The invention relates to a compound of formula (I): A-B-D-E (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, wherein: A is selected from monocyclic and bicyclic heteroaryl, which may independently substituted by
alkyl or amino; B is selected from
alkyl, heteroalkyl,
alkyl-amino,
aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl and alkylene, wherein said groups may independently be substituted by alkyl; D is selected from
aryl-amino, heteroaryl-amino, cycloalkyl-amino, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-amino,
urea,
thioamide,
thiourea, sulfonamide, sulfoximine and sulfamoyl, wherein said
aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl and heterocyclyl groups may independently be substituted; and E is selected from aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl and heterocyclyl groups may independently be substituted. The compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of
glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5). QC catalyzes the
intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal
glutamine residues into pyroglutamic acid (5-oxo-prolyl, pGlu*) under liberation of
ammonia and the
intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamate residues into pyroglutamic acid under liberation of water.