Histone deacetylase inhibitors: a survey of recent patents

Abstract

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been the subject of an intense drug discovery effort in the pharmaceutical industry and in some academic institutions over the last few years. Although, at present, only a small number of compounds have progressed to human clinical trials, the prospect of finding safe compounds useful in therapy, particularly in cancer and inflammatory processes, is still a strong motivating factor for further research efforts. A patent literature review of small organic molecules as HDAC inhibitors is presented here, as many of the major pharmaceutical companies have shown a continued effort in the field [1]. This paper provides an update on the patenting activity in 2004 – 2005 related to HDAC inhibitors.

Keywords::

• benzamide
• cancer treatment
• cyclic peptide
• histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor
• hydroxamic acid