Substituted alpha-hydroxy acid caspase inhibitors and the use thereof

摘要

The present invention is directed to novel substituted alpha-hydroxy acid thereof, represented by the general Formula I:where R1-R5, X and Z are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula I are potent inhibitors of caspases and apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the inhibitors of this invention can retard or block cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which the loss of cells, tissues or entire organs occurs.