Accelerating the discovery of DGAT1 inhibitors through the application of parallel medicinal chemistry (PMC).

The parallel medicinal chemistry (PMC) was effectively applied to accelerate the optimization of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase I (DGAT-1) inhibitors. Through a highly collaborative and iterative library design, synthesis and testing, a benzimidazole lead was rapidly and systematically advanced to a highly potent, selective and bioavailable DGAT1 inhibitor with the potential for further development.

Benzimidazole-based DGAT1 inhibitors with a [3.1.0] bicyclohexane carboxylic acid moiety.

Previously disclosed benzimidazole-based DGAT1 inhibitors containing a cyclohexane carboxylic acid moiety suffer from isomerization at the alpha position of the carboxylic acid group, generating active metabolites which exhibit DGAT1 inhibition comparable to the corresponding parent compounds. In this report, we describe the design, synthesis and profiling of benzimidazole-based DGAT1 inhibitors with a [3.1.0] bicyclohexane carboxylic acid moiety. Our results show that single isomer 3A maintains in vitro and in vivo inhibition against DGAT1. In contrast to previous lead compounds, 3A does not undergo isomerization during in vitro hepatocyte incubation study or in vivo mouse study.

Discovery of MK-1421, a Potent, Selective sstr3 Antagonist, as a Development Candidate for Type 2 Diabetes.

The imidazolyl-tetrahydro-ß-carboline class of sstr3 antagonists have demonstrated efficacy in a murine model of glucose excursion and may have potential as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. The first candidate in this class caused unacceptable QTc interval prolongation in oral, telemetrized cardiovascular (CV) dogs. Herein, we describe our efforts to identify an acceptable candidate without CV effects. These efforts resulted in the identification of (1R,3R)-3-(4-(5-fluoropyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1-(1-ethyl-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(3-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-3H-2-one-5-yl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-ß-carboline (17e, MK-1421).

Discovery of a Potent and Selective DGAT1 Inhibitor with a Piperidinyl-oxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic Acid Moiety.

We report the discovery of a novel series of DGAT1 inhibitors in the benzimidazole class with a piperdinyl-oxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid moiety. This novel series possesses significantly improved selectivity against the A2A receptor, no ACAT1 off-target activity at 10 µM, and higher aqueous solubility and free fraction in plasma as compared to the previously reported pyridyl-oxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid series. In particular, 5B was shown to possess an excellent selectivity profile by screening it against a panel of more than 100 biological targets. Compound 5B significantly reduces lipid excursion in LTT in mouse and rat, demonstrates DGAT1 mediated reduction of food intake and body weight in mice, is negative in a 3-strain Ames test, and appears to distribute preferentially in the liver and the intestine in mice. We believe this lead series possesses significant potential to identify optimized compounds for clinical development.

Identification and characterization of sebaceous gland atrophy-sparing DGAT1 inhibitors.

Inhibition of Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) has been a mechanism of interest for metabolic disorders. DGAT1 inhibition has been shown to be a key regulator in an array of metabolic pathways; however, based on the DGAT1 KO mouse phenotype the anticipation is that pharmacological inhibition of DGAT1 could potentially lead to skin related adverse effects. One of the aims in developing small molecule DGAT1 inhibitors that target key metabolic tissues is to avoid activity on skin-localized DGAT1 enzyme. In this report we describe a modeling-based approach to identify molecules with physical properties leading to differential exposure distribution. In addition, we demonstrate histological and RNA based biomarker approaches that can detect sebaceous gland atrophy pre-clinically that could be used as potential biomarkers in a clinical setting.

A novel benzazepinone sodium channel blocker with oral efficacy in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

A series of benzazepinones were synthesized and evaluated for block of Nav1.7 sodium channels. Compound 30 from this series displayed potent channel block, good selectivity versus other targets, and dose-dependent oral efficacy in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

Potent DGAT1 Inhibitors in the Benzimidazole Class with a Pyridyl-oxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic Acid Moiety.

