In Vivo and In Vitro Characterization of a Novel MAO-B Inhibitor Radioligand, 18F-Labeled Deuterated Fluorodeprenyl.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to radiolabel a novel bis-deuterium substituted l-deprenyl analog (fluorodeprenyl-D2) with (18)F and to evaluate its potential to visualize and quantify monoamine oxidase (MAO) B activity in vivo. METHODS: The precursor compound ( 5A: + 5B: ) and reference standard ( 6: ) were synthesized in multistep syntheses. Recombinant human MAO-B and MAO-A enzyme preparations were used to determine inhibitory concentrations of 50%. Radiolabeling was accomplished by a nucleophilic substitution reaction. Whole-hemisphere autoradiography was performed with (18)F-fluorodeprenyl-D2. A PET study was performed on a cynomolgus monkey. Radiometabolites were measured in monkey plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The 50% inhibitory concentration of compound 6 for MAO-B was 227 ± 36.8 nM. Radiolabeling was accomplished with high radiochemical yield, purity, and specific radioactivity. The autoradiography binding density of (18)F-fluorodeprenyl-D2 was consistent with known MAO-B expression in the human brain. In vivo, (18)F-fluorodeprenyl-D2 showed favorable kinetic properties, with relatively fast washout from the brain. Regional time-activity curves were better described by the 2-tissue-compartment model. Administration of a 1 mg/kg dose of l-deprenyl yielded 70% inhibition of MAO-B in all regions. Radiometabolite studies demonstrated 20% unchanged radioligand at 120 min after injection. (18)F-fluorodeprenyl-D2 showed less irreversibility than did previously reported MAO-B radioligands. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that (18)F-fluorodeprenyl-D2 is a suitable PET radioligand for visualization of MAO-B activity in the human brain.

Preclinical evaluation of BAY 1075553, a novel (18)F-labelled inhibitor of prostate-specific membrane antigen for PET imaging of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein overexpressed in prostate cancer and is therefore being explored as a biomarker for diagnosing and staging of the disease. Here we report preclinical data on BAY 1075553 (a 9:1 mixture of (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2-[(18)F]fluoro-4-phosphonomethyl-pentanedioic acid), a novel (18)F-labelled small molecule inhibitor of PSMA enzymatic activity, which can be efficiently synthesized from a direct radiolabelling precursor. METHODS: The (18)F-radiolabelled stereoisomers of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-4-(phosphonomethyl)-pentanedioic acid were synthesized from their respective isomerically pure precursors dimethyl 2-{[bis(benzyloxy)phosphoryl]methyl}-4-(tosyloxy)pentanedioate. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and biodistribution studies were conducted in mice bearing LNCaP, 22Rv1 and PC-3 tumours. Pharmacokinetic parameters and dosimetry estimates were calculated based on biodistribution studies in rodents. For non-clinical safety assessment (safety pharmacology, toxicology) to support a single-dose human microdose study, off-target effects in vitro, effects on vital organ functions (cardiovascular in dogs, nervous system in rats), mutagenicity screens and an extended single-dose study in rats were conducted with the non-radioactive racemic analogue of BAY 1075553. RESULTS: BAY 1075553 showed high tumour accumulation specific to PSMA-positive tumour-bearing mice and was superior to other stereoisomers tested. Fast clearance of BAY 1075553 resulted overall in low background signals in other organs except for high uptake into kidney and bladder which was mainly caused by renal elimination of BAY 1075553. A modest uptake into bone was observed which decreased over time indicating organ-specific uptake as opposed to defluorination of BAY 1075553 in vivo. Biodistribution studies found highest organ doses for kidneys and the urinary bladder wall resulting in a projected effective dose (ED) in humans of 0.0219 mSv/MBq. Non-clinical safety studies did not show off-target activity, effects on vital organs function or dose-dependent adverse effects. CONCLUSION: BAY 1075553 was identified as a promising PET tracer for PSMA-positive prostate tumours in preclinical studies. BAY 1075553 can be produced using a robust, direct radiosynthesis procedure. Pharmacokinetic, toxicology and safety pharmacology studies support the application of BAY 1075553 in a first-in-man microdose study with single i.v. administration.

