A process for preparing a compound having the formula: wherein A is a ring chosen from: i) substituted or unsubstituted C 6 or C 10 aryl; or ii) substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 9 heteroaryl; R 10 represents one or more independently chosen optionally present substitutions for hydrogen; X is chosen from: i) -OH; ii) -OR 3; iii) -NR 4 R 5; and iv) -OM 1; R 3 is C 1 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkyl; C 2 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkenyl; or C 2 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkynyl, or benzyl; R 4 and R 5 are each independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkyl; C 2 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkenyl; or C 2 -C 12 linear, C 3 -C 12 branched or C 3 -C 12 cyclic alkynyl; benzyl; or R 4 and R 5 can be taken together with the nitrogen atom to form a 3 to 10 member ring, wherein the ring can optionally contain one or more heteroatoms chosen from oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur; M 1 is a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; R 7a and R 7b are each independently: i) hydrogen; or ii) C 1 -C 6 linear, C 3 -C 6 branched or C 3 -C 6 cyclic alkyl; R 8 is chosen from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; and the index n is an integer from 1 to 4; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: A) reacting a boronic acid or ester having the formula: wherein Y is OR 20, R 20 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 linear, C 3 -C 6 branched, or C 3 -C 6 cyclic alkyl, or two OR 20 units can be taken together to form a 5-member to 7-member C 3 -C 10 cyclic ester, with a 3,5-dihalo-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: each Z is independently chloro or bromo, in the presence of a catalyst, to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-halo-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: B) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-halo-2-cyanopyridine formed in step with an alkoxide anion having the formula: Θ OR 2 wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 12 linear alkyl or C 3 -C 12 branched alkyl, to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-alkoxy-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: C) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-alkoxy-2-cyanopyridine formed in step with an acid to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-hydroxy-2-carboxypyridine having the formula: and D) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-hydroxy-2-carboxypyridine formed in step with a compound having the formula: i) substituted or unsubstituted C 6 or C 10 aryl; or ii) substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 9 heteroaryl; i) -OH; ii) -OR 3; iii) -NR 4 R 5; and iv) -OM 1; i) hydrogen; or ii) C 1 -C 6 linear, C 3 -C 6 branched or C 3 -C 6 cyclic alkyl; A) reacting a boronic acid or ester having the formula: wherein Y is OR 20, R 20 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 linear, C 3 -C 6 branched, or C 3 -C 6 cyclic alkyl, or two OR 20 units can be taken together to form a 5-member to 7-member C 3 -C 10 cyclic ester, with a 3,5-dihalo-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: each Z is independently chloro or bromo, in the presence of a catalyst, to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-halo-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: B) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-halo-2-cyanopyridine formed in step with an alkoxide anion having the formula: Θ OR 2 wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 12 linear alkyl or C 3 -C 12 branched alkyl, to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-alkoxy-2-cyanopyridine having the formula: C) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-alkoxy-2-cyanopyridine formed in step with an acid to form a 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-hydroxy-2-carboxypyridine having the formula: and D) reacting the 5-aryl or 5-heteroaryl-3-hydroxy-2-carboxypyridine formed in step with a compound having the formula: