PYRIDINE COMPOUNDS, PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION CONTAINING THE SAME

The invention relates to compounds of the formula: wherein X is alkylene or -(CR6-CR7)r- wherein R6 is H, alkyl or phenyl, R7 is H, alkyl, cyano or phenyl, and r is 1 or 2; A is alkylene or alkylene interrupted by at least one double bond; R1 is H, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkylthio, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, phenyl, phenoxy, phenylthio, 3-pyridyloxy or 3-pyridylthio; R2 is H, hydroxy, alkanoyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy, or adjacent R1 and R2 may combine to form tetramethylene or -CH2OCR8R9O- (R8 and R9 are alkyl); R3 is H, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R4 is H or alkyl; R5 is phenyl, heteroaryl or -(CH2)m-CHR10R11 (R10 is H or phenyl, R11 is phenyl or pyridyl and m is 0 to 2); p is 0 or 1; and q is 2 or 3; the phenyl group or moiety being optionally substituted, and salts thereof. The invention also provides processes for the preparation of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The compounds and salts thereof show good antiallergic activity mainly because of their 5-lipoxy-genase inhibiting activity, antihistamine activity and/or inhibitory activity against chemical mediator release. The compounds are accordingly useful for the treatment of allergic diseases.