Discovery of 1-oxa-4,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-based trisubstituted urea derivatives as highly potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors and orally active drug candidates for treating of chronic kidney diseases

We identified 1-oxa-4,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-based trisubstituted ureas as highly potent soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors and orally active agents for treating chronic kidney diseases. Compound 19 exhibited excellent sEH inhibitory activity and bioavailability. When administered orally at 30 mg/kg, 19 lowered serum creatinine in a rat model of anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis but 2,8-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-based trisubstituted ureas did not. These results suggest that 19 is an orally active drug candidate for treating chronic kidney diseases.     

Discovery of 3,3-disubstituted piperidine-derived trisubstituted ureas as highly potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors

3,3-Disubstituted piperidine-derived trisubstituted urea entA-2b was discovered as a highly potent and selective soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor. Despite the good compound oral exposure, excellent sEH inhibition in whole blood, and remarkable selectivity, compound entA-2b failed to lower blood pressure acutely in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This observation further challenges the premise that sEH inhibition can provide a viable approach to the treatment of hypertensive patients.     

Structure-based optimization of cyclopropyl urea derivatives as potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors for potential decrease of renal injury without hypotensive action

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are known to have beneficial pharmacological effects on various cardiovascular events. However, EETs are biologically metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to less active metabolites. In our search for potent sEH inhibitors, we optimized a series of cyclopropyl urea derivatives and identified compound 38 as a potent sEH inhibitor with minimal CYP inhibition and good oral absorption in rats. Administration of 38 to DOCA-salt rats suppressed urinary albumin and MCP-1 excretion without affecting systolic blood pressure.     

1-(1-acetyl-piperidin-4-yl)-3-adamantan-1-yl-urea (AR9281) as a potent, selective, and orally available soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor with efficacy in rodent models of hypertension and dysglycemia

1-(1-Acetyl-piperidin-4-yl)-3-adamantan-1-yl-urea 14a (AR9281), a potent and selective soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, was recently tested in a phase 2a clinical setting for its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and improving insulin resistance in pre-diabetic patients. In a mouse model of diet induced obesity, AR9281 attenuated the enhanced glucose excursion following an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. AR9281 also attenuated the increase in blood pressure in angiotensin-II-induced hypertension in rats. These effects were dose-dependent and well correlated with inhibition of the sEH activity in whole blood, consistent with a role of sEH in the observed pharmacology in rodents.     

Discovery of benzimidazole derivatives as orally active renin inhibitors: Optimization of 3,5-disubstituted piperidine to improve pharmacokinetic profile

We previously identified 2-tert-butyl-4-[(3-methoxypropyl)amino]-N-(2-methylpropyl)-N-[(3S,5R)-5-(morpholin-4-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-3-yl]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide 3 as a potent renin inhibitor. Since 3 showed unacceptably low bioavailability (BA) in rats, structural modification, using SBDD and focused on physicochemical properties was conducted to improve its PK profile while maintaining renin inhibitory activity. Conversion of the amino group attached at the 4-position of pyrimidine to methylene group improved PK profile and decreased renin inhibitory activity. New central cores with carbon side chains were explored to improve potency. We had designed a series of 5-membered azoles and fused heterocycles that interacted with the lipophilic S3 pocket. In the course of modification, renin inhibitory activity was enhanced by the formation of an additional hydrogen bonding with the hydroxyl group of Thr77. Consequently, a series of novel benzimidazole derivatives were discovered as potent and orally bioavailable renin inhibitors. Among those, compound 13 exhibited more than five-fold of plasma renin inhibition than aliskiren in cynomolgus monkeys at dose ratio.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a new series of substituted acyl(thio)urea and thiadiazolo [2,3-a] pyrimidine derivatives as potent inhibitors of influenza virus neuraminidase

A series of substituted acyl(thio)urea and 2H-1,2,4-thiadiazolo [2,3-a] pyrimidine derivatives were prepared and both of their cell culture and enzymatic activity toward influenza virus were tested. Their in vitro neuraminidase inhibitory activities were in good agreement with the corresponding activities in cultured cells and they were evaluated as potent neuraminidase inhibitors. Of the analogues that demonstrated IC₅₀s < 0.1 μM, 16 and 60 were further investigated as candidates with the most potential for future development. The molecular docking work of the representative compound was described to provide more insight into their mechanism of action and further rationalize the observations of this new series herein, which represents a novel class of highly potent and selective inhibitors of influenza virus.     

Discovery of furan and dihydrofuran-fused tricyclic benzo[d]imidazole derivatives as potent and orally efficacious microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) inhibitors: Part-1

This letter describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of furan and dihydrofuran-fused tricyclic benzo[d]imidazole derivatives as novel mPGES-1 inhibitors, capable of inhibiting an increased PGE₂ production in the disease state. Structure-activity optimization afforded many potent mPGES-1 inhibitors having <50?nM potencies in the A549 cellular assay and adequate metabolic stability in liver microsomes. Lead compounds 8l and 8m demonstrated reasonable in vitro pharmacology and pharmacokinetic properties over other compounds. In particular, 8m revealed satisfactory oral pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in multiple species like rat, guinea pig, dog and cynomolgus monkey. In addition, the representative compound 8m showed in vivo efficacy by inhibiting LPS-induced thermal hyperalgesia with an ED₅₀ of 14.3?mg/kg in guinea pig.