N-(4-{[4-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-arylaminol-methyl}-phenyl)-benzamide derivatives as small molecule heparanase inhibitors

A novel class of N-(4-{[4-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-arylamino]-methyl}-phenyl)-benzamides are described as inhibitors of the endo-beta-glucuronidase heparanase. Among them are N-(4-{[4-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-phenylamino]-methyl}-phenyl)-3-bromo-4-methoxy-benzamide (15h), and N-(4-{[5-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-pyridin-2-ylamino]-methyl}-phenyl)-3-bromo-4-methoxy-benzamide (23) which displayed good heparanase inhibitory activity (IC50 0.23-0.29 mu M), with the latter showing oral exposure in mice. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.