SUBSTITUTED AROMATIC COMPOUNDS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS

1 - 34 . (canceled)

35 . A method for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis, comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof:

wherein

A is C 5 alkyl, C 6 alkyl, C 5 alkenyl, C 6 alkenyl, C(O)—(CH 2 ) n —CH 3 or CH(OH)—(CH 2 ) n —CH 3 wherein n is 3 or 4;

R 1 is H, F or OH;

R 2 is H, F, OH, C 5 alkyl, C 6 alkyl, C 5 alkenyl, C 6 alkenyl, C(O)—(CH 2 ) n —CH 3 or CH(OH)—(CH 2 ) n —CH 3 wherein n is 3 or 4;

R 3 is H, F, OH or CH 2 Ph;

R 4 is H, F or OH; and

Q is

1) (CH 2 ) m C(O)OH wherein m is 1 or 2,

2) CH(F)—C(O)OH,

3) CF 2 —C(O)OH, or

4) C(O)—C(O)OH.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein A is C 5 alkyl or C 6 alkyl.

37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein R 2 is H, F, OH, C 5 alkyl or C 6 alkyl.

38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein R 3 is H, OH or CH 2 Ph.

39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein Q is (CH 2 ) m C(O)OH where m is 1 or 2.

40 . The method of claim 35 , wherein:

A is C 5 alkyl or C 6 alkyl;

R 2 is H, F, OH, C 5 alkyl or C 6 alkyl;

R 3 is H, OH or CH 2 Ph; and

Q is (CH 2 ) m C(O)OH where m is 1 or 2.

41 . The method of claim 35 , wherein:

A is C 5 alkyl;

R 1 is H;

R 2 is H or C 5 alkyl;

R 3 is H;

R 4 is H; and

Q is (CH 2 ) m C(O)OH where m is 1.

42 . The method of claim 35 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the following structures:

and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof.

43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said compound is represented by the following structure:

or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.

44 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said compound is represented by the following structure:

or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.

45 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a base addition salt comprising a metal counterion selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium lithium, ammonium, manganese, zinc, iron, or copper.

46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is sodium.

47 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the osteoporosis is selected from the group consisting of post-menopausal osteoporosis (primary type 1), primary type 2 osteoporosis, secondary osteoporosis abnormally high osteoclastogenesis, osteomalacia-like osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteopetrosis, osteonecrosis, Paget's disease of bone, hypophosphatemia and combinations thereof.

48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein osteoporosis is post-menopausal osteoporosis (primary type 1), primary type 2 osteoporosis or secondary osteoporosis.

49 . The method of claim 47 , wherein osteoporosis is post-menopausal osteoporosis (primary type 1).

50 . The method of claim 35 , wherein administration of said compound results in one or more of the following biological activities in the subject:

inhibition of osteoclastogenesis;

reduction of osteoclastogenesis;

stimulation of interleukin-12 (IL-12) production in bone;

reduction of acid phosphatase activity in bone;

reduction of Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand/Osteoprotegerin ratio (RANKL/OPG ratio) in bone;

increase of collagen content in bone; and

modulation of the serum level of adiponectin.

51 . A method for preventing and/or reducing bone loss, comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 .

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein said compound reduces loss of calcium.

53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the subject is afflicted by or susceptible of osteoporosis.

54 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the subject is a postmenopausal woman.

55 . A method for inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, comprising contacting an osteoclast precursor cell with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 , wherein said compound inhibits differentiation of the precursor cell into an osteoclast cell.

56 . A method for stimulating interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by a stimulated osteoclast precursor cell, comprising contacting said stimulated osteoclast precursor cell with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 , wherein an increased IL-12 production is measurable in presence of said compound.

57 . A method for reducing acid phosphatase activity in bone cells comprising contacting said bone cells with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 , wherein a reduced phosphatase activity is measurable in presence of said compound.

58 . A method for reducing expression and/or activity of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand/Osteoprotegerin ratio (RANKL/OPG ratio) in bone cells, comprising contacting said bone cells with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 .

59 . A method for increasing collagen content in bone, comprising contacting said bone with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 .

60 . A method for stimulating bone formation and/or for stimulating bone remodeling and/or for stimulating the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts and/or for inhibiting bone resorption, comprising contacting osteoblasts in said bone with a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 .

61 . A method for modulating serum level of adiponectin in a subject, comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 35 .

62 . The method of claim 61 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the following structures:

and pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.

63 . The method of claim 61 , wherein said compound is represented by the following structure:

or pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.

64 . The method of claim 61 , wherein the subject is obese and/or diabetic.

65 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising the step of administering concomitantly a drug selected from the group consisting of: bisphosphonates, Odanacatib, Alendronate, Risedronate, Etidronate, Zoledronate, Pamidronate, Teriparatide, Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, and Denosumab.