BENZOIC ACID COMPOUNDS AND MEDICINAL USE THEREOF

摘要

A benzoic acid compound of the formula <CHEM> wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, an optical isomer thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprising this compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable additive, a serotonin 4 receptor agonist comprising this compound as an active ingredient, a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent and a therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal diseases. The compound of the present invention shows selective and high affinity for serotonin 4 receptors, activates same, is useful as a pharmaceutical agent for the prophylaxis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., reflux esophagitis; gastroesophageal reflux such as that accompanying cystic fibrosis; Barrett syndrome; intestinal pseudoileus; acute or chronic gastritis; gastric or duodenal ulcer; Crohn's disease; non-ulcer dyspepsia; ulcerative colitis; postgastrectomy syndrome; postoperative digestive function failure; delayed gastric emptying caused by gastric neurosis, gastroptosis, diabetes, and the like; gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion, meteorism, abdominal indefinite complaint, and the like; constipation such as atonic constipation, chronic constipation, and that caused by spinal cord injury, pelvic diaphragm failure and the like; and irritable bowel syndrome), central nervous disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, disturbance of memory and dementia), cardiac function disorders (e.g., cardiac failure and myocardial ischemia), urinary diseases (e.g., dysuria caused by urinary obstruction, ureterolith, prostatomegaly, spinal cord injury, pelvic diaphragm failure, etc.), and shows superior absorption.