Biphenyl Derived Thiamides as Calpain Inhibitors

The present invention relates to compounds derived from biphenyl with activity as calpain inhibitors. One compound of the present invention is a 2,2'-disubstituted biphenyl, where the substituents in the 2 and 2' positions of the biphenyl skeleton are chains containing structures related to amino acids, including fragments of aminocarbonylic compounds where at least one of the substituents in said 2- or 2'-positions is bonded to the biphenyl skeleton via a thiocarbonyl group, forming compounds with thioamide functionality. The present invention also encompasses any of the conformational isomers (atropisomers) of said compound of formula I. The compounds of formula I have application in the preventive or therapeutic treatment of a degenerative disease.