RESUMO
Combination studies of neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonists and serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have shown promise in preclinical models of depression. Such a combination may offer important advantages over the current standard of care. Herein we describe the discovery and optimization of an indazole-based chemotype to provide a series of potent dual NK1 receptor antagonists/serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitors to overcome issues of ion channel blockade. This effort culminated in the identification of compound 9, an analogue that demonstrated favorable oral bioavailability, excellent brain uptake, and robust in vivo efficacy in a validated depression model. Over the course of this work, a novel heterocycle-directed asymmetric hydrogenation was developed to facilitate installation of the key stereogenic center.
Assuntos
Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Indazóis/farmacologia , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/farmacologia , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/farmacologia , Administração Oral , Animais , Antidepressivos/síntese química , Antidepressivos/química , Antidepressivos/toxicidade , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Descoberta de Drogas , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Gerbillinae , Humanos , Indazóis/síntese química , Indazóis/química , Indazóis/toxicidade , Camundongos , Estrutura Molecular , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/síntese química , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/química , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/toxicidade , Ratos , Receptores da Neurocinina-1/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Serotonina/metabolismo , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/síntese química , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/química , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/toxicidade , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Regulador Transcricional ERG/metabolismoRESUMO
Depression is a serious illness that affects millions of patients. Current treatments are associated with a number of undesirable side effects. Neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists have recently been shown to potentiate the antidepressant effects of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in a number of animal models. Herein we describe the optimization of a biaryl chemotype to provide a series of potent dual NK1R antagonists/serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitors. Through the choice of appropriate substituents, the SERT/NK1R ratio could be tuned to afford a range of target selectivity profiles. This effort culminated in the identification of an analog that demonstrated oral bioavailability, favorable brain uptake, and efficacy in the gerbil foot tap model. Ex vivo occupancy studies with compound 58 demonstrated the ability to maintain NK1 receptor saturation (>88% occupancy) while titrating the desired level of SERT occupancy (11-84%) via dose selection.
Assuntos
Compostos de Bifenilo/química , Compostos de Bifenilo/farmacologia , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/química , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/farmacologia , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/química , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/farmacologia , Animais , Antidepressivos/química , Antidepressivos/farmacocinética , Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Compostos de Bifenilo/farmacocinética , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Depressão/tratamento farmacológico , Depressão/metabolismo , Gerbillinae , Humanos , Antagonistas dos Receptores de Neurocinina-1/farmacocinética , Serotonina/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Serotonina/metabolismo , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/farmacocinéticaRESUMO
A series of substituted pyridines, ether linked to a phenylpiperidine core were optimized for dual NK(1)/SERT affinity. Optimization based on NK(1)/SERT binding affinities, and minimization of off-target ion channel activity lead to the discovery of compound 44. In vivo evaluation of 44 in the gerbil forced swim test (a depression model), and ex-vivo NK(1)/SERT receptor occupancy data support the potential of a dual acting compound for the treatment of depression.
