<p>The invention aims at providing novel low-molecular compounds which have G-CSF-like activities and can substitute for G-CSF preparations. The invention relates to G-CSF-like agonists containing as the active ingredient benzyl alcohol derivatives represented by the general formula (1) or salts thereof: wherein R<1> is hydrogen or the like; A is oxygen or the like; X<1> is hydrogen or the like; Y<1> is optionally substituted phenyl or the like; Z<1> is hydrogen or the like; and n is an integer of 1 to 16, with the proviso that the case wherein R<1> is lower alkyl, X<1> is a halogen atom at the 5-position; Y<1> is imidazolyl; the -A(CH2)n-Z<1> group is present at the 2-position; A is oxygen; and Z<1> is hydrogen or optionally substituted phenyl is excluded.</p>
