The present invention relates to novelcarboxamide compounds of the formula (I) and their usefor the manufacture of a medicament. The carboxamidecompounds are prodrugs of inhibitors of calpain(calcium dependant cysteine proteases). The inventiontherefore also relates to the use of these carboxamidecompounds for treating a disorder associated with anelevated calpain activity and the rest of the variables isas defined in the claims.