Compounds exhibiting thrombopoietin-like activities

The compounds of the invention are compounds represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1##

wherein E represents one selected from the group consisting of a methylidyne group and a nitrilo group, R¹ represents one selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted aryl groups and optionally substituted heteroaryl groups, R² represents one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and alkyl groups, W¹ represents an amino acid residue, A represents one selected from the group consisting of a carbonyl group and a sulfonyl group, X¹ represents one selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkylene groups and optionally substituted alkenylene groups, and p represents 0 or 1;

and their pharmacologically acceptable salts, which exhibit thrombopoietin-like activity.