We report the design and synthesis of a series of novel DGAT1 inhibitors in the benzimidazole class with a pyridyl-oxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid moiety. In particular, compound 11A is a potent DGAT1 inhibitor with excellent selectivity against ACAT1. Compound 11A significantly reduces triglyceride excursion in lipid tolerance tests (LTT) in both mice and dogs at low plasma exposure. An in vivo study in mice with des-fluoro analogue 10A indicates that this series of compounds appears to distribute in intestine preferentially over plasma. The propensity to target intestine over plasma could be advantageous in reducing potential side effects since lower circulating levels of drug are required for efficacy. However, in the preclinical species, compound 11A undergoes cis/trans epimerization in vivo, which could complicate further development due to the presence of an active metabolite.

Antidiabetic and antisteatotic effects of the selective fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor platensimycin in mouse models of diabetes.

Platensimycin (PTM) is a recently discovered broad-spectrum antibiotic produced by Streptomyces platensis. It acts by selectively inhibiting the elongation-condensing enzyme FabF of the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway in bacteria. We report here that PTM is also a potent and highly selective inhibitor of mammalian fatty acid synthase. In contrast to two agents, C75 and cerulenin, that are widely used as inhibitors of mammalian fatty acid synthase, platensimycin specifically inhibits fatty acid synthesis but not sterol synthesis in rat primary hepatocytes. PTM preferentially concentrates in liver when administered orally to mice and potently inhibits hepatic de novo lipogenesis, reduces fatty acid oxidation, and increases glucose oxidation. Chronic administration of platensimycin led to a net reduction in liver triglyceride levels and improved insulin sensitivity in db/+ mice fed a high-fructose diet. PTM also reduced ambient glucose levels in db/db mice. These results provide pharmacological proof of concept of inhibiting fatty acid synthase for the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders in animal models.

Discovery of imidazole carboxamides as potent and selective CCK1R agonists.

High-throughput screening revealed diaryl pyrazole 3 as a selective albeit modest cholecystokinin 1 receptor (CCK1R) agonist. SAR studies led to the discovery and optimization of a novel class of 1,2-diaryl imidazole carboxamides. Compound 44, which was profiled extensively, showed good in vivo mouse gallbladder emptying (mGBE) and lean mouse overnight food intake (ONFI) reduction activities.

Imidazopyridines: a novel class of hNav1.7 channel blockers.

A series of imidazopyridines were evaluated as potential sodium channel blockers for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Several members were identified with good hNa(v)1.7 potency and excellent rat pharmacokinetic profiles. Compound 4 had good efficacy (52% and 41% reversal of allodynia at 2 and 4h post-dose, respectively) in the Chung rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model of neuropathic pain when dosed orally at 10mg/kg.

Benzazepinone Nav1.7 blockers: potential treatments for neuropathic pain.

A series of benzazepinones were synthesized and evaluated as hNa(v)1.7 sodium channel blockers. Several compounds from this series displayed good oral bioavailability and exposure and were efficacious in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

Mechanistic studies on the metabolic scission of thiazolidinedione derivatives to acyclic thiols.

