Discovery of Novel Pyrazole-Based Selective Aldosterone Synthase (CYP11B2) Inhibitors: A New Template to Coordinate the Heme-Iron Motif of CYP11B2.

It is necessary for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitors to have both high potency and high selectivity over 11ß-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), a critical enzyme for cortisol synthesis. Previous studies have reported a number of CYP11B2 inhibitors, most of which have an imidazole or pyridine ring to coordinate the heme-iron motif of CYP11B2; however, highly selective inhibitors of human CYP11B2 are still needed. To expand the selectivity in humans, we explored alternative templates and found that pyrazoles were suitable templates for CYP11B2 inhibitors. Investigation of pyrazoles, especially N-alkyl pyrazoles, as a new template to coordinate the heme-iron motif led to a potent and highly selective CYP11B2 inhibitor 28 with an aldosterone-lowering effect at 1 mg/kg dosing in cynomolgus monkeys.

Tissue distribution of teneligliptin in rats and comparisons with data reported for other dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

We investigated the tissue distribution of teneligliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor, in rats, and compared it with tissue distributions previously reported for other DPP-4 inhibitors. Following the oral administration of [14 C]teneligliptin to Sprague-Dawley rats, it was predominantly distributed to the kidney and liver, followed by the lung, spleen, and pituitary gland. The elimination half-life (t1/2 ) of [14 C]teneligliptin was 68.3 and 69.0 h in the kidney and liver, respectively; these values were about 10 times greater than the plasma t1/2 . Of note, the elimination of [14 C]teneligliptin from tissues with high DPP-4 activity (kidney, liver, and lung) was slower in wild-type rats than in DPP-4-deficient rats, especially in the kidney. By contrast, in the heart and pancreas, which weakly express DPP-4, we observed no difference in [14 C]teneligliptin concentrations between the two animal strains. In the kidney, most radioactivity was attributable to unchanged teneligliptin from 0.5 to 72 h after administration. The marked difference in the distribution of [14 C]teneligliptin between the two strains suggests that the high binding affinity of teneligliptin for DPP-4 is involved in its tissue distribution. The currently marketed DPP-4 inhibitors are highly distributed to the liver, kidney, and lung, but the extent of tissue distribution varies greatly among the drugs. The differences in the tissue distributions of DPP-4 inhibitors might be related to differences in their pleiotropic effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A comparative study of the binding modes of recently launched dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors in the active site.

In recent years, various dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitors have been released as therapeutic drugs for type 2 diabetes in many countries. In spite of their diverse chemical structures, no comparative studies of their binding modes in the active site of DPP-4 have been disclosed. We determined the co-crystal structure of vildagliptin with DPP-4 by X-ray crystallography and compared the binding modes of six launched inhibitors in DPP-4. The inhibitors were categorized into three classes on the basis of their binding subsites: (i) vildagliptin and saxagliptin (Class 1) form interactions with the core S1 and S2 subsites and a covalent bond with Ser630 in the catalytic triad; (ii) alogliptin and linagliptin (Class 2) form interactions with the S1' and/or S2' subsites in addition to the S1 and S2 subsites; and (iii) sitagliptin and teneligliptin (Class 3) form interactions with the S1, S2 and S2 extensive subsites. The present study revealed that the additional interactions with the S1', S2' or S2 extensive subsite may increase DPP-4 inhibition beyond the level afforded by the fundamental interactions with the S1 and S2 subsites and are more effective than forming a covalent bond with Ser630.

Discovery and preclinical profile of teneligliptin (3-[(2S,4S)-4-[4-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]pyrrolidin-2-ylcarbonyl]thiazolidine): a highly potent, selective, long-lasting and orally active dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibition is suitable mechanism for once daily oral dosing regimen because of its low risk of hypoglycemia. We explored linked bicyclic heteroarylpiperazines substituted at the γ-position of the proline structure in the course of the investigation of l-prolylthiazolidines. The efforts led to the discovery of a highly potent, selective, long-lasting and orally active DPP-4 inhibitor, 3-[(2S,4S)-4-[4-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]pyrrolidin-2-ylcarbonyl]thiazolidine (8 g), which has a unique structure characterized by five consecutive rings. An X-ray co-crystal structure of 8 g in DPP-4 demonstrated that the key interaction between the phenyl ring on the pyrazole and the S(2) extensive subsite of DPP-4 not only boosted potency, but also increased selectivity. Compound 8 g, at 0.03 mg/kg or higher doses, significantly inhibited the increase of plasma glucose levels after an oral glucose load in Zucker fatty rats. Compound 8 g (teneligliptin) has been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan.

Fused bicyclic heteroarylpiperazine-substituted L-prolylthiazolidines as highly potent DPP-4 inhibitors lacking the electrophilic nitrile group.

Hypoglycemic agents with a mechanism of depeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibition are suitable for once daily oral dosing. It is difficult to strike a balance between inhibitory activity and duration of action in plasma for inhibitors bearing an electrophilic nitrile group. We explored fused bicyclic heteroarylpiperazine substituted at the γ-position of the proline structure in the investigation of L-prolylthiazolidines lacking the electrophilic nitrile. Among them, 2-trifluoroquinolyl compound 8g is the most potent, long-lasting DPP-4 inhibitor (IC(50) = 0.37 nmol/L) with high selectivity against other related peptidases. X-ray crystal structure determination of 8g indicates that CH-π interactions generated between the quinolyl ring and the guanidinyl group of Arg358 enhances the DPP-4 inhibitory activity and selectivity.

