Epoxysuccinic acid derivatives useful as specific inhibitors of cathepsin B.

摘要

Epoxysuccinic acid derivatives of the formula: (wherein R<1> is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful as cathepsin B inhibitors. The invention also provides intermediates for use in the preparation of the above compounds, which are epoxysuccinic acid derivatives of the formula: wherein R<2> and R<3> are the same or different and are each an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a protecting group for the carboxyl group.