IV. Discovery of CXCR3 antagonists substituted with heterocycles as amide surrogates: improved PK, hERG and metabolic profiles.

The structure-human CXCR3 binding affinity relationship of a series of pyridyl/pyrazinyl-piperazinyl-piperidine derivatives were explored with a focus to improve PK, hERG and metabolic profiles. Several small heterocycles were identified as amide surrogates, which minimized many potential metabolite issues. During the course of SAR development, we have observed the additive effect of desirable functional groups to improve hERG and PK profiles which lead to the discovery of many clinically developable CXCR3 antagonists with excellent overall profile.

II. SAR studies of pyridyl-piperazinyl-piperidine derivatives as CXCR3 chemokine antagonists.

The structure-human CXCR3 binding affinity relationship of a series of pyridyl-piperazinyl-piperidine derivatives was explored. The optimization campaign highlighted the pronounced effect of 2'-piperazine substitution on CXCR3 receptor affinity. Analog 18j, harboring a 2'(S)-ethylpiperazine moiety, exhibited a human CXCR3 IC(50) of 0.2 nM.

III. Identification of novel CXCR3 chemokine receptor antagonists with a pyrazinyl-piperazinyl-piperidine scaffold.

The SAR of a novel pyrazinyl-piperazinyl-piperidine scaffold with CXCR3 receptor antagonist activity was explored. Optimization of the DMPK profile and reduction of hERG inhibition is described. Compound 16e with single-digit CXCR3 affinity, good rat PK and hERG profiles has been identified as a lead for further study.

Discovery of 2-aminoimidazopyridine adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists.

A novel series of adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists was identified by high-throughput screening of an encoded combinatorial compound collection. The initial hits were optimized for A(2A) binding affinity, A(1) selectivity, and in vitro microsomal stability generating orally available 2-aminoimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-based A(2A) antagonist leads.

Discovery of novel quinolinone adenosine A2B antagonists.

A novel series of quinolinone-based adenosine A(2B) receptor antagonists was identified via high throughput screening of an encoded combinatorial compound collection. Synthesis and assay of a series of analogs highlighted essential structural features of the initial hit. Optimization resulted in an A(2B) antagonist (2i) which exhibited potent activity in a cAMP accumulation assay (5.1 nM) and an IL-8 release assay (0.4 nM).

Synthesis and SAR studies of trisubstituted purinones as potent and selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonists.

A series of trisubstituted purinones was synthesized and evaluated as A(2A) receptor antagonists. The A(2A) structure-activity relationships at the three substituted positions were studied and selectivity against the A(1) receptor was investigated. One antagonist 12o exhibits a K(i) of 9nM in an A(2A) binding assay, a K(b) of 18nM in an A(2A) cAMP functional assay, and is 220-fold selective over the A(1) receptor.

Novel CXCR3 antagonists with a piperazinyl-piperidine core.

High-throughput screening of an encoded combinatorial aryl piperazine library led to the identification of a novel series of potent piperazinyl-piperidine based CXCR3 antagonists. Analogs of the initial hit were synthesized via solid and solution phase methods to probe the influence of structure on the CXCR3 binding of these molecules. Various functional groups were found to contribute to the overall potency and essential molecular features were identified.

Small molecule biaryl FSH receptor agonists. Part 1: Lead discovery via encoded combinatorial synthesis.

High-throughput screening of two million compounds in 37 distinct encoded combinatorial libraries using FSH receptor transfected cells provided small molecule agonists such as 1 (EC(50)=3 microM) and 2 (EC(50)=3.9 microM), based on which a focused combinatorial library with a total of 31372 compounds was designed, synthesized, and screened to reveal 72 novel biaryl FSH receptor agonists such as 8a-c as well as a unique combinatorial SAR.