The invention relates to benzimidazole derivatives of general formula in which X represents a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom; and when X represents a nitrogen atom: R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkyl group, or does not exist, to give the compounds of formula (I) comprising a secondary or tertiary amine; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C3-C7 heterocycloalkyl, —(CH2)p-heteroaryl, heteroaryl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, (C1-C6)alkylcarbonyl, —(CH2)pCOOR, optionally substituted phenylsulphonyl or optionally substituted —(CH2)p-phenyl group, and, when X represents a carbon atom: R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —NR5R6, —N(R5)3+, —NHCOR7, —CONHR5, —COR7, —NHCONH2, —OH or —CH2OH, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted —(CH2)p-phenyl, —(CH2)p-heteroaryl or —(CH2)tNR7R8 group. Preparation process and therapeutic application.