Section Review: Biologicals & Immunologicals: Complex carbohydrates in development as human pharmaceuticals

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Abstract
There are many actual and potential pharmaceutical uses of complex carbohydrates. These include: direct use as therapeutic pharmaceutical agents; indirect use as pharmaceutical excipients and carriers; use as diagnostic agents, whether for ex vivo testing or in vivo imaging; oligosaccharides as vaccines; and nutritionals. In addition, complex carbohydrates may be employed in medical devices and other medical products. This overview will focus attention on anti-adhesive oligosaccharides under investigation in the therapy of inflammatory and infectious diseases as well as cancer, glycan immune adjuvants, heparin-derived agents for cardiovascular indications, cyclic oligosaccharides as amphiphilic carrier agents and immunogenic oligosaccharides as cancer vaccine components. In addition to reviewing pertinent preclinical research that points toward potential novel therapeutic agents, emphasis will be placed on compounds currently in clinical development. Chemical issues that affect the manufacture of therapeutic complex carbohydrates will also be considered.