Immunotherapeutic agent

Abstract

Compounds for use in the treatment of sepsis and/or the prevention or treatment of post-sepsis syndrome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating sepsis and/or preventing or treating post-sepsis syndrome comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a fatty acid to a patient in need of such treatment, wherein said fatty acid is an ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol with one or more fatty acids of at least C11, and wherein at least one fatty acid has a double bond at the C10-C11 position. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the fatty acid is 10(Z)-hexadecenoic acid. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol comprises an ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol selected from the group consisting of: a mono-ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol, a di-ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol, and a tri-ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said mono-ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol is esterified at position 1 or 2. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said di-ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol is esterified at position 1 and 2, or position 1 and 3. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol is synthesized in vitro. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol is derived or extracted from a  Mycobacterium.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said  Mycobacterium  comprises  Mycobacterium  vaccae. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said  Mycobacterium  comprises a  Mycobacterium  selected from the group consisting of:  M. thermoresistibile, M. flavescens, M. duvalii, M. phlei, M. obuense, M. parafortuitum, M. sphagni, M. aichiense, M. rhodesiae, M. neoaurum, M. chubuense, M. tokaiense, M. komossense, M. aurum, M. indicus pranii, M. tuberculosis, M. microti; M. africanum; M. kansasii, M. marinum; M. simiae; M. gastri; M. nonchromogenicum; M. terrae; M. triviale; M. gordonae; M. scrofulaceum; M. paraffinicum; M. intracellulare; M. avium; M. xenopi; M. ulcerans; M. diernhoferi, M. smegmatis; M. thamnopheos; M. flavescens; M. fortuitum; M. peregrinum; M. chelonei; M. paratuberculosis; M. leprae; M. lepraemurium.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fatty acid ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol is administered via intravenous injection. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , and further comprising the separate, sequential, or simultaneous administration of an antibacterial, anti-fungal, or anti-viral molecule known to eradicate the infective agent causing sepsis. 
     
     
         32 . A compound having the general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  comprises H or a residue of a fatty acid, wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  is other than H, and at least one of the fatty acids is at least C11 and has a double bond at the C10-C11 position. 
       
     
     
         33 . The compound if  claim 32 , wherein the fatty acid is from C11 to C24. 
     
     
         34 . The compound if  claim 32 , wherein the fatty acid comprises only one double bond. 
     
     
         35 . The pharmaceutical composition if  claim 32 , wherein the fatty acid is C16. 
     
     
         36 . The compound if  claim 32 , herein the fatty acid is 10(Z)-hexadecenoic acid. 
     
     
         37 . The compound if  claim 32 , wherein the fatty acid is an ester of 1,2,3-propanetriol with one or more fatty acids of at least C11, wherein at least one fatty acid has a double bond at the C10-C11 position. 
     
     
         38 . The compound if  claim 32 , and further comprising and at least one of an adjuvant, a preservative, and a stabilizer forming a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         39 . The compound if  claim 38 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is formulated as an injectable liquid. 
     
     
         40 . The compound if  claim 32 , wherein said compound is synthesized in vitro, or is derived or extracted from  Mycobacterium vaccae.    
     
     
         41 . A method of treating sepsis and/or preventing or treating post-sepsis syndrome comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38  to a patient in need of such treatment.