CYANAMIDES USEFUL AS REVERSIBLE INHIBITORS OF CYSTEINE PROTEASES

Compounds according to the following formula (I): wherein the variables Q and Rl to R6 are as described herein, which reversibly inhibit the cysteine proteases, such as cathepsins K, S, F, L and B; pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and method of treating diseases and pathological conditions exacerbated by these cysteine proteases such as, but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and endometriosis.