CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS \\[

The present invention concerns novel N-benzyl-piperidine derivatives having pharmaceutical activity, to processes for preparing such derivatives, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives and to the use of such derivatives as active therapeutic agents.

Pharmaceutically active N-benzyl-piperidine derivatives are disclosed in WO 01/14333.

The compounds of the present invention are active CCR3 antagonists and are advantageous because they have a high level of metabolic stability as shown by their intrinsic clearance. A pharmaceutically active ingredient's intrinsic clearance is a prediction of how rapidly the active ingredient would be cleared from a mammalian body, that is, it is predictor of the amount of active ingredient that would be cleared from (or metabolised by) the body in a unit of time. Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that are released by a wide variety of cells to attract macrophages, T cells, eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils to sites of inflammation and also play a role in the maturation of cells of the immune system. Chemokines play an important role in immune and inflammatory responses in various diseases and disorders, including asthma and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. These small secreted molecules are a growing superfamily of 8-14 kDa proteins characterised by a conserved four cysteine motif. The chemokine superfamily can be divided into two main groups exhibiting characteristic structural motifs, the Cys-X-Cys (C-X-C, or α) and Cys-Cys (C- C, or β) families. These are distinguished on the basis of a single amino acid insertion between the NH-proximal pair of cysteine residues and sequence similarity.

The C-X-C chemokines include several potent chemoattractants and activators of ^' neutrophils such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2).

The C-C chemokines include potent chemoattractants of monocytes and lymphocytes but not neutrophils such as human monocyte, chemotactic proteins 1-3 (MCP-I, MCP-2 and MCP-3), RANTES (Regulated on Activation, Normal T Expressed and Secreted), eotaxin and the macrophage inflammatory proteins lα and lβ (MTP- lα and MTP- lβ).

Studies have demonstrated that the actions of the chemokines are mediated by subfamilies of G protein-coupled receptors, among which are the receptors designated CCRl, CCR2, CCR2A, CCR2B, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR7, CCR8, CCR9, CCRlO, CXCRl, CXCR2, CXCR3 and CXCR4. These receptors represent good targets 5 for drug development since agents which modulate these receptors would be useful in the treatment of disorders and diseases such as those mentioned above.

Viral infections are known to cause lung inflammation. It has been shown experimentally that the common cold increases mucosal output of eotaxin in the airways. Instillation of eotaxin into the nose can mimic some of the signs and symptoms of a i ₀ common cold. (See, Greiff L et aϊ Allergy (1999) 54(11) 1204-8 [Experimental common cold increase mucosal output of eotaxin in atopic individuals] and Kawaguchi M et al Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. (2000) 122 Sl 44 [Expression of eotaxin by normal airway epithelial cells after virus A infection].)

The present invention provides a compound of formula '(I):

wherein:

Ar ¹ is phenyl or naphthyl, either of which is optionally substituted by chloro, fluoro, methyl or CF ₃ ;

R ¹ and R ² are, independently, hydrogen or methyl;

20 X is CH ₂ or CH(CH ₃ );

Ar ² is phenyl, naphthyl, imidazolyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolinyl, quinazolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 5-phenylamino-l,3,4- oxadiazolyl or 3-pyridinyl-l,2,4-oxadiazolyl; wherein Ar ² is substituted by CO ₂ R', tetrazolyl, (CH ₂ ) _m R ³ , CH ₂ CH(CH ₃ )R ⁴ ,

2S CH ₂ C(CH ₃ ) ₂ R ⁵ , O(CH ₂ ) _k R ⁶ or S(CH ₂ ) _q R ⁷ ; and Ar ² is optionally additionally substituted by one or more of halogen, hydroxy, nitro, S(O) ₁ (C _1-6 alkyl), S(O) ₂ NH ₂ , S(O) ₂ NH(Ci _-6 alkyl), S(O) ₂ N(C _1-6 alkyl) ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _1-6 alkyl), N(C _1-6 alkyl) ₂ , cyano, Ci _-6 alkyl, C _1-6 alkoxy, C(O)NH ₂ , C(O)NH(C _1-6 alkyl), C(O)N(Ci _-6 alkyl) ₂ , CO ₂ H, CO ₂ (Ci _-6 alkyl), NHC(O)(Ci _-6 alkyl), NHS(O) ₂ (Ci _-6 alkyl),

C(O)(C _1-6 alkyl), CF3 or OCF ₃ ; wherein alkyl or alkoxy groups are optionally substituted by NR ⁸ R ⁹ ;

R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently, CO ₂ R* or tetrazolyl;

R ⁸ and R ⁹ are independently hydrogen or C _1-4 alkyl or together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a ring (for example azepine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, homopiperidine, morpholine or piperazine), the latter optionally substituted on the distal nitrogen by C _1-4 alkyl;

R' and R* are, independently, hydrogen, C _1-6 alkyl or phenyl(C _1-4 alkyl); wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxy, nitro, S(O)t(C _1-4 alkyl), S(O) ₂ NH ₂ , S(O) ₂ NH(C _1-4 alkyl), S(O) ₂ N(Ci _-4 alkyl) ₂ , cyano, Ci _-4 alkyl, Ci _-4 alkoxy, C(O)NH ₂ ,

C(O)NH(C _1-4 alkyl), C(O)N(Ci _-4 alkyl) ₂ , CO ₂ H, CO ₂ (C _1-4 alkyl), NHC(O)(C _1-4 alkyl),

NHS(O) ₂ (C _1-4 alkyl), C(O)(C _1-4 alkyl), CF ₃ or OCF ₃ ; or each CO ₂ R' or CO ₂ R* is, independently, (Cθ ₂ ^~ )pR ^p+ wherein R ^p+ is a univalent cation

(for example an alkali metal cation) or two carboxylates may coordinate to a divalent cation (for example an alkaline earth metal cation); or each tetrazolyl is, independently, (tetrazolyl ^g" )R ^g+ wherein R ^g+ is a univalent cation (for example an alkali metal cation) or two tetrazoles may coordinate to a divalent cation (for example an alkaline earth metal cation); r and t are, independently, 0, 1 or 2; m, k and q are, independently, 1, 2 or 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Certain compounds of the present invention can exist in different isomeric forms (such as enantiomers, diastereomers, geometric isomers or tautomers). The present invention covers all such isomers and mixtures thereof in all proportions. The compounds of the invention can be zwitterionic and all such zwitterions are within the invention.

Suitable salts include acid addition salts such as hydrochloride, dihydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphate, sulfate, acetate, diacetate, fumarate, maleate, malonate, succinate, tartrate, citrate, oxalate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate orp- toluenesulfonate.

An alkali metal cation is, for example sodium or potassium, and an alkaline earth metal cation is, for example, magnesium or calcium.

The compounds of the invention may exist as solvates (such as hydrates) and the present invention covers all such solvates.

Halogen includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Halogen is, for example, fluorine or chlorine. Alkyl is straight or branched chain and is, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso- propyl or tert-butyl.

In one particular aspect the present invention provides a compound wherein Ar ¹ is phenyl optionally substituted (for example with one, two or three of the same or different) with fluorine, chlorine or methyl. In a further aspect the present invention provides a compound wherein Ar ¹ is, for example, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 2-methyl-4- chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenyl or 3,4- dichloro-2-methylphenyl.

