CSTI-300 (SMP-100); a Novel 5-HT3 Receptor Partial Agonist with Potential to Treat Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Carcinoid Syndrome.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (serotonin) 5-HT3 receptor represents a clinical target for antagonists to deliver symptomatic relief to patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-d) or carcinoid syndrome. Unfortunately, this pharmacological strategy can present side effects (e.g., severe constipation). The present study investigates the potential of a novel 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist, CSTI-300, to treat patients with IBS-d and other conditions associated with discomfort from colonic distension, with a predicted reduced side-effect profile. The in vitro and in vivo preclinical pharmacology of the drug CSTI-300 was investigated to explore the potential to treat patients with IBS-d. CSTI-300 displayed selective high affinity for the human and rat 5-HT3 receptor (Ki approximately 2.0 nM) and acted as a partial agonist (approximately 30%-50% intrinsic efficacy) in vitro. In an in vivo model of IBS-d, the rat colon distension model, CSTI-300 displayed dose-dependent efficacy. In addition, oral administration of CSTI-300 to dogs that achieved plasma levels of the drug exceeding the Ki value for the 5-HT3 receptor failed to either evoke emesis or alter the state of feces. Pharmacokinetics for CSTI-300 in rat and dog identified high levels of oral availability with t 1/2 range of 1.6-4.4 hours. The preclinical pharmacology of the lead candidate drug, CSTI-300, supports the potential of this novel drug to offer symptomatic relief to patients with irritable bowel syndrome and carcinoid syndrome with a rationale for a reduced "on-target" side-effect profile relative to 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as alosetron. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: There is a lack of effective current treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and carcinoid syndrome, and in both conditions, overactivity of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 5-HT3 receptor is thought to be implicated in the pathophysiology. Because 5-HT3 receptor blockade with antagonists results in significant side effects, we present evidence that treatment with a suitable 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist will alleviate some symptoms associated with these conditions yet, without fully inhibiting the receptor, predict a less pronounced side-effect profile associated with this therapeutic strategy.

From preclinical to clinical development: the example of a novel treatment for obesity.

Clinical development of drugs for CNS disorders can be a challenging and risky endeavor. In this article we look at the steps required to move a preclinical candidate compound into clinical development. We use the case study of ALB-127158(a), an MCH1 antagonist for the treatment of obesity via a central mechanism to highlight the steps needed to move into early clinical development. Preclinical studies demonstrated that the compound produced significant weight loss in rodents. Based on the observation that the weight loss was caused by a reduction in food intake it was possible to build measures of ingestive behavior into the early clinical development plan. Single and multiple ascending dose studies were conducted in normal and overweight volunteers. The compound was safe and well tolerated with good PK characteristics. ALB-127158(a) was shown to have some effects on measures of 'hunger' and 'desire to eat', unfortunately these effects only occurred at doses higher than those predicted from the preclinical studies. A subsequent study looking at compound levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suggested lower brain exposure than seen in the preclinical models. Based on this data and the limited efficacy observed it was possible to terminate further progression of this compound for obesity before costly long-term weight loss studies were initiated. However, recent reports have demonstrated that MCH acting via MCH1 receptors located on intestinal epithelial cells may be a critical mediator of inflammatory responses within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. MCH1 receptor antagonists may therefore have a beneficial effect in disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Based on this evidence a peripherally selective MCH1 receptor antagonist such as ALB-127158(a) may be a potential treatment for IBD. This example demonstrates how using data from the preclinical studies is possible to build decision points into an early clinical development plan that will allow early assessment of potential efficacy and allow timely go/no go decisions.

The discovery of diazepinone-based 5-HT3 receptor partial agonists.

Serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor partial agonists have been targeted as potential new drugs for the symptomatic relief of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Multiple diazepinone-based compounds have been discovered, which exhibit nanomolar binding affinity for the h5-HT3A receptor and display a range of intrinsic activities (IA=7-87% of 5-HT Emax) in HEK cells heterologously expressing the h5-HT3A receptor. Favorable physicochemical properties and in vitro ADME profile coupled with oral activity in the murine von Bezold-Jarisch reflex model demonstrates the series has promise for producing low to moderate IA partial agonists suitable for an IBS indication.

The design and synthesis of novel SGLT2 inhibitors: C-glycosides with benzyltriazolopyridinone and phenylhydantoin as the aglycone moieties.

The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) has received considerable attention in recent years as a target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This report describes the design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of C-glycosides with benzyltriazolopyridinone and phenylhydantoin as the aglycone moieties as novel SGLT2 inhibitors. Compounds 5p and 33b demonstrated high potency in inhibiting SGLT2 and high selectivity against SGLT1. The in vitro ADMET properties of these compounds will also be discussed.

