Protective role of semapimod in necrotizing enterocolitis

1. A method, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a compound having the following formula:

a salt thereof, or a combination of the compound and a salt thereof, for the treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human subject.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human infant.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is in the salt form.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound, salt thereof, or a combination of the compound and a salt thereof, is administered in the form of a composition further comprising at least one carrier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is a salt of L-lactic acid.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is a bromide, iodide, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, acid phosphate, citrate, acid citrate, tartrate, bitartrate, succinate, fumarate, tosylate, mesylate, gluconate, saccharate, benzoate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, or pamoate salt of said compound.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is a bicarbonate, edetate, camsylate, carbonate, dihydrochloride, edisylate, estolate, gluceptate, glucoheptonate, glutamate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroxynaphthoate, chloride, isethionate, lactate, malate, mandelate, methyibromide, methylnitrate, methylsulfate, mucate, napsylate, pantothenate, diphosphate, salicylate, stearate, subacetate, tannate, teoclate, or triethiodide salt of said compound.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is an acid addition salt of hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic, oxalic, tartaric, or mandelic acid.