ABSTRACT
Starting from a orexin 1 receptor selective antagonist 4,4-disubstituted piperidine series a novel potent 5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane dual orexin 1 and orexin 2 receptor antagonist class has been discovered. SAR and Pharmacokinetic optimization of this series is herein disclosed. Lead compound 15 exhibits potent activity against orexin 1 and orexin 2 receptors along with low cytochrome P450 inhibition potential, good brain penetration and oral bioavailability in rats.
Subject(s)
Aza Compounds/chemistry , Heptanes/chemistry , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, Neuropeptide/antagonists & inhibitors , Spiro Compounds/chemistry , Animals , Biological Availability , Brain/drug effects , Brain/metabolism , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Half-Life , Heptanes/chemical synthesis , Heptanes/pharmacokinetics , Orexin Receptors , Rats , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism , Receptors, Neuropeptide/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The construction of a EP(4) antagonists pharmacophore model and the discovery of a highly potent oxepinic series of EP(4) antagonists is discussed. Compound 1a exhibits an excellent selectivity profile toward EP(2) receptor subtype and low cytochrome P450 inhibition potential.
Subject(s)
Benzoxepins/chemical synthesis , Benzoxepins/pharmacology , Models, Molecular , Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/antagonists & inhibitors , Benzoxepins/chemistry , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Humans , In Vitro TechniquesABSTRACT
Degenerative diseases are still a challenging issue in clinical therapy; even though in several cases it is possible to treat symptoms, drugs able to block disease progression are lacking at present. Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are degenerative diseases leading to serious cartilage destruction, affecting joint functions and giving rise to restricted movement, pain and chronic disability. Current clinical treatment for arthritis is confined to Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), which are effective in treating symptoms but fail to block the progression of the disease. Matrix Metalloproteases (MMPs) inhibitors have been clinically studied as possible drugs for cartilage degradation prevention. However, their clinical use has been limited by severe side-effects. Aggrecan, which plays a fundamental role in maintaining the structural and mechanical properties of cartilage, has recently been found to be specifically cleaved by "aggrecanases". Aggrecanases are multidomain zinc metalloproteases, different from MMPs, which cleave the aggrecan within the interglobular domain (IGD). Aggrecan breakdown at this site has been found to be crucial for cartilage degradation. These new findings re-addressed the interest of the research for new arthritis therapeutic agents focusing on aggrecanases rather than on MMPs. This review is meant to provide a critical appraisal of the ongoing developments of Zn-chelating and non chelating aggrecanase inhibitors, with a particular emphasis on the related structure-activity relationships (SARs), in the light of the protein structural information recently made available.
