| abstract |
The present invention provides a CETP activity inhibitor comprising as an active ingredient a compound represented by the formula (I): <IMG> wherein R represents a straight chain or branched alkyl group; a straight chain or branched alkenyl group; a lower haloalkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkenyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylalkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, X1, X2, X3 and X4 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower haloalkyl group; a lower alkoxy group; a cyano group; a vitro group; an acyl group; or an aryl group, Y represents -CO- or -SO2-, and Z represents a hydrogen atom or a mercapto-protecting group, or a prodrug compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate or solvate thereof. The compounds represented by the formula ( I ) can increase HDL and at the same time decrease LDL through selective inhibition of CETP activity and, therefore, is expected to be useful as a new type of a preventive or therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis or hyperlipidemia. |