Discovery of a novel indole series of EP1 receptor antagonists by scaffold hopping

We describe the medicinal chemistry approach that generated a novel indole series of EP(1) receptor antagonists. The SAR of this new template was evaluated and culminated in the identification of compound 12g which demonstrated in vivo efficacy in a preclinical model of inflammatory pain.     

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as cannabinoid-1 (CB1) antagonists

The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as CB1 antagonists are described. As a part of eastern amide SAR, various chemically diverse motifs were introduced on rimonabant template. The central pyrazole core was also replaced with its conformationally constrained motif and imidazole moieties. In general, a range of modifications were well tolerated. Several molecules with low- and sub-nanomolar potencies were identified as potent CB1 receptor antagonists. The in vivo proof of principle for weight loss is demonstrated with a lead compound in DIO mice model.     

Pyrrolinone derivatives as a new class of P2X3 receptor antagonists Part 2: Discovery of orally bioavailable compounds

Some P2X3 receptor antagonists have been developed as new therapeutic drugs for pain. We discovered a novel chemotype of P2X3 receptor antagonists with a pyrrolinone skeleton. Because of SAR studies to improve bioavailability of lead compound 2, compound (R)-24 was identified, which showed an analgesic effect against neuropathic pain by oral administration. We constructed a human P2X3 homology model as a template for the zebrafish P2X4 receptor, which agreed with SAR studies of pyrrolinone derivatives.     

Structure function differences in nonpeptide CCR1 antagonists for human and mouse CCR1

A useful strategy for identifying ligand binding domains of G protein-coupled receptors has been the exploitation of species differences in antagonist potencies. We have used this approach for the CCR1 chemokine receptor with a novel series of antagonists, the 4-hydroxypiperidines, which were discovered by high throughput screening of human CCR1 and subsequently optimized. The structure-activity relationships for a number of different 4-hydroxypiperidine antagonists for human and mouse CCR1 were examined by receptor binding and functional assays. These compounds exhibit major differences in their rank order of potency for the human and mouse chemokine receptor CCR1. For example, the initial lead template, BX 510, which was a highly potent functional antagonist for human CCR1 (K(i) = 21 nM) was >400-fold less active on mouse CCR1 (K(i) = 9150 nM). However, increasing the length of the linker between the piperidine and dibenzothiepine groups by one methylene group generated a compound, BX 511, which was equipotent for both human and mouse CCR1. These and other analogs of the lead template BX 510, which have major differences in potency for human and mouse CCR1, are described, and a model for their interaction with human CCR1 is presented.     

A novel estrogen receptor ligand template

Three synthetic routes towards a novel estrogen receptor ligand template based on a rigid bicyclo-[3.3.1]-nonene core have been investigated. The prototype compound exhibits potent binding at the ERbeta receptor and promising estrogen receptor subtype selectivity.     

2-Amino-4,6-diarylpyridines as novel ligands for the estrogen receptor.

We have prepared a novel series of 2-amino-4,6-diarylpyridines that function as ligands of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). These compounds bind to both ERalpha and ERbeta with a modest selectivity for the alpha subtype. The most potent of these analogues, compound 19, has a K(i)=20nM at ERalpha. These molecules represent a novel template for designing potentially useful ligands for the estrogen receptor.     

Thromboxane modulating agents. 1. Design of 1-[(arylsulfonyl)amino] alkylindole derivatives as dual thromboxane synthase inhibitor/thromboxane receptor antagonists.

The design of a series of dual thromboxane synthase inhibitor/thromboxane receptor antagonists based on an indole thromboxane synthase inhibitor template is described. The indole-5-propanoic acid derivatives 17, 22 and 23 were found to be potent dual agents in vitro.     

The design and synthesis of a novel quinolizidine template for potent opioid and opioid receptor-like (ORL1, NOP) receptor ligands

A new class of high affinity opioid and opioid receptor-like receptor (ORL1 receptor, NOP receptor) ligands has been designed by conformational restriction of piperidine-based NOP receptor ligands, resulting in a novel quinolizidine scaffold. Different modifications of the pendant functional groups on the scaffold provide differential activities at the opioid and NOP receptors. While the conformational rigidity will provide an improved understanding of the NOP and opioid receptor binding pockets, these compounds also provide a new template for the design of novel opiate and NOP ligands.     

