| abstract |
The invention provides a compound of the formula I (see formula I) wherein Ar represents pyridyl; R1 represents lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, carbocyclic-lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, or halogen-lower alkyl; R2 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; R3 and R4 represent independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, hydroxy, acyloxy, lower alkoxy-lower alkoxy, trifluoromethyl or cyano; or R3 and R4 together on adjacent carbon atoms represent lower alkylenedioxy; n represents an integer from 1 to 5; wherein cycloalkyl represents a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon, unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, which contains 3 to 10 ring carbons; a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug derivative thereof in which the CONHOH group is derivatised in the form of an O-acyl wherein acyl is derived from an organic carboxylic acid, carbonic acid or carbamic acid; or a substituted or unsubstituted O-benzyl derivative; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. It can be used as anti-inflammatory, for example in treatment of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, or as an antitumor agent, for example in treatment and prevention of tumor growth, tumor metastasis, tumor invasion and progression. |