Selective chiral inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase with anti-inflammatory activity.

The studies described here, using enantiomers of an optically-active methoxy alkyl thiazole ICI216800 (1-methoxy-6-(naphth-2-yl-methoxyl)-1- (thiazol-2-yl)indane), provide unequivocal evidence for a specific, chiral interaction with 5-lipoxygenase. In accordance with their biochemical efficacy these compounds also demonstrate enantio-specific anti-inflammatory activity in a leukotriene-mediated model of inflammation. This is the first class of compounds for which 5-lipoxygenase inhibition and anti-inflammatory activity have been shown to be mediated via a specific chiral interaction.