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Sphingolipids: Basic Science and Drug Development pp 187–196Cite as

Novel Drugs Targeting Sphingolipid Metabolism

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Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 215))

Abstract

While the evidence for an involvement of sphingolipids (SLs) in a variety of diseases is rapidly increasing, the development of sphingolipid-related drugs is still in its infancy. In fact, the recently FDA-approved fingolimod or FTY-720 (see chapter by J. Pfeilschifter for more information) is the first drug on the market to interfere with sphingolipid signaling. The reasons for this lagging are manifold and within this chapter we try to name some of them. Ceramide is in the center of sphingolipid metabolism. We describe the most important and most recent inhibitors for enzymes controlling cellular ceramide levels.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding by the DFG priority program “Sphingolipids—Signal and Disease.” K.P.B. thanks the Alexander v. Humboldt Foundation for a fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str 2, Berlin, 12489, Germany

    Krishna P. Bhabak & Christoph Arenz

Authors
  1. Krishna P. Bhabak
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  2. Christoph Arenz
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Correspondence to Christoph Arenz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45122, Germany

    Erich Gulbins

  2. Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, W. Walnut Street 980, Indianapolis, 46202, Indiana, USA

    Irina Petrache

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Bhabak, K.P., Arenz, C. (2013). Novel Drugs Targeting Sphingolipid Metabolism. In: Gulbins, E., Petrache, I. (eds) Sphingolipids: Basic Science and Drug Development. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 215. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1368-4_10

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