NZ503917A - Bis thiazole amine derivatives useful as Myt1 kinase inhibitors - Google Patents

Abstract

A bis thiazole amine derivative has the formula (I) wherein: A is a covalent bond or 1,2-, 1,3- or 1,4-disubstituted aryl amine ring of formula (II); each R is independently H, OMe, Cl, Br, F, NO2 or CN; n is 1 to 4; each X is H, Br, CH3, NO2, CN or NR1R2; each Ar is independently optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O or S and R1 and R2 are independently H, alkyl, which can be branched, or cyclic optionally containing O or N. A pharmaceutical composition thereof is useful for antagonizing a Myt1 kinase receptor and useful for treating cancer, chronic inflammatory proliferative disease, proliferative cardiovascular disease and benign hyperproliferative diseases.

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: Date.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION MYT1 KINASE INHIBITORS We, SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CORPORATION, a corporation organised under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. United States of Amenca of One Franklin Plaza, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (followed by page 1A) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ 1 1 APR 2000 RECEIVED P50866 MYT1 KINASE INHIBITORS — FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to membrane-associated tyrosine and threonine kinase 5 ("mytl kinase") enzyme inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods for identifying these compounds and methods of using these compounds to treat various forms of cancer and hyperproliferative diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Entry into mitosis is initiated by the M phase-promoting factor (MPF), a complex 10 containing the cdc2 protein kinase and cyclin B Proper regulation of MPF ensures that mitosis occurs only after earlier phases of the cell cycle are complete Phosphorylation of cdc2 at Tyr-15 and Thr-14 suppresses this activity dunng interphase (Gl, S, and G2) At G2-M transition, cdc2 is dephosphorylated at Tyr-15 and Thr-14 allowing MPF to phosphorylate its mitotic substrates. A distinct family of cdc-regulatory kinases (Weel) is 15 known to be responsible for phosphorylation of the cdc Tyr-15 A new member of this family, Mytl was recently described as the Thr-14 and Tyr-15-specific cdc2 kinase, and shown to be an important regulator of cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity (Science 270 86-90. 1995, Mol. Cell. Biol, vol 17:571, 1997). The inhibitory phosphorylation of cdc2 is important for the timing of entry into mitosis. Studies have shown that premature 20 activation of cdc2 leads to mitotic catastrophe and cell death Inhibition of Myt 1 is predicted to cause premature activation of cdc2, and thus would kill rapidly proliferating cells. In addition, Mytl inhibition is predicted to reduce resistance to conventional DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics, because the mechanisms by which cells avoid death involve arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, and repair or DNA damage prior to division That 25 arrest should be prevented by blocking Mytl inhibitory phosphorylation of cdc2 Thus forcing the cell to enter mitosis prematurely Mytl kinase is an important cell cycle regulator, particularly at the G2/M phase Inhibitors would therefore be attractive for the treatment of cancer. Current cancer therapies, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, are often unsuccessful in curing 30 the disease. The patient populations are large. For example, in colon cancer alone there are 160,000 new cases each year in the US, and 60,000 deaths. There are 600,000 new colon cancer cases each year worldwide. T he number for lung cancer are twice that of colon cancer The largest deficiency of chemotherapies for major solid tumors is that most - 1A - 5039 17 patients fail to respond. This is due to cell cycle regulation and subsequent repair of damage to DNA or mitotic apparatus, the targets for most effective chemotherapeutic agents. Mytl kinase offers a point of intervention downstream from these mechanisms by which tumor cells develop resistance Inhibition of Mytl could in and of itself have 5 therapeutic benefit in reducing tumor proliferation, and in addition, could be used in conjunction with conventional chemotherapies to overcome drug resistance.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need to identify a potent mytl kinase enzyme inhibitor for the treatment of various indications, including cancer, associated with the present receptor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves compounds represented by Formula (I) herembelow, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of antagonizing the mytl kinase receptor using these compounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 15 The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), hereinbelow: x ■ NH a \ .

