arylalkyloxy, such as benzyloxy (phenylmethoxy) and p- trifluoromethylbenzyloxy (<NUM>-trifluoromethylphenylmethoxy); heteroaryloxy groups; sulfonyl groups, such as trifluoromethanesulfonyl, methanesulfonyl, and p- toluenesulfonyl; nitro, nitrosyl; mercapto; sulfanyl groups, such as methylsulfanyl, ethylsulfanyl and propylsulfanyl; cyano; heterocyclyl-C(O)-moiety; amino groups, such as amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, ethylamino, and diethylamino ; and carboxyl. Where multiple substituent moieties are disclosed or claimed, the substituted compound can be independently substituted by one or more of the disclosed or claimed substituent moieties, singly or plurally. By independently substituted, it is meant that the (two or more) substituents can be the same or different.

It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of the instant disclosure can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art, as well as those methods set forth below, from readily available starting materials. If a substituent is itself substituted with more than one group, it is understood that these multiple groups may be on the same carbon or on different carbons, so long as a stable structure results.

In choosing the compounds of the present disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the various substituents, i.e. R<NUM>, R<NUM>, etc. are to be chosen in conformity with well-known principles of chemical structure connectivity. Moreover, where hydrogens are not shown in the carbon-based structures herein, implicit hydrogens are understood to complete valences as required.

The compounds of the instant invention may be in a salt form. As used herein, a "salt" is salt of the instant compounds which has been modified by making acid or base, salts of the compounds. In the case of compounds used for treatment of cancer, the salt is pharmaceutically acceptable. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as phenols. The salts can be made using an organic or inorganic acid. Such acid salts are chlorides, bromides, sulfates, nitrates/nitrites, esters, phosphates, sulfonates, formates, tartrates, maleates, malates, citrates, benzoates, salicylates, ascorbates, and the like. Phenolate salts are the alkaline earth metal salts, sodium, potassium or lithium. The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" in this respect, refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic acid or base addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or by separately reacting a purified compound of the invention in its free base or free acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid or base, and isolating the salt thus formed. Representative salts include the hydrobromide , hydrochloride, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, nitrate/nitrite, ester, acetate, valerate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, laurate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, tosylate, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, napthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lactobionate, and laurylsulphonate salts and the like. (See, e.g., <NPL>).

Where a numerical range is provided herein for any parameter, it is understood that all numerical subsets of that numerical range, and all the individual integer values contained therein, are provided as part of the disclosure. Thus, C1-C10 alkyl includes the subset of alkyls which are <NUM>-<NUM> carbon atoms, the subset of alkyls which are <NUM>-<NUM> carbon atoms etc. as well as an alkyl which has <NUM> carbon atom, an alkyl which has <NUM> carbon atoms, an alkyl which has <NUM> carbon atom, etc..

The purines discussed herein are one or more of adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, or adenine. "Determining" as used herein means experimentally determining.

The term "composition", as in pharmaceutical composition, is intended to encompass a product comprising the active ingredient(s), and the inert ingredient(s) (pharmaceutically acceptable excipients) that make up the carrier, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any two or more of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of the ingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one or more of the ingredients. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention encompass any composition made by admixing a compound of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

As used herein, the term "optionally" means that the subsequently described event(s) may or may not occur, and includes both event(s), which occur, and events that do not occur.

As used herein, the term "substituted with one or more groups" refers to substitution with the named substituent or substituents, multiple degrees of substitution, up to replacing all hydrogen atoms with the same or different substituents, being allowed unless the number of substituents is explicitly stated. Where the number of substituents is not explicitly stated, one or more is intended.

As used herein, "a compound of the invention" means a compound as described in the appended claims.

As used herein, the term "solvate" refers to a complex of variable stoichiometry formed by a solute (for example, a compound of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, or a salt thereof) and a solvent. Such solvents for the purpose of the invention may not interfere with the biological activity of the solute. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, water, acetone, methanol, ethanol and acetic acid. Preferably the solvent used is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent. Examples of suitable pharmaceutically acceptable solvents include water, ethanol and acetic acid. Most preferably the solvent is water.

As used herein, the term "physiologically functional derivative" refers to a compound (e. g, a drug precursor) that is transformed in vivo to yield a compound of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula V, Formula VI, Formula VII, or Formula VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate of the compound. The transformation may occur by various mechanisms (e.g., by metabolic or chemical processes), such as, for example, through hydrolysis in blood. Prodrugs are such derivatives not encompassed by the literal wording of the claims, and a discussion of the use of prodrugs is provided by<NPL>.

Any number of means for inhibiting G6PD activity or gene expression can be used in the methods of the disclosure. It is noted that in addition to G6PD, G6PD isoforms or <NUM>-phosphogluconorate dehydrogenase and other enzymes in glucose (for example: malic enzyme or isocitrate dehydrogenase) and fat metabolism (for example: malony-CoA and HMG-CoA) including cholesterol synthesis is another process which could potentially be blocked by inhibitory compounds in a similar manner as described herein for G6PD.

The compounds for use as described in the appended claims of the present invention may be used to treat a subject having or at risk for cardiovascular disorders or cardiovascular diseases. In a particular embodiment, the cardiovascular disorder and/or the pulmonary disorder is pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, medial hypertrophy, or combinations thereof,.

Cardiovascular disorders or cardiovascular diseases can include any disorders that affect the cardiovascular system, including the heart and/or blood vessels, such as arteries and veins. Cardiovascular diseases can also include disorders affecting the kidneys. Non-limiting examples of cardiovascular diseases described include pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypertension-associated heart failure, hypertension, stroke, medial hypertrophy, acute neointimal formation following iatrogenic interventions, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, heart failure, arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, cardiac hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, cardiac fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, valvular heart disease, diseases of the cardiac valves, atherosclerosis, cardiorenal disease, vascular damage, myocardial damage, cardiac valvular disease or other cardiac electrophysiologic abnormalities, hypertension, other cardiac dysfunction, and combinations thereof. Cardiovascular disease can include, but is not limited to, right-sided, left-sided failure or congestive heart failure and could be due to any one of a number of different causes. Any type of cardiovascular disease, which includes impaired functioning of either the left or right ventricle is also encompassed herein. In some embodiments, cardiovascular diseases include diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Other cardiovascular diseases include angiosarcoma, hemangioscarcoma, Timothy Syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and combinations thereof.

Pulmonary hypertension includes pulmonary hypertension groups <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and5. Also described herein is treatment of scleroderma, which is a member of group <NUM> pulmonary hypertension and is an autoimmune condition. (See: <NPL>.

Cardiomyopathies can include, but are not limited to, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), hypertensive cardiomyopathy, valvular cardiomyopathy, inflammatory cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy and myocardiodystrophy, as well as other forms of cardiomyopathies.

Hypertensive heart diseases can include, but are not limited to, left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, heart failure (including congestive), hypertensive cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias and renal disorders.

Inflammatory heart diseases can include, but are not limited to, endocarditis, inflammatory cardiomegaly and myocarditis.

The present composition may be administered alone or in combination with a second agent/treatment method (therapeutic intervention).