Structural basis for partial agonism in 5-HT3A receptors.

Hyperactivity of serotonin 3 receptors (5-HT3R) underlies pathologies associated with irritable bowel syndrome and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Setrons, a class of high-affinity competitive antagonists, are used in the treatment of these conditions. Although generally effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, the use of setrons for treating irritable bowel syndrome has been impaired by adverse side effects. Partial agonists are now being considered as an alternative strategy, with potentially less severe side effects than full antagonists. However, a structural understanding of how these ligands work is lacking. Here, we present high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy structures of the mouse 5-HT3AR in complex with partial agonists (SMP-100 and ALB-148471) captured in pre-activated and open-like conformational states. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to assess the stability of drug-binding poses and interactions with the receptor over time. Together, these studies reveal mechanisms for the functional differences between orthosteric partial agonists, full agonists and antagonists of the 5-HT3AR.

Design, synthesis, and SAR of N-((1-(4-(propylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)cycloalkyl)methyl)benzamide inhibitors of glycine transporter-1.

The design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a series of N-((1-(4-(propylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)cycloalkyl)methyl)benzamide inhibitors of glycine transporter-1 (GlyT-1) are described. Optimization of the benzamide and central ring components of the core scaffold led to the identification of a GlyT-1 inhibitor that demonstrated in vivo activity in a rodent cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) glycine model.

Epiminocyclohepta[b]indole analogs as 5-HT6 antagonists.

A new series of epiminocyclohepta[b]indoles with potent 5-HT(6) antagonist activity were discovered and optimized using in vitro protocols. One compound from this series was progressed to advanced pharmacokinetic (PK) studies followed by 5-HT(6) receptor occupancy studies. The compound was found to have excellent oral absorption, a highly favorable PK profile and demonstrated pharmacodynamic interaction with the 5-HT(6) receptor as shown by ex vivo autoradiography.

Novel serotonin type 3 receptor partial agonists for the potential treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Serotonin type 3 (5-HT(3)) receptor partial agonists are being targeted as potential new drugs for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Two new chemical series bearing indazole and indole cores have exhibited nanomolar binding affinity for the h5-HT(3)A receptor. A range of partial agonist activities in HEK cells heterologously expressing the h5-HT(3)A receptor were measured for the indazole series. Excellent 5-HT(3) receptor selectivity, favorable in vitro metabolic stability and CYP inhibition properties, and good oral in vivo potency in the murine von Bezold-Jarisch reflex model is exemplified thereby indicating the series to have potential utility as improved IBS agents.

Synthesis and SAR of 4-aryl-1-(indazol-5-yl)pyridin-2(1H)ones as MCH-1 antagonists for the treatment of obesity.

A new series of 4-aryl-1-(indazol-5-yl)pyridin-2(1H)ones possessing MCH-1 receptor antagonism is presented. Suzuki coupling of boronic acids with key triflate 6 allowed rapid generation of a range of analogs. The SAR of the MCH-1 receptor was explored with a variety of aryl and heterocyclic moieties. Selected compounds were studied in a five-day diet induced obese mouse model to evaluate their potential use as weight loss agents.

Tetrahydrocarboline analogs as MCH-1 antagonists.

A new series of tetrahydrocarbolines with potent MCH-1 antagonist activity were synthesized, using a conformationally constrained design approach towards optimizing pharmacokinetic properties. Two compounds from this series were progressed to a 5-day diet-induced obesity mouse screening model to evaluate their potential as weight loss agents. Both compounds produced a highly significant reduction in weight, which was attributed to their improved pharmacokinetic profile.

5-(pyridinon-1-yl)indazoles and 5-(furopyridinon-5-yl)indazoles as MCH-1 antagonists.

A new series of 5-(pyridinon-1-yl)indazoles with MCH-1 antagonist activity were synthesized. Potential cardiovascular risk for these compounds was assessed based upon their interaction with the hERG potassium channel in a mini-patch clamp assay. Selected compounds were studied in a 5-day diet-induced obese mouse model to evaluate their potential use as weight loss agents. Structural modification of the 5-(pyridinon-1-yl)indazoles to give 5-(furopyridinon-5-yl)indazoles provided compounds with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties and improved efficacy.

5-Functionalized indazoles as glucocorticoid receptor agonists.

An indazole based series of glucocorticoid receptor agonists is reported. The SAR exploration of this scaffold yielded compounds with nanomolar affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor with indications of selectivity for the preferred transrepression mechanism; in vivo efficacy was observed in the mouse LPS induced TNFalpha model for compound 28.

