| abstract |
Azetidinone compounds of formule (I) in which: R<1> and R<2>, which may be the same or different, is each selected from hydrogen, halogen or C(1-8)alkyl; R<4> and R<5> which may be the same or different is each selected from hydrogen, C(1-6)alkyl, C(2-6)alkenyl, aryl, aryl(C1-4)alkyl and heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl each of which may be optionally substituted or R<4> and R<5> may be linked together to form the remainder of a (C3-7)cycloalkyl ring; X is a linker group; Y is an optionally substituted aryl group; Z is oxygen and R<3> is C(1-8)alkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkylC(1-6)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl, aryl, or aryl(C1-4)alkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted or Z is S(O)n in which n is 0, 1 or 2 and R<3> is C(1-8)alkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkylC(1-6)alkyl, aryl, aryl(C1-4)alkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted are inhibitors of the enzyme Lp PLA2 and are of use in therapy, in particular treating atherosclerosis. |