The present invention relates generally to alkyne containing pharmaceutical agents, and in particular, to phenylethynyl-thiophene based metalloprotease inhibitor compounds. More particularly, the present invention provides a new class of MMP inhibiting compounds that exhibit increased potency, metabolic stability and/or reduced toxicity in relation to currently known MMP inhibitors for the treatment of pain and other diseases such as cancer. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods for treating pain in a patient comprising administering to the patient a pain-reducing effective amount of a present compound.
