Glycolic acid protects against ischemic insults

Abstract

Glycolic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof is provided for use in the treatment or prevention of ischemic damage. In a preferred embodiment, a method for decreasing cell death caused by an ischemic insult is provided that includes contacting glycolic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof with hypoxic tissue, in particular cortical neurons or myocardial tissue.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising glycolic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and a further ischemia-reducing compound. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ester of glycolic acid is cleaved in vivo to release glycolic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is configured for parenteral or oral administration. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in liquid form. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the glycolic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof is at a concentration of at least 1 mM. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the further ischemia-reducing compound is an antioxidant. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of coenzyme Q10, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, R-a-Lipoic acid, selenium and QIAPI-1. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the further ischemia-reducing compound is a calcium channel blocker. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the calcium blocker is selected from the list consisting of MK-801, budipine, nifedipine, niquel, 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo[f]quinoxaline, NBQX, PNQX, YM-90K and ZK200775. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the further ischemia-reducing compound is an inducer of hypometabolism. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the inducer of hypometabolism is selected from the group consisting of ghrelin, a synthetic delta opioid D-Ala(2)-D-Leu(5)-enkephalin, rT3, a hibernation trigger, antabolone and bombesin. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the further ischemia-reducing compound is D-lactate. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the further ischemia-reducing compound is oxaloacetate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of an antioxidant, a calcium channel blocker, an inducer of hypometabolism, D-lactate and oxaloacetate, and is in liquid form configured for parenteral or oral administration. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of an antioxidant and a calcium channel blocker, and is in liquid form configured for parenteral or oral administration.