Indole, indazole, and benzazole derivative

1. A compound of the formula (I):

wherein W is a group of the following formula (VIII) binding to any possible position on Q;

Q is, together with W, a group of the formula: —C(W)═C(R 3A )—N(R 3 )— or —C(R 3A )═C(W)—N(R 3 ;

R 3A is independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted lower alkyl group;

R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 are independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted lower alkyl group;

R 1 is a group of the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)NR 1a R 1b , —X—R 1e —C(═O)OR 1a or —X—R 1d in which X is —O—, —S—, or —SO 2 N(R 1c )—, and R 1e is a direct bond or an optionally substituted lower alkylene group,

R 1a , R 1b , and R 1c are independently a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, or an optionally substituted cycloalkyl group;

R 1d is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an optionally substituted phenyl group, or an optionally substituted cycloalkyl group;

R 2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an optionally substituted lower alkenyl group, an optionally substituted amino group, a hydroxy group, a lower alkoxy group, or

R 3 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, or R 1 and R 3 may combine each other and form a divalent group of the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)— (provided that the bond at the carbonyl side of the above formula binds to the atom to which R 3 of the compound of the formula (I) attaches);

Ar is a group of the following formula (XIII);

(in which R 17 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a cyano group);

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a group of the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)NR 1a R 1b or the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)OR 1a , or R 1 and R 3 may combine each other and form a divalent group of the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)—, wherein X is a group of the formula:

—O— or —S—, and

R 1e is a group of the formula: —CR 1f R 1g —, wherein R 1f and R 1g are independently a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, or an optionally substituted aralkyl group, or both may combine each other, and with the carbon atom to which they bond, form an optionally substituted cycloalkane ring, provided that both R 1f and R 1g are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. The compound according to claim 1 or claim 2 , which is a compound of the formula (I′):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 3A , and W are as defined in claim 1 ,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

4. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 1 binds to the 5-, 6- or 7-position of the indole ring of the compound of the formula (I′), and R 2 is a hydrogen atom, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 2 is a group other than a hydrogen atom, and one of R 1 and R 2 binds to the 6-position of the indole ring of the compound of the formula (I′), and the other binds to the 7-position thereof,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

6. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Ar is a group selected from the following substituents:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a group of the formula: —X—R 1e —C(═O)NR 1a R 1b or —X—R 1e —C(═O)OR 1a ;

X is —O—;

R 1a , and R 1b when it exists, are independently selected from

(i) a hydrogen atom,

(ii) an unsubstituted lower alkyl group,

(iii) a lower alkyl group being substituted by one or more substituents, which are the same or different, and said substituent(s) are selected from a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, an amino group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a mercapto group, an alkylthio group, a carbamoyl group, an indolyl group, a guanidino group, an imidazolyl group, and a phenyl group optionally being substituted by a hydroxy group,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 1 is a group of the formula: —X—CR 1f R 1g —C(═O)OR 1a ,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein X is a group of the formula: —O—,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the compound as set forth in claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. A method for treatment of obesity, hyperglycemia, frequent urination, or urinary incontinence which comprises administering to a patient in need an effective amount of the compound as set forth in claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.