Official Gazette of the United States Patent & Trademark Office Patents 1250(2), Sep 11
2001
(4-oxy-3-(aryl)phenyl)pyridine compounds, in free or acid addition salt form, are useful as pharmaceuticals for treatment and prophylaxis of inflammation, particularly inflammatory or obstructive diseases of the airways, e.g. for asthma therapy. Preferred compounds are novel biphenyl pyridines, biphenyl benzamides and biphenyl phenylcarboxy compounds. The compounds are selective inhibitors of PDE 4 isoenzyme activity and also act to down regulate or inhibit TNF-alpha release.