A new series of functionalized fused pyridines 4(a–i) and fused pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 8(a–c) were designed and synthesized through a multi-component reaction where in pyridine ring formation step plays a key role. All the newly formed compounds were well characterized by spectral techniques such as FTIR, 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR, HRMS and XRD. The potential therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory activity by protein denaturation and RBC membrane stabilization methods, and anti-oxidant activity by DPPH scavenging method of the newly synthesized compounds were studied. Interestingly, in-vitro testing of these compounds reveals that the compounds 4d, 4g, 4i, 8a and 8b showed comparable anti-inflammatory activity with respect to the standard drug, diclofenac. Similarly, fused pyridine 4f showed excellent anti-oxidant activity when compared with the standard, ascorbic acid. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S