Benzofuran 2-carboxylic acid hydrazides useful as inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis

Compounds of the Formula I: ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis. These compounds inhibit the mammalian 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, thus preventing the metabolism of arachidonic acid to the leukotrienes. These compounds are thus useful in the treatment of asthma, allergic disorders, inflammation, skin diseases and certain cardiovascular disorders.

This invention also provides a method of treatment for disease states 
caused by the synthesis of the Leukotrienes C.sub.4, D.sub.4, E.sub.4 and 
F.sub.4, as well as Leukotriene B.sub.4, in mammals especially in a human 
subject. This method comprises administering to said subject an effective 
amount of a compound of Formula I combined with an appropriate 
pharmaceutical carrier. 
The compounds of Formula I may be used to treat or prevent mammalian 
(especially human) disease states such as erosive gastritis; erosive 
esophagitis; inflammatory bowel disease; ethanol-induced hemorrhagic 
erosions; hepatic ischemia; noxius agent induced damage or necrosis of 
hepatic, pancreatic, renal, or myocardial tissue; liver parenchymal damage 
caused by hepatoxic agents such as CCl.sub.4 and D-galactosamine; ischemic 
renal failure; disease-induced hepatic damage; bile salt induced 
pancreatic or gastric damage; trauma- or stress-induced cell damage; and 
glycerol-induced renal failure. 
Finally, this invention also provides novel compounds within the Formula I 
that act as inhibitors of the mammalian 5-lipoxygenase enzyme system, thus 
preventing the biosynthesis of the Leukotrienes C.sub.4, D.sub.4 and 
E.sub.4 and also Leukotriene B.sub.4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,347 (Atkinson et 
al.) is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.