Rho Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitors and Their Application to Inflammatory Disorders

Inhibitors of Rho kinase (ROCK) have many potential therapeutic applications. The biological focus of this overview will be on the role of ROCK in inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis and asthma. Many ROCK inhibitors have been described in the primary and patent literature, and a diverse range of chemical scaffolds is beginning to emerge. Some of the structural classes that will be highlighted in this review include: isoquinolines, indazoles, aminofurazans, dihydropyrimidines, aminopyrimidines, benzodioxane carboxamides, benzimidazoles, and chroman amides.