Benzimidazole-imidazole derivatives

1. A compound of formula I

or a stereoisomeric form thereof, wherein:

A is naphthylene, which is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo and C 1-3 alkyl;

R and R′ are, each independently, —CR 1 R 2 R 3 , aryl, heteroaryl or heteroC 4-6 cycloalkyl, whereby aryl and heteroaryl may optionally be substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo and methyl; and wherein

R 1 is hydrogen;

C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with methoxy or dimethylamino;

phenyl optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1-4 alkoxy, and trifluoromethoxy;

1,3-benzodioxolanyl;

benzyl optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents independently selected from halo and methoxy;

C 3-6 cycloalkyl;

heteroaryl;

heteroC 4-6 cycloalkyl; or

heteroarylmethyl;

R 2 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, amino, mono- or di-C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 alkylcarbonylamino, C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonylamino, C 1-4 alkylaminocarbonylamino, piperidin-1-yl or imidazol-1-yl;

R 3 is hydrogen,

or R 1 and R 3 together form a cyclopropyl group;

or R 2 and R 3 form oxo;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof;

wherein the compound is not

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein A is 2,6-naphthylene optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo and C 1-3 alkyl.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is different from unsubstituted 2-propyl and when R 1 in R is 1-methoxyethyl, then R 1 in R′ is different from 1-methoxyethyl.

4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein

R 1 is other than 2 propyl when R 2 is methoxycarbonylamino; and

R 1 in R′ is other than 1-methoxyethyl when R 2 in R′ is methoxycarbonylamino.

5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R and R′ are different from one another.

6. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R and R′ are the same.

7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R and R′ each independently are —CR 1 R 2 R 3 .

8. The compound according to claim 7 wherein each R 2 independently is C 1-4 alkylcarbonylamino or C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonylamino.

9. The compound according claim 7 wherein each R 2 independently is methoxycarbonylamino.

10. The compound according claim 7 wherein each R 1 independently is selected from branched C 3-4 alkyl, methoxyC 2-3 alkyl, cyclopentyl, and phenyl.

11. The compound according to claim 7 wherein R 1 in R is 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 2-methoxyethyl, cyclopentyl or phenyl; and R 1 in R′ is 1-methylethyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1-methoxyethyl, cyclopentyl, or phenyl.

12. The compound according to claim 7 wherein both the carbon atoms in R and R′ bearing the R 1 , R 2 and R 3 substituent have the S-configuration.

13. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound is of formula Ia

14. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

15. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

16. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

17. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

18. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

19. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

20. The compound according to claim 19 in its 0.2HCl.4H 2 O form or .H 2 SO 4 form.

21. A compound having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

22. The compound according to claim 21 in its 0.2HCl.4H 2 O form.

23. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

24. A product comprising (a) a compound as defined by claim 1 , and (b) another HCV inhibitor, as a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of HCV infections.

25. The product according to claim 24 wherein the other HCV inhibitor is a HCV protease inhibitor.

26. The product according to claim 25 wherein the HCV protease inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of telaprevir (VX-950), boceprevir (SCH-503034), narlaprevir (SCH-900518), ITMN-191 (R-7227), TMC435350 (TMC435), MK-7009, BI-201335, BI-2061 (ciluprevir), BMS-650032, ACH-1625, ACH-1095, GS 9256, VX-985, IDX-375 (HCV NS4A protease co-factor inhibitor), VX-500, VX-813, PHX-1766, PHX2054, IDX-136, IDX-316, ABT-450, EP-013420 (and congeners), and VBY-376.

27. The product according to claim 25 wherein the HCV protease inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of TMC435350 (TMC435), MK-7009, and ITMN-191 (R-7227).

28. The product according to claim 24 wherein the other HCV inhibitor is a HCV nucleoside or non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor.

29. The product according to claim 28 wherein the HCV polymerase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of R7128, PSI-7851, PSI 7977, IDX-189, IDX-184, IDX-102, R1479, UNX-08189, PSI-6130, PSI-938, PSI-879, HCV-796, HCV-371, VCH-759, VCH-916, VCH-222, ANA-598, MK-3281, ABT-333, ABT-072, PF-00868554, BI-207127, GS-9190, A-837093, JKT-109, GL-59728, GL-60667, ABT-072, AZD-2795, and 13-cyclohexyl-3-methoxy-17,23-dimethyl-7H-10,6-(methanoiminothioiminoethanooxyethanoiminomethano)indolo[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-14,24-dione 16,16-dioxide.

30. The product according to claim 28 wherein the HCV polymerase inhibitor is PSI-6130 or a prodrug thereof.

31. The product according to claim 28 wherein the HCV polymerase inhibitor is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

32. A product comprising (a) a compound as defined by claim 1 , and (b) an immunomodulatory agent, as a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of HCV infections.