Therapeutic interventions that may be used in combination with the present composition or method can include, pharmacologic intervention, devices, surgical intervention, or any combination thereof. Pharmacologic interventions may include, but are not limited to, treatment with diuretics, vasodilators, inotropic agents (i.e., compounds that increase cardiac contractility), ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, neurohumoral blockers (e.g., beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors), aldosterone antagonists (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone), histone deactylase inhibitors, and erythropoietin. Devices may include, e.g., a bi-ventricular pacemarker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), ventricular assist device (VAD), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Surgical interventions may include, heart transplantation, artificial heart, etc..

Therapeutic intervention can be implantation of a medical device or surgical, which includes, for example, preventative, diagnostic or staging, curative and palliative surgery. Surgery may be used in conjunction with other therapies, including one or more other agents as described herein. Such surgical therapeutic agents for vascular and cardiovascular diseases and disorders are well known to those of skill in the art, and may include, but are not limited to, providing a cardiovascular mechanical prosthesis, angioplasty, coronary artery reperfusion, catheter ablation, providing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator to the subject, mechanical circulatory support or a combination thereof. Examples of a mechanical circulatory support include an intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or combinations thereof.

Pharmacologic agents for therapeutic interventions can include, but are not limited to, miRNA based therapeutics (including antisense oligonucleotides), antihyperlipoproteinemic agent, an antiarteriosclerotic agent, an antithrombotic/fibrinolytic agent, a blood coagulant, an antiarrhythmic agent, an antihypertensive agent, a vasopressor, a treatment agent for congestive heart failure, an antianginal agent, an antibacterial agent or a combination thereof.

An antihyperlipoproteinemic may be an agent that lowers the concentration of one of more blood lipids and/or lipoproteins. Examples of antihyperlipoproteinemics can include but are not limited to, acifran, azacosterol, benfluorex, p-benzalbutyramide, carnitine, chondroitin sulfate, clomestrone, detaxtran, dextran sulfate sodium, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>-eicosapentaenoic acid, eritadenine, furazabol, meglutol, melinamide, mytatrienediol, ornithine, y-oryzanol, pantethine, pentaerythritol tetraacetate, alpha-phenylbutyramide, pirozadil, probucol (lorelco), p-sitosterol, sultosilic acid-piperazine salt, tiadenol, triparanol and xenbucin. Antihyperlipoproteinemic agents can further comprise an aryloxyalkanoicifibric acid derivative, a resin/bile acid sequesterant, an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, a nicotinic acid derivative, a thyroid hormone or thyroid hormone analog, a miscellaneous agent or a combination thereof.

Administration of an agent that aids in the removal or prevention of blood clots may be combined with administration of a modulator, particularly in treatment of athersclerosis and vasculature (e.g., arterial) blockages. Examples of antithrombotic and/or fibrinolytic agents can include but are not limited to anticoagulants, anticoagulant antagonists, antiplatelet agents, thrombolytic agents, throinbolytic agent antagonists or combinations thereof. Antithrombotic agents that can be included are those that are administered orally, such as, for example, aspirin and warfarin (coumadin).

Anticoagulants can include but are not limited to acenocoumarol, ancrod, anisindione, bromindione, clorindione, coumetarol, cyclocumarol, dextran sulfate sodium, dicumarol, diphenadione, ethyl biscoumacetate, ethylidene dicoumarol, fluindione, heparin, hirudin, lyapolate sodiuim, oxazidione, pentosan polysulfate, phenindione, phenprocoumon, phosvitin, picotamide, tioclomarol and warfarin.

Antiplatelet agents can include but are not limited to aspirin, a dextran, dipyridamole (persantin), heparin, sulfinpyranone (anturane) and ticlopidine (ticlid).

Thrombolytic agents can include but are not limited to tissue plasminogen activator (activase), plasmin, pro-urokinase, urokinase (abbokinase) streptokinase (streptase) and anistreplasel APSAC (eminase).

The therapeutic intervention may be an antiarrhythmic agent. Antiarrhythmic agents can include, but are not limited to Class I antiarrhythmic agents (sodium channel blockers), Class II antiarrhythmic agents (beta-adrenergic blockers), Class III antiarrhythmic agents (repolarization prolonging drugs), Class IV antiarrhythmic agents (calcium channel blockers) and miscellaneous antiarrhythric agents. Examples of sodium channel blockers can include but are not limited to Class IA, Class IB and Class IC antiarrhythmic agents. Non-limiting examples of Class IA antiarrhythmic agents include disppyramide (norpace), procainamide (pronestyl) and quinidine (quinidex). Examples of Class IB antiarrhythmic agents can include but are not limited to lidocaine (xylocalne), tocamide (tonocard) and mexiletine (mexitil). Examples of Class IC antiarrhythmic agents can include but are not limited to encamide (enkaid) and flecamide (tambocor).

Examples of a beta blocker, otherwise known as a p-adrenergic blocker, a p-adrenergic antagonist or a Class II antiarrhythmic agent, can include but are not limited to acebutolol (sectral), alprenolol, amosulalol, arotinolol, atenolol, befunolol, betaxolol, bevantolol, bisoprolol, bopindolol, bucumolol, bufetolol, bufuralol, bunitrolol, bupranolol, butidrine hydrochloride, butofilolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, cetamolol, cloranolol, dilevalol, epanolol, esmolol (brevibloc), indenolol, labetalol, levobunolol, mepindolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, moprolol, nadolol, nadoxolol, nifenalol, nipradilol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol, practolol, pronethalol, propanolol (inderal), sotalol (betapace), sulfinalol, talinolol, tertatolol, timolol, toliprolol and xibinolol. In some embodiments, the beta blocker can comprise an aryloxypropanolamine derivative. Examples of aryloxypropanolamine derivatives can include but are not limited to acebutolol, alprenolol, arotinolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bevantolol, bisoprolol, bopindolol, bunitrolol, butofilolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, cetamolol, epanolol, indenolol, mepindolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, mrnoprolol, nadolol, nipradilol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propanolol, talinolol, tertatolol, tinolol and toliprolol.

Examples of agents that prolong repolarization, also known as a Class III antiarrhythmic agent, can include but are not limited to include amiodarone (cordarone) and sotalol (betapace).

Examples of a calcium channel blocker, otherwise known as a Class IV antiarrhythmic agent, can include but are not limited to an arylalkylamine (e.g., bepridile, diltiazem, fendiline, gallopamil, prenylamine, terodiline, verapamil), a dihydropyridine derivative (felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine) a piperazinde derivative (e.g., cinnarizine, flunarizine, lidoflazine) or a micellaneous calcium channel blocker such as bencyclane, etafenone, magnesium, mibefradil or perhexyline. A calcium channel blocker may comprise a long-acting dihydropyridine (nifedipine-type) calcium antagonist.

Examples of antihypertensive agents can include but are not limited to sympatholytic, alpha/beta blockers, alpha-blockers, anti-angiotensin II agents, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, vasodilators and miscellaneous antihypertensives.

