Use of thiazole derivatives for preparing a medicament intended to protect the mitochondria

Abstract

A method of treating cirrhosis of the liver in warm-blooded animals comprising administering to warm-blooded in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the formula where the substituents are as defined in the specification.

1 . A method of treating cirrhosis of the liver in warm-blooded animals comprising administering to warm-blooded animals in need thereof an amount of a compound of the formula  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       in the form of a racemic mixture, of an enantiomer or of any combination of these forms, wherein:  
       A is  
       B is hydrogen;  
       R 1 and R 2  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and cycloalkyl;  
       R 3  and R 4  are independently hydrogen or alkyl, or R 3  and R 4  form together with the nitrogen atom which carries them a heterocycle containing in total 1 to 2 heteroatoms and 5 to 7 members, the missing members of which heterocycle are selected from the group consisting of —CHR 13 —, —NR 14 —, —O— and —S—, R 13  is selected from the group the group consisting of hydrogen —OH, alkyl and alkoxy and R 14  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen. alkyl, —COR 15 , —COOR 15  and —CONR 16 R 17 , R 15  is alkyl and R 16  and R 17  are independently hydrogen or alkyl;  
       it being understood that alkoxy or alkyl, unless specified otherwise, has 1 to 6 carbon atoms and that cycloalkyl; unless specified otherwise, has 3 to 7 carbon atoms,  
       or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof sufficient to treat cirrhosis.  
     
   
   
       2 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compounds are: 
 N-methyl[4-(10H-phenothiazin-2-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]methanamine; or    2,6-ditert-butyl-4-{2-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazol4-yl}phenol;    or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       8 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein B is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl and R 1  and R 2  are independently hydrogen or alkyl.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein B is hydrogen or methyl and one of R 1  and R 2  is hydrogen and the other is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and cycloalkyl.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein B is hydrogen and of R 1  and R 2  is hydrogen and the other is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein one of R 1 and R 2  is hydrogen and the other is methyl.