Dianna Lester-Zeiner

Identification of potent, noncovalent fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors.

Starting from a series of ureas that were determined to be mechanism-based inhibitors of FAAH, several spirocyclic ureas and lactams were designed and synthesized. These efforts identified a series of novel, noncovalent FAAH inhibitors with in vitro potency comparable to known covalent FAAH inhibitors. The mechanism of action for these compounds was determined through a combination of SAR and co-crystallography with rat FAAH.

Rapid identification of a novel small molecule phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) tracer.

A radiolabeled tracer for imaging therapeutic targets in the brain is a valuable tool for lead optimization in CNS drug discovery and for dose selection in clinical development. We report the rapid identification of a novel phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) tracer candidate using a LC-MS/MS technology. This structurally distinct PDE10A tracer, AMG-7980 (5), has been shown to have good uptake in the striatum (1.2% ID/g tissue), high specificity (striatum/thalamus ratio of 10), and saturable binding in vivo. The PDE10A affinity (K(D)) and PDE10A target density (B(max)) were determined to be 0.94 nM and 2.3 pmol/mg protein, respectively, using [(3)H]5 on rat striatum homogenate. Autoradiography on rat brain sections indicated that the tracer signal was consistent with known PDE10A expression pattern. The specific binding of [(3)H]5 to rat brain was blocked by another structurally distinct, published PDE10A inhibitor, MP-10. Lastly, our tracer was used to measure in vivo PDE10A target occupancy of a PDE10A inhibitor in rats using LC-MS/MS technology.

Discovery of clinical candidate 1-(4-(3-(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbonyl)phenoxy)pyrazin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone (AMG 579), a potent, selective, and efficacious inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A).

We report the identification of a PDE10A clinical candidate by optimizing potency and in vivo efficacy of promising keto-benzimidazole leads 1 and 2. Significant increase in biochemical potency was observed when the saturated rings on morpholine 1 and N-acetyl piperazine 2 were changed by a single atom to tetrahydropyran 3 and N-acetyl piperidine 5. A second single atom modification from pyrazines 3 and 5 to pyridines 4 and 6 improved the inhibitory activity of 4 but not 6. In the in vivo LC-MS/MS target occupancy (TO) study at 10 mg/kg, 3, 5, and 6 achieved 86-91% occupancy of PDE10A in the brain. Furthermore, both CNS TO and efficacy in PCP-LMA behavioral model were observed in a dose dependent manner. With superior in vivo TO, in vivo efficacy and in vivo PK profiles in multiple preclinical species, compound 5 (AMG 579) was advanced as our PDE10A clinical candidate.

Design, Optimization, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Keto-Benzimidazoles as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A).

Our development of PDE10A inhibitors began with an HTS screening hit (1) that exhibited both high p-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux ratios in rat and human and poor metabolic stability. On the basis of cocrystal structure of 1 in human PDE10A enzyme, we designed a novel keto-benzimidazole 26 with comparable PDE10A potency devoid of efflux liabilities. On target in vivo coverage of PDE10A in rat brain was assessed using our previously reported LC-MS/MS receptor occupancy (RO) technology. Compound 26 achieved 55% RO of PDE10A at 30 mg/kg po and covered PDE10A receptors in rat brain in a dose-dependent manner. Cocrystal structure of 26 in PDE10A confirmed the binding mode of the novel scaffold. Further optimization resulted in the identification of keto-benzimidazole 34, which showed an increased in vivo efficacy of 57% RO in rats at 10 mg/kg po and an improved in vivo rat clearance and oral bioavailability.

Aryl sulfones as novel Bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists for treatment of chronic pain

We report the development of aryl sulfones as Bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists. Variation of the linker region identified diol 23 as a potent B1 antagonist, while modifications of the aryl moiety led to compound 26, both of which were efficacious in rabbit biochemical challenge and pain models.

AMG 580: A Novel Small Molecule Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) Positron Emission Tomography Tracer

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors have therapeutic potential for the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disorders, such as schizophrenia and Huntington’s disease. One of the key requirements for successful central nervous system drug development is to demonstrate target coverage of therapeutic candidates in brain for lead optimization in the drug discovery phase and for assisting dose selection in clinical development. Therefore, we identified AMG 580 [1-(4-(3-(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbonyl)phenoxy)pyrazin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-fluoropropan-1-one], a novel, selective small-molecule antagonist with subnanomolar affinity for rat, primate, and human PDE10A. We showed that AMG 580 is suitable as a tracer for lead optimization to determine target coverage by novel PDE10A inhibitors using triple-stage quadrupole liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry technology. [3H]AMG 580 bound with high affinity in a specific and saturable manner to both striatal homogenates and brain slices from rats, baboons, and human in vitro. Moreover, [18F]AMG 580 demonstrated prominent uptake by positron emission tomography in rats, suggesting that radiolabeled AMG 580 may be suitable for further development as a noninvasive radiotracer for target coverage measurements in clinical studies. These results indicate that AMG 580 is a potential imaging biomarker for mapping PDE10A distribution and ensuring target coverage by therapeutic PDE10A inhibitors in clinical studies.

Discovery of Novel Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A).

We report the discovery of novel imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines as potent and selective inhibitors of PDE10A. The investigation began with our recently disclosed ketobenzimidazole 1, which exhibited single digit nanomolar PDE10A activity but poor oral bioavailability. To improve oral bioavailability, we turned to novel scaffold imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine 2, which not only retained nanomolar PDE10A activity but was also devoid of the morpholine metabolic liability. Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted systematically to examine how various regions of the molecule impacted potency. X-ray cocrystal structures of compounds 7 and 24 in human PDE10A helped to elucidate the key bonding interactions. Five of the most potent and structurally diverse imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines (4, 7, 12b, 24a, and 24b) with PDE10A IC50 values ranging from 0.8 to 6.7 nM were advanced into receptor occupancy studies. Four of them (4, 12b, 24a, and 24b) achieved 55-74% RO at 10 mg/kg po.

Aryl sulfonamides containing tetralin allylic amines as potent and selective bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists.

The bradykinin B1 receptor has been shown to mediate pain response and is rapidly induced upon injury. Blocking this receptor may provide a promising treatment for inflammation and pain. We previously reported tetralin benzyl amines as potent B1 antagonists. Here we describe the synthesis and SAR of B1 receptor antagonists with homobenzylic amines. The SAR of different linkers led to the discovery of tetralin allylic amines as potent and selective B1 receptor antagonists (hB1 IC(50)=1.3 nM for compound 16). Some of these compounds showed modest oral bioavailability in rats.

Discovery of Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) PET Tracer AMG 580 to Support Clinical Studies.

We report the discovery of PDE10A PET tracer AMG 580 developed to support proof of concept studies with PDE10A inhibitors in the clinic. To find a tracer with higher binding potential (BPND) in NHP than our previously reported tracer 1, we implemented a surface plasmon resonance assay to measure the binding off-rate to identify candidates with slower washout rate in vivo. Five candidates (2-6) from two structurally distinct scaffolds were identified that possessed both the in vitro characteristics that would favor central penetration and the structural features necessary for PET isotope radiolabeling. Two cinnolines (2, 3) and one keto-benzimidazole (5) exhibited PDE10A target specificity and brain uptake comparable to or better than 1 in the in vivo LC-MS/MS kinetics distribution study in SD rats. In NHP PET imaging study, [(18)F]-5 produced a significantly improved BPND of 3.1 and was nominated as PDE10A PET tracer clinical candidate for further studies.