PYRIDYLAMINOETHENE DERIVATIVES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

Pyridylaminoethene derivatives of the formula: I wherein R1 is pyridyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents R4 selected from halogen, amino, carboxy, cyano nitro, hydroxy, formyl, trifluoromethyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, benzyloxycarbonylamino, sulphamoyl, tetrazol-5-yl, carbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, arylcarbamoyl, aroyl, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulphonyl, alkylamino, alkylsulphamoyl, arylalkyl, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkylcarbamoyl, alkanoylamino, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-N-alkylamino, or dialkylsulphamoyl, dialkylamino or dialkylcarbamoyl, wherein the alkyl groups may together form a ring, and R2 and R3 each represents phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents R4 as hereinbefore defined, possess antiarthritic properties.