N^Ar * Formula (I) wherein A represents a covalent bond, or a 1,2, 1,3 or 1,4-disubstituted aryl amine ring selected from the group consisting of- n nh NH— t an(j I (R)n wherein r is independently selected from the group consisting of H, OMe, CI, Br, F, NCb, and CN, intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 MAY 2001 RECEIVED P50866 n is an integer from 1 to 4; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of H, Br, CH3, NO2, CN, and nr1r2; each Ar is independently optionally substituted phenyl or an optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, and R-l and R2 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1.4 alkyl, branched or cyclic, optionally containing 0 orN Preferred compounds of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of: bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazolyl]amine, bis[2-(4-(2-pyndyl)thiazolyl]amine, bis[2-[4-(3-pyndyl)thiazolyl)amine , N,N-Bis(5(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, N,N-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, l,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, 1.3-bis[4-(3-pyndyl)-2-thiazolylamino]benzene, 1.4-bis[4-fluorophenyl-2-thiazolylamino]benzene, and l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene.

More preferred compounds of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of. bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazolyl]amine, l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, N,N-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, l,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, l,4-bis[4-fluorophenyl-2-thiazolylamino]benzene, bis[2-(4-(2-pyndyl)thiazolyl]amine and bis[2-[4-(3-pyndyl)thiazolyl)amine.

The most preferred compounds of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of: bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazolyl]amine, l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, N,N-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, and 1,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene hydrobromide P50866 As used herein, "alkyl" refers to an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group joiritJEJ together by single carbon-carbon bonds. The alkyl hydrocarbon group may be linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated. Preferably, the group is saturated linear or cyclic The compounds of the present invention may contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may exist in racemic and optically active forms. All of these compounds and diastereomers are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

The present compounds can also be formulated as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and complexes thereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are non-toxic salts in the 10 amounts and concentrations at which they are administered.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include acid addition salts such as those containing sulfate, hydrochloride, fumarate, maleate, phosphate, sulfamate, acetate, citrate, lactate, tartrate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, cyclohexylsulfamate and quinate. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be obtained from acids such as hydrochloric acid, maleic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, citnc acid, lactic acid, tartanc acid, malonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, cyclohexylsulfamic acid, fumanc acid, and quinic acid.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts also include basic addition salts such as those ^ containing benzathine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamme, meglumine, procaine, aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, ammonium, alkylamine, and zinc, when acidic functional groups, such as carboxyhc acid or phenol are present.

Preferred salts include hydrobromide, dihydrobromide and bistnfluoroacetate 25 The present compounds are readily prepared by the schemes represented below Scheme 1 s^N^: T nh2 NH, Br A, ethanol rVN-<; /-s H S- eq. 2 4- P50866 A, ethanol Scheme 2 pie corresponding bisthiazolyl compounds are synthesized via condensation of dithiobiuret (as in eq. 1) or any other bisthiourea such as 1,3-phenyldithiourea (as in eq 2) with two equivalents of an appropriately substituted bromoketone such as 2-bromo-l-phenylpropan-l-one in a solvent such as ethanol or acetone or any other suitable solvent. The reaction mixture is heated to 70-90°C for several hours (4-12 h). Cooling of the reaction yields de desired product as a bis-hydrobromide salts.

Monobrommation of the bisthiazole compounds can be accomplish for example via the reaction of N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of an acid such as Fluorobonc acid, or any other suitable protic acid, in a solvent such as acetonitnle or any other suitable solvent, following a procedure descnbed in the literature (Oberhauser, T. J Org Chem., 1997, <52, 4504-4506). Bis-brommation can be accomplish via any known bromination reaction, such as reaction of the bis-thiazole with N-bromosuccinimide using in refluxing DMSO or acetonitnle or Bromine in acetic acid or any other method known to chemists skilled in the art.

With appropriate manipulation and protection of any chemical functionality, synthesis of the remaining compounds of Formula (I) is accomplished by methods analogous to those above.

