Novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines as orally active EP receptor antagonists: Synthesis, structure-activity relationship studies, and biological evaluation.

Novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as orally active EP antagonists for the treatment of overactive bladder. Matched molecular pair analysis (MMPA) allowed the design of a new series of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives 4-6. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) studies of 4-6 were performed, leading to identification of the nanomolar-level EP antagonist 4c, which exhibited good pharmacological effect through intraduodenal (id) administration in a 17-phenyltrinor prostaglandin E2-induced bladder contraction model in rats.