Abstract: This invention is related to a therapeutic agent for treating chronic kidney disease comprising a substance which inhibits the enzymatic activity of NNMT or suppresses NNMT gene expression, or a method for screening a therapeutic agent for treating chronic kidney disease which targets the NNMT enzyme or NNMT gene.

Abstract: This invention is related to a therapeutic agent for treating chronic kidney disease comprising a substance which inhibits the enzymatic activity of NNMT or suppresses NNMT gene expression, or a method for screening a therapeutic agent for treating chronic kidney disease which targets the NNMT enzyme or NNMT gene.

Abstract: A CTGF expression inhibitor comprising a compound of the formula I: a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof as an active ingredient, (wherein Y is hydroxy or a group of the formula: —NH—SO2—Y? (wherein Y? is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted alkyl), and R1 to R9 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy or the like).

Abstract: A novel heterocyclic compound capable of lowering the uric acid levels in plasma and urine having the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form a four- to eight-membered carbon ring together with the carbon atom to which they are attached; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R.sup.4 is one or two radicals selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, lower alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, --OR.sup.5 and --SO.sub.2 NR.sup.6 R.sup.6' ; R.sup.5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl-substituted lower alkyl, carboxymethyl or ester thereof, hydroxyethyl or ether thereof, or allyl; R.sup.6 and R.sup.6' are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl; R.sup.