Discloses a 6-octyl-2-tetralone compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or ester with the general structure of formula (I). Further discloses the use of the compound for the manufacture of a medicament for treating pathological conditions where the activity of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors is implicated and agonism of activity is desired. Further discloses the use of the compound for the manufacture of a medicament for treating pathological conditions where the sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase enzyme is implicated and inhibition of the lyase is desired. The disclosed 6-octyl-2-tetralone compound is a sphingosine analog.