In a still further aspect the present invention provides a compound of formula (I) wherein Ar ² is phenyl or pyridinyl substituted as recited above. In another aspect Ar ² is phenyl substituted as recited above. In yet another aspect Ar ² is pyridinyl substituted as recited above.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a compound of formula (I) wherein Ar ² is substituted by CO ₂ R' or tetrazolyl (wherein R' is hydrogen or Ci _-4 alkyl) and is optionally additionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, C _1-4 alkyl, CF ₃ , C _1-4 alkoxy, S(O) ₂ NH ₂ , NH ₂ or CH ₂ (morpholin-4-yl).

In a still further aspect the present invention provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R ¹ and R ² are both hydrogen.

In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of formula (I) wherein X is CH ₂ .

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared as described below or by adaptation of methods described in the art (for example WO 01/14333).

A compound of formula (I) can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (TL):

with a compound of formula (III):

in the presence of a suitable coupling agent (such as HATU), in the presence of a suitable base (such as a tertiary amine, for example Hϋnig's base), in a suitable solvent (such as N- methylpyrrolidinone) at a temperature in the range -10 to 30 ⁰ C.

In the above processes it may be desirable or necessary to protect an acid group or a hydroxy or other potentially reactive group. Suitable protecting groups and details of processes for adding and removing such groups may be found in "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", 3rd Edition (1999) by Greene and Wuts. In another aspect the present invention provides processes for the preparation of compounds of formula (I).

The compounds of formula (I) have activity as pharmaceuticals, in particular as modulators of chemokine receptor (for example CCR3) activity, and may be used in the treatment of autoimmune, inflammatory, proliferative or hyperproliferative diseases, or immunologically-mediated diseases (including rejection of transplanted organs or tissues and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)).

Examples of these conditions are:

1. respiratory tract: obstructive diseases of the airways including: asthma, including bronchial, allergic, intrinsic, extrinsic, exercise-induced, drug-induced (including aspirin and NS AID-induced) and dust-induced asthma, both intermittent and persistent and of all severities, and other causes of airway hyper-responsiveness; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); bronchitis, including infectious and eosinophilic bronchitis; emphysema; bronchiectasis; cystic fibrosis; sarcoidosis; farmer's lung and related diseases; hypersensitivity pneumonitis; lung fibrosis, including cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, fibrosis complicating anti-neoplastic therapy and chronic infection, including tuberculosis and aspergillosis and other fungal infections; complications of lung transplantation; vasculitic and thrombotic disorders of the lung vasculature, and pulmonary hypertension; antitussive activity including treatment of chronic cough associated with inflammatory and secretory conditions of the airways, and

iatrogenic cough; acute and chronic rhinitis including rhinitis medicamentosa, and vasomotor rhinitis; perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis including rhinitis nervosa (hay fever); nasal polyposis; acute viral infection including the common cold, and infection due to respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, coronavirus (including SARS) or adenovirus; or eosinophilic esophagitis;

2. bone and joints: arthritides associated with or including osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis, both primary and secondary to, for example, congenital hip dysplasia; cervical and lumbar spondylitis, and low back and neck pain; osteoporosis; rheumatoid arthritis and Still's disease; seronegative spondyloarthropathies including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and undifferentiated spondarthropathy; septic arthritis and other infection-related arthopathies and bone disorders such as tuberculosis, including Potts' disease and Poncet's syndrome; acute and chronic crystal-induced synovitis including urate gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and calcium apatite related tendon, bursal and synovial inflammation; Behcet's disease; primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome; s systemic sclerosis and limited scleroderma; systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease; inflammatory myopathies including dermatomyositits and polymyositis; polymalgia rheumatica; juvenile arthritis including idiopathic inflammatory arthritides of whatever joint distribution and associated syndromes, and rheumatic fever and its systemic complications; vasculitides o including giant cell arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyarteritis, and vasculitides associated with viral infection, hypersensitivity reactions, cryoglobulins, and paraproteins; low back pain; Familial Mediterranean fever, Muckle-Wells syndrome, and Familial Hibernian Fever, Kikuchi disease; drug-induced arthalgias, tendonititides, and myopathies; 5 3. pain and connective tissue remodelling of musculoskeletal disorders due to injury [for example sports injury] or disease: arthritides (for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout or crystal arthropathy), other joint disease (such as intervertebral disc degeneration or temporomandibular joint degeneration), bone remodelling disease (such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease or osteonecrosis), polychondritits, scleroderma, mixed 0 connective tissue disorder, spondyloarthropathies or periodontal disease (such as periodontitis);

4. skin: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis or other eczematous dermatoses, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions; phyto- and photodermatitis; seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus et atrophica, pyoderma gangrenosum, skin sarcoid, discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus, pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, urticaria, angioedema, vasculitides, toxic erythemas, cutaneous eosinophilias, alopecia areata, male-pattern baldness, Sweet's syndrome, Weber-Christian syndrome, erythema multiforme; cellulitis, both infective and non-infective; panniculitis; cutaneous lymphomas, non-melanoma skin cancer and other dysplastic lesions; drug- induced disorders including fixed drug eruptions; 5. eyes: blepharitis; conjunctivitis, including perennial and vernal allergic conjunctivitis; iritis; anterior and posterior uveitis; choroiditis; autoimmune; degenerative or inflammatory disorders affecting the retina; ophthalmitis including sympathetic ophthalmitis; sarcoidosis; infections including viral , fungal, and bacterial;

6. gastrointestinal tract: glossitis, gingivitis, periodontitis; oesophagitis, including reflux; eosinophilic gastro-enteritis, mastocytosis, Crohn's disease, colitis including ulcerative colitis, proctitis, pruritis ani; coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and food-related allergies which may have effects remote from the gut (for example migraine, rhinitis or eczema);

7. abdominal: hepatitis, including autoimmune, alcoholic and viral; fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver; cholecystitis; pancreatitis, both acute and chronic;

8. genitourinary: nephritis including interstitial and glomerulonephritis; nephrotic syndrome; cystitis including acute and chronic (interstitial) cystitis and Hunner's ulcer; acute and chronic urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis, oophoritis and salpingitis; vulvovaginitis; Peyronie's disease; erectile dysfunction (both male and female); 9. allograft rejection: acute and chronic following, for example, transplantation of kidney, heart, liver, lung, bone marrow, skin or cornea or following blood transfusion; or chronic graft versus host disease;

10. CNS: Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders including CJD and nvCJD; amyloidosis; multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating syndromes; cerebral atherosclerosis and vasculitis; temporal arteritis; myasthenia gravis; acute and chronic pain (acute, intermittent or persistent, whether of central or peripheral origin) including visceral pain, headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain, joint and bone pain,

pain arising from cancer and tumor invasion, neuropathic pain syndromes including diabetic, post-herpetic, and HTV-associated neuropathies; neurosarcoidosis; central and peripheral nervous system complications of malignant, infectious or autoimmune processes; 11. other auto-immune and allergic disorders including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, Addison's disease, diabetes mellitus, idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura, eosinophilic fasciitis, hyper-IgE syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome;

