EP

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent,

wherein:

R 2 is H or an optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl group;

Y is —(CH 2 ) n —X—,

where n is 1 or 2 and X is O, S, S(═O) or S(═O) 2

R 3 is an optionally substituted C 6 aryl group linked to a further optionally substituted C 6 aryl group, wherein each optionally substituted C 6 aryl group has 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; and

wherein if both optionally substituted C 6 aryl groups are benzene rings, there may be an oxygen bridge between the two rings, bound adjacent the link on both rings;

A is a single bond or a C 1-3 alkylene group; and

R 5 is either:

(i) carboxy

(ii) a group of formula (II):

(iii) a group of formula (III):

wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-7 aryl group having from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group wherein said C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms;

(iv) tetrazole-5-yl.

2. A compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R 2 is H or an optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl group;

Y is —(CH 2 ) n —X—,

where n is 1 or 2 and X is O, S, S(═O)or S(═O) 2

R 3 is an optionally substituted C 6 aryl group linked to a further optionally substituted C 6 aryl group, wherein each optionally substituted C 6 aryl group has 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; and

wherein if both optionally substituted C 6 aryl groups are benzene rings, there may be an oxygen bridge between the two rings, bound adjacent the link on both rings;

A is a single bond or a C 1-3 alkylene group; and

R 5 is either:

(i) carboxy

(ii) a group of formula (II):

(iii) a group of formula (III):

wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-7 aryl group having from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group, wherein said C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; or

(iv) tetrazole-5-yl,

except that when R 2 is methyl, Y is CH 2 —O— and R 5 is carboxy or a C 1-7 alkyl ester thereof, then R 3 is not:

3. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 2 is selected from H, methyl, CF 3 and iso-propyl.

4. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 2 is methyl.

5. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein n is 1.

6. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein Y is —CH 2 —O—.

7. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 3 is an optionally substituted biphenyl group.

8. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 are independently selected from those derived from benzene and heteroaryl groups, where the heteroatom or heteroatoms are nitrogen.

9. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 are independently selected from those derived from benzene, pyridine and 1,3-pyrimidine.

10. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein, of the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 , only the C 6 aryl group of R 3 not bound to Y is substituted.

11. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 are optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 1-7 alkyl groups; C 1-7 alkoxy groups; C 1-7 thioether group; amino groups, optionally substituted by one or two C 1-4 alkyl groups; halo groups; cyano; alkoxylene groups and C 1-4 acyl groups.

12. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 are optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 , —CF 3 , —CH 2 OH, —OMe, —OCF 3 , —OEt, —OCHF 2 , —SMe, —NH 2 , —NMe 2 , F, Cl, —CN, —O—CH 2 —O— and —C(═O)Me.

13. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein A is a C 1-3 alkylene group.

14. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein A is a bond.

15. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 5 is a group of formula (II):

or a group of the formula (III)

16. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R 5 is a group of formula (II):

17. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-7 aryl group having from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-7 arylmethyl group wherein said C 5-7 arylmethyl group has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms.

18. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-6 aryl group having 5 or 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-6 arylmethyl group wherein said C 5-6 arylmethyl group has 5 or 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms.

19. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted thiophen-2-yl, isoxazolyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyridinyl and pyridinylmethyl.

20. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the group R is optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from methyl and —OH.

21. A compound of the formula (IV)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 2 is selected from H, methyl, CF 3 and iso-propyl;

R 3 is an optionally substituted C 6 aryl group linked to a further optionally substituted C 6 aryl group, wherein each optionally substituted C 6 aryl group has 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; and

wherein either both of the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 are derived from benzene or one of the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 is derived from benzene and the other C 6 aryl group of R 3 is derived from pyridine; and

wherein if both C 6 aryl groups are benzene rings, there is optionally an oxygen bridge between the two rings, bound adjacent the link on both rings; and

wherein each C 6 aryl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 , —CF 3 , —CH 2 OH, —OMe, —OCF 3 , —OEt, —OCHF 2 , —SMe, —NH 2 , —NMe 2 , F, Cl, —CN, —O—CH 2 —O— and —C(═O)Me;

R 5 is either:

(i) a group of formula (II):

(ii) a group of formula (III):

wherein R is a C 5-6 aryl group having 5 or 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms or R is a C 5-6 arylmethyl group wherein said C 5-6 arylmethyl group has 5 or 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms said aryl group and said arylmethyl group being optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C 1-4 alkyl and —OH.

22. The compound according to claim 21 , wherein R 2 is methyl.

23. The compound according to claim 21 , wherein R 3 is an optionally substituted biphenyl group.

24. The compound according to claim 21 wherein, of the C 6 aryl groups of R 3 , only the C 6 aryl group of R 3 not bound to the —CH 2 —O— group is substituted.

25. The compound according to claim 21 wherein R 5 is a group of formula (II):

26. The compound according to claim 21 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of thiophen-2-yl, isoxazolyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyridinyl, and pyridinylmethyl, optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from C 1-4 alkyl and —OH.

