This invention relates to compounds that inhibit the binding of E-selectin and/or P-selectin to sialyl-Lewisx or sialyl-Lewisa presented on a cell surface having the general structure STR1 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of --(CH2)n CO2 H, --O(CH2)m CO2 H, --(CH2)n O(CH2)m CO2 H, --CONH(CH2)m CO2 H, --CH(OZ)(CO2 H), --CH(Z)(CO2 H), --(CH2)n SO3 H, --(CH2)n PO3 D1 D2, --NH(CH2)m CO2 H, --CONH(CHR6)CO2 H, (1-H-tetrazolyl-5-alkyl-), and --OH; R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, --OZ, --NO2, --NH2 and --NHZ; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, --OZ and --NHZ; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl-O-sulfate and --OZ; R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, --CN, --N3, --NH2, --NHNH2, --NE1 E2, --NHE1, --NHCO(CH2)n CO2 H, --S(CH2)m CO2 H and --NHCHNHNH2 ; R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkyl carboxylic acid and alkyl carboxamide; wherein n is 0 to 6, m is 1 to 6, p is 0 to 6, b is 0 to 2, Z is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, D1 and D2 are independantly hydrogen or alkyl, E1 is alkyl or --(CH2)8 CO2 H, and E2 is alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, and prodrugs thereof. This invention also relates to methods of inhibiting the binding of E-selectin and/or P-selectin to sialyl-Lewisx or sialyl-Lewisa presented on a cell surface using said compounds and to pharmaceutically active compositions comprising compounds that inhibit the binding of E-selectin to sialyl-Lewisx and to methods of treatment of septic shock, ARDS, Crohn's disease, chronic inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, and reperfusion injuries that occur following heart attacks, strokes and organ transplants.