Novel compounds of the structural formula (I) are antagonists and/or
inverse agonists of the Cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor and are useful in
the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the CB1
receptor. The compounds of the present invention are useful as centrally
acting drugs in the treatment of psychosis, memory deficits, cognitive
disorders, migraine, neuropathy, neuro-inflammatory disorders including
multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome and the inflammatory
sequelae of viral encephalitis, cerebral vascular accidents, and head
trauma, anxiety disorders, stress, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease,
movement disorders, and schizophrenia. The compounds are also useful for
the treatment of substance abuse disorders, the treatment of obesity or
eating disorders, as well as the treatment of asthma, constipation,
chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and cirrhosis of the liver.
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