A compound of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is: -NR a -; R a is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl; R 1 is: C 1-6 alkyl; or C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with C 1-6 alkyl;; R 2 is: halo; cyano; or halo-C 1-6 oalkyl; R 3 is: hydrogen; C 1-6 alkyl; halo; cyano; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 2-6 alkenyl; C 2-6 alkynyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl; hydroxy-C 1-6 alkyl; C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 4; C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the C 3-6 cycloalkyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 4; or -Y-C -R d; Y is C 2-6 alkylene or a bond; R d is C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, amino, C 1-6 alkyl-amino, di-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, halo-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, di-halo-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, halo-C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy-C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl, cyano-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylsulfonylC 1-6 alkyl, amino-C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 4, C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the C 3-6 cycloalkyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 4, heterocyclyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 5, or heterocyclyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the heterocyclyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 5; each R 4 is independently: C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; oxo; cyano; halo; or Y-C -R d; each R 5 is C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; or halo; A is a five- or six- membered unsaturated or saturated carbocyclic ring that may optionally contain a heteroatom selected from O, N and S, and which may be substituted one or more times with R 6; and each R 6 is independently: oxo; C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl; cyano; cyano-C 1-6 alkyl; -Y-C -R d; C 3-6 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl; or C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl. X is: -NR a -; R a is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl; R 1 is: C 1-6 alkyl; or C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with C 1-6 alkyl;; R 2 is: halo; cyano; or halo-C 1-6 oalkyl; R 3 is: hydrogen; C 1-6 alkyl; halo; cyano; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 2-6 alkenyl; C 2-6 alkynyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl; hydroxy-C 1-6 alkyl; C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 4; C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the C 3-6 cycloalkyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 4; or -Y-C -R d; Y is C 2-6 alkylene or a bond; R d is C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, amino, C 1-6 alkyl-amino, di-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, halo-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, di-halo-C 1-6 alkyl-amino, halo-C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy-C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl, cyano-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylsulfonylC 1-6 alkyl, amino-C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 4, C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the C 3-6 cycloalkyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 4, heterocyclyl optionally substituted one or more times with R 5, or heterocyclyl-C 1-6 alkyl wherein the heterocyclyl portion is optionally substituted one or more times with R 5; each R 4 is independently: C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; oxo; cyano; halo; or Y-C -R d; each R 5 is C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; or halo; A is a five- or six- membered unsaturated or saturated carbocyclic ring that may optionally contain a heteroatom selected from O, N and S, and which may be substituted one or more times with R 6; and each R 6 is independently: oxo; C 1-6 alkyl; halo-C 1-6 alkyl; C 1-6 alkoxy; C 1-6 alkoxy-C 1-6 alkyl; cyano; cyano-C 1-6 alkyl; -Y-C -R d; C 3-6 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl; or C 3-6 cycloalkyl-C 1-6 alkyl.