Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods of use

1. A method of treating a lipid disorder selected from the group consisting of dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL and high LDL in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound represented by formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

ring A represents a phenyl or naphthyl group;

each R l and R 2 represents H or is selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, OH, NO 2 , CO 2 R a , NR a R b , S(O) p R a , C 1-l0 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl or C 1-10 alkoxy, the alkyl and alkenyl portions of, C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl and C 1-10 alkoxy being optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

p represents 0, 1 or 2;

each R a and R b independently represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 3 represents C 1-6 alkyl or C 2-6 alkenyl, each optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo, and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy, and

R 4 represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo atoms up to perhalo and 1 phenyl ring, in an amount that is effective to treat said lipid disorder.

2. A method of treating atherosclerosis in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound represented by formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

ring A represents a phenyl or naphthyl group;

each R 1 and R 2 represents H or is selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, OH, NO 2 , CO 2 R a , NR a R b , S(O) p R a , C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl or C 1-10 alkoxy, the alkyl and alkenyl portions of, C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl and C 1-10 alkoxy being optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

p represents 0, 1 or 2;

each R a and R b independently represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 3 represents C 1-6 alkyl or C 2-6 alkenyl, each optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo, and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy, and

R 4 represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo atoms up to perhalo and 1 phenyl ring, in an amount effective to treat atherosclerosis.

3. A method of treating a condition selected from the group consisting of: (1) hyperglycemia, (2) low glucose tolerance, (3) insulin resistance, (4) obesity, (5) lipid disorders, (6) dyslipidemia, (7) hyperlipidemia, (8) hypertriglyceridemia, (9) hypercholesterolemia, (10) low HDL levels, (11) high LDL levels, (12) atherosclerosis (13) vascular restenosis, (14) pancreatitis, (15) abdominal obesity, (16) retinopathy, (17) nephropathy, (18) neuropathy, (19) Syndrome X, and other conditions and disorders where insulin resistance is a component, in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to the patient a compound represented by formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

ring A represents a phenyl or naphthyl group;

each R 1 and R 2 represents H or is selected from the group consisting of halo, CN, OH, NO 2 , CO 2 R a , NR a R b , S(O) p R a , C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl or C 1-10 alkoxy, the alkyl and alkenyl portions of, C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl and C 1-10 alkoxy being optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

p represents 0, 1 or 2;

each R a and R b independently represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo; and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 3 represents C 1-6 alkyl or C 2-6 alkenyl, each optionally substituted with 1-5 halo atoms up to perhalo, and further optionally substituted with 1 group selected from OH, oxo and C 1-6 alkoxy, and

R 4 represents H or C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo atoms up to perhalo and 1 phenyl ring, in an amount that is effective to treat said condition.