The present invention is directed to substituted 3-aryl-5-aryl-[1,2,4]-oxadiazoles
and analogs thereof, represented by the Formula I:
##STR1##
wherein Ar1, Ar3, A, B and D are defined herein. The
present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula I
are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators
of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention may be used to induce cell
death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread
of abnormal cells occurs.