27. A compound selected from the group consisting of

N-[4-(4′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzene-sulfonamide (5);

N-[4-(4′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-C-phenyl-methanesulfonamide (6);

3,5-Dimethyl-isoxazole-4-sulfonic acid [4-(4′-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (9);

Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-(4′-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (10);

5-Methyl-pyridyl-2-sulfonic acid [4-(4′-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (11);

4-Aminomethyl-N-[4-(4′-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (trifluoroacetate salt) (12);

4-Hydroxy-N-[4-(4′-methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (13);

N-[4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (19);

N-[4-(4′-Acetyl-biphenyl -4-yloxymethyl )-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (22);

N-{3-[4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl )-5-methyl-furan-2-yl]-propionyl}-benzene sulfonamide (38); N-{3-[4-(4′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-yl]-propionyl}-benzene sulfonamide (40);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid benzoylamide (46);

4-(4′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid benzoylamide (49);

N-[4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamide (60);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid phenylacetyl-amide (62);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (3,5-dimethyl-isoxazole-4-carbonyl )-amide (63);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (thiophene-2-carbonyl)-amide (64);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (pyridin-3-yl-acetyl)-amide (66);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (pyridine-4-carbonyl)-amide (67);

4-(Biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (pyridine-3-carbonyl)-amide (68);

4-(4′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-sulfonic acid (3,5-dimethyl-isoxazole-4-carbonyl)-amide (69);

N-[4-(2′-Methoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (127);

N-[4-(4′-Difluoromethoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (130);

3,5-Dimethyl-isoxazole-4-sulfonic acid [4-(4′-difluoromethoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (131); N-{4-[4-(5-Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl )-phenoxymethyl]-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl}-benzenesulfonamide (132);

3,5-Dimethyl-isoxazole-4-sulfonic acid {4-[4-(5-methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-phenoxymethyl]-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl}-amide (133); N-{4-[4-(5-Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl )-phenoxymethyl]-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl}-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide (134);

N-[4-(2′,4′-Dimethoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (141);

3,5-Dimethyl-isoxazole-4-sulfonic acid [4-(2′,4′-dimethoxy-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (142);

N-[4-(4′-Methoxy-2′-methyl-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (145);

3,5-Dimethyl-isoxazole-4-sulfonic acid [4-(4′-methoxy-2′-methyl-biphenyl-4-yloxymethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-amide (146);

N-[4-(4′-Difluoromethoxy-biphenyl-4-ylsulfanylmethyl)-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl]-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide (154);

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 .

29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (IV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 21 .

30. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 27 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

31. A method of treating a primary headache disorder or drug induced headache by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound of the formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R 2 is H or an optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl group;

Y is —(CH 2 ) n —X—,

where n is 1 or 2 and X is O, S, S(═O) or S(═O) 2

R 3 is an optionally substituted C 6 aryl group linked to a further optionally substituted C 6 aryl group, wherein each optionally substituted C 6 aryl group has 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; and

wherein if both optionally substituted C 6 aryl groups are benzene rings, there may be an oxygen bridge between the two rings, bound adjacent the link on both rings;

A is a single bond or a C 1-3 alkylene group; and

R 5 is either:

(i) carboxy

(ii) a group of formula (II):

(iii) a group of formula (III):

wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-7 aryl group having from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group wherein said C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; or

(iv) tetrazole-5-yl.

32. A method of treating a primary headache disorder or drug induced headache by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound according to claim 21 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

33. A method of treating a primary headache disorder or drug induced headache by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound according to claim 27 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

34. A method of treating migraine by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound of the formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R 2 is H or an optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl group;

Y is —(CH 2 ) n —X—,

where n is 1 or 2 and X is O, S, S(═O)or S(═O) 2

R 3 is an optionally substituted C 6 aryl group linked to a further optionally substituted C 6 aryl group, wherein each optionally substituted C 6 aryl group has 6 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; and

wherein if both optionally substituted C 6 aryl groups are benzene rings, there may be an oxygen bridge between the two rings, bound adjacent the link on both rings;

A is a single bond or a C 1-3 alkylene group; and

R 5 is either:

(i) carboxy

(ii) a group of formula (II):

(iii) a group of formula (III):

wherein R is an optionally substituted C 5-7 aryl group having from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms, or an optionally substituted C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group wherein said C 5-7 arylC 1-7 alkyl group has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, which ring atoms may be all carbon atoms or may include one or more heteroatoms; or

(iv) tetrazole-5-yl.

35. A method of treating migraine by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound according to claim 21 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

36. A method of treating migraine by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a compound according to claim 27 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

37. A compound which is N-{4-[4-(5-Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-phenoxymethyl]-5-methyl-furan-2-carbonyl}-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide (134) of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

38. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 37 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

39. A method of treating a primary headache disorder or drug induced headache by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof the compound according to claim 37 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

40. A method of treating migraine by antagonism of an EP 4 receptor, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof the compound according to claim 37 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

41. A pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims 28 , 29 , 30 or 38 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.