Background Art Most nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents are responsible for blocking enzyme, cyclooxygenase (COX) or prostaglandin G/H synthase, to reduce inflammation, pain, or fever. In addition, they inhibit uterus contraction caused by hormones and also inhibit growth of several cancers. Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) was first discovered in bovine.

The COX-1 is constitutively expressed in a variety of cell types. Unlike the COX-1, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a recently discovered isoform of cyclooxygenase that can be easily induced by mitogen, endotoxin, hormone, growth factor, or cytokine.

Prostaglandin is a potent mediator for various pathological and physiological processes. The COX-1 plays important physiological roles such as in the release of endogenous prostaglandin, the maintenance of the shape and the function of stomach, and the blood circulation in the kidney. On the other hand, the COX-2 is induced by an inflammatory factor, hormone, a growth factor, or cytokine. Therefore, the COX-2 is involved in pathological processes of prostaglandin, unlike the constitutive COX-1. In this regard, selective inhibitors of the COX-2 produce fewer and less side effects in terms of action mechanism in comparison with conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. In addition, they reduce inflammation, pain, and fever and inhibit uterus contraction caused by hormones and growth of several cancers. In particular, they are effective in decreasing side effects such as stomach toxicity and kidney toxicity. Still furthermore, they inhibit the synthesis of contractile prostanoid, thereby leading to suppression of the contraction

of smooth muscles. Therefore, they help in preventing premature birth, menstrual irregularity, asthma, and eosinophilic disease.

Recently, it was reported that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents are effective in treating large intestine cancer [European Journal of Cancer, Vol 37, p2302,2001], prostate cancer [Urology, Vol 58, p127, 2001], and dementia [Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs, Vol 9, p671,2000].

In addition, it is anticipated that selective inhibitors of the COX-2 would be effective in treating osteoporosis and glaucoma. Utility of selective inhibitors of the COX-2 is well described in publications [John <BR> <BR> Vane, "Towards a Better Aspirin"in Nature, Vol. 367, pp215-216, 1994; Bruno Battistini, Regina Botting and Y. S. Bakhle,"COX-1 and COX-2: Toward the Development of More Selective NSAIDs"in Drug News and Perspectives, Vol. 7, pp501-512, 1994; David B. Reitz and Karen Seibert, "Selective Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors"in Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry, James A. Bristol, Editor, Vol. 30, pp179-188, 1995].

Various selective COX-2 inhibitors having different structures are known. Among them, a selective COX-2 inhibitor having a diaryl heterocyclic structure, i. e. a tricyclic structure has been widely studied as a potent candidate. The diaryl heterocyclic structure has a central ring and a sulfonamide or methylsulfone group attached to one of the aryl rings. An initial substance having such diaryl heterocyclic structure is Dup697 [Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, Vol 5, p2123, 1995].

Since then, SC-58635 having a pyrazol ring (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol 40, p1347, 1997) and MK-966 having a furanone ring (WO 95/00501) were discovered as derivatives of the Dup697.

One selective COX-2 inhibitor, Celecoxib of formula 4 is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 5,466, 823. The Celecoxib is a substituted pyrazolyl benzenesulfonamide derivative.

Formula 4

Another selective COX-2 inhibitor, Rofecoxib of formula 5 is disclosed in WO 95/00501. The Rofecoxib has a diaryl heterocyclic structure with a central furanone ring.

Formula 5

Valdecoxib of formula 6 as another selective COX-2 inhibitor is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 5,633, 272. The Vaidecoxib has a phenylsulfonamide moiety with a central isoxazole ring.

Formula 6

The selective COX-2 inhibitors of formulas 4 to 6 are effective inflammatory therapeutic agents with fewer and less side effects in comparison with conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents.

Disclosure of the Invention

An aspect of the present invention provides a 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for preparing a 2-thioxothiazole derivative or a non-toxic salt thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 2-thioxothiazole derivative or a non-toxic salt thereof as an active ingredient for the treatment of fever, pain, and inflammation.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 2-thioxothiazole derivative or a non-toxic salt thereof as an active ingredient for the treatment of cancers and dementia.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 2-thioxothiazole derivative represented by formula 1: Formula 1 R S XN » S I ZON x S02NH2 wherein: R represents hydrogen or methyl ; X represents hydrogen, methyl, halogen, nitro, or methanesulfonyl ; or a non-toxic salt thereof.

The 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 may be present in a form of a non-toxic salt. The term,"non-toxic salt"as used herein refers to a pharmaceutical acceptable, toxin-free salt, including an organic salt and an inorganic salt.

The Inorganic salt of the 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 includes an inorganic salt of aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, or zinc but is not

limited thereto. Preferably, an inorganic salt of ammonium, calcium, potassium, or sodium is used.