In order to use a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment of humans and other mammals, it is normally formulated in accordance with standard pharmaceutical practice as a pharmaceutical composition.

The present ligands can be administered by different routes including intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral, topical, transdermal, or transmucosal administration For systemic administration, oral administration is preferred For oral administration, for example, the compounds can be formulated into conventional oral -5 P50866 dosage forms such as capsules, tablets and liquid preparations such as syrups, elixirs and concentrated drops.

Alternatively, injection (parenteral administration) may be used, e g , intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous For injection, the 5 compounds of the invention are formulated in liquid solutions, preferably, in physiologically compatible buffers or solutions, such as saline solution, Hank's solution, or Ringer's solution. In addition, the compounds may be formulated in solid form and redissolved or suspended immediately prior to use Lyophilized forms can also be produced Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, bile salts and fusidic acid derivatives. In addition, detergents may be used to facilitate permeation. Transmucosal administration, for example, may be through nasal sprays, rectal suppositories, or vaginal suppositories.

For topical administration, the compounds of the invention can be formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams, as is generally known in the art.

The amounts of various compounds to be administered can be determined by standard 20 procedures taking into account factors such as the compound ICS0, ECW, the biological half-life of the compound, the age, size and weight of the patient, and the disease or disorder associated with the patient. The importance of these and other factors to be considered are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Amounts administered also depend on the routes of administration and the degree 25 of oral bioavailability. For example, for compounds with low oral bioavailability, relatively higher doses will have to be administered.

Preferably the composition is in unit dosage form For oral application, for example, a tablet, or capsule may be administered, for nasal application, a metered aerosol dose may be administered, for transdermal application, a topical formulation or patch may 30 be administered and for transmucosal delivery, a buccal patch may be administered In each case, dosing is such that the patient may administer a single dose Each dosage unit for oral administration contains suitably from 0.01 to 500 mg/Kg, and preferably from 0.1 to 50 mg/Kg, of a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, calculated as the free base The daily dosage for parenteral, nasal, P50866 oral inhalation, transmucosal or transdermal routes contains suitably from 0.01 mg to 100 mg/Kg, of a compound of Formula® A topical formulation contains suitably 0 01 to 5 0% of a compound of Formula (I) The active ingredient may be administered from 1 to 6 times per day, preferably once, sufficient to exhibit the desired activity, as is readily 5 apparent to one skilled in the art.

As used herein, "treatment" of a disease includes, but is not limited to prevention, retardation and prophylaxis of the disease As used herein, "diseases" treatable using the present compounds include, but are not limited to leukemias, solid tumor cancers, metastases, soft tissue cancers, brain cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic 10 cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, bone cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, head cancer and neck cancer, chronic inflammatory proliferative diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis; proliferative cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis; proliferative ocular disorders such as diabetic retinopathy; and benign hyperproliferative diseases such as hemangiomas.

Composition of Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts which are active when given orally can be formulated as syrups, tablets, capsules and lozenges. A syrup formulation will generally consist of a suspension or solution of the compound or salt in a liquid earner for example, ethanol, peanut oil. olive oil, glycenne or water with a flavonng or coloring agent. Where the composition is in the form of a tablet, any 20 pharmaceutical earner routinely used for prepanng solid formulations may be used. Examples of such earners include magnesium stearate, terra alba, talc, gelatin, acacia, steanc acid, starch, lactose and sucrose. Where the composition is in the form of a capsule, any routine encapsulation is suitable, for example using the aforementioned earners in a hard gelatin capsule shell. Where the composition is in the form of a soft gelatin shell 25 capsule any pharmaceutical earner routinely used for prepanng dispersions or suspensions may be considered, for example aqueous gums, celluloses, silicates or oils, and are incorporated in a soft gelatin capsule shell.

Typical parenteral compositions consist of a solution or suspension of a compound or salt in a sterile aqueous or non-aqueous earner optionally containing a parenterally 30 acceptable oil, for example polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, lecithin, arachis oil or sesame oil.

