Introduction of an alpha-hydroxyacid moiety in position 5 of the imidazole ring within the imidazolyl biphenyl sulfonyl urea series significantly increased AT(2) binding. Structure activity relationship around this moiety is described and gave rise to balanced AII inhibitors with nanomolar affinity on both AT(1) and AT(2) receptors and with an AT(2)/AT(1) ratio of between 0.4 and 3.