The present invention relates to sulfonylurea analogous compounds comprising a sulfonylurea moiety and a photoresponsive moiety. The present invention further relates to methods for generating the sulfonylurea analogous compounds of the invention and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one sulfonylurea analogous compound of the invention. The present invention relates to the sulfonylurea analogous compounds or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention for use in medicine, in particular for use as anti-diabetic agent and/or in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes conditions or a disease state requiring modulation of ATP-sensitive potassium (K+) (KATP) channels. The present invention also relates to the use of the sulfonylurea analogous compounds for regulating ATP-sensitive potassium (K+) (KATP) channels and/or for assessing the functional role and/or activation of KATP channels.