Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors: a patent review.
BACKGROUND
Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors have been shown to effectively increase the levels of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and reduce the levels of dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, which may be translated to therapeutic potentials for multiple disease indications. It has been claimed that sEH inhibitors can be used to treat hypertension, diabetes, stroke, dyslipidemia, pain, immunological disorders, eye diseases, neurological diseases and other indications.


METHODS
A comprehensive synopsis of patent literature on sEH inhibitors is provided.


RESULTS
A total of more than 100 patent publications describing multiple classes of sEH inhibitors are analyzed. These include amides, ureas, thioamides, thioureas, carbamates, acyl hydrazones, chalcone oxdies, etc. In addition to selected in vitro and in vivo data of representative sEH inhibitors, a wide range of proposed applications of sEH inhibitors are also summarized.


CONCLUSIONS
Several sEH inhibitors with potent in vitro and in vivo target inhibition appear promising, including one Phase II clinical candidate. The clinical evaluation will be critical to assess the proclaimed therapeutic utility of sEH inhibition.
Shen
Hong C
HC
Merck & Co., Inc., Merck Research Laboratories, Department of Medicinal Chemistry RY800-C114, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA. hong_shen@merck.com
D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases