SAR of 2,6-diamino-3,5-difluoropyridinyl substituted heterocycles as novel p38 MAP kinase inhibitors

2,6-Diamino-3,5-difluoropyridinyl substituted pyridinylimidazoles, -pyrroles, -oxazoles, -thiazoles and -triazoles have been identified as novel p38alpha inhibitors. Pyridinylimidazole 11 potently inhibited LPS-induced TNFalpha in mice, showed good efficacy in the established rat adjuvant (ED50: 10mg/kg po b.i.d.) and collagen induced arthritis (ED50: 5mg/kg po b.i.d.) with disease modifying properties based on histological analysis of the joints. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.