12. other disorders with an inflammatory or immunological component; including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), leprosy, Sezary syndrome, and paraneoplastic syndromes;

13. cardiovascular: atherosclerosis, affecting the coronary and peripheral circulation; pericarditis; myocarditis , inflammatory and auto-immune cardiomyopathies including myocardial sarcoid; ischaemic reperfusion injuries; endocarditis, valvulitis, and aortitis including infective (for example syphilitic); vasculitides; disorders of the proximal and peripheral veins including phlebitis and thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis and complications of varicose veins;

14. oncology: treatment of common cancers including prostate, breast, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, bowel and colon, stomach, skin and brain tumors and malignancies affecting the bone marrow (including the leukaemias) and lymphoproliferative systems, such as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; including the prevention and treatment of metastatic disease and tumour recurrences, and paraneoplastic syndromes; or,

15. gastrointestinal tract: Coeliac disease, proctitis, eosinopilic gastro-enteritis, mastocytosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, ^determinant colitis, irritable bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, non-inflammatory diarrhea, food- related allergies which have effects remote from the gut, e.g., migraine, rhinitis and eczema.

According to a further feature of the present invention there is provided a method for treating a chemokine mediated disease state (for example a CCR3 mediated disease state) in a mammal, such as man, suffering from, or at risk of, said disease state, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

According to yet another feature of the present invention there is provided a method for treating a sign and/or symptom of what is commonly referred to as a cold in a mammal, such as man, suffering from, or at risk of, said disease state, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention also provides a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in therapy.

In another aspect the invention provides the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for use in therapy (for example modulating chemokine receptor activity (for example CCR3 receptor activity) or treating a sign and/or symptom of what is commonly referred to as a cold).

The invention further provides the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of: 1. respiratory tract: obstructive diseases of the airways including: asthma, including bronchial, allergic, intrinsic, extrinsic, exercise-induced, drug-induced (including aspirin and NSAID-induced) and dust-induced asthma, both intermittent and persistent and of all severities, and other causes of airway hyper-responsiveness; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); bronchitis, including infectious and eosinophilic bronchitis; emphysema; bronchiectasis; cystic fibrosis; sarcoidosis; farmer's lung and related diseases; hypersensitivity pneumonitis; lung fibrosis, including cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, fibrosis complicating anti-neoplastic therapy and chronic infection, including tuberculosis and aspergillosis and other fungal infections; complications of lung transplantation; vasculitic and thrombotic disorders of the lung vasculature, and pulmonary hypertension; antitussive activity including treatment of chronic cough associated with inflammatory and secretory conditions of the airways, and iatrogenic cough; acute and chronic rhinitis including rhinitis medicamentosa, and vasomotor rhinitis; perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis including rhinitis nervosa (hay fever); nasal polyposis; acute viral infection including the common cold, and infection due to respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, coronavirus (including SARS) or adenovirus; or eosinophilic esophagitis;

2. bone and joints: arthritides associated with or including osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis, both primary and secondary to, for example, congenital hip dysplasia; cervical and lumbar spondylitis, and low back and neck pain; osteoporosis; rheumatoid arthritis and Still's disease; seronegative spondyloarthropathies including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and undifferentiated spondarthropathy; septic arthritis and other infection-related arthopathies and bone disorders such as tuberculosis, including Potts' disease and Poncet's syndrome; acute and chronic crystal-induced synovitis including urate gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and calcium apatite related tendon, bursal and synovial inflammation; Behcet's disease; primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome; systemic sclerosis and limited scleroderma; systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease; inflammatory myopathies including dermatomyositits and polymyositis; polymalgia rheumatica; juvenile arthritis including idiopathic inflammatory arthritides of whatever joint distribution and associated syndromes, and rheumatic fever and its systemic complications; vasculitides including giant cell arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyarteritis, and vasculitides associated with viral infection, hypersensitivity reactions, cryoglobulins, and paraproteins; low back pain; Familial Mediterranean fever, Muckle-Wells syndrome, and Familial Hibernian Fever, Kikuchi disease; drug-induced arthalgias, tendonititides, and myopathies; 3. pain and connective tissue remodelling of musculoskeletal disorders due to injury [for example sports injury] or disease: arthritides (for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout or crystal arthropathy), other joint disease (such as intervertebral disc degeneration or temporomandibular joint degeneration), bone remodelling disease (such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease or osteonecrosis), polychondritis, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disorder, spondyloarthropathies or periodontal disease (such as periodontitis);

4. skin: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis or other eczematous dermatoses, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions; phyto- and photodermatitis; seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus et atrophica, pyoderma gangrenosum, skin sarcoid, discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus, pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, urticaria, angioedema, vasculitides, toxic erythemas, cutaneous eosinophilias, alopecia areata, male-pattern baldness, Sweet's syndrome, Weber-Christian

syndrome, erythema multiforme; cellulitis, both infective and non-infective; panniculitis;cutaneous lymphomas, non-melanoma skin cancer and other dysplastic lesions; drug-induced disorders including fixed drug eruptions;

5. eyes: blepharitis; conjunctivitis, including perennial and vernal allergic conjunctivitis; iritis; anterior and posterior uveitis; choroiditis; autoimmune; degenerative or inflammatory disorders affecting the retina; ophthalmitis including sympathetic ophthalmitis; sarcoidosis; infections including viral , fungal, and bacterial;

6. gastrointestinal tract: glossitis, gingivitis, periodontitis; oesophagitis, including reflux; eosinophilic gastro-enteritis, mastocytosis, Crohn's disease, colitis including ulcerative colitis, proctitis, pruritis ani; coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and food-related allergies which may have effects remote from the gut (for example migraine, rhinitis or eczema);

7. abdominal: hepatitis, including autoimmune, alcoholic and viral; fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver; cholecystitis; pancreatitis, both acute and chronic; s 8. genitourinary: nephritis including interstitial and glomerulonephritis; nephrotic syndrome; cystitis including acute and chronic (interstitial) cystitis andHunner's ulcer; acute and chronic urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis, oophoritis and salpingitis; vulvovaginitis; Peyronie's disease; erectile dysfunction (both male and female);

9. allograft rejection: acute and chronic following, for example, transplantation of o kidney, heart, liver, lung, bone marrow, skin or cornea or following blood transfusion; or chronic graft versus host disease;

10. CNS: Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders including CJOD and nvCJD; amyloidosis; multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating syndromes; cerebral atherosclerosis and vasculitis; temporal arteritis; myasthenia gravis; acute and chronic pain 5 (acute, intermittent or persistent, whether of central or peripheral origin) including visceral pain, headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain, joint and bone pain, pain arising from cancer and tumor invasion, neuropathic pain syndromes including diabetic, post-herpetic, and HTV-associated neuropathies; neurosarcoidosis; central and peripheral nervous system complications of malignant, infectious or autoimmune 0 processes;

11. other auto-immune and allergic disorders including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, Addison's disease, diabetes mellitus, idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura, eosinophilic fasciitis, hyper-IgE syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome;

12. other disorders with an inflammatory or immunological component; including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), leprosy, Sezary syndrome, and paraneoplastic syndromes;

13. cardiovascular: atherosclerosis, affecting the coronary and peripheral circulation; pericarditis; myocarditis , inflammatory and auto-immune cardiomyopathies including myocardial sarcoid; ischaemic reperfusion injuries; endocarditis, valvulitis, and aortitis including infective (for example syphilitic); vasculitides; disorders of the proximal and peripheral veins including phlebitis and thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis and complications of varicose veins;

14. oncology: treatment of common cancers including prostate, breast, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, bowel and colon, stomach, skin and brain tumors and malignancies affecting s the bone marrow (including the leukaemias) and lymphoproliferative systems, such as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; including the prevention and treatment of metastatic disease and tumour recurrences, and paraneoplastic syndromes; or,

15. gastrointestinal tract: Coeliac disease, proctitis, eosinopilic gastro-enteritis, mastocytosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, indeterminant colitis, o irritable bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, non-inflammatory diarrhea, food- related allergies which have effects remote from the gut, e.g., migraine, rhinitis and eczema; in a mammal (for example man).

