Abstract: An alkanoic acid compound is disclosed of formula: ##STR1## and certain of its physiologically acceptable salts and esters. The alkanoic acid compound and its salts and esters have an unexpectedly greater anti-inflammatory activity than representative members of a broad class of compounds, phenyl alkane derivatives, known to have therapeutic properties. The alkanoic acid compound also has unexpectedly high antipyretic and analgesic activity. The compounds may be formulated in conventional manner as pharmaceutical compositions.The compound may be prepared from 2-[4-(1-hydroxy-2-dimethylethyl)phenyl] propionic acid directly by dehydration or via an ester by dehydration in the presence of an alkanol followed by hydrolysis.