Department of Molecular Therapeutics and Translational Research Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
Abstract:
Rho Kinase (ROCK) is a serine/threonine kinase whose inhibition could prove beneficial in numerous therapeutic areas. We have developed a promising class of ATP-competitive inhibitors based upon a benzimidazole scaffold, which show excellent potency toward ROCK (IC50 <10 nM). This report details the optimization of selectivity for ROCK over other related kinases such as Protein kinase A (PKA).