Radiofluorinated derivatives of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid as inhibitors of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for the imaging of prostate cancer.

For prostate cancer, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been identified as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. Fluorinated derivatives of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid were designed and synthesized to explore whether this fluorine-substituent is tolerated in the pentanedioic acid moiety that is common to almost all PSMA targeting small molecule inhibitors. The binding affinities of the racemic and individual stereoisomers of 2-fluoro-4-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid were determined and showed that the introduction of fluorine was well tolerated. The radiosynthesis of the analogous 2-[(18)F]fluoro-4-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid was developed and evaluated in vivo with the PSMA positive LNCaP human prostate cancer cell. The biological results demonstrated specific binding of the tracer to PSMA positive tumors in mice. These results warrant the further evaluation of this class of compounds as radiolabeled tracers for the detection and staging of prostate cancer.

In vivo evaluation in cynomolgus monkey brain and metabolism of [¹8F]fluorodeprenyl: a new MAO-B pet radioligand.

In this study, we evaluated the in vivo characteristics of a new monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) radioligand, [¹8F]fluorodeprenyl, by positron emission tomography (PET) in two cynomolgus monkeys. The brain uptake of [¹8F]fluorodeprenyl was more than 7% (600% SUV) of the total injected radioactivity and similar to that of [¹¹C]deprenyl, an established MAO-B radioligand. The highest uptake was observed in the striatum, one of the MAO-B-rich regions, with a peak at approximately 2-3 min after injection, followed by lower uptake in the thalamus and the cortex and lowest uptake in the cerebellum. Brain uptake of [¹8F]fluorodeprenyl was largely inhibited by preadministration of the MAO-B inhibitor, L-deprenyl, whereas clorgyline, a MAO Type A blocker, had no significant inhibitory effect, thus demonstrating selectivity for MAO-B. [¹8F]Fluorodeprenyl showed relatively slow metabolism with the presence of two radiometabolite peaks with similar retention time as the labeled metabolites of [¹¹C]deprenyl. These results suggest that [¹8F]fluorodeprenyl is a potential PET radioligand for visualization of MAO-B activity.

Synthesis of three novel fluorine-18 labeled analogues of L-deprenyl for positron emission tomography (PET) studies of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B).

The aim in this project was to synthesize and to study fluorine-18 labeled analogues of l-deprenyl which bind selectively to the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Three fluorinated l-deprenyl analogues have been generated in multistep organic syntheses. The most promising fluorine-18 compound N-[(2S)-1-[(18)F]fluoro-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]-N-methylprop-2-yn-1-amine (4c) was synthesized by a one-step fluorine-18 nucleophilic substitution reaction. Autoradiography on human brain tissue sections demonstrated specific binding for compound 4c to brain regions known to have a high content of MAO-B. In addition, the corresponding nonradioactive fluorine-19 compound (13) inhibited recombinant human MAO-B with an IC(50) of 170.5 ± 29 nM but did not inhibit recombinant human MAO-A (IC(50) > 2000 nM), demonstrating its specificity. Biodistribution of 4c in mice showed high initial brain uptake leveling at 5.2 ± 0.04%ID/g after 2 min post injection. In conclusion, compound 4c is a specific inhibitor of MAO-B with high initial brain uptake in mice and is, therefore, a candidate for further investigation in PET.

Solid-phase synthesis of endothelin receptor antagonists.

A new solid-phase synthesis for ET receptor antagonists suitable for automation is presented. A support bound 2-hydroxybutyric acid derivative was converted to the corresponding ether derivatives using 4-halo-2-methylsulfonylpyrimidines. Subsequent Suzuki coupling with various aryl boronic acids gave the desired antagonists in good yields and purities. Highly potent antagonists with excellent selectivity for ET(A) were obtained.