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula (I), or a 5 pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in the treatment of asthma {such as bronchial, allergic, intrinsic, extrinsic or dust asthma, particularly chronic or inveterate asthma (for example late asthma or airways hyper-responsiveness)}; or rhinitis {including acute, allergic, atrophic or chronic rhinitis, such as rhinitis caseosa, hypertrophic rhinitis, rhinitis purulenta, rhinitis sicca or rhinitis medicamentosa; membranous rhinitis including 0 croupous, fibrinous or pseudomembranous rhinitis or scrofulous rhinitis; seasonal rhinitis including rhinitis nervosa (hay fever) or vasomotor rhinitis} .

In a still further aspect a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is useful in the treatment of asthma.

The present invention also provides a the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of asthma {such as bronchial, allergic, intrinsic, extrinsic or dust asthma, particularly chronic or inveterate asthma (for example late asthma or airways hyper- responsiveness)}; or rhinitis {including acute, allergic, atrophic or chronic rhinitis, such as rhinitis caseosa, hypertrophic rhinitis, rhinitis purulenta, rhinitis sicca or rhinitis medicamentosa; membranous rhinitis including croupous, fibrinous or pseudomembranous rhinitis or scrofulous rhinitis; seasonal rhinitis including rhinitis nervosa (hay fever) or vasomotor rhinitis} .

In order to use a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the therapeutic treatment of a mammal, such as man, said ingredient is normally formulated in accordance with standard pharmaceutical practice as a pharmaceutical composition. Therefore in another aspect the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (active ingredient), and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a process for the preparation of said composition which comprises mixing active ingredient with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier. Depending on the mode of administration, the pharmaceutical composition will, for example, comprise from 0.05 to 99 %w (per cent by weight), such as from 0.05 to 80 %w, for example from 0.10 to 70 %w, such as from 0.10 to 50 %w, of active ingredient, all percentages by weight being based on total composition. A compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition of this invention, or a combination of this invention as described below, can be administered in a standard manner for the disease condition that it is desired to treat, for example it can be administered via topical (such as to the lung and/or airways or to the skin), oral, rectal or parenteral (for example intramuscular, intravenous or intra-articular) administration.

For these purposes the compounds of this invention may be formulated by means known in the art. A suitable pharmaceutical composition of this invention is one suitable

for oral administration in unit dosage form, for example a tablet or capsule which contains between 0.1 mg and Ig of active ingredient.

Each patient may receive, for example, a dose of O.Olmgkg ^"1 to lOOmgkg ^"1 , for example in the range of O.lmgkg ^"1 to 20mgkg ^'1 , of the active ingredient administered, for example, 1 to 4 times per day.

The invention further relates to a combination therapy wherein a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition or formulation comprising a compound of the invention, is adrninistered concurrently or sequentially or as a combined preparation with another therapeutic agent or agents, for the treatment of one or more of the conditions listed.

In particular, for the treatment of the inflammatory diseases such as (but not restricted to) rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease, the compounds of the invention may be combined with agents listed below. The invention further relates to combination therapies wherein a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition or formulation comprising a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is administered concurrently or sequentially or as a combined preparation with one or more of the therapeutic agents listed below, for the treatment of one or more of the conditions listed.

In particular, for the treatment of the inflammatory diseases such as (but not restricted to) rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease, a compound of the invention can be combined with one or more of the therapeutic agents listed below.

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (hereinafter NSAID) including nonselective cyclo-oxygenase COX-I / COX-2 inhibitors whether applied topically or systemically (such as piroxicam, diclofenac, propionic acids such as naproxen, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, ketoprofen and ibuprofen, fenamates such as mefenamic acid, indomethacin, sulindac, azapropazone, pyrazolones such as phenylbutazone, salicylates such as aspirin); selective COX-2 inhibitors (such as meloxicam, celecoxib, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, lumarocoxib, parecoxib and etoricoxib); cyclo-oxygenase inhibiting nitric

oxide donors (CINODs); glucocorticosteroids (whether administered by topical, oral, intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-articular routes); methotrexate; leflunomide; hydroxychloroquine; d-penicillamine; auranofin or other parenteral or oral gold preparations; analgesics; diacerein; intra-articular therapies such as hyaluronic acid derivatives; and nutritional supplements such as glucosamine.

A cytokine, or agonist or antagonist of cytokine function, (including an agent which acts on a cytokine signalling pathway such as a modulator of the SOCS system) including alpha-, beta-, or gamma-interferons; insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I); interleukin (IL) including ILl to 17, and interleukin antagonist or inhibitor such as anakinra; a tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor such as anti-TNF monoclonal antibody (for example infliximab; adalimumab, and CDP-870) and TNF receptor antagonist including immunoglobulin molecule (such as etanercept) and a low-molecular-weight agent such as pentoxyfylline.

A monoclonal antibody targeting B-Lymphocytes (such as CD20 (rituximab), MRA-aIL16R and T-Lymphocytes, CTLA4-Ig, HuMax 11-15).

A modulator of chemokine receptor function such as an antagonist of CCRl , CCR2, CCR2A, CCR2B, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR7, CCR8, CCR9, CCRlO and CCRIl (for the C-C family); CXCRl, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR5 (for the C-

X-C family) and CX ₃ CRl for the C-X ₃ -C family. An inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease (MMP), such as a stromelysin, a collagenase, or a gelatinase, as well as aggrecanase; for example collagenase-1 (MMP-I), collagenase-2 (MMP-8), collagenase-3 (MMP-13), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), stromelysin-2 (MMP-IO), stromelysin-3 (MMP-11), MMP-9 or MMP- 12, including an agent such as doxycycline. A leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor or 5- lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) antagonist such as; zileuton; ABT-761; fenleuton; tepoxalin; Abbott-79175; Abbott-85761; a N-(5-substituted)-thiophene-2- alkylsulfonamide; a 2,6-di-tert-butylphenolhydrazone; a methoxytetrahydropyran such as Zeneca ZD-213S; the compound SB-210661; a pyridinyl-substituted 2-cyanonaphthalene compound such as L-739,010; a 2-cyanoqumoline compound such as L-746,530; or an indole or quinoline compound such as MK-591, MK-886, or BAY x 1005.

