Late-Stage Microsomal Oxidation Reduces Drug-Drug Interaction and Identifies Phosphodiesterase 2A Inhibitor PF-06815189.

Late-stage oxidation using liver microsomes was applied to phosphodiesterase 2 inhibitor to reduce its clearance by cytochrome P450 enzymes, introduce renal clearance, and minimize the risk for victim drug-drug interactions. This approach yielded PF-06815189 () with improved physicochemical properties and a mixed metabolic profile. This example highlights the importance of C-H diversification methods to drug discovery.

Discovery and Characterization of (R)-6-Neopentyl-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-6,7-dihydropyrimido[2,1-c][1,4]oxazin-4(9H)-one (PF-06462894), an Alkyne-Lacking Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Negative Allosteric Modulator Profiled in both Rat and Nonhuman Primates.

We previously observed a cutaneous type IV immune response in nonhuman primates (NHP) with the mGlu negative allosteric modulator (NAM) 7. To determine if this adverse event was chemotype- or mechanism-based, we evaluated a distinct series of mGlu NAMs. Increasing the sp character of high-throughput screening hit 40 afforded a novel morpholinopyrimidone mGlu NAM series.

Practical synthesis of capromorelin, a growth hormone secretagogue, via a crystallization-induced dynamic resolution.

A practical synthesis of capromorelin (1), a growth hormone secretagogue, is described that utilizes as a key step a crystallization-induced dynamic resolution (CIDR) of (±)-3a-benzyl-2-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-3(3aH)-one [(±)-2] by L-tartaric acid salt formation, yielding (R)-2.L-tartaric acid in high chemical yield (>85%) and with diastereomeric excess (de) of ∼98%. Treatment of (R)-2.

Discovery of a novel Kv7 channel opener as a treatment for epilepsy.

Facilitating activation, or delaying inactivation, of the native Kv7 channel reduces neuronal excitability, which may be beneficial in controlling spontaneous electrical activity during epileptic seizures. In an effort to identify a compound with such properties, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and in vitro ADME for a series of heterocyclic Kv7.2-7.

Discovery and preclinical characterization of 1-methyl-3-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)-6-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-b]pyrazine (PF470): a highly potent, selective, and efficacious metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) negative allosteric modulator.

A novel series of pyrazolopyrazines is herein disclosed as mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). Starting from a high-throughput screen (HTS) hit (1), a systematic structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was conducted with a specific focus on balancing pharmacological potency with physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. This effort led to the discovery of 1-methyl-3-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)-6-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine (PF470, 14) as a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable mGluR5 NAM.

Discovery of CP-533536: an EP2 receptor selective prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) agonist that induces local bone formation.

Sulfonamides, exemplified by 3a, were identified as highly selective EP(2) agonists. Lead optimization led to the identification of CP-533536, 7f, a potent and selective EP(2) agonist. CP-533536 demonstrated the ability to heal fractures when administered locally as a single dose in rat models of fracture healing.

Pyrazolinone-piperidine dipeptide growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs). Discovery of capromorelin.

Novel pyrazolinone-piperidine dipeptide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs). Two analogues, capromorelin (5, CP-424391-18, hGHS-R1a K(i)=7 nM, rat pituicyte EC(50)=3 nM) and the des-methyl analogue 5c (hGHS-R1a K(i)=17 nM, rat pituicyte EC(50)=3 nM), increased plasma GH levels in an anesthesized rat model, with ED(50) values less than 0.05 mg/kg iv.

Discovery and biological characterization of capromorelin analogues with extended half-lives.

New tert-butyl, picolyl and fluorinated analogues of capromorelin (3), a short-acting growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), were prepared as part of a program to identify long-acting GHSs that increase 24-h plasma IGF-1 levels. Compounds 4c and 4d (ACD LogD values >or=2.9) displayed extended plasma elimination half-lives in dogs, primarily due to high volumes of distribution, but showed weak GH secretagogue activities in rats (ED(50)s>10 mg/kg).