IL-6 PRODUCTION INHIBITORS

IL-6 production inhibitors containing as the active ingredient hydroxamic acid derivatives represented by the following general formula (I) or equivalents thereto, non-toxic salts thereof or prodrugs of the same, (I) wherein each symbol is as defined in the description. Because of having an IL-6 production inhibitory activity, the compounds of the general formula (I) are useful as preventives and/or remedies for various inflammatory diseases, sepsis, multiple myeloma, plasmacytoid leukemia, osteoporosis, cachexia, psoriasis, nephritis, kidney cell cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis, hypergamma globulinemia, Castleman's disease, intra-atrial myxoma, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, colitis, graft-versus-host disease, infections, endometriosis and solid cancer.