Benzimidazole-4-carboxamide compounds (I) which can act as potent inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or PARP enzyme (EC 2.4.2.30), and which thereby can provide useful therapeutic compounds for use in conjunction with DNA-damaging cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy to potentiate the effects of the latter. In formula (I), R and R' may each be selected independently from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl (e.g. CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH), acyl (e.g. acetyl or benzoyl) or an optionally substituted aryl (e.g. phenyl) or aralkyl (e.g. benzyl or carboxybenzyl) group. R is generally a substituted phenyl group in the most preferred compounds. The compounds may also be used in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts or pro-drugs. ##STR1##
Benzimidazole-4-carboxamide化合物(I)可以作为DNA修复酶聚(
ADP-
核糖)聚合酶或PARP酶(
EC 2.4.2.30)的有效
抑制剂,因此可以与DNA损伤的细胞毒性药物或放疗一起使用,以增强后者的效果,从而提供有用的治疗化合物。在公式(I)中,R和R'可以各自独立地选择氢,烷基,羟基烷基(例如CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH),酰基(例如乙酰或苯甲酰)或可选取代芳基(例如苯基)或芳基烷基(例如苄基或羧基苯甲基)基团。在最优化合物中,R通常是取代的苯基基团。这些化合物也可以以药学上可接受的盐或前药的形式使用。##STR1##