A receptor antagonist for leukotrienes (LT) B4, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4. selected from the group consisting of a ρhenothiazin-3-1 such as L-651,392; an amidino compound such as CGS-25019c; a benzoxalamine such as ontazolast; a benzenecarboximidamide such as BIIL 284/260; or a compound such as zafirlukast, ablukast, montelukast, pranlukast, verlukast (MK-679), RG-12525, Ro-245913, iralukast (CGP 45715A), or BAY x 7195.

A phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor such as a methylxanthanine including theophylline and aminophylline; a selective PDE isoenzyme inhibitor including a PDE4 inhibitor an inhibitor of the isoform PDE4D, or an inhibitor of PDE5. A histamine type 1 receptor antagonist such as cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, acrivastine, terfenadine, astemizole, azelastine, levocabastine, chloφheniramine, promethazine, cyclizine, or mizolastine; applied orally, topically or parenterally.

A proton pump inhibitor (such as omeprazole) or a gastroprotective histamine type 2 receptor antagonist.

An antagonist of the histamine type 4 receptor.

An alpha- l/alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist vasoconstrictor sympathomimetic agent, such as propylhexedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, naphazoline hydrochloride, oxymetazoline hydrochloride, tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, xylometazoline hydrochloride, tramazoline hydrochloride or emylnorepmephrine hydrochloride.

An anticholinergic agent including muscarinic receptor (Ml, M2, and M3) antagonist such as atropine, hyoscine, glycopyrrrolate, ipratropium bromide, tiotropium bromide, oxitropium bromide, pirenzepine or telenzepine. A beta-adrenoceptor agonist (including beta receptor subtypes 1-4) such as isoprenaline, salbutamol, formoterol, salmeterol, terbutaline, orciprenaline, bitolterol mesylate, pirbuterol or indacaterol, _. or a chiral enantiomer thereof.

A chromone, such as sodium cromoglycate or nedocromil sodium. A glucocorticoid, such as flunisolide, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, budesonide, fluticasone propionate, ciclesonide or mometasone furoate. An agent that modulates a nuclear hormone receptor such as a PPAR.

An immunoglobulin (Ig) or Ig preparation or an antagonist or antibody modulating Ig function such as anti-IgE (for example omalizumab).

Another systemic or topically-applied anti-inflammatory agent, such as thalidomide or a derivative thereof, a retinoid, dithranol or calcipotriol. An aminosalicylate or a sulfapyridine such as sulfasalazine, mesalazine, balsalazide or olsalazine; an immunomodulatory agent such as a thiopurine, or a corticosteroid such as budesonide.

An antibacterial agent such as a penicillin derivative, a tetracycline, a macrolide, a beta-lactam, a fluoroquinolone, metronidazole, an inhaled aminoglycoside; an antiviral agent including acyclovir, famciclovir, valaciclovir, ganciclovir, cidofovir, amantadine, rimantadine, ribavirin, zanamavir and oseltamavir; a protease inhibitor such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir; a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor such as didanosine, lamivudine, stavudine, zalcitabine or zidovudine; or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor such as nevirapine or efavirenz. A cardiovascular agent such as a calcium channel blocker, a beta-adrenoceptor blocker, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, an angiotensin-2 receptor antagonist; a lipid lowering agent such as a statin or a fibrate; a modulator of blood cell morphology such as pentoxyfylline; thrombolytic, or an anticoagulant such as a platelet aggregation inhibitor. A CNS agent such as an antidepressant (such as sertraline), an anti-Parkmsonian drug (such as deprenyl, L-dopa, ropinirole, pramipexole, a MAOB inhibitor such as selegine and rasagiline, a comP inhibitor such as tasmar, an A-2 inhibitor, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, an NMDA antagonist, a nicotine agonist, a dopamine agonist or an inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase), or an anti- Alzheimer's drug such as donepezil, rivastigmine, tacrine, a COX-2 inhibitor, propentofylline or metrifonate.

An agent for the treatment of acute or chronic pain, such as a centrally or peripherally-acting analgesic (for example an opioid or derivative thereof), carbamazepine, phenytoin, sodium valproate, amitryptiline or other anti-depressant agent, paracetamol, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. A parenterally or topically-applied (including inhaled) local anaesthetic agent such as lignocaine or a derivative thereof.

An anti-osteoporosis agent including a hormonal agent such as raloxifene, or a biphosphonate such as alendronate.

An agent which is a: (i) tryptase inhibitor; (ii) platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist; (iii) interleukin converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitor; (iv) IMPDH inhibitor; (v) adhesion molecule inhibitors including VLA-4 antagonist; (vi) cathepsin; (vii) kinase inhibitor such as an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase (such as Btk, Itk, Jak3 or MAP, for example Gefitinib or Imatinib mesylate), a serine / threonine kinase (such as an inhibitor of a MAP kinase such as p38, JNK, protein kinase A, B or C, or IKK), or a kinase involved in cell cycle regulation (such as a cylin dependent kinase); (viii) glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor; (ix) kinin-B.subl . - or B.sub2. -receptor antagonist; (x) anti-gout agent, for example colchicine; (xi) xanthine oxidase inhibitor, for example allopurinol; (xii) uricosuric agent, for example probenecid, sulfinpyrazone or benzbromarone; (xiii) growth hormone secretagogue; (xiv) transforming growth factor (TGFβ); (xv) platelet- derived growth factor (PDGF); (xvi) fibroblast growth factor for example basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); (xvii) granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM- CSF); (xviii) capsaicin cream; (xix) tachykinin NK. sub 1. or NK.sub3. receptor antagonist such as NKP-608C, SB-233412 (talnetant) or D-4418; (xx) elastase inhibitor such as UT- 77 or ZD-0892; (xxi) TNF-alpha converting enzyme inhibitor (TACE); (xxii) induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor; (xxiii) chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells, (such as a CRTH2 antagonist); (xxiv) inhibitor of P38; (xxv) agent modulating the function of Toll-like receptors (TLR), (xxvi) agent modulating the activity of purinergic receptors such as P2X7; (xxvii) inhibitor of transcription factor activation such as NFkB, API, or STATS; or (xxviii) a glucocorticoid receptor modulator (such as an agonist). A therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer, for example:

(i) an antiproliferative/antineoplastic drug or a combination thereof, as used in medical oncology, such as an alkylating agent (for example cis-platin, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, nitrogen mustard, melphalan, chlorambucil, busulphan or a nitrosourea); an antimetabolite (for example an antifolate such as a fluoropyrimidine like 5-fluorouracil or tegafur, raltitrexed, methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, hydroxyurea, gemcitabine or paclitaxel); an antitumour antibiotic (for example an anthracycline such as adriamycin, bleomycin, doxorubicin, daunomycin, epirubicin, idarubicin, mitomycin-C,

dactinomycin or mithramycin); an antimitotic agent (for example a vinca alkaloid such as vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine or vinorelbine, or a taxoid such as taxol or taxotere); or a topoisomerase inhibitor (for example an epipodophyllotoxin such as etoposide, teniposide, amsacrine, topotecan or a camptothecin); (ii) a cytostatic agent such as an antioestrogen (for example tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, droloxifene or iodoxyfene), an oestrogen receptor down regulator (for example fulvestrant), an antiandrogen (for example bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide or cyproterone acetate), a LHRH antagonist or LHRH agonist (for example goserelin, leuprorelin or buserelin), a progestogen (for example megestrol acetate), an aromatase inhibitor (for example as anastrozole, letrozole, vorazole or exemestane) or an inhibitor of 5α-reductase such as finasteride;

