Hypolipidemic 1,4-benzothiazepine-1,1-dioxides

A compound of formula (I) ##STR13## wherein R.sup.1 is a straight chain C.sub.1-6 alkyl group;

• R.sup.2 is a straight chain C.sub.1-6 alkyl group;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a group OR.sup.11 in which R.sup.11 is hydrogen, optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl or a C.sub.1-6 alkylcarbonyl group;
• R.sup.4 is pyridyl or an optionally substituted phenyl;
• R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.8 are the same or different and each is selected from:
• hydrogen, halogen, cyano, R.sup.15 -acetylide, OR.sup.15, optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, COR.sup.15, CH(OH)R.sup.15, S(O).sub.n R.sup.15, P(O)(OR.sup.15).sub.2, OCOR.sup.15, OCF.sub.3, OCN, SCN, NHCN, CH.sub.2 OR.sup.15, CHO, (CH.sub.2).sub.p CN, CONR.sup.12 R.sup.13, (CH.sub.2).sub.p CO.sub.2 R.sup.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.p NR.sup.12 R.sup.13, CO.sub.2 R.sup.15, NHCOCF.sub.3, NHSO.sub.2 R.sup.15, OCH.sub.2 OR.sup.15, OCH.dbd.CHR.sup.15, O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n R.sup.15, O(CH.sub.2).sub.p SO.sub.3 R.sup.15, O(CH.sub.2).sub.p NR.sup.12 R.sup.13 and O(CH.sub.2).sub.p N.sup.+ R.sup.12 R.sup.13 R.sup.14 wherein
• p is an integer from 1-4,
• n is an integer from 0-3 and
• R.sup.12, R.sup.13, R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 are independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl;
• R.sup.7 is a group of the formula ##STR14## wherein the hydroxyl groups may be substituted by acetyl, benzyl,
• or --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)-alkyl-R.sup.17,
• wherein the alkyl group may be substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups;
• R.sup.16 is --COOH, --CH.sub.2 --OH, --CH.sub.2 --O-Acetyl, --COOMe or --COOEt;
• R.sup.17 is H, --OH, --NH.sub.2, --COOH or COOR.sup.18 ;
• R.sup.18 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl or --NH--(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl;
• X is --NH--or --O--;
• and
• R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;
• and salts thereof.