The use of substituted amides for modulating the activity of 11&bgr；-hydroxysteroid dehydro-genase type 1 (11&bgr；HSD1) and the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical composi-tions, are described. Also a novel class of substituted amides, their use in therapy, phar-maceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as their use in the manufac-ture of medicaments are described. The present compounds are modulators and more specifically inhibitors of the activity of 11&bgr；HSD1 and may be useful in the treatment of a range of medical disorders where a decreased intracellular concentration of active gluco-corticoid is desirable.本發明說明經取代醯胺於調節11β－羥基類固醇脫氫酶第1型(11βHSD1)之活性的用途及此等化合物作為醫藥組合物之用途。亦說明一種新穎之經取代醯胺、其於治療之用途、包含該等化合物之醫藥組合物及其於製造藥劑之用途。本發明化合物係11βHSD1活性之調節劑，詳言之，係11βHSD1活性之抑制劑，可用於治療一系列需要降低細胞內活性糖皮質激素濃度的醫學病症。
