Pyridine compounds, process for the preparation thereof and pharmaceutical composition containing the same

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, cycloa-Ikylthio, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, phenyl, phenoxy, phenylthio, 3-pyridyloxy or 3-pyridylthio; R2 is H, hydroxy, alkanoyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy, or adjacent R, and R2 may combine to form tetramethylene or-CH2OCR8R9O-(R8 and Rg 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, R11is 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 show excellent antiallergic activity mainly through 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting activity, antihistamine activity and/or inhibitory activity against chemical mediator release and are useful for treatment of allergic diseases. Processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also described.