Isomers and 42-epimers of rapamycin alkyl ether analogs and
pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, are
immunomodulatory agents and are useful in the treatment of restenosis and
immune and autoimmune diseases. Also disclosed are cancer-, fungal
growth-, restenosis-, post-transplant tissue rejection- and immune- and
autoimmune disease-inhibiting compositions and a method of inhibiting
cancer, fungal growth, restenosis, post-transplant tissue rejection, and
immune and autoimmune disease in a mammal. One particular preferred
application of such isomers and 42-epimers of rapamycin alkyl ether
analogs is in medicated devices and local vascular delivery wherein the
stability and lipid solubility and subsequently diffusion through tissue
and cell membranes are essential to the success of rapamycin containing
combination devices.