MACROCYCLIC INHIBITORS OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS

Inhibitors of HCV replication of formula (I) and the N-oxides, salts, or stereoisomers thereof, wherein each dashed line represents an optional double bond; X is N, CH and where X bears a double bond it is C; R1 is -OR6, -NH-SO2R7; R2 is hydrogen, and where X is C or CH, R2 may also be C1-6alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxyC1-6alkyl, or C3-7cycloalkyl; n is 3, 4, 5, or 6; R4 and R5 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a bicyclic ring system selected from formula (II) wherein said ring system may optionally be substituted with 1-3 substituents; R6 is hydrogen; aryl; Het; C3-7cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C1-6alkyl; or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with C3-7cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het; R7 is aryl; Het; C3-7cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C1-6alkyl; or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with C3-7cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het; aryl is phenyl or naphthyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents; Het is a 5 or 6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from N, O or S, and being optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds (I) and processes for preparing compounds (I). Bioavailable combinations of the inhibitors of HCV of formula (I) with ritonavir are also provided.