Examples of an alpha blocker, also known as an α-adrenergic blocker or an α-adrenergic antagonist, can include but are not limited to, amosulalol, arotinolol, dapiprazole, doxazosin, ergoloid mesylates, fenspiride, indoramin, labetalol, nicergoline, prazosin, terazosin, tolazoline, trimazosin and yohimbine. An alpha-blocker may comprise a quinazoline derivative. Quinazoline derivatives can include but are not limited to alfuzosin, bunazosin, doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin and trimazosin. The antihypertensive agent may be both an alpha and beta-adrenergic antagonist. Examples of an alpha/beta blocker can include but are not limited to labetalol (normodyne, trandate).

Examples of anti-angiotensin II agents can include but are not limited to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) can include but are not limited to alacepril, enalapril (vasotec), captopril, cilazapril, delapril, enalaprilat, fosinopril, lisinopril, moveltopril, perindopril, quinapril and ramipril. Examples of an angiotensin II receptor blocker, also known as an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, an ANG receptor blocker or an ANG-II type-I receptor blocker (ARBS), include but are not limited to angiocandesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan and valsartan.

Examples of a sympatholytic include a centrally acting sympatholytic or a peripherially acting sympatholytic. Examples of a centrally acting sympatholytic, also known as a central nervous system (CNS) sympatholytic, can include but are not limited to clonidine (catapres), guanabenz (wytensin) guanfacine (tenex) and methyldopa (aldomet).

Examples of a peripherally acting sympatholytic can include but are not limited to a ganglion blocking agent, an adrenergic neuron blocking agent, beta-adrenergic blocking agent or an alpha1-adrenergic blocking agent. Examples of a ganglion blocking agent include mecamylamine (inversine) and trimethaphan (arfonad). Examples of an adrenergic neuron blocking agent can include but are not limited to guanethidine (ismelin) and reserpine (serpasil).

Examples of a beta-adrenergic blocker can include but are not limited to acenitolol (sectral), atenolol (tenormin), betaxolol (kerlone), carteolol (cartrol), labetalol (normodyne, trandate), metoprolol (lopressor), nadanol (corgard), penbutolol (levatol), pindolol (visken), propranolol (inderal) and timolol (blocadren).

Examples of alpha1-adrenergic blocker can include but are not limited to prazosin (minipress), doxazocin (cardura) and terazosin (hytrin).

The therapeutic intervention can also comprise a vasodilator (e.g., a cerebral vasodilator, a coronary vasodilator or a peripheral vasodilator). A vasodilator may comprise a coronary vasodilator. Examples of a coronary vasodilator include but are not limited to amotriphene, bendazol, benfurodil hemisuccinate, benziodarone, chlioracizine, chromonar, clobenfurol, clonitrate, dilazep, dipyridamole, droprenilamine, efloxate, erythrityl tetranitrane, etafenone, fendiline, floredil, ganglefene, herestrol bis(p-dinoeylaminoethyl ether), hexobendine, itramin tosylate, khellin, lidoflanine, mannitol hexanitrane, medibazine, nicorglycerin, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, pentrinitrol, perhexyline, pimefyiline, trapidil, tricromyl, trimeG6PDidine, troInitrate phosphate and visnadine. A vasodilator may comprise a chronic therapy vasodilator or a hypertensive emergency vasodilator. Examples of a chronic therapy vasodilator can include but are not limited to hydralazine (apresoline) and minoxidil (loniten). Examples of a hypertensive emergency vasodilator can include but are not limited to nitroprusside (nipride), diazoxide (hyperstat IV), hydralazine (apresoline), minoxidil (loniten) and verapamil.

Examples of antihypertensives can also include, but are not limited to, ajmaline, gamma-amino butyric acid, bufeniode, cicletainine, ciclosidomine, a cryptenamine tannate, fenoldopam, flosequinan, ketanserin, mebutamate, mecamylamine, methyldopa, methyl <NUM>-pyridyl ketone thiosemicarbazone, muzo limine, pargyline, pempidine, pinacidil, piperoxan, primaperone, a protoveratrine, raubasine, rescimetol, rilmenidene, saralasin, sodium nitrorusside, ticrynafen, trimethaphan camsylate, tyrosinase and urapidil.

An antihypertensive can comprise an arylethanolamine derivative, a benzothiadiazine derivative, a N-carboxyalkyl(peptide/lactam) derivative, a dihydropyridine derivative, a guanidine derivative, a hydrazines/phthalazine, an imidazole derivative, a quaternary ammoniam compound, a reserpine derivative or a suflonamide derivative. Examples of aryl ethanolamine derivatives can include but are not limited to amosulalol, bufuralol, dilevalol, labetalol, pronethalol, sotalol and sulfinalol. Examples of benzothiadiazine derivatives can include but are not limited to althizide, bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, benzylhydrochlorothiazide, buthiazide, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, cyclopenthiazide, cyclothiazide, diazoxide, epithiazide, ethiazide, fenquizone, hydrochlorothizide, hydroflumethizide, methyclothiazide, meticrane, metolazone, paraflutizide, polythizide, tetrachlormethiazide and trichlormethiazide. Examples of N-carboxyalkyl(peptide/lactam) derivatives can include but are not limited to alacepril, captopril, cilazapril, delapril, enalapril, enalaprilat, fosinopril, lisinopril, moveltipril, perindopril, quinapril and ramipril. Examples of dihydropyridine derivatives can include but are not limited to amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nilvadipine, nisoldipine and nitrendipine. Examples of guanidine derivatives can include but are not limited to bethanidine, debrisoquin, guanabenz, guanacline, guanadrel, guanazodine, guanethidine, guanfacine, guanochlor, guanoxabenz and guanoxan. Examples of hydrazines/phthalazines can include but are not limited to budralazine, cadralazine, dihydralazine, endralazine, hydracarbazine, hydralazine, pheniprazine, pildralazine and todralazine. Examples of imidazole derivatives can include but are not limited to clonidine, lofexidine, phentolamine, tiamenidine and tolonidine. Examples of quaternary ammonium compounds can include but are not limited to azamethonium bromide, chlorisondamine chloride, hexamethonium, pentacynium bis(methylsulfate), pentamethoniumi bromide, pentolinium tartrate, phenactropiniutm chloride and trimethidinium methosulfate. Examples of reserpine derivatives can include but are not limited to bietaserpine, deserpidine, rescinnamine, reserpine and syrosingopine. Examples of sulfonamide derivatives can include but are not limited to ambuside, clopamide, furosemide, indapamide, quinethazone, trip amide and xipamide.

Examples of agents for the treatment of congestive heart failure can include but are not limited to anti-angiotensin II agents, afterload-preload reduction treatment, diuretics and inotropic agents.

