Sulfonamide compounds and uses thereof as medicines

A sulfonamide compound of the formula (I):

• 12
• wherein
• R1 is an aryl or heterocyclic group substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of (1) aryl, (2) a heterocyclic group optionally substituted by oxo or halogen, (3) halogen, (4) halo(lower)alkyl, (5) lower alkoxy optionally substituted by cyclo(lower)alkyl, (6) amino optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl optionally substituted by cyclo(lower)alkyl, protected carboxy, acyl, lower alkylcarbamoyl, and lower alkanesulfonyl, (7) nitro and (8) lower alkynyl optionally substituted by aryl,
• R2 is a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy,
• R3 is a hydrogen or lower alkyl,
• R4 is a lower alkenyl optionally substituted by aryl or heterocyclic group, aryl optionally substituted by carboxy or protected carboxy, lower alkyl optionally substituted by acyloxy, amino optionally substituted by lower alkyl, or heterocyclic group optionally substituted by halogen, and
• A is a lower alkylene,
• or a salt thereof.