A compound of the general formula wherein X is selected from CH or N; R 2 is selected from H, CN, CF 3, CON(R 4) 2; O-C 1-8 alkyl optionally substituted by R 3; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 1-8 alkyl optionally substituted by R 6; and when X is CH, R 2 may also be F, Cl, SO 2 NH 2; Y is selected from straight chain or branched C 1-8 alkyl, optionally substituted by one or more of R 3; C 3-8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted by one or more of R 9; and heterocyclyl systems selected from any one of the formulae: optionally substituted by one or more of R 9, wherein n is independently 1 to 3 and U is independently O or NR 5; R 1 is selected from H; Cl; and C 1-8 alkyl, optionally substituted by N(R 4) 2 or F; R 3 is selected from OH, OR 4 and N(R 4) 2 from the second carbon atom of the alkyl chain to which R 3 is attached onwards; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O, wherein the nitrogen atom may be substituted by H or C 1-3 alkyl; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; R 4 is selected from H and C 1-8 alkyl; R 5 is selected from H; C 1-8 alkyl; C 2-8 alkenyl; C 3-10 cycloalkyl; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; COR 6; CO 2 R 4; CONH(CH 2) m R 6; (CH 2) m R 6; CO(CH 2) m R 6; (CH 2) m C R 6; SO 2 R 4; and SO 2 (CH 2) m R 6; wherein m is 1-4; R 6 is selected from H; OH; OR 4; OC R 4; N(R 4) 2; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O, which is optionally substituted by C 1-3 alkyl or N(R 4) 2; W is -C NH 2 or -C NHR 8; R 8 is C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted by OH, -O-C 1-3 alkyl, -NH 2, -NH(C 1-3 alkyl), -N(C 1-3 alkyl) 2, morpholino, pyrrolidinyl or N-methyl-pyrrolidinyl; R 9 is selected from OH, OR 4, N(R 4) 2, N(R 4)COR 4, NR 4 SO 2 R 4 and N(R 4)-(CH 2) m -R 4 on any carbon atom other than one attached to O or N; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; SO 2 R 4; (CH 2) m OR 4; (CH 2) m N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; or a tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. X is selected from CH or N; R 2 is selected from H, CN, CF 3, CON(R 4) 2; O-C 1-8 alkyl optionally substituted by R 3; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 1-8 alkyl optionally substituted by R 6; and when X is CH, R 2 may also be F, Cl, SO 2 NH 2; Y is selected from straight chain or branched C 1-8 alkyl, optionally substituted by one or more of R 3; C 3-8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted by one or more of R 9; and heterocyclyl systems selected from any one of the formulae: optionally substituted by one or more of R 9, wherein n is independently 1 to 3 and U is independently O or NR 5; R 1 is selected from H; Cl; and C 1-8 alkyl, optionally substituted by N(R 4) 2 or F; R 3 is selected from OH, OR 4 and N(R 4) 2 from the second carbon atom of the alkyl chain to which R 3 is attached onwards; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O, wherein the nitrogen atom may be substituted by H or C 1-3 alkyl; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; R 4 is selected from H and C 1-8 alkyl; R 5 is selected from H; C 1-8 alkyl; C 2-8 alkenyl; C 3-10 cycloalkyl; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; COR 6; CO 2 R 4; CONH(CH 2) m R 6; (CH 2) m R 6; CO(CH 2) m R 6; (CH 2) m C R 6; SO 2 R 4; and SO 2 (CH 2) m R 6; wherein m is 1-4; R 6 is selected from H; OH; OR 4; OC R 4; N(R 4) 2; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O, which is optionally substituted by C 1-3 alkyl or N(R 4) 2; W is -C NH 2 or -C NHR 8; R 8 is C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted by OH, -O-C 1-3 alkyl, -NH 2, -NH(C 1-3 alkyl), -N(C 1-3 alkyl) 2, morpholino, pyrrolidinyl or N-methyl-pyrrolidinyl; R 9 is selected from OH, OR 4, N(R 4) 2, N(R 4)COR 4, NR 4 SO 2 R 4 and N(R 4)-(CH 2) m -R 4 on any carbon atom other than one attached to O or N; F; CO 2 H; CON(R 4) 2; SO 2 N(R 4) 2; SO 2 R 4; (CH 2) m OR 4; (CH 2) m N(R 4) 2; C 3-10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O; and C 5-10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O;