Fused heterocyclic-substituted (hetero)aromatic carboxylic acid alkylamides (I) are new. Amides of formula (I) and their tautomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, E- and Z-isomers and salts are new. [Image] A : fused cyclic group such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-1-yl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl, isoindolin-2-yl or indolin-1-yl, all substituted by (R 4) n in the benzene ring; B' : phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl, pyridazyl, quinolyl, quinazyl, quinoxalyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, furanyl or indolyl; R 1H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylphenyl, alkenylphenyl, alkynylphenyl, OH, halo, CF 3, NO 2, NH 2, CN, COOH, COOT, NHC(O)T, NHC(O)Ph, C(O)NHR 11, NHSO 2T, NHSO 2Ph, SO 2T or SO 2Ph; T : 1-4C alkyl; R 2alkyl (optionally substituted by phenyl, cyclohexyl, pyridyl, thienyl, indolyl or naphthyl, themselves all optionally substituted by 1 or 2 R 1 groups); R 3H, COOR 5 or C(O)Z; Z : NR 6R 7, 4-(R 15)-piperazino, R 15-substituted pyrrolidino or R 15-substituted piperidino; R 4H, (CH 2) mNR 8R 9, (CH 2) mQ or O(CH 2) mQ'; Q : 4-(R 8)-piperazino, 4-(R 8)-homopiperazino, R 15-substituted pyrrolidino, R 15-substituted piperidino, morpholino, 4-(R 8)-1-piperidinyl or R 8-substituted hexamethyleneimino; Q' : 4-(R 8)-piperazino, 4-(R 8)-homopiperazino, R 8-substituted pyrrolidino, R 15-substituted piperidino, morpholino or 4-(R 8)-1-piperidinyl; R 5, R 8, R 9alkyl (optionally substituted by phenyl, itself optionally substituted by 1 or 2 R 10); R 6H or alkyl; R 7H or alkyl (optionally substituted by phenyl or pyridyl (both optionally substituted by R 10) or by 4-(R 8)-piperazino, 4-(R 8)-homopiperazino, R 15-substituted pyrrolidino, R 15-substituted piperidino, R 8-substituted 1-imidazolyl, morpholino, 4-(R 8)-1-piperidinyl or -(CH 2) oNR 8R 9); R 10H, T, OT, OH, halo, CF 3, NO 2, NH 2, CN, CONH 2, COOH, COOT, NHC(O)T, NHC(O)Ph, NHSO 2T, NHSO 2Ph, SO 2T or SO 2Ph; R 11H or alkyl; R 15H or as R 8; m : 1-6; n : 0-2; o : 0-4; unless specified otherwise alkyl moieties have 1-6C and alkenyl or alkynyl moieties 2-6C. ACTIVITY : Neuroprotective; spasmolytic; antiischemic; cytoprotective; cardiovascular; antitumor; antiinflammatory; antirheumatic. MECHANISM OF ACTION : Cystiene protease inhibitor; calpain inhibitor; cathepsin inhibitor; interleukin-1 antagonist. No results of biological activity tests are given, although test procedures are described.