Benzimidazole derivatives

A compound of the formula (I),

• wherein A, B, and C are independently methine, said methine being optionally substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, halo-lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, lower alkylsulfonyloxy, —N(R1)R2 and —Q1—Arl, and D is nitrogen;
• Ar1 is aryl or heteroaryl, any of which is optionally substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, hydroxy, lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, cyclo-lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, halo-lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, carboxyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkanoylamino and —Q2—Ar2;
• Ar2 is aryl or heteroaryl, any of which is optionally substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, halo-lower alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, lower alkanoyl and aryl;
• E is methine or hydroxy substituted methine;
• n is 0 or 1;
• Q1 and Q2 are independently a single bond, oxygen, carbonyl or —N(R3)—;
• R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, or R1 and R2, taken together, form lower alkylene which may be intervened by oxygen, sulfur or imino;
• R3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R4 is lower alkyl, aralkyl or aryl;
• R5 and R8 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, aralkyl or aryl;
• R6 and R7 are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl, aralkyl or aryl;
• T, U, V and W are independently methine or nitrogen, said methine being optionally substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy and halo-lower alkoxy, and at least two of T, U, V and W are said methine group;
• X is —N(SO2R4)—, —N(COR5)—or —CO—;
• Y is —C(R6)(R7)—, —O— or —N(R8), and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or N-oxide derivative thereof.