Abstract: This invention relates to a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor containing as an active ingredient a pyridylacrylamide derivative represented by the following formula (I): (wherein Ar1 represents substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl; Ar2 represents phenyl substituted by alkoxy, etc.; R1 represents hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl; R2 represents hydrogen, alkyl, cyano, or alkoxycarbonyl; R3 represents hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; X represents oxygen or sulfur; A and B are the same or different and each independently represents hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio, or A and B together represent oxo, thioxo, etc., or A may be hydroxyl and B may be 1-alkylimidazol-2-yl; and n is an integer from 1 to 3) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to cinnamamide derivatives having the following formula wherein R1 represents a hydroxyl group, a C1-6-alkoxy group, an arylalkoxy group or a substituted or unsubstituted amino group; R2 and R3 are same or different, each of which represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-4-alkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6-alkyl group; R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6-alkyl group or an aryl group; R6 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6-alkyl group, a cyano group or a C1-6-alkoxy-carbonyl group; W represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an imino group, a methylene group, a hydroxymethylene group or a carbonyl group; X and Y are same or different, each of which represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; m represents an integer of 0 to 2; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and when m is 0, a group: —C(R2)(R3)—W— may represent a vinylene group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutical composition con

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for treating nephritis and a TGF-&bgr; inhibiting agent comprising as an effective ingredient a pyridylacrylamide derivative represented by the following formula (I): wherein Ar1 is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl group, Ar2 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, R1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cyano group or an alkoxycarbonyl group, R3 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, A and B are same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group or an alkylthio group, or A and B together form an oxo or thioxo group, or a group represented by the formula: ═N—Y in which Y is a dialkylamino, hydroxyl, aralkyloxy or alkoxy group, or a group represented by the formula: —Z1—M—Z2— which Z1 and Z2 are same or different and each represent an oxygen or sulfur atom or