The present invention provides benzamide inhibitors of the P2X.sub.7 receptor of the formula: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3 are as defined herein. The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of IL-1 mediated disorders, including, without limitation, inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; allergies, asthma, COPD, cancer, reperfusion or ischemia in stroke or heart attack, autoimmune diseases and other disorders.