Carbohydrate-based anti-inflammatory agents

An injectable pharmaceutical composition, comprising:

• a pharmaceutically acceptable, injectable excipient carrier;
• and
• a compound which binds to ELAM-1 wherein the compound has the following structure:
• ##STR9## each of the saccharide rings shown, is connected at its 1-position to the next saccharide ring at a position selected from the group consisting of the 3-position and the 4-position and wherein the variables are defined as follows:
• ##STR10## wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of H, and an alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbons;
• R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbons, and COCH.sub.3 ;
• and
• R.sup.6 is selected from the group consisting of H, and an alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbons;
• E and D are each independently H or fucose wherein E or one D is fucose connected to the 3-position or 4-position of the sugar to which it is bound and the bond is in an alpha configuration;
• R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of OH and NAc with the proviso that R.sup.3 is OH if n is O;
• n is an integer of from 0 to 10 with the proviso that if n is O, then R.sup.3 is OH and E is fucose;
• F is a linking group bound to a pharmaceutically active drug;
• X is O;
• wherein the compound which binds to ELAM-1 is present in the composition in an amount in the range of about 1% to about 95% by weight.