Discovery of (S,E)-3-(2-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-(3-(pyridin-3-yloxy)phenyl)ethyl)-acrylamide as a potent and efficacious KCNQ2 (Kv7.2) opener for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Acrylamide (S)-6, a potent and efficacious KCNQ2 (Kv7.2) opener, demonstrated significant activity in two models of neuropathic pain and in the formalin test, suggesting that KCNQ2 openers may be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain including diabetic neuropathy.

Biochemical and behavioral effects of PDE10A inhibitors: Relationship to target site occupancy.

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors increase the functionality of striatal medium spiny neurons and produce antipsychotic-like effects in rodents by blocking PDE10A mediated hydrolysis of cAMP and/or cGMP. In the current study, we characterized a radiolabeled PDE10A inhibitor, [(3)H]BMS-843496, and developed an ex vivo PDE10 binding autoradiographic assay to explore the relationship between PDE10 binding site occupancy and the observed biochemical and behavioral effects of PDE10 inhibitors in mice. [(3)H]BMS-843496 is a potent PDE10A inhibitor with a binding affinity (KD) of 0.15 nM and a functional selectivity of >100-fold over other PDE subtypes tested. Specific [(3)H]BMS-843496 binding sites were dominant in the basal ganglia, especially the striatum, with low to moderate binding in the cortical and hippocampal areas, of the mouse and monkey brain. Systemic administration of PDE10 inhibitors produced a dose- and plasma/brain concentration-dependent increase in PDE10A occupancy measured in the striatum. PDE10A occupancy was positively correlated with striatal pCREB expression levels. PDE10A occupancy was also correlated with antipsychotic-like effects measured using the conditioned avoidance response model; a minimum of ∼40% occupancy was typically required to achieve efficacy. In contrast, a clear relationship between PDE10A occupancy and catalepsy scores, a potential extrapyramidal symptom readout in rodent, was not evident.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 8-(pyrid-3-yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines: potent, orally bioavailable corticotropin releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF1) antagonists.

This report describes the syntheses and structure-activity relationships of 8-(substituted pyridyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine corticotropin releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF(1)) receptor antagonists. These CRF(1) receptor antagonists may be potential anxiolytic or antidepressant drugs. This research resulted in the discovery of compound 13-15, which is a potent, selective CRF(1) antagonist (hCRF(1) IC(50) = 6.1 +/- 0.6 nM) with weak affinity for the CRF-binding protein and biogenic amine receptors. This compound also has a good pharmacokinetic profile in dogs. Analogue 13-15 is orally effective in two rat models of anxiety: the defensive withdrawal (situational anxiety) model and the elevated plus maze test. Analogue 13-15 has been advanced to clinical trials.

8-(4-Methoxyphenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines: selective and centrally active corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF1) antagonists.

This report describes the syntheses and structure-activity relationships of 8-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine corticotropin releasing factor receptor-1 (CRF(1)) receptor antagonists. CRF(1) receptor antagonists may be potential anxiolytic or antidepressant drugs. This research culminated in the discovery of analogue 12-3, which is a potent, selective CRF(1) antagonist (hCRF(1) IC(50) = 4.7 +/- 2.0 nM) with weak affinity for the CRF-binding protein and biogenic amine receptors. This compound also has a good pharmacokinetic profile in dogs. Analogue 12-3 is orally effective in two rat models of anxiety: the defensive withdrawal (situational anxiety) model and the elevated plus maze test. Analogue 12-3 has been advanced to clinical trials.

Anxiolytic-like effects of the corticotropin-releasing factor1 (CRF1) antagonist DMP904 [4-(3-pentylamino)-2,7-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-pyrazolo-[1,5-a]-pyrimidine] administered acutely or chronically at doses occupying central CRF1 receptors in rats.

Corticotropin-releasing factor(1) (CRF(1)) antagonists may be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders with fewer side effects compared with classic benzodiazepines. The behavioral effects of DMP904 [4-(3-pentylamino)-2,7-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-pyrazolo-[1,5-a]-pyrimidine] and its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis were related to its levels in plasma and estimated occupancy of central CRF(1) receptors. DMP904 (10-30 mg/kg, p.o.) and alprazolam (10 mg/kg, p.o.) increased time spent in open arms of an elevated-plus maze. In addition, acutely or chronically (14 days) administered DMP904 (1.0-30 mg/kg, p.o.) and acute alprazolam (1.0-3.0 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced exit latency in the defensive withdrawal model of anxiety in rats, suggesting that tolerance may not develop to the anxiolytic-like effects of DMP904 in this model of anxiety. Acutely, DMP904 reversed the stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels in defensive withdrawal at doses of 3.0 mg/kg and higher. These doses also resulted in levels of DMP904 in plasma similar to (for anxiolytic-like effects) or 4-fold higher (for effects on the HPA axis) than the in vitro IC(50) value for binding affinity at CRF(1) receptors and greater than 50% occupancy of CRF(1) receptors. Unlike alprazolam, DMP904 did not produce sedation, ataxia, or chlordiazepoxide-like subjective effects (as measured by locomotor activity, rotorod performance, and chlordiazepoxide discrimination assays, respectively) at doses at least 3-fold higher than anxiolytic-like doses. In conclusion, anxiolytic-like effects and effects on the stress-activated HPA axis of DMP904 in the defensive withdrawal model of anxiety required 50% or greater occupancy of central CRF(1) receptors. This level of CRF(1) receptor occupancy resulted in fewer motoric side effects compared with classic benzodiazepines.