| abstract |
Novel succinimides and maleimides are inhibitors or tumor necrosis factor .alpha. and phosphodiesterase and can be used to combat cachexia, endotoxic shock, retrovirus replication, asthma, and inflammatory conditions. A typical embodiment is methyl 3-(3',4',5',6'-tetrahydrophthalimido)-(3",4"-dimethoxyphenyl)propionate. The novel compounds have the following formula: (see formula I) in which: R1 is -CH2-, -CH2CO-, or -CO-; R2, R3, R4 and R5 are more fully described in the disclosure. |