N-benzyl-3-indoleacetic acids as antiinflammatory drugs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention encompasses the novel compound of Formula I as well as a method of treating cyclooxygenase-2 mediated diseases comprising administration to a patient in need of such treatment of a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, ##STR3## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein: R is H, methyl, ethyl or propyl; R.
sup.
1 is halo or methyl; R.
sup.
2 is --H, methyl or ethyl; R.
sup.
3 is Br or I.
In one genus, the invention encompasses compounds of Formula I wherein R is H or methyl; R.
sup.
1 is halo selected from Br, Cl and I, R.
sup.
2 is H or methyl; R.
sup.
3 is Br.
Within this genus there is a class of compounds of Formula I wherein R is H; R.
sup.
1 is Br; R.
sup.
2 is H or methyl; R.
sup.
3 is Br.
Illustrating the invention are the compounds of Formula I selected from (a) 2-(5-Bromo-1-(4-bromobenzyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-3yl)propionic acid, sodium salt; (b) (S)-(+)-2-(5-Bromo-1-(4-bromobenzyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propionic acid, sodium salt; (c) (R)-(-)-2-(5-Bromo- 1-(4-bromobenzyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-3yl)-propionic acid, sodium salt; and (d) 2-(5-Bromo-1-(4-iodobenzyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propionic acid, sodium salt.
Halogen includes F, Cl Br, and I.
Some of the compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to diastereomers and optical isomers.
The present invention is meant to comprehend such possible diastereomers as well as their racemic and resolved, enantiomerically pure forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a compound of Formula I as an active ingredient or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereof, and may also contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally other therapeutic ingredients.
The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salts" refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases including inorganic bases and organic bases.
Salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like