Principal Investigator
Edward McNelis. Ph.D., Chemistry Department
Faculty of Arts and Sciences, New York University

Tamoxifen, an estrogen-blocker, has been used to treat women for breast cancer since the 1970's. It reduces greatly the recurrence of these cancers. Lately it has been shown to prevent the formation of breast cancer in healthy women at high risk for this disease. A relation between the extended use of tamoxifen and uterine cancer has been reported by some clinicians and denied by others. Other arylethenes such as raloxifene and torimifene have been introduced to allay the fears of this side effect. Other positive effects reported for tamoxifen are reduced cholesterol levels and lower risks of bone fractures in elderly women.

Present methods for synthesizing tamoxifen and its analogues are hampered by relatively low overall yields and lack of stereo specificity Reaction mixtures contain a nearly 50:50 ratio of two isomers, only one of which is active biologically.

Description of the Project
Dr. McNelis has discovered alternative methods of synthesizing stereo specific any aryl or alkyl substituted alkenes or enones, compounds which include and tamoxifen analogues. He has discovered new methods using alkenes or enones bearing iodine and bromine atoms in specific positions followed by the stereo specific replacement of the halogens. The halogenated compounds are derived from readily prepared 3-alkynols. These methods are economical, give high specificity and stereo specificity, provide high yields of product, and can be readily adapted to industrial-scale production.

Applications
The novel synthetic methods provide cheap, efficient means of producing tamoxifen and its analogues for use in treating cancers of the breast, cervix and uterus, particularly in women over the age of 50. These compounds may also be used for lowering cholesterol and increasing bone density.

NYU is seeking an industrial partner to assist in the further development and commercialization of these compounds.

Patent Status
A U.S. patent has been granted.

For further information please contact:
Jane V. Scott, Ph.D.
jane.scott@med.nyu.edu

New York University
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