1,4-dihydropyridine compound and pharmaceutical composition containing the same

A 1,4-dihydropyridine compound or a salt thereof having the formula (I):

• ##STR39## wherein;
• R.sup.1 is --COO--A--(3-pyridyl), where A is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 straight chain alkylene group or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 straight chain alkylene group in which a piperazine ring is interposed at both nitrogen atoms of the piperazine ring in the chain;
• R.sup.2 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkenyl group substituted with a phenyl, furyl or cycloalkyl group, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group substituted with a alkynyl group;
• and R.sup.3 is the same as R.sup.1 or --COO--R.sup.4, where R.sup.4 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group substituted with a cyano, an amino, a N-methyl-N-benzylamino, a phenyl, a phenylthio, or a heterocyclic group having a nitrogen atom and selected from the group consisting of a pyridyl, a pyridyloxy, a alkyl substituted piperazino group, an indolyl, a aziridinyl, a tetrahydropyridyl and a thiazolyl group.