Heterocyclic amides of formula (1) ##STR00001## wherein: ##STR00002## is
a single or double bond; A is phenylene or heteroarylene; m is 0, 1 or 2;
n is 0, 1 or 2; R.sup.1 is selected from for example halo, nitro, cyano,
hydroxy, carboxy; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, hydroxy or carboxy; R.sup.3 is
selected from for example hydrogen, hydroxy, aryl, heterocyclyl and
C.sub.1-4alkyl(optionally substituted by 1 or 2 R.sup.8 groups); R.sup.4
is independently selected from for example hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano,
hydroxy, C.sub.1-4alkyl, and C.sub.1-4alkanoyl; R.sup.8 is selected from
for example hydroxy, --COCOOR.sup.9, --C(O)N(R.sup.9)(R.sup.10),
--NHC(O)R.sup.9, (R.sup.9)(R.sup.10)N-- and --COOR.sup.9; R.sup.9 and
R.sup.10 are selected from for example hydrogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1-4alkyl
(optionally substituted by 1 or 2 R.sup.13); R.sup.13 is selected from
hydroxy, halo, trihalomethyl and C.sub.1-4alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt or pro-drug thereof; possess glycogen phosphorylase
inhibitory activity and accordingly have value in the treatment of
disease states associated with increased glycogen phosphorylase activity.
Processes for the manufacture of said heterocyclic amide derivatives and
pharmaceutical compositions containing them are described.