Typical compositions for inhalation are in the form of a solution, suspension or emulsion that may be administered as a dry powder or in the form of an aerosol using a conventional propellant such as dichlorodifluoromethane or trichlorofluoromethane.

P50866 A typical suppository formulation comprises a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which is active when administered in this way, with a binding and/or lubricating agent, for example polymeric glycols, gelatins, cocoa-butter or other low melting vegetable waxes or fats or their synthetic analogs 5 Typical dermal and transdermal formulations comprise a conventional aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle, for example a cream, ointment, lotion or paste or are in the form of a medicated plaster, patch or membrane Preferably the composition is in unit dosage form, for example a tablet, capsule or metered aerosol dose, so that the patient may administer a single dose 10 No unacceptable toxological effects are expected when compounds of the present invention are administered in accordance with the present invention.

The biological activity of the compounds of Formula (I) are demonstrated by the tests indicated hereinbelow.

In vitro assays: Compounds capable of inhibiting mytl kinase can be identified with in vitro assays and cellular assays as described below Variations of these assays would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Expression of GST-Mvtl: A GST-Mytl expression construct was constructed which has the glutathione-S-20 transferase gene fused to the ammo terminus of Mytl kinase via a linker containing a thrombin cleavage site. This clone has been truncated at ammo acid 362 of Mytl, just prior to the to the transmembrane domain. This construct was cloned into the Baculovirus expression vector, pFASTBAC, and this was used to make the viral stock for the subsequent infection. Spodoptera frugiperda cells (Sf21) were infected with the virus 25 expressing the GST-Myt 1 and the cells were grown for 3 days, then harvested and frozen down.

Purification of GST-Mvtl: The GST-Mytl protein was purified as follows: An Sf21 cell pellet expressing GST-Mytl was resuspended on ice in lOmls of lysis buffer (50mM Tns-Cl, pH 7 5, 30 250mM NaCl2, ImM dithiothreitol (DTT), 0 l%NP-40, 5% (v/v) protease inhibitor cocktail, ImM sodium orthovanadate), cells were lysed by sonication and centnfuged at I00,000xg for 30min The supernatant was added to 5mls (packed volume) of Glutathione Sepharose 4B, equilibrated m wash buffer (20mM Tns-Cl, pH 7 0, lOmM MgCl2, lOOmM NaCl2, ImM DTT, 0 5%(v/v) protease inhibitor cocktail, ImM sodium orthovanadate) P50866 The mixture was rocked for 30mm The resin with the bound GST-Mytl was spun down aT 500xg for 5min and washed with 14mls of wash buffer. The beads were spun as above and resuspended in another 14mls of wash buffer The suspension was transferred into a column and allowed to pack, then the wash buffer was allowed to flow through by gravity 5 The GST-Mytl was eluted from the column with lOmls of lOmM Glutathione in 50mM Tns-Cl, pH 8 0 in 500ul fractions. Protein concentrations were determined on the fractions using Bio-Rad's Protein assay kit as per instructions. Fractions containing the GST-Mytl were pooled and diluted to a concentration of -0 5mg/ml and dialyzed for 4 hours at 4^C in dialysis buffer (20mM HEPES, pH 7 0, ImM Manganese Acetate, lOOmM NaCl2, 0 05% 10 Bnj-35, 10% glycerol, ImM DTT, 0 2% (v/v) protease inhibitor cocktail, ImM sodium orthovanadate). The protein was aliquoted and stored at -80^ Enzyme Assays: GST-Mytl autophosphorylation-DELFIA assay Delayed fluorescent immunoassays (DELFIA) were performed m 96well NUNC 15 maxisorp plates, at 50ul/well with 0 25ug GST-Mytl, in BufferA (50mM HEPES, pH 7 4, 2mM Mn(OAc)2, 5uM ATP, ImM DTT). (DELETE)For determination of pH optimum, divalent cation usage and Km of ATP. the appropriate component was varied as indicated in the figures.(DELETE) Autophosphorylation reactions were initiated by the addition of GST-Mytl in buffer and were allowed to proceed at room temperature with shaking for 20 20min The reactions were stopped with the addition of EDTA to a 20mM final concentration, and the protein was allowed to continue to bind to the wells for an additional 40min Wells were washed three times with 300ul TBS/Tween (50mM Tns, pH 7 4, 150mM NaCl2, 0.2% Tween-20). After washing, the plate was blocked using Pierce's Superblock in TBS at lOOul/well. This was immediately decanted and the blocking was 25 repeated two more times. The plate was then washed again with three washes of 300ul/well of TBS-Tween Then lOOul of Eu-labeled anti-phosphotyrosine antibody diluted to 0.125ug/ml in TBS/Tween containing 0.15mg/ml BSA was added to the wells and allowed to incubate for 30min with shaking at room temperature. Wells were then washed three times with 300ul of TBS/Tween, 200ul of Enhancement solution was added per well and 30 incubated with shaking for lOmin The plate w as then read on the 1420 VICTOR plate counter from Wallac, Inc. The identical conditions are used for inhibitor studies except that ATP is at luM and inhibitors are added, in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to a final concentration of 1%. Typical concentration ranges in P50866 which test compounds are expected to inhibit mytl autophosphorylation are 0 001 to 10 """" uM.