[(S)-gamma-(4-Aryl-1-piperazinyl)-l-prolyl]thiazolidines as a novel series of highly potent and long-lasting DPP-IV inhibitors.

In the search for an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) highly potent both in vitro and in vivo, we synthesized a series of L-prolylthiazolidine-based DPP-IV inhibitors having 4-arylpiperazine or 4-arylpiperidine at the gamma-position of the proline structure. Of these compounds, the 4-(5-nitro-2-pyridyl)piperazine analog 21e showed a sub-nanomolar (IC(50)=0.92 nmol/L) DPP-IV inhibitory activity and a long-lasting in vivo DPP-IV inhibition profile.

Lead optimization of [(S)-gamma-(arylamino)prolyl]thiazolidine focused on gamma-substituent: Indoline compounds as potent DPP-IV inhibitors.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors are looked to as a potential new antidiabetic agent class. A series of [(S)-gamma-(arylamino)prolyl]thiazolidine compounds in which the electrophilic nitrile is removed are chemically stable DPP-IV inhibitors. To discover a structure for the gamma-substituent of the proline moiety more suitable for interacting with the S(2) pocket of DPP-IV, optimization focused on the gamma-substituent was carried out. The indoline compound 22e showed a DPP-IV-inhibitory activity 100-fold more potent than that of the prolylthiazolidine 10 and comparable to that of NVP-DPP728. It also displayed improved inhibitory selectivity for DPP-IV over DPP8 and DPP9 compared to compound 10. Indoline compounds such as 22e have a rigid conformation with double restriction of the aromatic moiety by proline and indoline structures to promote interaction with the binding site in the S(2) pocket of DPP-IV. The double restriction effect provides a potent inhibitory activity which compensates for the decrease in activity caused by removing the electrophilic nitrile.

[(S)-gamma-(Arylamino)prolyl]thiazolidine compounds as a novel series of potent and stable DPP-IV inhibitors.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) enhancers, are looked to as a potential new class of antidiabetic agents. In particular, potent and long-acting inhibitors might offer advantages in exploiting DPP-IV inhibition. The series of [(S)-gamma-(arylamino)prolyl]-(S)-2-cyanopyrrolidine compounds on which we reported previously has a highly potent inhibitory activity but seemed to be unstable in neutral aqueous solution. Here, we describe [(S)-gamma-(arylamino)prolyl]thiazolidine compounds as a novel series of potent and stable DPP-IV inhibitors. They are the thiazolidine analogs of [(S)-gamma-(arylamino)prolyl]-(S)-2-cyanopyrrolidine but with the electrophilic nitrile removed to improve chemical stability in aqueous solution. Of the compounds investigated in the present study, the [((S)-gamma-3,4-dicyanophenylamino)prolyl]thiazolidine 12 m was the most potent. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the gamma-substituent in the proline moiety of the thiazolidide was similar to that obtained with the (S)-2-cyanopyrrolidide. The gamma-substituent in the proline moiety of both the (S)-2-cyanopyrrolidide and the thiazolidide may engage with the S(2) binding pocket of DPP-IV and thereby achieve hydrophobic interaction in the same manner. Based on pharmacokinetic experiments in rats, the representative compound 11, which displayed high oral bioavailability (BA=83.9%) and long half-life in plasma (t(1/2)=5.27 h), was found to have an excellent pharmacokinetic profile.

1-((S)-gamma-substituted prolyl)-(S)-2-cyanopyrrolidine as a novel series of highly potent DPP-IV inhibitors.

1-(Gamma-substituted prolyl)-(S)-2-cyanopyrrolidines were designed based on the predicted binding mode of the known DPP-IV inhibitor NVP-DPP728 and evaluated for their inhibitory activity. In structure-activity relationship study at the gamma-position of proline, it became clear that compounds bearing (S)-stereochemistry were 20-fold more potent than the antipode. Of these compounds, the (3,4-dicyanophenyl)amino- and (3-chloro-4-cyanophenyl)amino-derivatives showed the highest inhibitory activity.

Nonpeptidic chymase inhibitors: design and structure-activity relationships of pyrimidinone derivatives based on the predicted binding mode of a peptidic inhibitor.

While the biological reaction of chymase have been often studied for ten years, the pathophysiological role of chymase has not been fully elucidate due to a lack of effective inhibitors featuring potent inhibitory activity, specificity, and metabolic stability. Recently the discovery of a structurally varied range of novel nonpeptidic inhibitors presents new opportunities to explore the role of chymase under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions and to develop therapeutic agents for chymase-induced diseases. In this article the structure and the inhibitory mechanism of nonpeptidic chymase inhibitors are discussed, with special emphasis on design and structure-activity relationships of pyrimidinone derivative where inhibitory activity, protease selectivity, and pharmacokinetic profile are clarified.