Abstract: Novel amidines, especially N,N'-bridged carboxylic acid amidines of the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents an aromatic radical, R.sub.2 represents optionally esterified or amidated 1-carboxy-lower alkyl, Ph represents optionally substituted 1,2-phenylene and alk represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical separating the imino group from the methine group by from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and their salts, have, inter alia, anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as active medicament substances in pharmaceutical preparations. They are produced according to methods known per se.