(iii) an agent which inhibits cancer cell invasion (for example a metalloproteinase inhibitor like marimastat or an inhibitor of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor function); (iv) an inhibitor of growth factor function, for example: a growth factor antibody (for example the anti-erbb2 antibody trastuzumab, or the anti-erbbl antibody cetuximab

[C225]), a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor or a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor family (for example an EGFR family tyrosine kinase inhibitor such asN-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-methoxy-6-(3- morpholinopropoxy)quinazolin-4-amine (gefitinib, AZDl 839), N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7- bis(2-methoxyethoxy)qumazolin-4-amrne (erlotinib, OSI-774) or 6-acrylamido-N-(3- chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-(3-morpholinopropoxy)quinazolin-4-a mine (CI 1033)), an inhibitor of the platelet-derived growth factor family, ox an inhibitor of the hepatocyte growth factor family; (v) an antiangio genie agent such as one which inhibits the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (for example the anti-vascular endothelial cell growth factor antibody bevacizumab, a compound disclosed in WO 97/22596, WO 97/30035, WO 97/32856 or WO 98/13354), or a compound that works by another mechanism (for example linomide, an inhibitor of integrin αvβ3 function or an angiostatin); (vi) a vascular damaging agent such as combretastatin A4, or a compound disclosed in WO 99/02166, WO 00/40529, WO 00/41669, WO 01/92224, WO 02/04434 or WO 02/08213; (vii) an agent used in antisense therapy, for example one directed to one of the targets listed above, such as ISIS 2503, an anti-ras antisense;

(viii) an agent used in a gene therapy approach, for example approaches to replace aberrant genes such as aberrant p53 or aberrant BRCAl or BRCA2, GDEPT (gene-directed enzyme pro-drug therapy) approaches such as those using cytosine deaminase, thymidine kinase or a bacterial nitroreductase enzyme and approaches to increase patient tolerance to s chemotherapy or radiotherapy such as multi-drug resistance gene therapy; or

(ix) an agent used in an immunotherapeutic approach, for example ex- vivo and in-vivo approaches to increase the immunogenicity of patient tumour cells, such as transfection with cytokines such as interleukin 2, interleukin 4 or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, approaches to decrease T-cell anergy, approaches using transfected o immune cells such as cytokine-transfected dendritic cells, approaches using cytokine-transfected tumour cell lines and approaches using anti-idiotypic antibodies. The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples in which, unless stated otherwise: (i) when given, ¹ H NMR data is quoted and is in the form of delta values for major s diagnostic protons, given in parts per million (ppm) relative to tetramethylsilane (TMS) as an internal standard, determined at 300MHz or 400MHz using perdeuterio DMSO-D6 (CD ₃ SOCD ₃ ) or CDCl ₃ as the solvent unless otherwise stated; (ii) mass spectra (MS) were run with an electron energy of 70 electron volts in the chemical ionisation (CI) mode using a direct exposure probe; where indicated ionisation o was effected by electron impact (EI) or fast atom bombardment (FAB); where values for m/z are given, generally only ions which indicate the parent mass are reported, and unless otherwise stated the mass ion quoted is the positive mass ion - (M+H) ⁺ ; (iii) the title and sub-title compounds of the examples and preparations were named using the index name program from Ogham and stereochemical descriptors added by hand. (See 5 www.eyesopen.com/products/applications/ogham.html);

(iv) unless stated otherwise, reverse phase HPLC was conducted using a "Symmetry", "NoyaPak" or "Xterra" reverse phase silica column, all available from Waters Corp.; (v) for analytical HPLC the following conditions were used: Reverse phase analytical HPLC (Hewlett Packard Series 1100) using Waters "Symmetry" 0 C8 column 3.5μm; 4.6 x 50mm column using 0.1 % ammonium acetate/acetonitrile gradients at 2 mL/min given as % aqueous STANDARD 75% to 5% over 3 min

FAST 45% to 5% over 2.5 min MEDIUM FAST 65% to 5% in 2.5 min SLOW 95% to 50% in 2.5 min SUPERSLOW 100% to 80% in 2.5 min; and (vi) the following abbreviations are used:

Intermediate 1

3-{3-[5-(Methoxycarbonyl)pyridin-2-yl]-l,2,4-oxadiazol-5- yl}propanoic acid a) 3-[3-(5-Bromopyridin-2-yl)-l,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl]propanoic acid 5-Bromopyridine-2-carbonitrile (0.5 g) and a 50% aqueous solution of hydroxylamine (0.2 mL) in ethanol (10 mL) were stirred together under nitrogen for 1 hour. The volatiles were then evaporated. The solid was dissolved in dimethylacetamide (5 mL) and succinic anhydride (253 mg) was added. The mixture was heated in a microwave at 120 °C for 30 minutes, cooled and then purified by reverse-phase HPLC to afford the subtitle compound (0.208 g).

MS 298/300 [M+H] ⁺ (ESI+), RT(slow gradient) 1.47 minutes.

b) S-IS-tS-ζMethoxycarbony^pyridin^-ylJ-l^^-oxadiazol-S-yllpro panoic acid

The product from part a) (0.2 g) was dissolved in methanol (20 mL) and NN- diisopropylethylamine (0.4 mL) and [1,1 '-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenej- dichloropalladium (II), complex with dichloromethane (1:1) (0.02 g) were added. The mixture was then carbonylated at 5 atmospheres and 68 °C (internal temperature) for 17

hours, cooled and purified by reverse-phase HPLC to afford the subtitle compound (0.056 g)-

MS 278 [M+H] ⁺ (ESI+), RT(slow gradient) 1.35 minutes.

Intermediate 2

3-[2-Fluoro-4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]propanoic acid a) Methyl 4-[(l E)-3 -fert-butoxy-3 -oxoprop- 1 -en- 1 -yl] -3 -fluorobenzoate

Methyl 4-bromo-3 -fluorobenzoate (0.242 g), tert-butylacrylate (0.266 g) and tributylamine (0.231 g) were stirred in toluene (5 mL) under nitrogen. Tri-o- tolylphosphine (0.007 g) and palladium (II) acetate (0.003 g) were added and the mixture was heated at 110 ⁰ C overnight. The mixture was then cooled, poured into saturated ammonium chloride solution, extracted with ethyl acetate twice. The organic phase was dried and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (isohexane /ethyl acetate 99:1) to give the subtitle compound (0.156 g). MS 280 [M+] (APCI-), RT (standard gradient) 2.66 minutes

¹ HNMR δ( _CD C _B) 1.51 (9H, s), 3.93 (3H, s), 6.55 (IH, d), 7.59 (IH, t), 7.71 (IH, d), 7.75 (IH ₅ d), 7.82 (IH, d).

b) Methyl 4-(3-tert-butoxy-3-oxopropyl)-3 -fluorobenzoate The product from part a) (0.156 g) and 10% palladium on charcoal (0.2 g) were dissolved in ethanol (10 mL) and hydrogenated at 3 atmospheres for 18 hours. The suspension was filtered and evaporated to give the subtitle compound (0.106 g). MS, RT (standard gradient) 2.61 minutes

¹ HNMR δ _(CD ci3) 1.41 (9H, s), 2.57 (2H, t), 2.98 (2H, t), 3.91 (3H, s), 7.30 (IH, d), 7.67 (IH, dd), 7.75 (IH ₃ dd).

c) 3-[2-Fluoro-4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]propanoic acid ^■

The product from part b) (0.106 g) was stirred in trifluoroacetic acid (3 mL) and dichloromethane (3 mL) under nitrogen for 50 minutes, then evaporated to give the subtitle compound (0.084 g).

