| abstract |
Novel 2-substituted 4,5-diaryl imidazoles in which: i) the nitrogen atom at the 1 position is substituted by a trialkylsilyl-containing substituent, or ii) the substituent at the 2 position is arylalkyl, arylsulfonyl, arylthio arylseleno, aryltelluro, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylcycloalkenyl, amino or hydrazino, or mono- or bicyclic N-heterocyclyl in which the N containing ring has six ring members, are provided, in particular compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined, in free or pharmaceutically-acceptable acid additon salt or physiologically-cleavable ester form, which have p38 MAP kinase (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) inhibiting activity. The compounds are used as pharmaceuticals for treating TNF.alpha. and IL-1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diseases of bone metabolism, e.g. osteoporosis. |