Synthesis and biological activity of trans(+-)-N-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-2-tetrahydrothiopyrancarbothioamide 1-oxide (RP 49356) and analogues: a new class of potassium channel opener.

The synthesis and biological activity of trans-(+-)-N-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-2-tetrahydrothiopyrancarbothioamid+ ++ e 1-oxide (8a, RP 49356) and analogues is reported. These compounds constitute a new structural class of K(+)-channel opener. The effects of changes in pyridyl group, thioamide, and thiane ring on in vitro K(+)-channel opening reactivity are discussed. A 3-pyridyl or 3-quinolyl group, a small N-alkyl thioamide function, and a thiane oxide ring, in which the sulfoxide is in a trans relationship to the thioamide, are preferred for activity. Selected compounds were tested intravenously in the normotensive anaesthetized rat for hypotensive effects, and the activities reflect their in vitro K(+)-channel opening activity. This led to further evaluation of compound 8a and the selection of the (-)-enantiomer 8b (RP 52891) for development as an antihypertensive and antianginal agent.

Selective endothelin A receptor antagonists. 3. Discovery and structure-activity relationships of a series of 4-phenoxybutanoic acid derivatives.

The third in this series of papers describes our further progress into the discovery of a potent and selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist for the potential treatment of diseases in which a pathophysiological role for endothelin has been implicated. These include hypertension, ischemic diseases, and atherosclerosis. In earlier publications we have outlined the discovery and structure-activity relations of two moderately potent series of nonpeptide ETA receptor antagonists. In this paper, we describe how a pharmacophore model for ETA receptor binding was developed which enabled these two series of compounds to be merged into a single class of 4-phenoxybutanoic acid derivatives. The subsequent optimization of in vitro activity against the ETA receptor led to the discovery of (R)-4-[2-cyano-5-(3-pyridylmethoxy)phenoxy]-4-(2-methylphenyl)b utanoi c acid (12m). This compound exhibits low-nanomolar binding to the ETA receptor and a greater than 1000-fold selectivity over the ETB receptor. Data are presented to demonstrate that 12m is orally bioavailable in the rat and is a functional antagonist in vitro and in vivo of ET-1-induced vasoconstriction.

Selective endothelin A receptor antagonists. 4. Discovery and structure-activity relationships of stilbene acid and alcohol derivatives.

This publication describes the synthesis and optimization of a novel series of stilbene endothelin antagonists. Analysis of the SAR established for previous papers in this series prompted the design and synthesis of (Z)-4-phenyl-5-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)pent-4-enoic acid 3 which was found to be a moderately active inhibitor of the binding of [125I]ET-1 to ETA receptors with an IC50 of 6 microM. More interestingly, the intermediate compound (E)-2-phenyl-3-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)propenoic acid 5 was equiactive with 3. Optimization of 5 resulted in the preparation of (E)-2-phenyl-3-(2-cyano-5-(thien-3-ylmethoxy))phenylprope noic acid 18 (RPR111723) which had an IC50 in the binding assay of 80 nM on the ETA receptor and a pKB of 6.5 in the functional assay, measured on rat aortic strips. Reduction of the acid group of 5 gave the first nonacidic ETA antagonist in our series, (E)-2-phenyl-3-(3-benzyloxyphenoxy)prop2-enol 6 with an IC50 of 20 microM. Optimization of 6 resulted in the preparation of 2-(2-methylphenyl)-3-(2-cyano-5-(thien-3-ylmethyl)phenyl)pro p-2-enol 33 with an IC50 of 300 nM on the ETA receptor.

Selective ET(A) antagonists. 5. Discovery and structure-activity relationships of phenoxyphenylacetic acid derivatives.

The fifth paper in this series describes the culmination of our investigations into the development of a potent and selective ET(A) receptor antagonist for the treatment of diseases mediated by ET-1. Receptor site mapping of several ET(A) antagonists prepared previously identified a common cationic binding site which prompted synthesis of phenoxyphenylacetic acid derivative 13a, which showed good in vitro activity (IC(50) 59 nM, rat aortic ET(A)). Optimization of 13a led to the identification of 27b, which exhibited an IC(50) of 4 nM. Although this did not translate into the expected in vivo potency, a compound of comparable in vitro activity, 27a (RPR118031A), showed a far better pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo potency (75 micromol/kg) and was duly proposed and accepted as a development candidate.

Similarity measures for rational set selection and analysis of combinatorial libraries: the Diverse Property-Derived (DPD) approach.

The generation of new chemical leads for biological targets is a very challenging task for researchers in the pharmaceutical industry. The design of representative screening sets and combinatorial libraries is central to achieving this objective. In this paper, we describe a novel molecular descriptor, the Diverse Property-Derived (DPD) code, that contains information about key molecular and physicochemical properties of a molecule. The utility of this descriptor is explored through its application for the selection of a maximally diverse representative screening set, through the selection of secondary screening sets to obtain more information concerning the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a particular target receptor, and through the profiling of combinatorial libraries. The usefulness of physicochemical/molecular property descriptors, such as the DPD code, is discussed critically.

RPR203494 a pyrimidine analogue of the p38 inhibitor RPR200765A with an improved in vitro potency.

Following the discovery of RPR200765, a series of pyrimidine analogues have been prepared as backups. Amongst them, RPR203494 was identified with a better in vitro profile than RPR200765A.

Identification of a non peptidic RANTES antagonist.

A series of phenothiazines demonstrating inhibition of RANTES binding to THP-1 cell membranes has been identified. The lead compound RP23618 (IC50 = 3 microM) was found to inhibit specific binding of 125I-RANTES, but not 125I-MCP-1 to THP-1 cell membranes and furthermore to antagonize RANTES, but not MCP-1-induced chemotaxis of THP-1 cells.