Benzimidazole-2-pyrazole HIF Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Inhibitors as Oral Erythropoietin Secretagogues

HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases (PHD) are a family of enzymes that mediate key physiological responses to hypoxia by modulating the levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1 alpha). Certain benzimidazole-2-pyrazole carboxylates were discovered to be PHD2 inhibitors using ligand- and structure-based methods and found to be potent, orally efficacious stimulators of erythropoietin secretion in vivo.