The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, or
pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof, which
inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis
C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the
present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus
and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further
relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned
compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection.
The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a
subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a
compound of the present invention. ##STR00001##