Disclosed are 2-heteroaryl-6-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives as represented by the general formula (I), wherein: R1 is heteroaryl or a heterocyclic group each of which may be optionally substituted and wherein the remaining substituents are as defined herein. Representative compounds include those such as { 3-[2-(5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]phenyl} methanol, [3-[2-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]phenyl]methanol and the hydrochloride thereof, 6-[6-(3-hydroxymethylphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl]-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one and the hydrochloride thereof, 2-(5-bromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-yl)-6-(3-tertbutoxymethylphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, [2-(2-furan-3-ylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)phenyl]methanol hydrochloride, { 3-[2-(1H-indol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]phenyl} methanol and the hydrochloride thereof and [3-[2-(thien-2-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]phenyl]methanol. Further disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition, which comprises a compound of formula (I) as defined above or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and also at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebral traumas, epilepsy, psychiatric diseases, inflammatory diseases, osteoporosis and / or cancers.