Examples of a diuretic can include but are not limited to a thiazide or benzothiadiazine derivative (e.g., althiazide, bendroflumethazide, benzthiazide, benzylhydrochiorchlorothiazide, buthiazide, chlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, cyclopenthiazide, epithiazide, ethiazide, ethiazide, fenquizone, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, methyclothiazide, meticrane, metolazone, paraflutizide, polythizide, tetrachloromethiazide, trichlormethiazide), an organomercurial (e.g., chlormerodrin, meralluride, mercamnphamide, mercaptomerin sodium, mercumallylic acid, mercumatilin dodium, mercurous chloride, mersalyl), a pteridine (e.g., furtherene, triamterene), purines (e.g., acefylline, <NUM>-morpholinomethyltheophylline, pamobrom, protheobromine, theobromine), steroids including aldosterone antagonists (e.g., canrenone, oleandrin, spironolactone), a sulfonamide derivative (e.g., aceG6PDolamide, ambuside, azosemide, bumetanide, buG6PDolamide, chloraminophenami de, clofenamide, clopamide, clorexolone, diphenylmethane-<NUM>,<NUM>'-disulfonamide, disulfamide, ethoxzolamide, furosemide, indapamide, mefruside, methazolamide, piretanide, quinethazone, torasemide, trip amide, xipamide), a uracil (e.g., aminometradine, amisometradine), a potassium sparing antagonist (e.g., amiloride, triamterene) or a miscellaneous diuretic such as aminozine, arbutin, chlorazanil, ethacrynic acid, etozolin, hydracarbazine, isosorbide, mannitol, metochalcone, muzo limine, perhexyline, ticmafen and urea.

Examples of a positive inotropic agent, also known as a cardiotonic, can include but are not limited to acefylline, an acetyldigitoxin, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-picoline, aminone, benfurodil hemisuccinate, bucladesine, cerberosine, camphotamide, convallatoxin, cymarin, denopamine, deslanoside, digitalin, digitalis, digitoxin, digoxin, dobutamine, dopamine, dopexamine, enoximone, erythrophleine, fenalcomine, gitalin, gitoxin, glycocyamine, heptaminol, hydrastinine, ibopamine, a lanatoside, metamivam, milrinone, nerifolin, oleandrin, ouabain, oxyfedrine, prenalterol, proscillaridine, resibufogenin, scillaren, scillarenin, strphanthin, sulmazole, theobromine and xamoterol. An intropic agent may be a cardiac glycoside, a beta-adrenergic agonist or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Examples of a cardiac glycoside can include but are not limited to digoxin (lanoxin) and digitoxin (crystodigin). Examples of a beta. -adrenergic agonist include but are not limited to albuterol, bambuterol, bitolterol, carbuterol, clenbuterol, clorprenaline, denop amine, dioxethedrine, dobutamine (dobutrex), dopamine (intropin), dopexamine, ephedrine, etafedrine, ethylnorepinephrine, fenoterol, formoterol, hexoprenaline, ibopamine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, mabuterol, metaproterenol, methoxyphenamine, oxyfedrine, pirbuterol, procaterol, protokylol, reproterol, rimiterol, ritodrine, soterenol, terbutaline, tretoquinol, tulobuterol and xamoterol. Examples of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor can include but are not limited to aminone (inocor).

Antianginal agents may comprise organonitrates, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers and combinations thereof. Examples of organonitrates, also known as nitrovasodilators, can include but are not limited to nitroglycerin (nitro-bid, nitrostat), isosorbide dinitrate (isordil, sorbitrate) and amyl nitrate (aspirol, vaporole).

Endothelin (ET) is a <NUM>-amino acid peptide that has potent physiologic and pathophysiologic effects that appear to be involved in the development of heart failure. The effects of ET are mediated through interaction with two classes of cell surface receptors. Inhibiting the ability of ET to stimulate cells involves the use of agents that block the interaction of ET with its receptors. Examples of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) can include but are not limited to Bosentan, Enrasentan, Ambrisentan, Darusentan, Tezosentan, Atrasentan, Avosentan, Clazosentan, Edonentan, sitaxsentan, TBC <NUM>, BQ <NUM>, and BQ <NUM>.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors that appear to have beneficial effects the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Examples of histone deacetylase inhibitors can include but are not limited to valproic acid and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid.

Evidence of therapeutic efficacy may be specific to the cardiovascular disease being treated and can include evidence well known in the art. For example, evidence of therapeutic efficacy can include but is not limited to improvement or alleviation of one or more symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, or myocardial infarction in the subject, or in the delay in the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. The one or more improved or alleviated symptoms can include, for example, increased exercise capacity, increased cardiac ejection volume, decreased left ventricular end diastolic pressure, decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increased cardiac output, increased cardiac index, lowered pulmonary artery pressures, decreased left ventricular end systolic and diastolic dimensions, decreased cardiac fibrosis, decreased collagen deposition in cardiac muscle, decreased left and right ventricular wall stress, decreased wall tension, increased quality of life, and decreased disease related morbidity or mortality. Further, therapeutic efficacy can also include general improvements in the overall health of the patient, such as but not limited to enhancement of patient life quality, increase in predicted survival rate, decrease in depression or decrease in rate of recurrence of the indication (<NPL>).

Efficacy of a therapeutic intervention can also include evaluating or monitoring for the improvement of one or more symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, or myocardial infarction in the subject, or for the delay in the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. The one or more improved symptoms may include, for example, increased exercise capacity, increased cardiac ejection volume, decreased left ventricular end diastolic pressure, decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increased cardiac output, increased cardiac index, lowered pulmonary artery pressures, decreased left ventricular end systolic and diastolic dimensions, decreased cardiac fibrosis, decreased collagen deposition in cardiac muscle, decreased left and right ventricular wall stress, decreased wall tension, increased quality of life and decreased disease related morbidity or mortality. The measured levels of plasma miRNAs may serve as a surrogate marker for efficacy of the therapeutic intervention.

So that the invention may be more readily understood, certain technical and scientific terms are specifically defined below. Unless specifically defined elsewhere in this document, all other technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

As used herein, including the appended claims, the singular forms of words such as "a," "an," and "the," include their corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

"Activation," "stimulation," and "treatment," as it applies to cells or to receptors, may have the same meaning, e.g., activation, stimulation, or treatment of a cell or receptor with a ligand, unless indicated otherwise by the context or explicitly. "Ligand" encompasses natural and synthetic ligands, e.g., cytokines, cytokine variants, analogues, muteins, and binding compounds derived from antibodies. "Ligand" also encompasses small molecules, e.g., peptide mimetics of cytokines and peptide mimetics of antibodies. "Activation" can refer to cell activation as regulated by internal mechanisms as well as by external or environmental factors. "Response," e.g., of a cell, tissue, organ, or organism, encompasses a change in biochemical or physiological behavior, e.g., concentration, density, adhesion, or migration within a biological compartment, rate of gene expression, or state of differentiation, where the change is correlated with activation, stimulation, or treatment, or with internal mechanisms such as genetic programming.

"Activity" of a molecule may describe or refer to the binding of the molecule to a ligand or to a receptor, to catalytic activity; to the ability to stimulate gene expression or cell signaling, differentiation, or maturation; to antigenic activity, to the modulation of activities of other molecules, and the like. "Activity" of a molecule may also refer to activity in modulating or maintaining cell-to-cell interactions, e.g., adhesion, or activity in maintaining a structure of a cell, e.g., cell membranes or cytoskeleton. "Activity" can also mean specific activity, e.g., [catalytic activity]/[mg protein], or [immunological activity]/[mg protein], concentration in a biological compartment, or the like. "Activity" may refer to modulation of components of the innate or the adaptive immune systems.

