There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition for providing antiinflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiallergic, immunosuppressing or immunomodulating activity which comprises a pyridine derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is an optionally substituted pyridine ring, X is a oxygen atom or --S(O).sub.n --, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, A is a bivalent C.sub.1-15 hydrocarbon residue whose branched moiety may have a substituent, Y is an oxygen or sulfur atom, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue, R.sub.4 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue or an optionally substituted monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic group, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be joined together with the carbamoyl group or the thiocarbamoyl group to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, or R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 may be independently attached to A to form a ring, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.