Biological Studies: Cell Cycle Studies Drug studies considering cellular effects were performed in the Hela S3 adherent cell line. Cells were plated at a concentration sufficiently low such that 24 hours later they were at 10-20% confluence (typically 2x10^ cells/15cm e3) Cells were then synchronized in S phase by a repeated thymidine block Briefly, cells were treated with 2mM thymidine for 18hours, released for 8 hours by 3 washes, and then treated again with thymidine. 10 Following the second release from thymidine, 95% of cells were in S phase. Synchronized cells were then returned to complete media containing a DNA-damaging drug such as 50nM topotecan (a dosage we have found to be sufficient to arrest cells in early G2 phase without inducing apoptosis) alone and in combination with test compounds for up to 18 hours. Cell Cycle profiles were then performed cytometrically using a procedure for 15 propidium iodide staining of nuclei. (Vindelov et al, Cytometry Vol.3, No.5, 1983, 323-327) Myt 1 inhibitors would be expected to reverse the G2 arrest caused by the DNA damaging agent. Typical concentration ranges for such activity would be 0.001 to 10 uM. Proliferation/Apoptosis Studies: Proliferation studies were performed in a variety of adherent and non-adherent cell 20 lines including Hela S3, HT29, and Jurkat(delete ***). The proliferation assay utilized a colonmetric change resulting from reduction of the tetrazolium reagent XTT into a formazan product by metabolically active cells ( Scudiero et al. Cancer Research, 48, 1981, 4827-4833) Cells were seeded in lOOuls in 96 well plates to roughly 10% confluence (cell concentration varied with cell lines) and grown for 24 hours. Compounds were then added 25 with or without sufficient vehicle- containing media to raise the cells to a 200ul final volume containing chemical reagents in 0 2% DMSO Cells received multiple concentrations of DNA-damaging anti-proliferative drugs such as topotecan, test compounds, and combination treatment at 37°C 5% CO2. 72 hours later, 50 uls of an XTT/ phenazine methosulfate mixture were added to each well and cells were left to incubate for 30 90mms. Plate was read at 450nm, and anti-proliferative effects were compared relative to vehicle treated cells. Mytl inhibitors are expected to inhibit the proliferation of such cancer cell lines and/or enhance the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drugs Typical concentration ranges for such activity would be 0 001 to 10 uM. Other assays for P50866 cellular proliferation or cytotoxicity could also be used with test compounds, and these *""" assays are known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention includes but is not limited to the examples below Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were recorded at 300 MHz using a Bruker AM 300 5 spectrometer CDCI3 is deutenochloroform, DMSO-d6 is hexadeutenodimethylsulfoxide, and CD3OD is tetradeutenomethanol. Chemical shifts are reported in parts per million (9) downfield from the internal standard tetramethylsilane Abbreviations for NMR data are as follows: s=singlet, d=doublet, t=tnplet, q=quartet, m=multiplet, dd=doublet of doublets, dt=doublet of triplets, app=apparent, br=broad. J indicates the NMR coupling constant 10 measured in Hertz. Continuous wave infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 683 infrared spectrometer, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were recorded on a Nicolet Impact 400 D infrared spectrometer IR and FTIR spectra were recorded in transmission mode, and band positions are reported in inverse wavenumbers (cm" 1). Mass spectra were taken on either VG 70 FE, PE Syx API III, or VG ZAB HF 15 instruments, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) or electrospray (ES) ionization techniques. Elemental analyses were obtained using a Perkm-Elmer 240C elemental analyzer. Melting points were taken on a Thomas-Hoover melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. All temperatures are reported in degrees Celsius Analtech Silica Gel GF and E. Merck Silica Gel 60 F-254 thin layer plates were 20 used for thin layer chromatography. Both flash and gravity chromatography were earned out on E. Merck Kieselgel 60 (230-400 mesh) silica gel. Analytical and preparative HPLC were earned out on Rainin or Beckman chromatographs. ODS refers to an octadecylsilyl denvatized silica gel chromatographic support. 5 |i Apex-ODS indicates an octadecylsilyl denvatized silica gel chromatographic support having a nominal particle size of 5 |i, made 25 by Jones Chromatography, Littleton, Colorado. YMC ODS-AQ® is an ODS chromatographic support and is a registered trademark of YMC Co Ltd., Kyoto, Japan PRP-1® is a polymenc (styrene-divinylbenzene) chromatographic support, and is a registered trademark of Hamilton Co , Reno, Nevada) Celite® is a filter aid composed of acid-washed diatomaceous silica, and is a registered trademark of Manville Corp , Denver, 30 Colorado.

