Abstract: Compounds of formula I? wherein the two —OH substituents in the phenyl moiety are in a position ortho to one another and R1 in a position ortho to one of the hydroxy groups; and X, R1 to R6 are as defined in disclosure. The compounds exhibit COMT enzyme inhibiting activity, so are useful as COMT inhibitors.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I?), wherein A, R1 to R3 and t are as defined in the disclosure, exhibit COMT enzyme inhibiting activity so that they are useful as COMT inhibitors.

Abstract: This invention relates to determining the three-dimensional structure of the cytosolic domain of phospholamban (PLB) and its active site from NMR data of sufficiently high resolution for the three-dimensional structure determination. The invention also relates to methods for rational drug design enabling the design of phospholamban inhibitors based on using the three-dimensional structure data provided on computer readable media, as analyzed on a computer system having suitable computer algorithms. The invention also relates to phospholamban inhibiting compounds with certain structural, physicochemical and spatial characteristics that allow for the interaction of said compounds with specific residues of the active site of phospholamban.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I′) wherein the two OH— substituents in the phenyl moiety are in a position ortho to one another and R1 in a position ortho to one of the hydroxy groups; and X, R1 to R6 are as defined in claims, exhibit COMT enzyme inhibiting activity so that they are useful as COMT inhibitors.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I′), wherein A, R1 to R3 and t are as defined in the disclosure, exhibit COMT enzyme inhibiting activity so that they are useful as COMT inhibitors.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I′) wherein the two OH— substituents in the phenyl moiety are in a position ortho to one another and R1 in a position ortho to one of the hydroxy groups; and X, R1 to R6 are as defined in claims, exhibit COMT enzyme inhibiting activity so that they are useful as COMT inhibitors.

Abstract: This invention relates to determining the three-dimensional structure of the cytosolic domain of phospholamban (PLB) and its active site from NMR data of sufficiently high resolution for the three-dimensional structure determination. The invention also relates to methods for rational drug design enabling the design of phospholamban inhibitors based on using the three-dimensional structure data provided on computer readable media, as analyzed on a computer system having suitable computer algorithms. The invention also relates to phospholamban inhibiting compounds with certain structural, phsicochemical and spatial characteristics that allow for the interaction of said compounds with specific residues of phospholamban.

Abstract: The invention relates to the compounds of formula I: wherein one of X1 and X2 is MeSO2 and the other one is hydrogen or halogen and X3 is hydrogen or halogen. These compounds have been found to be useful in the prevention and the treatment of respiratory diseases, especially asthma, ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), allergic rhinitis and related inflammatory conditions. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of said compound in the prevention and the treatment of asthma in steroid-resistant patients. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations used in the treatment of said diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an electronegative substituent, preferably nitro, cyano, formyl or carboxy, R.sub.2 is --A--R.sub.4, wherein A is a branched or straight chain C.sub.1-9 alkylene and R.sub.4 is carboxy or 5-tetrazolyl; R.sub.3 is an electronegative substituent, preferably nitro, cyano, halogen, formyl, carboxy, C.sub.1-5 alkyl carbonyl, aryl carbonyl or SO.sub.2 R.sub.6, wherein R.sub.6 is a branched or straight chain C.sub.1-5 alkyl, aryl alkyl, aryl or NR.sub.7 R.sub.8, wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are independently hydrogen, a branched or straight chain C.sub.1-5 alkyl or together form a C.sub.3-6 ring; or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester or salt thereof. The compounds are peripheral, long acting COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase) inhibitors and are useful, e.g., in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and hypertension.