1,4-benzothiepin-1, 1-dioxide derivatives with improved properties method for producing the same, drugs containing said compounds and the use thereof

1. A compound of the formula I

wherein

R1 is (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of claim 1 .

3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 which comprises as further active ingredient one or more compounds which normalize lipid metabolism.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 which comprises as further active ingredient one or more antidiabetics, hypoglycemic active ingredients, HMGCoA reductase inhibitors, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, PPAR gamma agonists, PPAR alpha agonists, PPAR alpha/gamma agonists, PPAR delta agonists, fibrates, MTP inhibitors, bile acid absorption inhibitors, MTP inhibitors, CETP inhibitors, polymeric bile acid adsorbents, LDL receptor inducers, ACAT inhibitors, antioxidants, lipoprotein lipase inhibitors, ATP-citrate lyase inhibitors, squalene synthetase inhibitors, lipoprotein(a) antagonists, HM74A receptor agonists, lipase inhibitors, insulins, sulfonylureas, biguanides, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, α-glucosidase inhibitors, active ingredients which act on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of the beta cells, glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors, glucagon receptor antagonists, activators of glucokinase, inhibitors of gluconeogenesis, inhibitors of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, modulators of glucose transporter 4, inhibitors of glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, inhibitors of dipeptidylpeptidase IV, inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, modulators of the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 or 2, modulators of GPR40, inhibitors of hormone-sensitive lipase, inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, inhibitors of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, inhibitors of protein kinase C beta, endothelin-A receptor antagonists, inhibitors of I kappaB kinase, modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor, CART agonists, NPY agonists, MC4 agonists, orexin agonists, H3 agonists, TNF agonists, CRF agonists, CRF BP antagonists, urocortin agonists, β3 agonists, CB1 receptor antagonists, MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) agonists, CCK agonists, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mixed serotoninergic and noradrenergic compounds, 5HT agonists, bombesin agonists, galanin antagonists, growth hormones, growth hormone-releasing compounds, TRH agonists, uncoupling protein 2 or 3 modulators, leptin agonists, DA agonists (bromocriptine, Doprexin), lipase/amylase inhibitors, PPAR modulators, RXR modulators or TR-β agonists or amphetamines.

5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 which comprises as further excipient one or more metal salts.

6. A method of treating lipid metabolism disorders comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. A method of treating hyperlipidemia comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. A method of lowering the serum cholesterol level comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. A method of treating arteriosclerotic manifestations comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. A method of treating insulin resistance comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. A method of treating diabetes comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.