Synthesis of 7-benzyl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-c][2,7]naphthyridin-1-ylamine and its analogs as bombesin receptor subtype-3 agonists.

The original structure of a high-throughput screening hit obtained from an external vendor was revised based on multiple NMR studies. The active compound was re-synthesized via a novel route and its structure and biological activity as a BRS-3 agonist were unambiguously confirmed. Multi-gram quantities of the hit were prepared for pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies. The synthetic strategy allowed for the preparation of multiple analogs for SAR exploration.

Synthesis and SAR of heterocyclic carboxylic acid isosteres based on 2-biarylethylimidazole as bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) agonists for the treatment of obesity.

SAR around non-peptidic potent bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) agonist lead 2 is presented. Attempts to replace the carboxylic acid with heterocyclic isosteres to improve oral bioavailability and brain penetration are described.

Discovery of substituted biphenyl imidazoles as potent, bioavailable bombesin receptor subtype-3 agonists.

We report SAR studies on a novel non-peptidic bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) agonist lead series derived from high-throughput screening hit RY-337. This effort led to the discovery of compound 22e with significantly improved potency at both rodent and human BRS-3.

Synthesis and SAR of derivatives based on 2-biarylethylimidazole as bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) agonists for the treatment of obesity.

This Letter describes a series of potent and selective BRS-3 agonists containing a biarylethylimidazole pharmacophore. Extensive SAR studies were carried out with different aryl substitutions. This work led to the identification of a compound 2-{2-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-5-(2,2-dimethylbutyl)-1H-imidazole 9 with excellent binding affinity (IC(50)=18 nM, hBRS-3) and functional agonist activity (EC(50)=47 nM, 99% activation). After oral administration, compound 9 had sufficient exposure in diet induced obese mice to demonstrate efficacy in lowering food intake and body weight via BRS-3 activation.

Bifidenone: Structure-Activity Relationship and Advanced Preclinical Candidate.

Bifidenone is a novel natural tubulin polymerization inhibitor that exhibits antiproliferative activity against a range of human cancer cell lines, making it an attractive candidate for development. A synthetic route was previously developed to alleviate supply constraints arising from its isolation in microgram quantities from a Gabonese tree. Using that previously published route, we present here 42 analogues that were synthesized to examine the structure-activity relationship of bifidenone derivatives. In addition to in vitro cytotoxicity data, data from murine xenograft and pharmacokinetic studies were used to evaluate the analogues. Compounds 45b and 46b were found to demonstrate promising efficacy in murine xenograft experiments, and 46b had significantly more potent in vitro antiproliferative activity against taxane-resistant cell lines compared to that of paclitaxel.

Inhibitors of Glycine Transporter-1: Potential Therapeutics for the Treatment of CNS Disorders.

Glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter at glycine receptor (GlyR)-enriched synapses and as an obligatory co-agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, where it facilitates neuronal excitation. Two high-affinity and substrate selective transporters, glycine transporter-1 and glycine transporter-2 (GlyT-1 and GlyT-2), regulate extracellular glycine concentrations within the CNS and as such, play critical roles in maintaining a balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. GlyT-1 inhibition has been extensively examined as a potential means by which to treat several CNS disorders that include schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction. More recently, preclinical studies have emerged that indicate the approach may also promote neuroprotection, provide a pharmacotherapeutic strategy for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and treat symptomology associated with pain, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. This review examines the pharmacological aspects of GlyT-1 inhibition and describes drug discovery and development efforts toward the identification of novel inhibitors.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of N-((1-(4-(Sulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)cycloalkyl)methyl)benzamide Inhibitors of Glycine Transporter-1.

We previously disclosed the discovery of rationally designed N-((1-(4-(propylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)cycloalkyl)methyl)benzamide inhibitors of glycine transporter-1 (GlyT-1), represented by analogues 10 and 11. We describe herein further structure-activity relationship exploration of this series via an optimization strategy that primarily focused on the sulfonamide and benzamide appendages of the scaffold. These efforts led to the identification of advanced leads possessing a desirable balance of excellent in vitro GlyT-1 potency and selectivity, favorable ADME and in vitro pharmacological profiles, and suitable pharmacokinetic and safety characteristics. Representative analogue (+)-67 exhibited robust in vivo activity in the cerebral spinal fluid glycine biomarker model in both rodents and nonhuman primates. Furthermore, rodent microdialysis experiments also demonstrated that oral administration of (+)-67 significantly elevated extracellular glycine levels within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).