A method and medicament is provided for treating and inhibiting interaction of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and its ligands using a natural or synthetic sulfated polysaccharide, preferably a 2-O desulfated heparin. The medicament preferably is administered intravenously, by aerosolization, intra-nasally, intra-articularly, intra-thecally, subcutaneously, topically or orally. The medicament is useful for treating a variety of conditions, including diabetes, inflammation, renal failure, aging, systemic amyloidosis, Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory arthritis, atherosclerosis, and colitis.