"Administration" and "treatment," as it applies to an animal, human, experimental subject, cell, tissue, organ, or biological fluid, refers to contact of an exogenous pharmaceutical, therapeutic, diagnostic agent, or composition to the animal, human, subject, cell, tissue, organ, or biological fluid. "Administration" and "treatment" can refer, e.g., to therapeutic, pharmacokinetic, diagnostic, research, and experimental methods. Treatment of a cell encompasses contact of a reagent to the cell, as well as contact of a reagent to a fluid, where the fluid is in contact with the cell. "Administration" and "treatment" also means in vitro and ex vivo treatments, e.g., of a cell, by a reagent, diagnostic, binding compound, or by another cell. The term "subject" includes any organism, preferably an animal, more preferably a mammal (e.g., rat, mouse, dog, cat, rabbit) and most preferably a human, including a human patient.

"Treat" or "treating" refers to administering a therapeutic agent, such as a composition containing any of the present G6PD inhibitors, or similar compositions described herein, internally or externally to a subject or patient having one or more disease symptoms, or being suspected of having a disease or being at elevated at risk of acquiring a disease, for which the agent has therapeutic activity. Typically, the agent is administered in an amount effective to alleviate one or more disease symptoms in the treated subject or population, whether by inducing the regression of or inhibiting the progression of such symptom(s) by any clinically measurable degree. The amount of a therapeutic agent that is effective to alleviate any particular disease symptom (also referred to as the "therapeutically effective amount") may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, and weight of the patient, and the ability of the drug to elicit a desired response in the subject whether a disease symptom has been alleviated can be assessed by any clinical measurement typically used by physicians or other skilled healthcare providers to assess the severity or progression status of that symptom. While an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., a treatment method or article of manufacture) may not be effective in alleviating the target disease symptom(s) in every subject, it should alleviate the target disease symptom(s) in a statistically significant number of subjects as determined by any statistical test known in the art such as the Student's t-test, the chi<NUM>-test, the U-test according to Mann and Whitney, the Kruskal-Wallis test (H-test), Jonckheere-Terpstra-test and the Wilcoxon-test.

"Treatment," as it applies to a human, veterinary, or research subject, refers to therapeutic treatment, prophylactic or preventative measures, to research and diagnostic applications.

As used herein, the expressions "cell," "cell line," and "cell culture" are used interchangeably and all such designations include progeny. Thus, the words "transformants" and "transformed cells" include the primary subject cell and cultures derived therefrom without regard for the number of transfers. It is also understood that not all progeny will have precisely identical DNA content, due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. Mutant progeny that have the same function or biological activity as screened for in the originally transformed cell are included. Where distinct designations are intended, it will be clear from the context.

With respect to cells, the term "isolated" refers to a cell that has been isolated from its natural environment (e.g., from a tissue or subject). The term "cell line" refers to a population of cells capable of continuous or prolonged growth and division in vitro. Often, cell lines are clonal populations derived from a single progenitor cell. It is further known in the art that spontaneous or induced changes can occur in karyotype during storage or transfer of such clonal populations. Therefore, cells derived from the cell line referred to may not be precisely identical to the ancestral cells or cultures, and the cell line referred to includes such variants. As used herein, the terms "recombinant cell" refers to a cell into which an exogenous DNA segment, such as DNA segment that leads to the transcription of a biologically-active polypeptide or production of a biologically active nucleic acid such as an RNA, has been introduced.

To prepare pharmaceutical or sterile compositions of the compositions of the present invention, the compound as described in the appended claims may be admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. See, e.g., <NPL>).

Formulations of therapeutic and diagnostic agents may be prepared by mixing with acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers in the form of, e.g., lyophilized powders, slurries, amorphous solution or solid, aqueous solutions or suspensions (see, e.g., <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>).

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the therapeutic compositions, administered alone or in combination with another agent, can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD<NUM> (the dose lethal to <NUM>% of the population) and the ED<NUM> (the dose therapeutically effective in <NUM>% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index (LD<NUM>/ ED<NUM>). In particular aspects, therapeutic compositions exhibiting high therapeutic indices are desirable. The data obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in human. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED<NUM> with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration.

In an embodiment of the invention, a composition of the invention is administered to a subject in accordance with the<NPL>)).

The mode of administration can vary. Suitable routes of administration include intranasal, nasal, oral, rectal, transmucosal, intestinal, parenteral; intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramedullary, intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intraocular, inhalation, insufflation, topical, cutaneous, transdermal, or intra-arterial.

The composition or therapeutic can be administered by an invasive route such as by injection (see above). The composition, therapeutic, or pharmaceutical composition thereof, may be administered intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraarterially, intra-articularly (e.g. in arthritis joints), intratumorally, or by inhalation, aerosol delivery. Administration by non-invasive routes (e.g., orally; for example, in a pill, capsule or tablet) is also possible.

Compositions can be administered with medical devices known in the art. For example, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention can be administered by injection with a hypodermic needle, including, e.g., a prefilled syringe or autoinjector.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be administered with a needleless hypodermic injection device; such as the devices disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT> or <CIT>.

Alternately, one may administer the present compound or other G6PD inhibitors, or related compound in a local rather than systemic manner, for example, via injection of directly into the desired target site, often in a depot or sustained release formulation. Furthermore, one may administer the composition in a targeted drug delivery system, for example, in a liposome coated with a tissue-specific antibody, targeting, for example, the liver, and more specifically hepatocytes. The liposomes will be targeted to and taken up selectively by the desired tissue. Also included in a targeted drug delivery system is nanoparticle specific nasal or cardiac delivery of the viral vectors, RNAi, shRNA or other G6PD inhibitors, or G6PD-based compound, alone or in combination with an Ihh RNAi construct or similar inhibitors. A summary of various delivery methods and techniques of siRNA administration in ongoing clinical trials is provided in <NPL>.

The present composition can also comprise a delivery vehicle, including liposomes, for administration to a subject, carriers and diluents and their salts, and/or can be present in pharmaceutically acceptable formulations. For example, methods for the delivery of nucleic acid molecules are described in<NPL>; <NPL>,<NPL>; <NPL>; and <NPL>. <CIT> and <CIT> further describe the general methods for delivery of nucleic acid molecules. These protocols can be utilized for the delivery of virtually any nucleic acid molecule.

The present composition can be administered to a desired target by a variety of methods known to those of skill in the art, including, but not restricted to, encapsulation in liposomes, by iontophoresis, or by incorporation into other vehicles, such as hydrogels, cyclodextrins, biodegradable nanocapsules, and bioadhesive microspheres, or by proteinaceous vectors (see <CIT>). Alternatively, the therapeutic/vehicle combination is locally delivered by direct injection or by use of an infusion pump. Direct injection of the composition, whether subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intradermal, can take place using standard needle and syringe methodologies, or by needle-free technologies such as those described in <NPL> and <CIT>.