A novel series of histamine H4 receptor antagonists based on the pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine scaffold: Comparison of hERG binding and target residence time with PF-3893787

In this work we describe the optimization of a lead compound based on the quinazoline template to give a new series of potent pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidines as histamine H₄ receptor antagonists. The pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine ligands have significantly reduced hERG binding compared to clinical stage compound PF-3893787 while showing good affinities at the human and rodent histamine receptors. The receptor residence time of several of these new compounds was determined for the human H₄R and compared with JNJ7777120 and PF-3893787. The pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidines showed residence times lower than JNJ7777120 but comparable to the residence time of PF-3893787. Overall, the pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidines show an excellent in vitro profile that warrants their further investigation in relevant models of human disease.     

Binding modes of dihydroquinoxalinones in a homology model of bradykinin receptor 1

We report the first homology model of human bradykinin receptor B1 generated from the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin as a template. Using an automated docking procedure, two B1 receptor antagonists of the dihydroquinoxalinone structural class were docked into the receptor model. Site-directed mutagenesis data of the amino acid residues in TM1, TM3, TM6, and TM7 were incorporated to place the compounds in the binding site of the homology model of the human B1 bradykinin receptor. The best pose in agreement with the mutation data was selected for detailed study of the receptor-antagonist interaction. To test the model, the calculated antagonist-receptor binding energy was correlated with the experimentally measured binding affinity (K(i)) for nine dihydroquinoxalinone analogs. The model was used to gain insight into the molecular mechanism for receptor function and to optimize the dihydroquinoxalinone analogs.     

Potent and highly selective DP1 antagonists with 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazole as pharmacophore

We discovered that the introduction of a methyl group to the benzylic position of the N-benzyl group in lead compound 1a has a dramatic effect on improving the binding selectivity of this ligand for the prostanoid receptors DP1 (receptor for prostaglandin D(2)) as compared to TP (receptor for thromboxane A(2)). Based on this discovery, we have synthesized a series of potent and highly selective DP1 antagonists. Among them, compound 1h was identified as a highly selective DP1 antagonist with excellent overall properties. It has a K(i) of 0.43 nM to DP1 in binding assay and an IC(50) of 2.5 nM in the DP1 functional assay. Its selectivity for DP1 over TP (the most potent receptor after DP1) exceeds 750-fold based on both binding and functional assays. These properties make 1h a very potent and highly selective DP1 receptor antagonist suitable for investigating the biological functions of DP1 in normal physiology and models of disease.     

Thiophene substituted acylguanidines as BACE1 inhibitors

A series of thiophene-substituted acylguanidines were designed from a pyrrole substituted acylguanidine HTS lead. This template allowed a greater flexibility, through differential Suzuki couplings, to explore the binding site of BACE1 and to enhance the inhibitory potencies. This exploration provided a 25-fold enhancement in potency to yield compound 10a, which was 150 nM in a BACE1 FRET assay.     

SAR-based optimization of 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-thiazole derivatives as highly potent EP1 receptor antagonists

We describe a medicinal chemistry approach for generating a series of 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)thiazoles as EP₁ receptor antagonists. To improve the physicochemical properties of compound 1, we investigated its structure–activity relationships (SAR). Optimization of this lead compound provided small compound 25 which exhibited the best EP₁ receptor antagonist activity and a good SAR profile.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of indole derivatives as novel nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor antagonists

A novel series of 2-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1H-indole derivatives as nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor antagonists was discovered. Systematic modification of our original lead by changing the pendant functional groups, linker, heterocyclic core, and basic side chain revealed the structure-activity requirements for this novel template and resulted in the identification of more potent analog with improved potency as compared to the parent compound.     

