Discovery of BMS-986235/LAR-1219: A Potent Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 (FPR2) Selective Agonist for the Prevention of Heart Failure.

Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonists can stimulate resolution of inflammation and may have utility for treatment of diseases caused by chronic inflammation, including heart failure. We report the discovery of a potent and selective FPR2 agonist and its evaluation in a mouse heart failure model. A simple linear urea with moderate agonist activity served as the starting point for optimization. Introduction of a pyrrolidinone core accessed a rigid conformation that produced potent FPR2 and FPR1 agonists. Optimization of lactam substituents led to the discovery of the FPR2 selective agonist 13c, BMS-986235/LAR-1219. In cellular assays 13c inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis and stimulated macrophage phagocytosis, key end points to promote resolution of inflammation. Cardiac structure and functional improvements were observed in a mouse heart failure model following treatment with BMS-986235/LAR-1219.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Part 3: Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of dual PDE3/4-inhibitory fused bicyclic heteroaromatic-dihydropyridazinones with anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory activity.

(-)-6-(7-Methoxy-2-trifluoromethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-4-yl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-3-(2H)-pyridazinone (KCA-1490) is a dual PDE3/4 inhibitor that exhibits potent combined bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity. A survey of potential bicyclic heteroaromatic replacement subunits for the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine core of KCA-1490 has identified the 4-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[d]thiazol-7-yl and 8-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-5-yl analogues as dual PDE3/4-inhibitory compounds that potently suppress histamine-induced bronchoconstriction and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Part 2: design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of dual PDE3/4-inhibitory pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines with anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory activity.

A structural survey of pyrazolopyridine-pyridazinone phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors was made with a view to optimization of their dual PDE3/4-inhibitory activity for respiratory disease applications. These studies identified (-)-6-(7-methoxy-2-trifluoromethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-4-yl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-3-(2H)-pyridazinone (KCA-1490, compound 2ac) as a compound with potent combined bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity and an improved therapeutic window over roflumilast.

Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif is essential for normal alveolarization in mice.

RATIONALE: Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is assumed to act as a coactivator of several transcription factors including smad2/3. In the lung, surfactant protein C (Sftpc) is known to be a downstream target of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1)-TAZ transcriptional coactivation. OBJECTIVES: The lung phenotype of Taz-deficient mice was explored. METHODS: Taz-deficient mice were analyzed pathologically and physiologically. Next, we performed microarray analysis to determine the genes closely related to abnormal lung development. Finally, Taz-heterozygous mice were injected with bleomycin. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Taz-deficient homozygotes showed abnormal alveolarization during lung development, which caused in adult mice airspace enlargement mimicking emphysema. There was no significant difference in the expression of Sftpc between wild-type and Taz-deficient lungs. Instead, microarray analysis identified some candidate downstream genes related to the pathogenesis, including the connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) gene, which is required for normal lung development. In vitro studies showed that TAZ up-regulated Ctgf expression not only by reinforcing transforming growth factor-beta/smad signals, but also by interfering in the more proximal Ctgf promoter region (from bp -123 to -76), defined as the TAZ response element. Furthermore, Taz-heterozygous mice were resistant to bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the importance of TAZ in lung alveolarization and its involvement in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis.

Design and synthesis of novel 7-heterocycle-6-trifluoromethyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acids bearing a substituted phenyl group as superior AMPA receptor antagonists with good physicochemical properties.

We describe the design, synthesis, and physicochemical and biological properties of a novel series of 7-heterocycle-6-trifluoromethyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acids bearing a substituted phenyl group joined through a urethane or urea linkage to the heterocycle at the 7 position. Introduction of the trifluoromethyl group at the 6 position conferred good biological activity, including neuroprotective effects, as well as good physicochemical properties. In terms of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionate receptor (AMPA-R) affinity, a urea linkage was equivalent to a urethane linkage and a pyrrole ring at the 7 position reduced affinity in comparison with an imidazole ring. Among this series, compound 14h (KRP-199), which has a 4-carboxyphenyl group joined through a urethane linkage to a 7-imidazolyl heterocycle, was found to possess high potency and selectivity for the AMPA-R in vitro and to exhibit good neuroprotective effects in vivo. Furthermore, the compound showed good physicochemical properties, including stability to light and good solubility in aqueous solutions.

Design, synthesis, and AMPA receptor antagonistic activity of a novel 6-nitro-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid with a substituted phenyl group at the 7 position.

We describe the design, synthesis, and biological properties of a novel series of 7-substituted 6-nitro-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acids. After designing, studying the structure-activity relationships, and evaluating the properties of various compounds, we found that 7-heterocyclic-6-nitro-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acids that contain a substituted phenyl group linked through urethane at the 7 position possess good alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionate receptor (AMPA-R) antagonistic activity. Among the compounds tested, compound 29p (GRA-293), which has a 4-carboxy group on the terminal phenyl moiety, exhibited high potency and selectivity for the AMPA-R in vitro and good neuroprotective efficacy in vivo. It also showed good aqueous solubility.

KRP-203, a novel synthetic immunosuppressant, prolongs graft survival and attenuates chronic rejection in rat skin and heart allografts.

BACKGROUND: A novel immunomodulator, KRP-203, the molecular structure of which has some similarity to FTY720, has been developed for use in organ transplantation. The present study was designed to investigate the potency and safety of KRP-203 on allograft survival against both acute and chronic rejection in rat skin and heart transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: KRP-203 significantly prolonged skin or heart allograft survival of a minor histocompatibility complex (mHC)-disparate (LEW to F344) rat combination. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis at 100 days after mHC-disparate rat heart transplantation revealed that KRP-203 treatment significantly inhibited infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages and T cells; expression of endothelin-1 and transforming growth factor-beta1; and IgG deposition and eventually attenuated neointimal formation and myocardial fibrosis. KRP-203 also prolonged heart allograft survival in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-incompatible (DA to LEW) rat combination, but the efficacy was not as significant. However, KRP-203 combined with a subtherapeutic dose of cyclosporin A synergistically prolonged the heart allograft survival. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that KRP-203 reduced the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) but not granulocytes and enhanced lymphocyte homing into peripheral lymph nodes. The influence of KRP-203 on heart rate changes in Hartley guinea pigs was examined. KRP-203 had less of a tendency to cause bradycardia than FTY720. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that KRP-203 prolonged skin and heart allograft survival and significantly attenuated chronic rejection and bradycardia as an adverse effect. Therefore, KRP-203 offers considerable potential as a novel therapeutic immunosuppressant in patients with organ transplantation.