MS 225 [M-H] (ESI-), RT(standard gradient) 0.84 minutes

The following intermediate was prepared in the same way:

Intermediate 4 4-(2-Carboxy-l-methyl-ethyl)-benzoic acid methyl ester Methyl 4-bromobenzoate (1.5 g), vinylacetic acid (0.601 g) and tributylamine

(1.995 ml) were dissolved in toluene (20 mL). Tri-o-tolylphosphine (0.043 g) and palladium (II) acetate (0.0157 g) were added. The reaction mixture was heated to 110 ⁰ C under nitrogen for 16 h. When cold the reaction mixture was acidified with HCl solution (2 M), and then extracted with dichloromethane. The solvents were removed to give a mixture of alkenes (1 g). This mixture was dissolved in ethanol (25 mL) and palladium on activated carbon (0.07 g) was added. The reaction mixture was charged with hydrogen gas (3 bar) and hydrogenated for 24 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a glass fibre filter and evaporated to give a mixture of the title compound and 4-(3-carboxy-propyI)- benzoic acid methyl ester (0.8 g). major component :

¹ HNMR δ( _C DCL3) 1.88 - 2.06 (m, 2H), 2.26 - 2.44 (m, 2H), 2.61 - 2.79 (m, 2H), 3.91 (s,

3H), 7.22 - 7.34 (m, 2H), 7.92 - 8.01 (m, 2H) minor component :

¹ HNMR δ ₍ c _D CL3) 1-34 (3H, d), 2.29 - 2.43 (IH, m), 2.55 - 2.65 (IH, m), 3.27 - 3.39 (IH, m), 3.91 (3H, s), 7.22 - 7.34 (2H, m), 7.92 - 8.01 (2H, m)

Example 1

4-{[5-(3-{[l-(3,4-Dichlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl]amino}-3- oxopropyl)-l,3,4-oxadiazol-2- yl]amino}benzoic acid a) Methyl 4-{[5-(3-{[l-(3,4-dichloroberizyl)piperidin-4-yl]ammo}-3-oxo propyl)-l,3,4- oxadiazol-2-yl]amino}benzoate iV-[l-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl]-4-hydrazmo-4-oxobu tanamide (0.26 g) and methyl 4-isothiocyanatobenzoate (0.166 g) were stirred together in DMF (3 mL) for 2 hours. AM resin (Novabiochem, 2% DVB 1.57 mmol/g) (0.422 g) was then added and the

mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. N-cyclohexylcarbodiimide-N- methylpolystyrene HL (νovabiochem, 1.69 mmol/g) (0.83 g) was added and the mixture was heated at 80 °C for 24 h, cooled and filtered. The filtrate was extracted with dichloromethane and the extracts were evaporated. Purification of the residue by flash chromatography, (dichloromethane/methanol 19:1), gave the subtitle compound (0.05 g). MS 532/534 [M+H] ⁺ (APCI+), RT(standard gradient) 1.92 minutes.

b) .4- { [5-(3 - { [ 1 -(3 ,4-Dichlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl] amino} -3 -oxopropy I)-1 ,3 ,4-oxadiazol-

2-yl]amino}benzoic acid The product from part a) (0.05 g) was stirred in THF (4 mL), water (3 mL) and methanol (3 mL) with lithium hydroxide monohydrate (0.2 g) for 5 days. The solution was acidified with acetic acid and evaporated. Purification by reverse phase HPLC gave the title compound as a colourless solid (0.044 g).

MS 518/520 [M+H] ⁺ (APCI+). s ¹ H KMR δ( _DM so ₎ 1.22 - 1.46 (2H, m), 1.70 (2H, d), 2.02 (2H, t), 2.45 - 2.56 (2H, m), 2.70 (2H, d), 2.95 (2H, t), 3.17 (IH, s), 3.44 (2H, s), 3.48 - 3.60 (IH, m), 4.02 - 4.17

(IH ₅ m), 7.28 (IH, dd), 7.51 - 7.62 (4H, m), 7.86 - 7.93 (3H, m).

Example 2 o 4-{2-[l-(3,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl]-ethyl }-benzoic acid a) 4-{2-[l-(3,4-Dichloro-ben2yl)-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl]-ethyl }-benzoic acid methyl ester l-(3,4-Dichloro-ben2yl)-piperidin-4-ylamine (0.1 g), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate (0.0527 g) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (0.01415 g) were dissolved in DCM 5 (3mL) and 4-(2-Carboxy-ethyl)-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.0804 g)was added, followed by l-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (0.074 g). The reaction mixture was stirred for 16h, then poured into Sodium bicarbonate solution, extracted using DCM and evaporated. The residue was loaded onto a SCX cartdridge in methanol, eluted using ammonia in methanol solution (O.IM) to give the title compound (0.1 g) o LC-MS standard RT 2.31 m/z 449/451 ES+.

¹ H NMR δ ₍ cD30D) 1.24 - 1.39 (2H, m), 1.79 - 1.87 (2H, m), 2.03 - 2.14 (2H, m), 2.40 - 2.49 (2H, m), 2.64 - 2.76 (2H, m), 2.95 - 3.07 (3H, m), 3.71 - 3.83 (IH, m), 5.19 -

5.28 (IH, m), 7.12 (IH ₃ dd), 7.23 - 7.28 (2H, m), 7.36 (IH ₅ d), 7.39 - 7.41 (IH, m), 7.95 (2H, d), 3.90 (3H ₅ s)

b) 4-{2-[l-(3,4-Dichloro-ben2yl)-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl]-ethyl }-benzoic acid

This was prepared by the method of Example 1 part b).

LC-MS standard RT 1.07 m/z 435/437 ES+

¹ H NMR δ (CD ₃ OD ₊ NaOD) 1.33 - 1.47 (2H, m), 1.68 - 1.76 (2H ₅ m), 2.04 - 2.12 (2H ₅ m), 2.41 - 2.47 (2H, m), 2.70 - 2.78 (2H, m) ₅ 2.87 - 2.93 (2H ₅ m), 3.44 (2H, s), 3.55 - 3.65 (IH ₅ m), 7.14 - 7.25 (3H ₅ m), 7.44 (IH ₅ d), 7.48 (IH ₅ d), 7.83 (2H ₅ d). C

Also prepared by this method were:

EXAMPLE 9 Human eosinophil chemotaxis

Human eosinophils are isolated from EDTA anticoagulated peripheral blood as s previously described (Hansel et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 1991, 145, 105-110). The cells are resuspended at 10x10 ⁶ ml/ ¹ in RPMI containing 200 IU/ mL penicillin, 200 μg/ mL streptomycin sulfate and supplemented with 10% HIFCS, at room temperature.

