Steroids as agonists for FXR

1. A compound of formula I:

wherein R is ethyl and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or amino acid conjugates thereof.

2. The glycine conjugate of a compound of formula (I):

wherein R is ethyl.

3. The taurine conjugate of a compound of formula (I):

wherein R is ethyl.

4. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

5. A method for the treatment of an FXR mediated disease or condition in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal suffering from an FXR mediated disease or condition a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , wherein said FXR mediated disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of hypercholesteremia, hyperlipidemia, low HDL-cholesterol, and high triglycerides.

6. A method for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal suffering from a cardiovascular disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , wherein said cardiovascular desease is selected from the group consisting of artherosclerosis and hypercholesteremia.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis.

8. A method for increasing HDL cholesterol in a mammal, said method comprising administering to a mammal whose HDL cholesterol is to be increased a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 .

9. A method for lowering triglycerides in a mammal, said method comprising administering to a mammal whose triglycerides are to be increased a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 .

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said compound is radiolabeled.

11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein said compound is tritiated.