Use of chelating agents in the treatment of atherosclerotic conditions

The invention provides the use of dipyridoxyl or aminopolycarboxylic acid based chelating agents, metal chelates and salts thereof, in the manufacture of a therapeutic agent for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of atherosclerosis and related conditions in the human or non-human animal body. Preferred compounds for use in the method of the invention are compounds of formula (I) or a metal chelate or salt thereof (wherein in formula (I) each R1 independently represents hydrogen or -CH2COR5; R5 represents hydroxy, optionally hydroxylated alkoxy, amino or alkylamido; each R2 independently represents a group XYR6; X represents a bond, or a C1-3 alkylene or oxoalkylene group optionally substituted by a group R7; Y represents a bond, an oxygen atom or a group NR6; R6 is a hydrogen atom, a group COOR8, an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl group optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from COOR8, CONR82, NR82, OR8, =R8, =O, OP(O)(OR8)R7 and OSO3M; R7 is hydroxy, an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl or aminoalkyl group; R8 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl group; M is a hydrogen atom or one equivalent of a physiologically tolerable cation, e.g. an alkali or alkaline earth cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine cation, such as a meglumine ion; R3 represents a C1-8 alkylene group, preferably a C1-6, e.g. a C2-4 alkylene group, a 1,2-cycloalkylene group, or a 1,2-arylene group; each R4 independently represents hydrogen or C1-3 alkyl; and each R9 independently may be absent or represents hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl).