| abstract |
This invention provides novel compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, that are useful as caspase inhibitors. These compounds have the general formula I, where R1, R2, and R3 are as described herein. Ring A contains zero to two double bonds, each X is independently selected from nitrogen or carbon, at least one X in Ring A is a nitrogen. Ring A is optionally substituted as described, and may be fused to a saturated or unsaturated five to seven membered ring containing zero to three heteroatoms, and provided that when X3 is a carbon, a substituent on X3 is attached by an atom other than nitrogen. |