Therapeutic compositions comprising surface-modified liposomes containing poly(ethylene glycol) lipids (PEG-modified, or long-circulating liposomes or stealth liposomes) may also be suitably employed in the methods described herein. These formulations offer a method for increasing the accumulation of drugs in target tissues. This class of drug carriers resists opsonization and elimination by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS or RES), thereby enabling longer blood circulation times and enhanced tissue exposure for the encapsulated drug (<NPL>; <NPL>). The long-circulating liposomes enhance the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DNA and RNA, particularly compared to conventional cationic liposomes which are known to accumulate in tissues of the MPS (<NPL>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>). Long-circulating liposomes are also likely to protect drugs from nuclease degradation to a greater extent compared to cationic liposomes, based on their ability to avoid accumulation in metabolically aggressive MPS tissues such as the liver and spleen.

The administration regimen depends on several factors, including the serum or tissue turnover rate of the therapeutic composition, the level of symptoms, and the accessibility of the target cells in the biological matrix. Preferably, the administration regimen delivers sufficient therapeutic composition to effect improvement in the target disease state, while simultaneously minimizing undesired side effects. Accordingly, the amount of biologic delivered depends in part on the particular therapeutic composition and the severity of the condition being treated.

Determination of the appropriate dose is made by the clinician, e.g., using parameters or factors known or suspected in the art to affect treatment. Generally, the dose begins with an amount somewhat less than the optimum dose and it is increased by small increments thereafter until the desired or optimum effect is achieved relative to any negative side effects. Important diagnostic measures include those of symptoms of, e.g., the inflammation or level of inflammatory cytokines produced. In general, it is desirable that a biologic that will be used is derived from the same species as the animal targeted for treatment, thereby minimizing any immune response to the reagent.

As used herein, "inhibit" or "treat" or "treatment" includes a postponement of development of the symptoms associated with a disorder and/or a reduction in the severity of the symptoms of such disorder. The terms further include ameliorating existing uncontrolled or unwanted symptoms, preventing additional symptoms, and ameliorating or preventing the underlying causes of such symptoms. Thus, the terms denote that a beneficial result has been conferred on a vertebrate subject with a disorder, disease or symptom, or with the potential to develop such a disorder, disease or symptom.

As used herein, the terms "therapeutically effective amount", "therapeutically effective dose" and "effective amount" refer to an amount of the present compound or other G6PD inhibitors or inhibitor compound of the invention that, when administered alone or in combination with an additional therapeutic agent to a cell, tissue, or subject, is effective to cause a measurable improvement in one or more symptoms of a disease or condition or the progression of such disease or condition. A therapeutically effective dose further refers to that amount of the compound sufficient to result in at least partial amelioration of symptoms, e.g., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of the relevant medical condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions. When applied to an individual active ingredient administered alone, a therapeutically effective dose refers to that ingredient alone. When applied to a combination, a therapeutically effective dose refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously. An effective amount of a therapeutic will result in an improvement of a diagnostic measure or parameter by at least <NUM>%; usually by at least <NUM>%; preferably at least about <NUM>%; more preferably at least <NUM>%, and most preferably by at least <NUM>%. An effective amount can also result in an improvement in a subjective measure in cases where subjective measures are used to assess disease severity.

Also disclosed herein are kits comprising the components of the combinations of the invention in kit form, including one or more components including, but not limited to, one or more G6PD inhibitors as discussed herein, in association with one or more additional components including, but not limited to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or a chemotherapeutic agent, as discussed herein. The present compound, composition and/or the therapeutic agent can be formulated as a pure composition or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in a pharmaceutical composition.

Kits may also include primers, buffers, and probes along with instructions for determining elevated levels of nucleic acid, proteins, or protein fragments of G6PD, or any combination thereof.

A kit may include the present compounds/composition of the invention or a pharmaceutical composition thereof in one container (e.g., in a sterile glass or plastic vial) and a pharmaceutical composition thereof and/or a chemotherapeutic agent in another container (e.g., in a sterile glass or plastic vial).

The kit may comprise a combination, including the present compound or other G6PD inhibitors, or G6PD-based inhibitor compounds, along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, optionally in combination with one or more therapeutic agent components formulated together, optionally, in a pharmaceutical composition, in a single, common container.

If the kit includes a pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration to a subject, the kit can include a device for performing such administration. For example, the kit can include one or more hypodermic needles or other injection devices as discussed above.

The kit can include a package insert including information concerning the pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms in the kit. Generally, such information aids patients and physicians in using the enclosed pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms effectively and safely. For example, the following information regarding a pharmaceutical composition may be supplied in the insert: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical studies, efficacy parameters, indications and usage, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, overdosage, proper dosage and administration, how supplied, proper storage conditions, references, manufacturer/distributor information and patent information.

Standard methods in molecular biology are described <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>). Standard methods also appear in<NPL>, which describes cloning in bacterial cells and DNA mutagenesis (Vol. <NUM>), cloning in mammalian cells and yeast (Vol. <NUM>), glycoconjugates and protein expression (Vol. <NUM>), and bioinformatics (Vol.

Methods for protein purification including immunoprecipitation, chromatography, electrophoresis, centrifugation, and crystallization are described (<NPL>). Chemical analysis, chemical modification, post-translational modification, production of fusion proteins, glycosylation of proteins are described (see, e.g., <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>; <NPL>). Production, purification, and fragmentation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are described (<NPL>; <NPL>; Harlow and Lane, supra). Standard techniques for characterizing ligand/receptor interactions are available (see, e.g., <NPL>).

Several compounds with approximately <NUM>-fold improved potency in an enzyme assay were identified, and this improved activity translated to efficacy in a cellular assay. The steroid inhibition of G6PD has been substantially developed; the 3β-alcohol can be replaced with 3β-H-bond donors such as sulfamide, sulfonamide, and urea. Improved potency was achieved by replacing the androstane nucleus with a pregnane nucleus, provided a ketone at C-<NUM> is present. For pregnan-<NUM>-ones incorporation of a <NUM>-hydroxyl group is often beneficial. The novel compounds generally have good physicochemical properties and in vitro DMPK parameters. From ><NUM> derivatives prepared three derivatives (Formula VI, Formula VII, Formula VIII) had IC50 in <NUM>-<NUM> ranges to inhibit G6PD activity. Also, these drugs displayed ><NUM>-fold efficacy to inhibit G6PD activity in vitro and in vivo than dehydroepiandrosterone and epiandrosterone. These drugs also showed good cardiovascular activity over other derivatives. Any modifications in the body of the nucleus (shown with a circle) of these drugs dampened or eliminated their cardiovascular actions. These potent steroid inhibitors with potential therapeutic utility will be beneficial in inhibiting G6PD and ameliorating cardiovascular diseases.

To a stirred solution of (3β,5α)-<NUM>-aminoandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in DCM (<NUM>) at <NUM> under nitrogen was added ethyl isocyanate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol). The mixture was stirred overnight, and then DCM and water were added before the mixture was passed through a hydrophobic frit. The DCM phase was concentrated to give the intermediate ketal as a white solid (<NUM>). The <NUM>-ketal intermediate (<NUM>) was deprotected in a similar manner to compound 7a (as described in <NPL>) and the crude product chromatographed on silica (<NUM> SNAP, DCM/ethyl acetate gradient elution), affording the product 7e as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM> NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>). <NUM> NMR (DMSO-d6): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. LC-MS m/z <NUM> [M + <NUM>]+, <NUM>% purity; m/z <NUM> [M - <NUM>]-, <NUM>% purity. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ m/z calculated for C22H37N2O2: <NUM>. Found: <NUM>.

