Abstract: The present invention is directed to the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with (a) a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor or (b) a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor and a second active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with (a) a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor or (b) a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor and a second active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the treatment of diabetic nephropathy with a) a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, b) a combination of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor with an AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist or c) a combination of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for a therapeutic drug for diabetes or a nerve system disease, including using ferrochelatase, and a ferrochelatase activator containing a compound represented by the formula: wherein ring A is a 5-membered aromatic heterocycle containing two or more nitrogen atoms and optionally further having substituent(s); B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X is a divalent noncyclic hydrocarbon group; Z is —O—, —S—, —NR2—, —CONR2— or —NR2CO— wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group; Y is a bond or a divalent noncyclic hydrocarbon group; and R1 is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TGF-? superfamily production/secretion promoter comprising a compound represented by the formula wherein R1 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group; A is an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group or an optionally esterified or amidated carboxyl group; B is an optionally substituted aromatic group; X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom; and Y is a divalent hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of dysautonomia, bladder dysfunction, hearing impairment, bone disease and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a VDAC regulator comprising a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxyl group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group; A is an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxyl group or an optionally esterified or amidated carboxyl group; B is an optionally substituted aromatic group; X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom; and Y is a divalent hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group; a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of Down's syndrome and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or treating neuropathy having superior action and low toxicity. This agent comprises a compound represented by the formula: wherein ring A is a 5-membered aromatic heterocycle containing 2 or more nitrogen atoms, which may further have substituent(s); B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X is a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; Z is —O—, —S—, —NR2—, —CONR2— or —NR2CO— (R2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group); Y is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; R1 is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, provided that when the 5-membered aromatic heterocycle represented by ring A is imidazole, then Z should not be —O—, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or treating neuropathy having superior action and low toxicity. This agent comprises a compound represented by the formula: wherein ring A is a 5-membered aromatic heterocycle containing 2 or more nitrogen atoms, which may further have substituent(s); B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X is a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; Z is —O—, —S—, —NR2—, —CONR2— or —NR2CO— (R2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group); Y is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; R1 is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, provided that when the 5-membered aromatic heterocycle represented by ring A is imidazole, then Z should not be —O—, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for a prophylactic or therapeutic drug for apoptosis or an inflammation-associated disease, diabetes and complications thereof or a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), namely, a method for screening for a prophylactic or therapeutic drug for apoptosis or an inflammation-associated disease, diabetes and complications thereof or COPD, which includes (1) comparing the activities of a protein having an amino acid sequence the same as or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, between in the presence of a test substance and in the absence of the test substance, or (2) comparing the expressions of a protein having an amino acid sequence the same as or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 2, a partial peptide thereof and a salt thereof in the cells having the ability to produce the protein, the partial peptide thereof and the salt thereof, be

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group, A is an optionally substituted cyclic amino group or —NR2—W—D wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, W is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group, and D is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom, and Y is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group, or a salt thereof, which is useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetic neuropathy and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a screening method for a prophylactic or therapeutic substance for a disease associated with a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:2 or a salt thereof, for example, a renal disease or diabetes, which comprises using the protein or a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, or a polynucleotide that encodes the protein or a partial peptide thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or treating neuropathy having superior action and low toxicity. This agent comprises a compound represented by the formula: wherein ring A is a 5-membered aromatic heterocycle containing 2 or more nitrogen atoms, which may further have substituent(s); B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X is a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; Z is —O—, —S—, —NR2—, —CONR2— or —NR2CO— (R2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group); Y is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group; R1 is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, provided that when the 5-membered aromatic heterocycle represented by ring A is imidazole, then Z should not be —O—, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a VDAC regulator comprising a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group; A is an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group or an optionally esterified or amidated carboxyl group; B is an optionally substituted aromatic group; X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom; and Y is a divalent hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of Down's syndrome and the like, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group, A is an optionally substituted cyclic amino group or —NR2—W-D wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, W is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group, and D is an optionally substituted cyclic group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted acyl group, B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom, and Y is a bond or a divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group, or a salt thereof, which is useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetic neuropathy and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TGF-&bgr; superfamily production/secretion promoter comprising a compound represented by the formula 1

Abstract: An angiogenesis inhibitor containing a compound represented by the formula 1

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: wherein X represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Y represents an optionally oxidized sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Z represents a bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group; R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; R2 represents an optionally amidated or esterified carboxyl group; ring A represents an optionally substituted aromatic 5-membered heterocyclic ring; or a salt thereof. A compound of the above formula possesses cell differentiation inducing factor action-enhancing activity and anti-matrix metalloprotease activity and that is useful in the prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, cancer metastasis, and diseases based on nerve degeneration.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: wherein X represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Y represents an optionally oxidized sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Z represents a bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group; R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; R2 represents an optionally amidated or esterified carboxyl group; ring A represents an optionally substituted aromatic 5-membered heterocyclic ring; or a salt thereof. A compound of the above formula possesses cell differentiation inducing factor action-enhancing activity and anti-matrix metalloprotease activity and that is useful in the prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, cancer metastasis, and diseases based on nerve degeneration.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: 1

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is an amino group which may be substituted; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group which may be substituted; X is a methyne group which may be substituted or N(O)m (m is 0 or 1); a ring A is a homo- or hetero-cycle which is substituted by a halogen atom, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or lower alkylenedioxy; and a ring B is a homo- or hetero-cycle which may be substituted; or a salt thereof, which exhibits excellent cell differentiation-inducing action and cell differentiation-inducing factor action-enhancing action, and is useful in the treatment and prevention of various nerve diseases or bone/joint diseases.