Biphenylcarboxamides useful as lipid lowering agents

A compound of formula (I)

• the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein
• p1, p2 and p3 are integers each independently from 1 to 3;
• each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxy, halo, hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, C1-4alkylthio, polyhaloC1-6alkyl, amino, C1-4alkylamino and di(C1-4alkyl)amino;
• each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxy, halo, and trifluoromethyl;
• R3 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl;
• each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxy, halo, and trifluoromethyl;
• Z is a bivalent radical of formula
• wherein
• m and m′ are integers from 1 to 3;
• R5 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or aryl;
• X1 is CH, N or an sp2 hybridized carbon atom;
• A represents a bond, or C1-6alkanediyl optionally substituted with one or two groups selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl and C3-10cycloalkyl;
• B represents hydrogen;
• C1-10alkyl;
• or aryl or heteroaryl each optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, cyano, nitro, C1-4alkyloxy, amino, C1-10alkylamino, di(C1-10alkyl)amino, C1-10acyl, C1-10alkylthio, C1-10alkoxycarbonyl, C1-10alkylaminocarbonyl and di(C1-10alkyl)aminocarbonyl;
• arylC1-10alkyl;
• heteroarylC1-10alkyl;
• C3-10cycloalkyl;
• polyhaloC1-6alkyl;
• C3-6alkenyl;
• C3-6alkynyl;
• NR7R8;
• or OR9;
• wherein R7 and R8 each independently represent hydrogen;
• C1-10alkyl;
• or aryl or heteroaryl each optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, cyano, C1-4alkyloxy, amino, C1-10alkylamino, di(C1-10alkyl)amino, C1-10acyl, C1-10alkylthio, C1-10alkylaminocarbonyl and di(C1-10alkyl)aminocarbonyl;
• arylC1-10alkyl;
• heteroarylC1-10alkyl;
• C3-10cycloalkyl;
• C7-10polycycloalkyl;
• polyhaloC1-6alkyl;
• C3-8alkenyl;
• C3-8alkynyl;
• fused benzo-C5-8cycloalkyl;
• or R7 and R8 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a saturated heterocyclic radical having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms;
• and
• wherein R9 represents C1-10alkyl;
• or aryl or heteroaryl each optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, cyano, nitro, C1-4alkyloxy, amino, C1-10alkylamino, di(C1-10alkyl)amino, C1-10acyl, C1-10alkylthio, C1-10alkylaminocarbonyl and di(C1-10alkyl)aminocarbonyl;
• arylC1-10alkyl;
• heteroarylC1-10alkyl;
• C3-10cycloalkyl;
• C7-10polycycloalkyl;
• polyhaloC1-6alkyl;
• C3-8alkenyl;
• C3-8alkynyl;
• or fused benzoC5-8cycloalkyl.