patent number 372099, has been granted to NOVARTIS AG titled COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING FARNESOID X RECEPTORS. The primary independent claim of this patent states a compound according to formula or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, wherein, R0 is Ring A or C1-6 alkyl; Ring A is aryl; 5-10 membered heteroaryl comprising 1-3 N, O or S heteroatoms; or C3-7 cycloalkyl; and said Ring A is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-2 substituents independently represented by R2 ; Ring B is aryl; 5-10 membered heteroaryl comprising 1-3 N, O or S heteroatoms; or C3-7 cycloalkyl; and said Ring B is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-2 substituents independently represented by R2 ; X is –(CR4R5 )–; Y is –O–, –(CR4R5 )–, or *–O(CR4R5 )–, wherein “*” indicates the point of attachment of Y to the ring containing the Z ring atoms; Z 1 , Z2 , Z3 , and Z4 are each independently –CR3– or –N–; L 1 is *1–(CR4R5 )1-2– wherein “*1 ” indicates the point of attachment of L1 to N; L 2 is *2–(CR4R5 )1-2–, *2–(CR4R5 )-C(O)-NR–, *2–(CR4R5 )2-O–, *2–(CR4R5 )2-NR– or * 2–(CR4R5 )-C(O)-NR-(CR4R5 )–; wherein “*2 ” indicates the point of attachment of L2 to N; L 3 is –C(O)–; each R2 is independently halo, C1-6 alkyl, or halo-substituted C1-6 alkyl; each R3 is independently hydrogen, halo, or C1-6 alkyl; R, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl. The patent applicant responded to this objection by stating that the present invention discloses novel tricyclic compounds that are not known at the priority date. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention are structurally different from the compounds disclosed in the cited prior art. This patent falls under the category of Pharmaceuticals. Overall, this patent covers a compounds of Formula wherein, a stereoisomer, enantiomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or an amino acid conjugate thereof; and their pharmaceutical compositions, which are useful as modulators of the activity of Farnesoid X receptors (FXR).
