Disclosed herein is a compound of formula (I), wherein the variables are defined in the specification, and the use thereof in the treatment of a disease that is alleviable by treatment with an ASK1 inhibitor, such as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, cardio-renal diseases, including kidney disease, fibrotic diseases, respiratory diseases, COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury, acute and chronic liver diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Embodiments of the compound include the following: N-(5-(4-cyclopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thiophen-3-yl)-5-(6-cyclopropylpyridin-3-yl)-2-methoxybenzamide； 5-(4-cyclopropyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thiazol-4-yl)-2-fluorobenzamide； 4-(4-cyclopropyl-1H-imidazol-I-yl)-N-(5-(4-(3-hydroxybutan-2-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thiophen-3-yl)picolinamide； N-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thiazol-4-yl)-3,4 &lsquo；-bipyridine-2&rsquo；-carboxamide.
