The present invention relates to novel 4-(4-pyridyl)-benzamides of the formula (I). The compounds I possess valuable therapeutic properties and are suitable, in particular, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of Rho kinases (ROCKs). R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1- C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy or C1-C8-haloalkoxy R3, R4, R5 and R6 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy, C1-C8-haloalkoxy, amino, C1-C8-alkylamino or di-(C1-C8-alkyl)-amino R7 is hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, aryl or aryl-C1-C8-alkyl R8 is a group of the formula -X-W, where X is a single bond, C1-C4-alkylene or C1-C4-alkylene-O-, where the alkylene group in the three last-mentioned radicals may be linear or branched and may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or may be interrupted by an oxygen atom and W is a cyclic radical selected from phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring which contains as ring members 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and optionally 1 or 2 carbonyl groups R9 is a group of the formula -Y-Z, where Z is hydrogen, halogen, OR11, NR12R13, S(O)m-R14, phenyl which may carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents R15 or a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring and Y is linear or branched C1C4-alkylene which may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or a phenyl ring or, in case Z is phenyl or the 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring as defined above, Y can also be a single bond.Linvention concerne de nouveaux composés 4-(4-pyridyl)-benzamides représentés par la formule (I). Ces composés I présentent des propriétés thérapeutiques précieuses et conviennent en particulier pour traiter des maladies répondant à une modulation de kinases Rho (ROCK). R1 et R2 représentent indépend