The organic salt of the 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 includes an organic amine salt of primary, secondary, or tertiary amine, substituted amine that is present in nature, or cyclic amine, or a salt of a basic ion exchange resin but is not limited thereto. Examples of the salt of a basic ion exchange resin include, but are not limited to, a salt of arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N, N-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpyperidine, N-methylglucamine, glucamin, glucosamine, histidine, hydroamine, N- (2-hydroxyethyl) pyperidine, N- (2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, pyperidine, polyamine resin, procaine, purine, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, and tromethamine.

The 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 may be present in a form of an organic acid salt or an inorganic acid salt.

Examples of the organic acid salt or the inorganic acid salt of the 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 include, but are not limited to, a salt of acetic acid, adipic acid, aspartic acid, 1, 5-naphthalene disulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid, benzoic acid, camphor sulfonic acid, citric acid, 1,2-ethane disulfonic acid, ethane sulfonic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, fumaric acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, hydroiodic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, icethionic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, madelic acid, methane sulfonic acid, mucinic acid, 2-naphthalenedisulfonic acid, nitric acid, oxalic acid, pentothenic acid, phosphoric acid, pivalric acid, propionic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, undecanoic acid, and 10-undecenoic acid. Preferably, a salt of succinic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, maleic acid, methanesulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, or tartaric acid is used.

The 2-thioxothiazole derivative of the present invention preferably includes : 4- (4-phenyl-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl) benzenesulfonamide ; 4- (5-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl) benzenesulfonamide ;

4- [4- (4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfo namide; 4- [4- (4-fluorophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide ; 4- [4- (3-nitrophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide ; and 4- [4- (4-chlorophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preparing a 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof, comprising reacting triethylamine thiocarbamate of formula 2 with an 2-bromo-1-phenylalkanone derivative of formula 3.

Formula 2 S SHNEt 3 1 orNH NH2SO2 Formula 3 o R Br x

wherein, R and X are as defined in formula 1.

The compounds of formulas 2 and 3 are commercially available or may be prepared according to a conventional method (eg. Tetrahedron, Vol 49, p 3411-3424,1993).

The said reactions are preferably carried out in a solvent selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile and 1,4-dioxane. More preferably, 1,4-dioxane is used.

The said reactions are preferably carried out by heating the reactant to the boiling point of the solvent and completing the reaction.

More preferably, 1,4-dioxane is used as a solvent and the reactants are

heated to the boiling point of the 1,4-dioxane and refluxed to complete the reaction.

The separation and purification of the reaction products can be performed by concentration or extraction, or other processes, which is conventionally used in organic synthesis process, and optionally by a silica gel column chromatography.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutical effective amount of a 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for treatment of fever, pain, and inflammation.

The pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof when it is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition can be used as an antipyretic, an analgesic, and an antiinflammatory agent, with reduced side effects.

Conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents non-selectively inhibit the prostaglandin synthesis enzymes, cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. Therefore, various side effects may occur.

On the other hand, a compound of formula 1 and a non-toxic salt thereof selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2. Therefore, the side effects of conventional nonsteroidal antipyretics, analgesics, and antiinflammatory agents can be reduced.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises a compound of formula 1 and/or a non-toxic salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition may be used as a substitute for conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. In particular, due to the reduction of the side effects of conventional nonsteroidal antipyretics, analgesics, and antiinflammatory agents, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is useful in treating patients with peptic ulcer, gastritis, regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, diverticullitis, gastrorrhagia, or hypoprothrombinemia.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be used in all inflammatory diseases associated with pathological prostaglandin and is particularly useful in treating osteoarthritis and

rheumatoid arthritis which require high dosage of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered in the form of an adult dosage of 50 mg/kg/day to 400 mg/kg/day of the compound of formula 1. An adequate dosage is determined depending on the degree of disease severity.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutical effective amount of a 2-thioxothiazole derivative of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for the treatment of cancers and dementia.

Recently, it was reported that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents are effective in the treatment of large intestine cancer [European Journal of Cancer, Vol 37, p2302,2001], prostate cancer [Urology, Vol 58, p127, 2001], and dementia [Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs, Vol 9, p671, 2000]. Therefore, it is understood that the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent can also be used for the treatment of these diseases.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered in the form of an adult dosage of 50 mg/kg/day to 400 mg/kg/day of the compound of formula 1 or a non-toxic salt thereof. An adequate dosage is determined depending on the degree of disease severity.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be administered in the form of tablet, foam tablet, capsule, granule, powder, sustained-release tablet, sustained-release capsule (a single unit formulation or a multiple unit formulation), intravenous and intramuscular injectable solution, infusion solution, suspension, or suppository, or in other suitable dosage forms.

