Lipase inhibiting polymers

Abstract

The invention features a method for treating obesity in a patient by administering to the patient a polymer that has been substituted with one or more groups that inhibit lipases, which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of fat. The invention further relates to the polymers employed in the methods described herein as well as novel intermediates and methods for preparing the polymers.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A method for treating obesity in a mammal, comprising the step of orally administering to the mammal an effective amount of a polymer substituted with at least one lipase inhibiting group, wherein the lipase inhibiting group is a boronic acid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the boronic acid is a phenyl boronic acid.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lipase inhibiting group reacts with a lipase and forms a covalent bond.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lipase inhibiting group forms a covalent bond with an amino acid residue at the active site of the lipase.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lipase inhibiting, group forms a covalent bond with an amino acid residue that is not at the active site of the lipase.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lipase inhibiting group is an isostere of a fatty acid.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer is a fat-binding polymer.