5-[3-(4-Benzyloxyphenylthio)-fur-2-yl]-imidazolidin-2, 4-dione and analogues as inhibitors of macrophage elastase

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (IV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

• wherein R is a substituted group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 4-benzyloxyphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-methozyphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 2-methylphenyl, and 3-trifluoromethylphenyl.

A method of treating a disease or condition mediated by MMP-12 comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (IV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

• wherein R is a substituted group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 4-benzyloxyphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 2-methylphenyl, and 3-trifluoromethylphenyl.