Sustained-release pharmaceutical dosage forms contain active ingredients with or without an initial loading dose. They are wholly or partially sustained-release pharmaceutical dosage forms to release active ingredients in a controlled manner.

Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is orally administered.

The pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutical acceptable excipient and/or diluent and/or adjuvant in pharmaceutical effective amounts.

Examples of the excipient and adjuvant include gelatin, a natural sugar such as sucrose and lactose, lecitin, pectin, starch such as corn starch and amylose, cyclodextrin and cyclodextrin derivative, dextran, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, Arabic gum, arginic acid, xylose, talc, salicylic acid, calcium hydrogen phosphate, cellulose, cellulose derivative such as methylcellulose, methoxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate, fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, emulsifying agent, oil and fat, in particular, vegetable glycerol ester and polyglycerol ester of saturated fatty acids, monohydric alcohol, polyhydric alcohol, polyglycol such as polyethylene glycol, aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or aliphatic saturated or unsaturated fatty acid ester having 2 to 22 carbon atoms with polyhydric alcohols such as glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol, sorbitol, and mannitol.

Other suitable adjuvants include a disintegrating agent.

Examples of the disintegrating agent include a cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium carboxymethyl starch, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose. A coating agent which is conventionally used in this field may also be used. Examples of the coating agent include acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and/or an ester polymer or copolymer thereof, zein, ethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose succinate, and Shellac.

A plasticizer suitable for the coating agent is citric ester and tartaric ester, glycerol and glycerol ester, or polyethylene glycol with different chain lengths.

A liquid composition such as solution and suspension is formulated in water or a physiological acceptable organic solvent such as alcohol and aliphatic alcohol.

The liquid pharmaceutical composition may further comprise a preservative such as potassium solvate, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid, and a fragrant such as peppermint oil.

In addition, when the liquid pharmaceutical composition is formulated, a conventional solubilizer or emulsifier such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and polysolvate 80 may be used.

Other examples of suitable excipients and adjuvants are disclosed in Dr. H. P. Fielder,"Lexikon der Hilfsstoffe fur Pharmazie, Kosmetik und angrenzende Gebiete" [Encyclopaedia of auxiliaries for pharmacy, cosmetics and related fields].

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically by examples. However, the following examples are provided only for illustration and thus the present invention is not limited to or by them.

Example 1 4- (4-phenyl-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl) benzenesulfonamide Formula 7 372 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone and 500 mg (1.43 mmol) of triethylamine thiocarbamate were added under stirring in 20moi of 1,4-dioxane and the apparatus containing the mixutre was heated and refluxed for 12 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvent was distilled under reduced pressure and discarded, and the resultant was diluted in 20 ml of ethyl acetate.

The resultant was washed separately with 20 ml of 2N-hydrochloric acid, 20 ml of saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant was diluted with 10 ml of ethyl acetate. Afterwards, 100 ml of hexane was slowly added thereto and the solution was undisturbed for 1 hour. The pale yellow solid formed in the bottom of the solution was filtered and washed with 30 ml of cool hexane to give 299 mg of the title compound as a pale yellow crystal (yield 60%).

'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6) 6 7.19-7. 28 (m, 6 H), 7.40-7. 50 (m, 4 H), 7.80 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H) Mass (LOW El) = 348.0 (M+) Melting point: 235°C Example 2 4- (5-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl) benzenesulfonamide Formula 8 253 mg (yield 40%) of the title compound as a pale yellow crystal was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except using 372 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1-phenylpropane-1-one instead of 2-bromo-1-phenylehtanone.

'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6) 8 2.12 (s, 3H), 7.25-7. 30 (m, 5 H), 7.32 (s, 2 H), 7.45 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.75 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H).

Mass (LOW El) = 362.0 (M+) Melting point: 262 °C Example 3 4- [4- (4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfo namide Formula 9

274.1 mg (yield 45%) of the title compound as a yellow crystal was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except using 480 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1- (4-methanesulfonylphenyl) ethanone instead of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone.

1H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6) 3.28 (s, 3 H), 7.33 (s, 1 H), 7.42-7. 51 (m, 6 H), 7.75-7. 83 (m, 4 H).

Mass (LOW El) = 426.0 (M+) Melting point: 288 °C Example 4 4- [4- (4-fluorophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide Formula 10 299 mg (yield 60%) of the title compound as a pale yellow crystal was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except using 380 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1- (4-fluorolphenyl) ethanone instead of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone.

'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6) 5 7.01-7. 20 (m, 5 H), 7.43-7. 50 (m, 4 H), 7.80 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H).

Mass (LOW El) = 348.0 (M+) Melting point: 271°C Example 5 4- [4- (3-nitrophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide Formula 11

315 mg (yield 56%) of the title compound as a pale yellow crystal was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except using 425 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1- (3-nitrophenyl) ethanone instead of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone.

