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[0106] or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, 

[0107] R1, R 2 , R 3 , and R $^{4 }$are the same or different, and are defmed as hereinabove, i.e., wherein each R1, R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are the same or different, and are hydrogen, C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl, an aliphatic group, preferably C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ alkyl, an alicyclic group, an aryl group, an arylaliphatic or an heteroring group or 

wherein each of said aliphatic group, alicyclic group, aryl group, and heteroring group is independently unsubsti› tuted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, and acidic anhydride; R$^{7 }$is hydrogen, C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl, an aliphatic group, preferably C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ alkyl, alicyclic group, an aryl group, an arylaliphatic or an heteroring group, which aliphatic groups, alicyclic groups, aryl group and heteroring are independently unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate and acidic anhydride, however, at least one ofR1, R 2 , R 3 and R 4 contains at least one COOH group, wherein the pKa of one of the COOH groups is present or if its salt is present, the corresponding acid is less than about 5.0. 

[0108] The present invention also provides a vehicle or an adjuvant of a therapeutic or cosmetic composition compris› ing a polymer having a repeating unit of the following formula: 

[0109] or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 

[0110] wherein each Rs is hydrogen, an aliphatic group , an alicyclic group, an aryl group, arylaliphatic or an heteroring group; wherein each of said aliphatic group , alicyclic group, aryl group, or heteroring group is inde- 

<img src='content_image/921803.jpg'>

<img src='content_image/921801.jpg'>

Formula! 

Formula II 

pendently unsubstituted or substituted by an aliphatic group, alicyclic group, an aryl or aryl aliphatic or Rs is 

<img src='content_image/921800.jpg'>

which is bonded to an aliphatic group, aryl group, alicyclic group or arylaliphatic or heteroring, all of which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents chosen from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylate, sulfate, sul› fonate, and acidic anhydride; and each R 6 is hydrogen, C$_{1}$-C$_{6 }$ alkyl or C$_{1}$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl aryl or SR 8 or OR8, wherein each R 8 is hydrogen, aliphatic group, alicyclic group, aryl group, or heteroring which may be unsubsti› tuted or substituted with an aliphatic group, alicyclic group or aryl group, or aryl aliphatic group or aliphatic aryl group. 

[0111] The present invention also provides a thickener for topical administration of a therapeutic or cosmetic compo› sition comprising a polymer having a repeating unit of the following formula: 

[0112] or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 

[0113] wherein each Rs is hydrogen, an aliphatic group , an alicyclic group, an aryl group, arylaliphatic or an heteroring group; wherein each of said aliphatic group , alicyclic group, aryl group, or heteroring group is inde› pendently unsubstituted or substituted by an aliphatic group, alicyclic group, an aryl or aryl aliphatic or aliphatic aryl group or Rs is 

<img src='content_image/921804.jpg'>

which is bonded to an aliphatic group, aryl group, alicyclic group or arylaliphatic or heteroring, all of which may be unsubstituted or substituted with an aliphatic group, aryl group, alicyclic group, or an arylaliphatic or heteroring which groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents chosen from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, and acidic anhydride; and each R 6 is hydrogen, C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ alkyl or C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl aryl or SR$^{8}$OR 8 , wherein each R 8 is hydrogen, aliphatic group, 

<img src='content_image/921802.jpg'>

Formula II 

