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Synfacts 2008(11): 1125-1125  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1083419
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of QS-7-Api

Contributor(s): Philip Kocienski
K. Deng, M. A. Adams, D. Y. Gin*
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 October 2008 (online)

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Significance

Complex saponins from the bark of Quillaja saponaria are extremely potent adjuvants in immunotherapy. QS-21, the lead saponin is toxic whereas QS-7-Api shows negligible toxicity in mice. Moreover, QS-7-Api induces a remarkable synergistic immune response when co-administered with QS-21. The semisynthesis by Gin and co-workers proves the structure of QS-7-Api and it supplies sufficient homogeneous product for preclinical evaluation.