The present invention relates to the field of therapeutic and diagnostic agents and more specifically to compounds of formula (I) that are inhibitors of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related thereto such as cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases and malignant diseases. One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I) labeled with a 18-fluorine atom having matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activity suitable for diagnostic imaging. Also disclosed in the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the inhibitors of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) of the invention or the corresponding labeled compounds useful as diagnostic imaging agents of the invention in a form suitable for mammalian administration. The invention furthermore discloses intermediates in the synthesis of the inhibitors of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) of the invention and of the diagnostic imaging agents of the invention and kits for the preparation of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