P50866 Example 1 bisf2-('4-phenvl-5-methvl')thiazolvnamine hvdrobromide MS (ES) m/e 363.7 [M+H] * 'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d) ??7 74(d, J=10Hz, 4H), 7 52(t, 5 J=6Hz, 4H), 7 39(t, J= 11 Hz, 2H).

Example 2 bisf2-(4-(2-pvndvl)thiazolvnamine dihvdrobromide 10 MS (ES) m/e 337.7 [M+H]* 'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d) ?">8.71(d, J=3Hz, 2H), 8 23(m, 4H), 8.05(s, 2H), 7.59(t, J=6Hz, 2H) Example 3 bisf2-r4-(3-pvridvl)thiazoIvl)amine bistrifluoracetate 15 MS (ES) m/e 337.7 [M+H] * 'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d) ??9 33(s, 2H), 9 04(d, J=10Hz, 2H), 8.75(d, J=5Hz, 2H), 8 08(t, J=11Hz, 2H), 7.88(s, 2H) Example 4 N,N-Bis(5(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine dihydrobromide 20 'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d) ^8.33 (s, 1H), 8.18 (s, 2H), 7.94 (d, J=8.2Hz, 2H), 7.82 (s, 2H), 7 73 (d, J=8.2Hz, 2H).

Example 5 1.3-bisr4-(3-pvridvn-2-thiazolvlamino1benzene dihvdrobromide MS (ES) m/e 428.8 [M+H] * 'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d) ??10.44 (s, 2H), 9 17 (d, J=1.7 25 Hz, 2H), 8.47 (dd, J=1.7, 4 7Hz, 2H), 8.23-8.29 (m, 4H), 7.56(s, 2H), 7.39 (dd, J=5.0, 8 0 Hz), 7 32 (s, 2H), Formulations for pharmaceutical use incorporating compounds of the present invention can be prepared in various forms and with numerous excipients. Examples of such formulations are given below: P50866 Example 6 Inhalant Formulation: A compound of Formula (I), (1 mg to 100 mg) is aerosolized from a metered dose inhaler to deliver the desired amount of drug per use Example 7 Tablet Formulation: Tablets/Ingredients Per Tablet 1. Active ingredient 40 mg (CpdofForm (I) 2 Corn Starch ... . 3 Alginic acid 4 Sodium Alginate 5. Mg stearate mg mg mg 1-3 mg Procedure for Tablet Formulation: Ingredients 1,2,3 and 4 are blended in a suitable mixer/blender. Sufficient water is added portion-wise to the blend with careful mixing after each addition until the mass is of a consistency to permit its conversion to wet granules The wet mass is converted to 20 granules by passing it through an oscillating granulator using a No. 8 mesh (2.38 mm) screen. The wet granules are then dried in an oven at 140°F (60 °C) until dry The dry granules are lubncated with ingredient No 5, and the lubncated granules are compressed on a suitable tablet press.

Example 8 Parenteral Formulation A pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration is prepared by dissolving an appropnate amount of a compound of Formula I in polyethylene glycol with heating This solution is then diluted with water for injections (to 100 mL). The solution is then rendered sterile by filtration through aO 22 micron membrane filter and sealed in 30 stenle containers.

All publications, including but not limited to patents and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication P50866 were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference as though set forth. 503917