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) derivatives have been reported to undergo metabolic activation of the TZD ring to produce reactive intermediates. In the case of troglitazone, it was proposed that a P450-mediated S-oxidation leads to TZD ring scission and the formation of a sulfenic acid intermediate, which may be trapped as a GSH conjugate. In the present study, we employed a model compound {denoted MRL-A, (+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]methyl]benzamide} to investigate the mechanism of TZD ring scission. When MRL-A was incubated with monkey liver microsomes (or recombinant P450 3A4 and NADPH-P450 reductase) in the presence of NADPH and oxygen, the major products of TZD ring scission were the free thiol metabolite (M2) and its dimer (M3). Furthermore, a GSH conjugate of M2 (M4) also was formed when the incubation mixture was supplemented with GSH. Experiments with isolated M2 suggested that this metabolite was unstable and underwent spontaneous autooxidation to M3. A qualitatively similar metabolite profile was observed when MRL-A was incubated with recombinant P450 3A4 and cumene hydroperoxide. Because an oxygen atom is transferred to MRL-A under these conditions, these data suggested that S-oxidation alone may result in TZD ring scission and formation of M2 via a sulfenic acid intermediate. Also, because the latter incubation mixture did not contain any reducing agents, the formation of M2 may have occurred due to disproportionation of the sulfenic acid. When NADPH was added to the incubation mixture containing P450 3A4 and cumene hydroperoxide, the formation of M3 increased, suggesting that the sulfenic acid was reduced to M2 by NADPH and subsequently underwent dimerization to yield M3 (vide supra). When NADPH was replaced by GSH, the formation of M4 increased, consistent with reduction of the sulfenic acid by GSH. In summary, these results suggest that the TZD ring in MRL-A is activated by an initial P450-mediated S-oxidation step followed by spontaneous scission of the TZD ring to a putative sulfenic acid intermediate; the latter species then undergoes reduction to the free thiol by GSH, NADPH, and/or disproportionation. Finally, the thiol may dimerize to the corresponding disulfide or, in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine, form the stable S-methyl derivative.

In vitro metabolism of MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl) phenyl]methyl]benzamide], a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist. I. Role of cytochrome P450, methyltransferases, flavin monooxygenases, and esterases.

The metabolism of MK-0767, (+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl) phenyl]methyl]benzamide, a thiazolidinedione (TZD)-containing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist, was studied in liver microsomes and hepatocytes from humans and rat, dog, and rhesus monkey, to characterize the enzyme(s) involved in its metabolism. The major site of metabolism is the TZD ring, which underwent opening catalyzed by CYP3A4 to give the mercapto derivative, M22. Other metabolites formed in NADPH-fortified liver microsomes included the TZD-5-OH derivative (M24), also catalyzed by CYP3A4, and the O-desmethyl derivative (M28), whose formation was catalyzed by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. Metabolite profiles from hepatocyte incubations were different from those generated with NADPH-fortified microsomal incubations. In addition to M22, M24, and M28, hepatocytes generated several S-methylated metabolites, including the methyl mercapto (M25), the methyl sulfoxide amide (M16), and the methyl sulfone amide (M20) metabolites. Addition of the methyl donor, S-adenosyl methionine, in addition to NADPH, to microsomal incubations enhanced the turnover and resulted in metabolite profiles similar to those in hepatocyte incubations. Collectively, these results indicated that methyltransferases played a major role in the metabolism of MK-0767. Using enzyme-specific inhibitors, it was concluded that microsomal thiol methyltransferases play a more important role than the cytosolic thiopurine methyltransferase. Baculovirus-expressed human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3, as well as CYP3A4, oxidized M25 to M16, whereas further oxidation of M16 to M20 was catalyzed mainly by CYP3A4. Esterases were involved in the formation of the methyl sulfone carboxylic acids, minor metabolites detected in hepatocytes.

In vitro metabolism of MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)-phenyl] methyl]benzamide], a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist. II. Identification of metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The in vitro metabolism of MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl) methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)-phenyl] methyl]benzamide], a novel 2,4-thiazolidinedione (TZD)-containing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist, was studied in rat, dog, monkey, and human liver microsomes and hepatocytes, as well as in recombinant human CYP3A4-containing microsomes. Twenty-two metabolites (some at trace levels) were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. All appeared to be phase I metabolites except for a glucuronide conjugate of a hydroxylated metabolite that was detected at trace levels. A constant neutral loss scan experiment performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer proved to be very useful for resolving the metabolites from endogenous compounds. It was observed that the initial site of metabolism of MK-0767 was at the TZD ring leading to two major metabolites, namely the 5-hydroxy-TZD metabolite (M24) and the mercapto metabolite (M22). The latter was formed via the cleavage of the TZD ring with the elimination of the carbonyl adjacent to the sulfur atom. The structure of M24 was established by accurate mass measurements and NMR analysis. This hydroxy-TZD metabolite might represent an important precursor for a group of metabolites formed by TZD ring opening and subsequent loss of the sulfur moiety. The mercapto metabolite, on the other hand, is probably the key precursor for the TZD ring-opened metabolites with retention of the sulfur, even though the detailed mechanism of the ring scission remains to be characterized. From these studies, it was concluded that the TZD ring was the major site of metabolism of MK-0767. All the metabolites produced in vitro from human preparations were detected in the corresponding preparations from the nonclinical species.

