Synthesis, activity, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetics of glucocorticoid receptor modulator-statin hybrids.

The synthesis, activity, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetics of steroidal and nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulator-statin hybrids is reported. Potent steroidal antagonist-statin hybrids like 22 (h-GR binding IC(50)=7 nM) and nonsteroidal modulator hybrids like 16 (h-GR binding IC(50)=2 nM) were discovered. Appending a 'statin'-like diol-acid group to the modulators dramatically improved metabolic stability (and in some cases hepatocyte activity), but did not impart hepatoselectivity.