Claims (4)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A compound according to Formula (I), hereinbelow- X Ar\^N /,-s I /)—NH A ^ N" -Ar * Formula (I);wherein A represents a covalent bond, or a 1,2, 1,3 or 1,4-disubstituted aryl amine nng selected from the group consisting of:;^(R)n nh;* ^(R)n NH"-— t and 7/ ^-nh- r" 10 <R>„ wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of H, OMe, CI, Br, F, NCb, and CN; n is an integer from 1 to 4; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of H, Br, CH3, NO2, CN, and 15 NR!R2; each Ar is independently optionally substituted phenyl or an optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic nng compnsmg one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; and Rj and R2 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1.4 alkyl, branched or cyclic, optionally 20 containing O or N.
2. 2. A compound according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of-bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazoIyl]amine, bis[2-(4-(2-pyridyl)thiazolyl]amine, bis[2-[4-(3-pyridyl)thiazolyl)amine , 15 intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 MAY 2001 RECEIVED I N,N-Bis(5(3,4-dichIorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, N,N-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, l,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, 1.3-bis[4-(3-pyndyl)-2-thiazolylamino]benzene, 1.4-bis[4-fluorophenyl-2-thiazolylamino]benzene; and l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene.
3. 3. A compound according to claim 2 selected from the group consisting of: bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazolyl]amine, l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, N,N-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, l,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, l,4-bis[4-fluorophenyl-2-thiazolylamino]benzene, bis[2-(4-(2-pyndyl)thiazolyl]amine and bis[2-[4-(3-pyndyl)thiazolyl)amme.
4. 4. A compound according to claim 3 selected from the group consisting of: bis[2-(4-phenyl-5-methyl)thiazolyl]amine, l,4-bis(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene, N,N-bis(4-(4-biphenyl)-2-thiazolyl)amine, and 1,4-bis(4-(4'-biphenyl)-2-thiazolylamino)benzene hydrobromide. 5 The use of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the manufacture of a medicament for antagonizing a Mytl kinase receptor in a subject in need thereof 6 The use of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 m the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of leukemias, solid tumor cancers and metastases, soft tissue cancers, brain cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, bone cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, head cancer and neck cancer, chronic inflammatory proliferative diseases, proliferative cardiovascular diseases, proliferative ocular disorders and benign hyperproliferative diseases - 16- intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 MAY 2001 RECEIVED 503917 7 The use of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy and hemangiomas. 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 9 A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to any one of Examples 6 to 8. -17- intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 MAY 2001 RECEIVED END