'H NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6) 7.50-7. 60 (m, 6 H), 7.70-7. 76 (m, 2 H), 7.80-7. 85 (m, 2 H), 8.10-8. 15 ( m, 1 H).

Mass (LOW El) = 393.0 (M+) Melting point: 284°C Example 6 4- [4- (4-chlorophenyl)-2-thioxothiazole-3-yl] benzenesulfonamide Formula 12

299 mg (yield 53%) of the title compound as a pale yellow crystal was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except using 408 mg (1.75 mmol) of 2-bromo-1- (4-chlorophenyl) ethanone instead of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone.

1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO-d6) 8 7.08-7. 28 (m, 5 H), 7.43-7. 52 (m, 4 H), 7.82 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H).

Mass (LOW El) = 382.0 (M+)

Melting point: 242 C Experiments 1. Evaluation of selective COX-2 inhibitory activity 1) Method In order to pharmacologically determine the selective COX-2 inhibitory activity, the percentages of the COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition of the compounds of the present invention illustrated in the Examples were measured by the following methods. a. Assay for the COX-1 inhibitory activity using U-937 U-937 human lymphom cells (Korean Cell Line Bank, Seoul, Korea, Accession Number: 21593) were cultured and centrifuged. The collected cells were diluted with HBSS (x1, Hank's balanced salt solution) to a concentration of 1 x 106 cells/ml. 1 ml of the dilute cell solution was placed into each well of 12-well plates. 5 of 1 p M solution of a test compound in DMSO and 5, of DMSO as a control were added to the wells. The wells were incubated in C02 incubator at 37°C for 15 minutes. Separately, 10 mM stock solution of arachidonic acid in ethanol was diluted ten times in ethanol to prepare 1 mM solution of arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid acts as a substrate. 10, of the 1 mM solution of arachidonic acid was added to each well and incubated at C02 incubator at 37°C for 30 minutes. The cell solution of each well was placed in a centrifuge test tube and centrifuged at 10,000 rpm at 4°C for 5 minutes. The concentration of PGE2 in the collected cells and the supernatant was quantified by means of a monoclonal kit (Cayman Chemicals). The percentages of PGE2 inhibition in a group of the test compound-treated cells in relation to a group of the DMSO-treated cells were calculated. Based on the calculated values, the COX-1 inhibitory activities were evaluated. b. Assay for the COX-2 inhibitory activity using RAW 264.7 cell line 2 x 106 cells of RAW 264.7 cell line (Korean Cell Line Bank, Seoul, Korea, Accession Number: 40071) were inoculated into each well of 12-well plates. Each well was treated with 250 11 M of aspirin and

incubated at 37°C for 2 hours. After the culture media were replaced with new culture media, the new culture media were treated with a test compound (10 nM) and incubated for 30 minutes. Then, each well was treated with interferon y (100 units/ml) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/ml) and incubated for 18 hours. The culture media were transferred to other test tubes. The concentration of PGE2 was quantified by means of the EIA kit (Cayman Chemicals).

2) Test results The test results are presented in Table 1 below. The percentages of the COX inhibition were calculated according to the following equation: % Inhibition = (concentration of PGE2 in test compound-untreated sample-concentration of PGE2 in test compound-treated sample)/ (concentration of PGE2 in test compound-untreated sample) x 100 Table 1 Cyclooxygenase (COX) Inhibition (%) Samples COX-1 (1 n M) COX-2 (10 nM) Reference (Valdecoxib) 29.5 60.2 Example 1 28.5 60.9 Example 2 35.2 66.5 Example 3 30.7 65.8 Example 4 31.1 72.7 Example 5 15.8 75 Example 6 38. 5 73. 5 3) Evaluation The in vitro test results about the percentages of the COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition are listed in Table 1.

As shown in Table 1, inhibition (%) ratios of COX-2 to COX-1 in Examples 1 to 6 were equal to or significantly higher than that in the reference, Valdecoxib. This indicates that selective inhibition of COX-2 to COX-1 of the present compound is equal or superior to that of the reference.

The compounds of Examples 1 to 6 exhibited the COX-2 inhibitory activities significantly higher than the reference. Based on this result, it

can be seen that the present compounds have reduced side effects due to enhanced selectivity and improved relief effects of fever, pain, and inflammation, compared to the reference.

Industrial Applicability As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a 2-thioxothiazole derivative or a non-toxic salt thereof, a preparation method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the derivative or the salt as an active ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition is effective in reducing fever, pain, and inflammation. In particular, as a result of reduction of the side effects of conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, the pharmaceutical composition is useful for treating patients with peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, diverticullitis, gastrorrhagia, or hypoprothrombinemia.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.