The present inventors have shown that specific benzene sulfonamide thiazole compounds (I) have the ability to induce an early endoplasmic reticulum stress. These compounds also lead to cancerous cells growth inhibition and death.

##STR00001##

Compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, wherein: A is monocyclic and bicyclic heteroaryl; B is alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkyl-amino, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, or alkylene; D is aryl-amino, heteroaryl-amino, cycloalkyl-amino, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-amino, urea, thioamide, thiourea, sulfonamide, sulfoximine, or sulfamoyl; and E is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl.

These compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5).

Compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, wherein: A is monocyclic and bicyclic heteroaryl; B is alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkyl-amino, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, or alkylene; D is aryl-amino, heteroaryl-amino, cycloalkyl-amino, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-amino, urea, thioamide, thiourea, sulfonamide, sulfoximine, or sulfamoyl; and E is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl.

These compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5).