(3β,5α)-<NUM>-Aminoandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was dissolved in acetone (<NUM>), DCM (<NUM>) and THF (<NUM>). Then <NUM> HCl (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was added and the mixture stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was basified with <NUM> NaOH. DCM was added and the mixture stirred before passing through a hydrophobic frit. The organic phase was concentrated and chromatographed on silica (<NUM> SNAP cartridge, DCM/MeOH gradient elution) to give the product 7a as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM>H NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>). <NUM>C NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd for C<NUM>H<NUM>NO: <NUM>. Found: <NUM>.

14f was prepared and purified in a similar manner to compound <NUM>, using (3β,5α)-<NUM>-aminopregnan-<NUM>-one, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and methanesulfonyl chloride (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol). Evaporation of the solvent afforded the product 14f as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM> NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. LC-MS m/z <NUM> [M - <NUM>]-, <NUM>% purity. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + Cl]- calcd for C<NUM>H<NUM>ClNO<NUM>S: <NUM>. Found: <NUM>.

To a stirred solution of (3β,5α)-<NUM>-bromo-<NUM>-hydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in DMF (<NUM>) and water (<NUM>) was added sodium hydroxide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and the mixture stirred for <NUM>. The mixture was then diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with water, dried, and the solvent evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on silica (isohexane/ethyl acetate gradient elution) and recrystallized from diethyl ether affording the product <NUM> as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%); <NUM> NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>) <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>, <NUM> (ABq, JAB = <NUM>, <NUM>); <NUM> NMR (DMSO-d6): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>); 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; HRMS (ESI) m/z [M+Cl]- Calcd for C21H34ClO3: <NUM>. Found: <NUM>.

Alternative methods to synthesize the compounds are as follows.

(3β)- <NUM>-(acetyloxy)-<NUM>-hydroxy-pregn-<NUM>-en-<NUM>-one, (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was mixed with ethanol (<NUM>) under a nitrogen atmosphere. <NUM>% Pd on charcoal (<NUM>) was added and the system degassed using nitrogen. The reaction was degassed and placed under a hydrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred overnight at ambient temperature. Water was added and the mixture passed through celite dampened with water. All volatiles were removed and the residue dissolved in diethyl ether, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and the solvents removed to give a white solid. The crude material was loaded onto silica using dichloromethane then purified using a <NUM> Biotage SNAP cartridge - eluting with <NUM>-<NUM>% Ethyl acetate/isohexane. Concentration of the clean fractions gave (3β)-<NUM>-(acetyloxy)-<NUM>-hydroxy-pregn-<NUM>-en-<NUM>-one (<NUM>, <NUM>%) as a white powder.

To a solution of (3β)- <NUM>-(acetyloxy)-<NUM>-hydroxy-pregn-<NUM>-en-<NUM>-one (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in methanol (<NUM>) and water (<NUM>) was added potassium carbonate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and the mixture stirred at reflux for <NUM>. TLC (silica, EtOAc eluant) showed complete conversion of starting ester (Rf <NUM>) to a more polar product (Rf <NUM>). The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The combined extracts were washed with water, dried over anhydrous Na<NUM>SO<NUM> and concentrated under reduced pressure. This afforded a solid that was recrystallized from EtOAc affording (3β)-<NUM>-(acetyloxy)-<NUM>-hydroxypregn-<NUM>-en-<NUM>-one (<NUM>).

To a solution of (3β)-<NUM>-(acetyloxy)-<NUM>-hydroxypregn-<NUM>-en-<NUM>-one (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in methanol (<NUM>) and water (<NUM>) was added potassium carbonate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and the mixture stirred at reflux for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with water, dried and the solvent evaporated. The solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate affording the product as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%); <NUM>H NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>, <NUM> (ABq, JAB = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>); <NUM>C NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

(3α,5α)-<NUM>-Hydroxyandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol), phthalimide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol), and TPP (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) were dissolved in THF (<NUM>), and the solution was cooled to <NUM> using an ice bath. DIAD (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was added slowly maintaining the temperature below <NUM>. A white precipitate formed during the reaction. The mixture was stirred and warmed to ambient temperature overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. All volatiles were evaporated and methanol (<NUM>) was added and the mixture stirred for <NUM>. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with methanol. The solid was dried under vacuum to give <NUM>-[(3β,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediylacetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM> NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>- <NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>).

<NUM>-[(3β,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediylacetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was mixed with ethanol (<NUM>) and hydrazine hydrate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and refluxed overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was cooled, and the solid was filtered off. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness. The residue was partitioned between DCM and water, and the solution passed through a hydrophobic frit. The DCM phase was evaporated to dryness to give the (3β,5α)-<NUM>-aminoandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>- ethanediyl acetal (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM> NMR (CDCl3): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>).

To a stirred solution of (3β,5α)-<NUM>-aminoandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>- ethanediyl acetal (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in DCM (<NUM>) at <NUM> under nitrogen was added ethyl isocyanate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol). The mixture was stirred overnight, and then DCM and water were added before the mixture was passed through a hydrophobic frit. The DCM phase was concentrated to give the intermediate ketal as a white solid (<NUM>). The <NUM>-ketal intermediate (<NUM>) was dissolved in acetone (<NUM>), DCM (<NUM>) and THF (<NUM>), <NUM> HCl (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was added and the mixture stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was basified with <NUM> NaOH. DCM was added and the mixture stirred before passing through a hydrophobic frit. The organic phase was concentrated and chromatographed on silica (<NUM> SNAP, DCM/ethyl acetate gradient elution), affording N-Ethyl-N'-[(3β,5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM>H NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>- <NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>). <NUM> NMR (DMSO-d6): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>- <NUM> (m, <NUM>). <NUM>C NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. LC-MS m/z <NUM> [M + H]+, <NUM>% purity; m/z <NUM> [M - H]-, <NUM>% purity. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ m/z calcd for C22H37N2O2: <NUM>. Found: <NUM>.

(3β,5α)-<NUM>-Hydroxyandrostan-<NUM>-one, cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol), phthalimide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol), and TPP (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) were dissolved in THF (<NUM>) and cooled to <NUM> using an ice bath. DIAD (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was added slowly, maintaining the temperature below <NUM>. The yellow color was allowed to disappear between additions. The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solvent was evaporated and methanol was added to the oil, forming a white precipitate. The suspension was stirred for <NUM>. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with methanol (<NUM>), affording <NUM>-[(<NUM>α,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%). <NUM>H NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>).

<NUM>-[(<NUM>α,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) was treated with ethanol (<NUM>) and hydrazine hydrate (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and the mixture heated at reflux overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was cooled and the solid precipitate was filtered off. The filtrate was evaporated and the residue partitioned between DCM and water, and then passed through a hydrophobic frit. The DCM phase was evaporated to give <NUM>-[(<NUM>α,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione as a white solid (<NUM>, <NUM>%); <NUM>H NMR (CDCl<NUM>): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>).

