The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds, and more specifically to certain aryl-phenyl-sulfonamido-phenylene compounds of the following formula (I) (collectively referred to herein as &ldquo；APSAP compounds&rdquo；). The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, in treatment, for example, of inflammation and/or joint destruction and/or bone loss； of disorders mediated by excessive and/or inappropriate and/or prolonged activation of the immune system； of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and the like； of disorders associated with bone loss, such as bone loss associated with excessive osteoclast activity in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer-associated bone disease, Paget's disease and the like, etc.； and of cancer, such as a haematological malignancy, a solid tumor, etc.