A Highly Selective Dual Insulin Receptor (IR)/Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R) Inhibitor Derived from an Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK) Inhibitor

Dual inhibitors of the closely related receptor tyrosine kinases insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (IR) are promising therapeutic agents in cancer. Here, we report an unusually selective class of dual inhibitors of IGF-1R and IR identified in a parallel screen of known kinase inhibitors against a panel of 300 human protein kinases. Biochemical and structural studies indicate that this class achieves its high selectivity by binding to the ATP-binding pocket of inactive, unphosphorylated IGF-1R/IR and stabilizing the activation loop in a native-like inactive conformation. One member of this compound family was originally reported as an inhibitor of the serine/threonine kinase ERK, a kinase that is distinct in the structure of its unphosphorylated/inactive form from IR/IGF-1R. Remarkably, this compound binds to the ATP-binding pocket of ERK in an entirely different conformation to that of IGF-1R/IR, explaining the potency against these two structurally distinct kinase families. These findings suggest a novel approach to polypharmacology in which two or more unrelated kinases are inhibited by a single compound that targets different conformations of each target kinase.     

DNA binding, cytotoxicity and inhibitory effect on RNA synthesis of two new 1-nitro-9-aminoacridine dimers

Two 1-nitro-9-aminoacridine dimers were prepared: one bearing a spermine flexible linking chain, compound 4, the other a rigid dipiperidine-type linker, compound 7. Both dimers elicited a higher affinity constant for DNA than the parent monomeric drug nitracrine 2. This affinity was several orders lower than what was found for other dimeric compounds having the same linkers and no nitro group on the acridine ring (3, 5, 6 and 8). Bisintercalation was evidenced for compound 4 by viscosimetric measurements. In the absence of dithiothreitol, an inhibitory effect of RNA synthesis in vitro was observed for all the tested compounds except 2 and 7. In the presence of dithiothreitol, 4 and 7 formed irreversible complexes with DNA of decreased template properties. The level of the dimers binding was lower than that of the parent compound 2. Cross-links were detected by means of hydroxylapatite chromatography in a complex of the dimer bearing a flexible linking chain, compound 4 with DNA, while the compound 7-DNA complex eluted in the single-stranded DNA region. The extent of cytotoxicity of the two 1-nitro-9-aminoacridine dimers against L1210 cultured cells was different.     

Superimposition of potent non-peptide AT1 receptor antagonists with angiotensin II

Summary The model of angiotensin II (ANG II) developed in our laboratory using a combination of NMR, fluorescence data and molecular graphics [Matsoukas, J.M. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269 (1994) 5303] served as a template for a systematic superimposition of potent AT₁ receptor antagonists with ANG II. The key amino acids in this model, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine, form a charge-relay system. The studied ANG II AT₁ receptor antagonists were found to accommodate this relay system. The proposed model offers a motivation to synthetic chemists to develop ANG II antagonists that differ from the losartan prototype structure but possess an enhanced biological profile.     

Design and synthesis of N-alkyl-N′-substituted 2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1-diacylhydrazine derivatives as ecdysone receptor agonist

Based on the discovery of thymine as an ecdysteroid agonist, a series of 1,4-disubstituted diacylhydrazine derivatives with a thymine moiety were designed and synthesized. The activities of these compounds against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) were evaluated by the insect immersion method. Results showed that compound 2h with an N-cyclohexylmethyl substituent exhibits the most potent agonist activity with a median lethal concentration of 23.21 μg/mL. This compound also caused malformation of molting larvae and adults. Compound 2h was further demonstrated as an ecdysteroid agonist by reporter gene assay on the Spodoptera frugiperda cell line (Sf9 cells). A molecular docking study indicated that hydrophobic interactions and the formation of hydrogen bonds between the compounds and the ecdysone receptor play critical roles in promoting the binding affinity of the compound. The structure of compound 2h may serve as a favorable template for the development of new ecdysteroid agonists with a pyrimidinedione moiety.     

Discovery of small molecule antagonists of TRPV1

Small molecule antagonists of the vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1, also known as VR1) are disclosed. Ureas such as 5 (SB-452533) were used to explore the structure activity relationship with several potent analogues identified. Pharmacological studies using electrophysiological and FLIPR Ca(2+) based assays showed compound 5 was an antagonist versus capsaicin, noxious heat and acid mediated activation of TRPV1. Study of a quaternary salt of 5 supports a mode of action in which compounds from this series cause inhibition via an extracellularly accessible binding site on the TRPV1 receptor.