A magnetically stirred solution of Sulfamide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and <NUM>-[(3α,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl, <NUM>-cyclic <NUM>,<NUM>-ethanediyl acetal]-<NUM>-isoindole-<NUM>,<NUM>(<NUM>)-dione (<NUM>. mg, <NUM> mmol) in <NUM>,<NUM>-dioxane (<NUM>) was heated at reflux with stirring for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with saturated NaHCO3 and water. The organic phase was dried and evaporated to leave a residue which was treated with water (<NUM>), MeOH (<NUM>) and MeSO3H (<NUM>) and stirred vigorously for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was basified with saturated NaHCO3 (~<NUM>) and passed through a hydrophobic filter. The aqueous phase was washed with DCM. The organic phase was concentrated to dryness affording residue which was chromatographed over silica (isohexane/EtOAc eluant) to give N-[(<NUM>α,5α)-<NUM>-Oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]sulfamide (<NUM>, <NUM>%) as an off-white powder. <NUM>H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (br d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>). <NUM>C NMR (DMSO-d6): δ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. LC-MS m/z <NUM> [M - <NUM>]-.

Flash chromatography was performed using pre-packed silica gel cartridges (KP-Sil SNAP, Biotage, Hengoed UK or RediSep Rf, Isco). Thin layer chromatography was conducted with <NUM> × <NUM> plates coated with Merck Type <NUM> F<NUM> silica gel to a thickness of <NUM>. All reagents obtained from commercial sources were used without further purification. Anhydrous solvents were obtained from the Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company Ltd. or Fisher Chemicals Ltd. , and used without further drying. HPLC grade solvents were obtained from Fisher Chemicals Ltd.

All compounds were > <NUM>% purity as determined by examination of both the LC-MS and <NUM> NMR spectra unless otherwise indicated. Where Cl or Br were present, expected isotopic distribution patterns were observed.

Proton (<NUM>H) and carbon (<NUM>C) NMR spectra were recorded on a <NUM> Bruker spectrometer. Solutions were typically prepared in either deuterochloroform (CDCl<NUM>) or deuterated dimethylsulfoxide (d6-DMSO) with chemical shifts referenced to tetramethylsilane (TMS) or deuterated solvent as an internal standard. <NUM>H NMR data are reported indicating the chemical shift (δ), the integration (e.g. <NUM>), the multiplicity (s, singlet; d, doublet; t, triplet; q, quartet; m, multiplet; br, broad; dd, doublet of doublets etc.) and the coupling constant (J) in Hz (app implies apparent coupling on broadened signals). Deuterated solvents were obtained from the Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company, Goss or Fluorochem.

LC-MS analyses were performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC system fitted with BEH C18 <NUM> columns (<NUM> × <NUM>) and with UV diode array detection (<NUM>-<NUM>). Positive and negative mass ion detection was performed using a Waters SQD detector. Analyses were performed with either buffered acidic or basic solvents and gradients as detailed below:.

Mice were exposed to hypoxia (<NUM>% O<NUM>) or to ambient atmosphere (<NUM>% O<NUM>) for <NUM> weeks. These mice developed pulmonary hypertension (PH group). Mice were treated with PD2124 (Compound <NUM>) s. for <NUM> week. Body weight and hematocrit was measured (<FIG>).

Bovine pulmonary arteries were incubated in Krebs buffer with and without G6PD inhibitor PD2958 (<NUM>) and PD2124 (<NUM>) for <NUM> hr. Vascular smooth cell-specific protein myocardin (MYOCD) and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (MHY11) expression was increased by PD2958 (<NUM> microM) and PD2124 (<NUM> microM) (<FIG>).

Rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were cultured in <NUM>% DMEM media for <NUM> hr and cells were treated with newly synthesized G6PD drugs; PD109 (<NUM>), PD2124 (<NUM>), PD2958 (<NUM>) and PD4091 (<NUM>) or vehicle control (Con) for <NUM> hr. Cell number/proliferation and apoptosis was determined by Cyquant and Caspase3/<NUM> assay, respectively. Cell numbers were decreased by G6PD inhibitors. Cell apoptosis was increased by PD2958 (<NUM> microM) N=<NUM> in each group (<FIG>).

Rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were cultured in <NUM>% DMEM media for <NUM> hr and cells were treated with newly synthesized G6PD drugs; PD2958 (<NUM>) or vehicle control (Con) for <NUM> hr. Cells migration was determined. Cell migration was abrogated by PD2958 (<NUM> microM). N=<NUM> in each group (<FIG>).

Bovine pulmonary artery rings were incubated in Krebs buffer and pre-contracted with KCl (<NUM>). These pre-contracted rings relaxed by G6PD inhibitors; PD109 (<NUM>), PD2124 (<NUM>), PD2958 (<NUM>) and PD4091 (<NUM>) or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (<FIG>).

Aortic rings of wild-type and G6PD-deficient pre-contracted with KCl (<NUM>). These rings from wild-type but not G6PD-deficient mice were relaxed in dose-dependent manner by PD2958 (<NUM>) (<FIG>).

Mice were divided in four groups; control (ctrl) exposed to ambient atmosphere (<NUM>% O2); pulmonary hypertension exposed to <NUM>% O2 (PH); PH treated with inactive G6PD inhibitor (PH_Placebo); and PH treated with active G6PD inhibitor (PH_2124) for <NUM> wk. Placebo and <NUM> were injected S. (<NUM>/Kg) for <NUM> wk from wk <NUM> to wk <NUM>. G6PD inhibitor <NUM> reduced and reversed pulmonary resistance determined as PAAT-to-ET ratio, arterial elastance, and TPR (<FIG>).

Mice were divided in four groups; control (ctrl) exposed to ambient atmosphere (<NUM>% O2); pulmonary hypertension exposed to <NUM>% O2 (PH); PH treated with inactive G6PD inhibitor (PH_Placebo); and PH treated with active G6PD inhibitor (PH_2124) for <NUM> wk. Placebo and <NUM> were injected S. (<NUM>/Kg) for <NUM> wk from wk <NUM> to wk <NUM>. G6PD inhibitor <NUM> reduced and reversed left ventricle (LV) stiffness and increased cardiac index (<FIG>).

The invention is defined by the terms of the appended claims. The specific embodiments described herein, including the following examples, are offered by way of example only, and do not by their details limit the scope of the invention.

Citation of the references herein is not intended as an admission that the reference is pertinent prior art, nor does it constitute any admission as to the contents or date or these publications or documents.

Claim 1:
A compound comprising N-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-Oxopregnan-<NUM>-yl] methanesulfonamide; N-ethyl-N'-[(3β, 5α)-<NUM>-oxoandrostan-<NUM>-yl]urea; (3β,5α)-<NUM>,<NUM>-Dihydroxypregnan-<NUM>-one; or a compound having the formula of Formula I:
<CHM>
wherein R is sulfamide, or any combination thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt (crystal and/or amorphous), non-salt amorphous form, solvate, poly-morph, or tautomer thereof, for use in a method of treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder, wherein the cardiovascular disorder and/or pulmonary disorder is selected from pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, medial hypertrophy, or combinations thereof, and wherein the amount of the compound used in the method of treating a cardiovascular disorder and/or a pulmonary disorder is between <NUM>/day to <NUM>/day.