SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE POLYUNSATURATED NATURAL PRODUCT PROTECTIN D1 AND ANALOGS

This project will provide new lead compounds derived from marine natural products for the development of new remedies against inflammation. Inflammation is involved in numerous diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation. Our industr ial collaborator Pronova is conducting research for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs using polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as starting materials. In particular, establishing knowledge on the structural-activity relationship (SAR) necessa ry for protectin D1 and analogs necessary to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity will be important in this project. The natural product protectin D1 has not earlier been the target for SAR-studies. This is important regarding IPR arising from this project. A strong need for new drugs with anti-inflammatory activities exists since the drugs available today for the treatment of the many different inflammatory diseases, shows numerous unwanted side effects. Noteworthy, none of these drugs are derived from ?-3 PUFAs. Hence, this collaborative research proposal would provide the foundation for future drug development in Norway where we will use marine natural products. Therefore, this project has a different approach than the classical medicinal chemistry appro ach to new anti-inflammatory drugs. This is important for the potential development of new industry in Norway. In addition, this project will increase the collaboration between academic research groups at Norwegian universities by the establishment of pro jects related to the synthesis of marine natural products as a common topic in our collaborations.