Compounds for the treatment of

1. A compound of formula (I):

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted pyridyl group and an optionally substituted thiazole group, the optional substitution being with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, NO 2 , R 3 , OR 3 , N(R 3 ) 2 , COR 3 , CO 2 R 3 , C(═O)SR 3 , SR 3 , S(═O)R 3 , SO 2 R 3 , NR 4 C(═O)R 3 , NR 4 CO 2 R 3 , OC(═O)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 SO 2 R 3 , C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═O)NR 3 R 4 , CONR 3 R 4 and SO 2 NR 3 R 4 ;

R 2 is an optionally substituted aromatic 8-14 membered fused bicyclic or tricyclic ring system in which one or more of the carbon atoms may be replaced by N, O, S, SO or SO 2 and the optional substitution being with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, NO 2 , R 3 , OR 3 , N(R 3 ) 2 , COR 3 , CO 2 R 3 , C(═O)SR 3 , SR 3 , S(═O)R 3 , SO 2 R 3 , NR 4 C(═O)R 3 , NR 4 CO 2 R 3 , OC(═O)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 SO 2 R 3 , C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═O)NR 3 R 4 , CONR 3 R 4 and SO 2 NR 3 R 4 ;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 3 -C 7 carbocyclyl, C 4 -C 7 heterocyclyl and 5- or 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl, any of which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, NO 2 , R 4 , OR 4 , N(R 4 ) 2 , COR 4 , CO 2 R 4 , C(═O)SR 4 , SR 4 , S(═O)R 4 , SO 2 R 4 , NR 4 C(═O)R 4 , NR 4 CO 2 R 4 , OC(═O)NR 4 ) 2 , NR 4 SO 2 R 4 , C(═NR 4 )N(R 4 ) 2 , C(═S)N(R 4 ) 2 , NR 4 C(═NR 4 )N(R 4 ) 2 , NR 4 C(═S)N(R 4 ) 2 , NR 4 C(═O)N(R 4 ) 2 , CON(R 4 ) 2 and SO 2 N(R 4 ) 2 ;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 3 -C 7 carbocyclyl, optionally substituted with one or more halo atoms;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxide, salt, hydrate, solvate, complex, bioisostere, or metabolite thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 2 is an optionally substituted aromatic 8-10 membered fused bicyclic ring system in which one or more of the carbon atoms may be replaced by N, O, S, SO or SO 2 and the optional substitution being with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, NO 2 , R 3 , OR 3 , N(R 3 ) 2 , COR 3 , CO 2 R 3 , C(═O)SR 3 , SR 3 , S(═O)R 3 , SO 2 R 3 , NR 4 C(═O)R 3 , NR 4 CO 2 R 3 , OC(═O)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 SO 2 R 3 , C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═O)NR 3 R 4 , CONR 3 R 4 and SO 2 NR 3 R 4 .

3. The compound of claim 2 wherein R 2 is an optionally substituted aromatic 9-membered bicyclic ring system in which one or more of the carbon atoms may be replaced by N, O, S, SO or SO 2 and the optional substitution being with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, NO 2 , R 3 , OR 3 , N(R 3 ) 2 , COR 3 , CO 2 R 3 , C(═O)SR 3 , SR 3 , S(═O)R 3 , SO 2 R 3 , NR 4 C(═O)R 3 , NR 4 CO 2 R 3 , OC(═O)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 SO 2 R 3 , C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═NR 4 )NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═S)NR 3 R 4 , NR 4 C(═O)NR 3 R 4 , CONR 3 R 4 and SO 2 NR 3 R 4 .

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 2 is an optionally substituted aromatic fused 5,6-membered bicyclic ring system.

5. The compound of claim 4 wherein R 2 is:

(a) an optionally substituted thienopyridyl group; or

(b) an optionally substituted benzothiophene group; or

(c) an optionally substituted benzofuran group; or

(d) an optionally substituted pyridyl imidazole group; or

(e) an optionally substituted benzodioxol group; or

(f) an optionally substituted indole group.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 2 is an optionally substituted aromatic fused 6,6-membered bicyclic ring system.

7. The compound of claim 6 wherein R 2 is:

(a) an optionally substituted isoquinolone group; or

(b) an optionally substituted quinoxaline group; or

(c) an optionally substituted isoquinoline group; or

(d) an optionally substituted quinoline group; or

(e) an optionally substituted naphthyridine group.

8. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same.

9. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are different.

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:

2-(2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine,

2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(benzofuran-5-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

6-(2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,3′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzo[d]imidazole,

2-(benzo[b]thiophen-5-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,3′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(1H-indol-5-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,3′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,3′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(benzo[d][1,3]-dioxol-5-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

2-(2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-[5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazol]-2-yl)thieno[2,3-c]pyridine,

2-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)-2′-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole, and

2-(2′-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H,1′H-[5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazol]-2-yl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine,

and pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxides, salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes, bioisosteres, and metabolites thereof.

11. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is

2-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)-2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H,1′H-5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxide, salt, hydrate, solvate, complex, bioisostere, or metabolite thereof.

12. A combination comprising a compound as defined in claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxide, salt, hydrate, solvate, complex, bioisostere, or metabolite thereof, and an adjunctive agent selected from the group consisting of:

(a) vancomycin;

(b) metronidazole;

(c) a probiotic;

(d) a pre-biotic;

(e) a bacteriotoxin sequestrant;

(f) intravenous immunoglobulin; and

(g) an anti-diarrhoeal agent.

13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising probiotic selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces spp. and Lactobacillus spp.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein the compound and adjunctive agent are physically or non-physically associated.

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxide, salt, hydrate, solvate, complex, bioisostere, or metabolite thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.