BENZIMIDAZOLE COMPOUNDS

摘要

A range is disclosed of benzimidazole-4-carboxamide compounds (I) which can act as potent inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or PARP enzyme (EC 2.4.2.30), and which thereby can provide useful therapeutic compounds for use in conjunction with DNA-damaging cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy to potentiate the effects of the latter. In formula (I), R and R' may each be selected independently from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl (e.g. CH2CH2OH), acyl (e.g. acetyl or benzoyl) or an optionally substituted aryl (e.g. phenyl) or aralkyl (e.g. benzyl or carboxybenzyl) group. R is generally a substituted phenyl group in the most preferred compounds. The compounds may also be used in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts or pro-drugs.