Inhibitors of 11-β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase type 1

#This application claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 0401324-9, filed May 24, 2004, Swedish Patent Application No. 0402509-4, filed Oct. 15, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/650,777, filed Jan. 31, 2005.

#The present invention relates to novel compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as to the use of the compounds in medicine and for the preparation of a medicament which acts on the human 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11βHSD1).

#Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs) regulate the occupancy and activation of steroid hormone receptors by converting steroid hormones into their inactive metabolites. For a recent review, see Nobel et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 2001, 268:4113-4125.

#The compounds according to the present invention may be used in several indications which involve 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme. Thus, the compounds according to the present invention may be used against dementia (see WO97/07789), osteoporosis (see Canalis, E. 1996, Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action in bone: implications to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 81, 3441-3447) and may also be used for disorders in the immune system (see Franchimont et al, “Inhibition of Th1 immune response by glucocorticoids: dexamethasone selectively inhibits IL-12-induced Stat 4 phosphorylation in T lymphocytes”, The journal of Immunology 2000, Feb. 15, vol 164 (4), pages 1768-74) and also in the above listed indications.

#The various terms used, separately and in combinations, in the above definition of the compounds having the Formula (I), (II), (III) and (IV) will be explained.

#The term “aryl” in the present description is intended to include aromatic rings (monocyclic or bicyclic) having from 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms, such as phenyl (Ph), naphthyl, and indanyl (i.e., 2,3-dihydroindenyl), which optionally may be substituted by C1-6-alkyl. Examples of substituted aryl groups are benzyl, and 2-methylphenyl.