Species differential stereoselective oxidation of a methylsulfide metabolite of MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]benzamide], a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor dual agonist.

MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]benzamide], a thiazolidinedione (TZD)-containing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, is a rapidly interconverting racemate that possesses a chiral center at the five position of the TZD ring. M25 is a methyl sulfide metabolite generated from MK-0767 following CYP3A4-mediated TZD ring opening and subsequent methylation of the sulfide intermediate M22. M25, a major in vitro and in vivo metabolite, was further metabolized in liver microsomes to the methyl sulfoxide amide (M16) with two chiral centers and the methyl sulfone amide (M20) with one chiral center. Previous studies demonstrated that both CYP3A4 and flavin monooxygenase-3 (FMO3) catalyzed the formation of M16, whereas M20 was formed exclusively by CYP3A4. The relative contribution of CYP3A4 and FMO3 in the formation of M16 in human and preclinical species was evaluated by chiral analysis using supercritical fluid chromatography. No stereoselectivity was observed in incubations of M25 with human and rhesus liver and recombinant CYP3A4 microsomes, whereas a high degree of stereoselectivity (63 to >99% enantiomeric excess) was observed in rat and dog liver and human recombinant FMO3 microsomes. Also, polyclonal anti-rat CYP3A2 antibody and cytochrome P450 (P450) chemical inhibitors did not inhibit the oxidation of M25 in rat liver microsomes. Furthermore, M25 oxidation was more sensitive to heat inactivation at pH 8 and 8.7 in rat and dog liver microsomes than in human and monkey liver microsomes, consistent with the species difference in involvement of FMOs. Collectively, these results indicated that S-oxidation of M25 was catalyzed primarily by P450 enzymes in human and monkey liver microsomes and by FMO enzymes in rat and dog liver microsomes.

Identification and metabolism of a novel dihydrohydroxy-S-glutathionyl conjugate of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl) phenyl]methyl]benzamide], in rats.

MK-0767 [(+/-)-5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]benzamide] is a novel thiazolidinedione-containing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist. In rats dosed orally with [14C]MK-0767, a dihydrohydroxy-S-glutathionyl conjugate of the parent compound was identified in the bile using liquid chromatography-mass spectometry and 1H NMR techniques. The formation of the conjugate likely proceeded via an arene oxide intermediate. The corresponding cysteinylglycine and cysteinyl conjugates likely formed from the further metabolism of the dihydrohydroxy-S-glutathionyl conjugate also were detected in rat bile. The dihydrohydroxy-S-glutathionyl conjugate was formed in vitro following the incubation of MK-0767 and glutathione with rat, dog, or monkey liver microsomes, and its formation was NADPH-dependent; however, this conjugate was not detected in human liver microsomal incubations. When incubated with rat intestinal contents, the dihydrohydroxy-S-glutathionyl conjugate was reduced to the parent compound (MK-0767), suggesting the involvement of intestinal microflora in its metabolism. There was no reduction of the conjugate by rat intestinal cytosol.

2-Arylindoles as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists: optimization of the tryptamine side chain.

A series of 2-arylindoles containing novel heteroaromatic substituents on the tryptamine tether, based on compound 1, was prepared and evaluated for their ability to act as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists. Successful modifications of 1 included chain length variation (reduction) and replacement of the pyridine with heteroaromatic groups. These alterations culminated in the discovery of compound 27kk which had excellent in vitro potency and oral efficacy in rodents.