Biphenyl derivatives represented by the following formula (1):
1
wherein R
1
represents a C
5-7
alkyl group, R
2
represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon, or cycloalkyl group, R
3
represents a tetrazolyl group, —NHCOCF
3
, —NHSO
2
CF
3
or —SO
2
NHCONHR
4
in which R
4
represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and Z represents a single bond, a C
1-4
alkylene group or —SO
2
NH—, and salts thereof; and ACAT inhibitors and medicines containing them as active ingredients.
The compounds according to the present invention possess excellent ACAT inhibitory activities, and are useful as preventives and/or therapeutics for diseases cased by the enhancement of ACAT activity, for example, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and the like.