Identification of a novel benzimidazole derivative as a highly potent NPY Y5 receptor antagonist with an anti-obesity profile.

Optimization of HTS hit 1 for NPY Y5 receptor binding affinity, CYP450 inhibition, solubility and metabolic stability led to the identification of some orally available oxygen-linker derivatives for in vivo study. Among them, derivative 4i inhibited food intake induced by the NPY Y5 selective agonist, and chronic oral administration of 4i in DIO mice caused a dose-dependent reduction of body weight gain.

Identification of a novel and orally available benzimidazole derivative as an NPY Y5 receptor antagonist with in vivo efficacy.

Optimization of lead compound 2 is described, mainly focusing on modification at the C-2 position of the benzimidazole core. Replacement of the phenyl linker of 2 with saturated rings resulted in identification of compound 8b which combines high Y5 receptor binding affinity with a good ADME profile leading to in vivo efficacy.

Design, synthesis and identification of novel benzimidazole derivatives as highly potent NPY Y5 receptor antagonists with attractive in vitro ADME profiles.

Optimization of our HTS hit 1, mainly focused on modification at the C-2 position of the benzimidazole core, is described. Elimination of the flexible and metabolically labile -S-CH(2)- part and utilization of less lipophilic pyridone substructure led to identification of novel NPY Y5 receptor antagonists 6, which have low to sub-nanomolar Y5 receptor binding affinity with improved CYP450 inhibition profiles, good solubilities and high metabolic stabilities.

Hit to lead SAR study on benzoxazole derivatives for an NPY Y5 antagonist.

We report a hit to lead study on a novel benzoxazole NPY Y5 antagonist. Starting from HTS hit 1, structure-activity relationships were developed. Compound 12 showed reduction of food intake and a tendency to suppress body weight gain over the 21-day experimental period.