The invention relates to substituted carbo- and heterocyclic spiro compounds of the formula Ia which inhibit thiol proteases, to processes for their preparation and to the use thereof as medicaments.
Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include substituted riluzole prodrugs useful for the treatment of cancers including melanoma, breast cancer, brain cancer, and prostate cancer through the release of riluzole. Prodrugs of riluzole have enhanced stability to hepatic metabolism and are delivered into systemic circulation by oral administration, and then cleaved to release riluzole in the plasma via either an enzymatic or general biophysical release process.