Eosinophils (700 μl) ae pre-incubated for 15 mins at 37° C with 7 μl of either vehicle or compound (10Ox required final concentration in 10% DMSO). A chemotaxis plate o (ChemoTx, 3μm pore, Neuroprobe) can be loaded by adding 28μl of a concentration of eotaxin 0.1 to 10OnM (a selective CCR3 agonist over this concentration range) containing a concentration of a compound according to the Examples or solvent to the lower wells of the chemotaxis plate. The filter is then placed over the wells and 25 μl of eosinophil suspension is added to the top of the filter. The plate is incubated for 1 hr at 37°C in a s humidified incubator with a 95% air/5% CO ₂ atmosphere to allow chemotaxis.

The medium, containing cells that had not migrated, is carefully aspirated from above the filter and discarded. The filter is then washed once with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 5 mM EDTA to remove any adherent cells. Cells that have migrated through the filter are pelleted by centrifugation (300xg for 5 mins at room temperature) and 0 the filter removed and the supernatant transferred to each well of a 96-well plate (Costar). The pelleted cells are lysed by the addition of 28 μl of PBS containing 0.5% Triton xlOO followed by two cycles of freeze/thawing. The cell lysate is then added to the supernatant.

The number of eosinophils migrating can be quantified according to the method of Strath et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 1985, _. 83 _. , 209 by measuring eosinophil peroxidase activity in the supernatant.

s EXAMPLE 10

Eotaxin-2-induced shape change in eosinophils in human blood in vitro

See for example, Differential regulation of eosinophil chemokine signaling via CCR3 and non-CCR3 pathways. Sabroe I, Hartnell A, Jopling LA, Bel S, Ponath PD, Pease JE, Collins PD, Williams TJ. J Immunol. 1999 Mar l;162(5):2946-55. o Human blood, collected by venous puncture into 9 mL lithium-heparin tubes, was incubated with the CCR3 agonist eotaxin-2 in the presence of vehicle (0.1% (v/v) DMSO) or test compound for 4 min at 37°C in a deep, 96-square-well plate. The blood was fixed with Optilyse B (100 μL) at room temperature for 10 min and then the red blood cells were lysed with distilled water (1 mL) for 60 min at room temperature. s The plate was centrifuged at room temperature for 5 min at 300 g. The pellet was re-suspended in assay buffer (PBS without CaCl ₂ and MgCl ₂ , containing HEPES (10 mM), Glucose (10 mM) and 0.1% (w/v) BSA, pH 7.4)) and the samples were analysed using flow cytometry (FC500, Beckman Coulter). The high autofluorescence of eosinophils allowed them to be identified as a discrete population from the other blood cell types. o Eosinophil shape was monitored as the refractive index of the eosinophil population as determined using the forward scatter signal in flow cytometry.

Eotaxin-2 induced a concentration-dependent change in the forward scatter of eosinophils and these data were used to construct a concentration effect curve (E/[A] curve). The rightward displacement of the eotaxin-2 E/[A] curve in the presence of a

25 CCR3 antagonist was used to estimate a pA ₂ value in blood using the following equation:

Single pA ₂ = -log ₁₀ ([B] / (r-1)) where r is the ratio of the concentrations required for half maximal effects of eotaxin~2 in the absence and presence of antagonist ([A] ₅₀ for eotaxin-2 in the presence of antagonist divided by [A] ₅₀ for control eotaxin-2 curve) and [B] is the molar concentration of

30 antagonist.

EXAMPLE Il

Determination Of Compound Affinity At Human Recombinant CCR3 Receptors Assessed By Competition Of [ ³ H]-4-(2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenoxy)-l'-[4- (methylsulfonyl)benzoyl]-l,4'-bipiperidine for CHO-Kl Cell Membranes In Vitro Membranes, prepared from CHO-Kl cells stably expressing recombinant human

CCR3, suspended in assay buffer (50 mM Tris-Base, pH 7.4; containing sodium chloride (10OmM) and magnesium chloride (2 mM)) were incubated in the presence of 2 nM [ ³ H]- 4-(2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenoxy)-r-[4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoy l]-l,4'-bipiperidine, along with vehicle (1 % (v/v) DMSO), 4-(4-chloro-3-methylρhenoxy)-l'-[2- (methylsulfonyl)benzoyl]-l,4'-bipiperidine (to define non-specific binding) or test compound for 2 h at 37 °C in round bottomed 96-well plates. The plates were then filtered onto GF/B filter plates, pre-soaked for 1 hour in plate-coating solution (0.3% (w/v) polyethylenimine, 0.2% (w/v) BSA in de-ionised water), using a 96-well plate Tomtec cell harvester. Four washes (250μL) with wash buffer (50 mM Tris-Base, pH 7.4 containing sodium chloride (500 mM) and magnesium chloride (2 mM)) were performed at 4 ⁰ C to remove unbound radioactivity. Plates were dried and MicroScint-0 (50 μL) was added to each well. The plates were sealed (TopSeal A) and filter-bound radioactivity was measured with a scintillation counter (TopCount, Packard BioScience) using a 1 minute counting protocol. Specific binding was determined from values of the control wells minus the values for the NSB wells for each assay plate. pICso values were calculated using a four parameter logistic fit (where pICso is defined as the negative logarithm of the concentration of compound required for 50% reduction in specific [ ³ H]- 4-(2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenoxy)- r-[4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoyl]-l,4'-bipiperidine binding). Data were presented as mean pKi values (calculated by applying a Cheng-Prussof correction to pICso values) from a minimum of 2 separate experiments. Results are shown in Table I below.

EXAMPLE 12

Determination of intrinsic clearance with human liver microsomes Frozen human liver microsomes (BD Gentest, Oxford) were defrosted and were then diluted with 0.1 M pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 4 ⁰ C to 1 mg protein/ml. 0.45 mL aliquots of the microsome suspension were dispensed into flat-bottomed vials (1 per

compound) and were allowed to come to room temperature (5 min). During the warming time, 5 μL of solution of each test compound (typically 100 μM in DMSO) was dispensed into separate vials resulting in a final DMSO concentration of 1%. 50 μL of a 10 mM solution of NADPH in phosphate buffer (0.1 M pH 7.4, 37 ⁰ C) was added to each vial to initiate metabolism.

50 μL Aliquots of the mixtures were removed at measured intervals and were immediately quenched by addition to 100 μL of methanol cooled in ice. The quenched samples were kept cold (at -20 ⁰ C or less) for at least 1 h and were then centrifuged to remove protein.

The supernatant solution was analysed using quantitative LCMS for the presence of test compound. From the concentrations of test compound at different time points a T^ ₂ may be calculated which may be converted to an intrinsic clearance using the equation : . CLi _n t = hώ/Ti _/ 2. Results are shown in Table I below.

TABLE I