| abstract |
The present invention is useful in the prevention (e.g., delaying onset or reducing the risk of onset) and treatment (e.g., suppressing, mitigating or slowing progression) of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and eye related diseases. Also contemplated are novel aliphatic proline amide derivatives of formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, solvates of the salts, and prodrugs thereof. These diseases include dry AMD, wet AMD, geographic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and regression of retina or photoreceptor cells. The invention disclosed herein includes dry AMD, wet AMD, and geographic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and regression of retinal or photoreceptor cells. Further directed is a method of preventing, slowing and treating the progression comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention. The compounds of the present invention are inhibitors of HTRA1. Therefore, the compounds of the present invention are useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases mediated (in whole or in part) by HTRA1. The compounds of the present invention are also useful for inhibiting HTRA1 protease activity in the eye or in an arthritic locus or in a related state. |