The use of substituted amides for modulating the activity of 11.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydro-genase type 1 (11.beta.HSD1) and the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical composi-tions, are described. Also a novel class of substituted amides, their use in therapy, phar-maceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as their use in the manufac-ture of medicaments are described. The present compounds are modulators and more specifically inhibitors of the activity of 11.beta.HSD1 and may be useful in the treatment of a range of medical disorders where a decreased intracellular concentration of active gluco-corticoid is desirable.