A COMPOUND REPRESENTED BY THE FORMULA (Ι) WHEREIN R IS A HYDROGEN ATOM OR A C₁-₄ ALKYL GROUP, AND X IS CH₂, O OR S, OR A SALT THEREOF. THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES A NOVEL THIENOPYRIDINE DERIVATIVE HAVING AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT, A BONE RESORPTION SUPPRESSING EFFECT, AN IMMUNE CYTOKINE PRODUCTION SUPPRESSING EFFECT AND THE LIKE, AND USEFUL AS A PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT SUCH AS AN AGENT FOR THE PROPHYLAXIS OR TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS SUCH AS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND THE LIKE, AND THE LIKE, AND THE LIKE.