An agent for promoting the proliferation or differentiation of a
stem cell and / or neural
progenitor cell, comprising a compound represented by Formula: wherein each of R<1 >and R<2 >is H, a
hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group, or taken together with the adjacent
carbon atom to form a ring, R<3 >is H, a
hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group, W is a group represented by Formula: wherein Ring A is an optionally substituted
benzene ring, Ring B is an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, R<4 >is an
acyl group having an
aliphatic hydrocarbon group, which is substituted by an aromatic group and may have a further substitutent, or aromatic group, R<5 >is H, C1-6
alkyl or acyl, R<4c >is an aromatic group, an
aliphatic hydrocarbon group or acyl, and X is O or S; Y is O, S or NH, Ring C is an optionally substituted
benzene ring, or a salt or
prodrug thereof is provided.