Method of using sulfonamide substituted imidazoquinolines

Abstract

Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain sulfonamide or sulfonamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.

1 . A method of inducing cytokine biosynthesis in an animal comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of the formula (I):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 bonds represented by the dashed lines are present or absent;  
 R 1  is —(CH 2 ) 2-4 —NH—SO 2 —R 4 ;  
 R 2  is hydrogen, —C 1-4  alkyl or —C 1-4  alkyl-O—C 1-4  alkyl;  
 R 4  is C 1-4  alkyl;  
 n is 0 and each R present is independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-10  alkyl, C 1-10  alkoxy, halogen, and trifluoromethyl;  
 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the animal.  
 
   
   
       2 . A method of inducing cytokine biosynthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is —(CH 2 ) 4 —NH—SO 2 —C 1-4  alkyl, and bonds represented by the dashed lines are present.  
   
   
       3 . A method of inducing cytokine biosynthesis according to  claim 2 , wherein R 1  is —(CH 2 ) 4 —NH—SO 2 —CH 3 , and R 2  is —C 1-4  alkyl.