1-Methyl-4-[(4-Phenylphenyl)Sulfonylmethyl]Cyclohexyanol And 1-Methyl-4-[[4-(2-Pyridyl)Phenyl]Sulfonylmethyl]Cyclohexanol Compounds and Their Therapeutic Use

A method of treating inflammatory arthritis in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the following formula:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein:
• =X- is independently —CH═ or —N═;
• -R1 is independently —H or -R1X;
• -R1X is independently —F, —Cl, -R1C, -R1F, or —CN;
• -R1C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• -R1F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• -R2 is independently —H or -R2X;
• -R2X is independently —F, —Cl, -R2C, -R2F, or —CN;
• -R2C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• -R2F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• -R3 is independently —H or -R3X;
• -R3X is independently —F, —Cl, -R3C, -R3F, or —CN;
• -R3C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• -R3F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• -R4 is independently —H or -R4X;
• -R4X is independently —F, —Cl, -R4C, -R4F, or —CN;
• -R4C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• -R4F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• -R5 is independently —H or -R5X;
• -R5X is independently —F, -R5C, or -R5F;
• -R5C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• -R5F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• -R6 is independently —H or -R6X;
• -R6X is independently —F, -R6C, or -R6F;
• -R6C is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3alkyl;
• and
• -R6F is independently saturated linear or branched C1-3fluoroalkyl;
• or -R5 and -R6, taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form saturated C3-6cycloalkyl.