Francis A. Mennona

Pentadienyl carboxamide derivatives as antagonists of platelet activating factor

A series of N-[4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-5,5-disubstituted-pentadienamides was prepared and evaluated for PAF-antagonist activity. Compounds were assayed in vitro in a PAF-binding assay employing washed, whole dog platelets as the receptor source and in vivo after intravenous or oral administration for their ability to prevent PAF-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. Criteria required for good oral activity in the latter model include an (E,-E)-5-phenyl-2,4-pentadienamide, a second phenyl or a four- or five-carbon alkyl moiety in the 5-position of the diene, and an (R)-[1-alkyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl] substituent on the carboxamide nitrogen atom. The alkyl substituent on this side chain can be methyl, ethyl, or cyclopropyl. Two members of this series, [R-(E)]-5,5-bis(4-methoxy-phenyl)-N- [1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]- 2,4-pentadienamide (31) and [R-(E,E)]-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-[1-methyl-4- (3-pyridinyl)butyl]-2,4-decadienamide (58), were selected for further pharmacological evaluation. Both were found to be substantially longer acting after oral administration than the corresponding S enantiomers in the guinea pig bronchoconstriction assay. A second in vivo model used to evaluate PAF antagonists determines the ability of test compounds to decrease the area of skin wheals induced by an intradermal injection of PAF. In this model, using both rats and guinea pigs, compounds 31 and 58 were found to be as active as the reference PAF antagonist 3-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H- 1-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propanone (45).

N-Benzylpyroglutamyl-l-phenylalanine derivatives as VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists

A series of N-(N-benzylpyroglutamyl)-4-substituted-L-phenylalanine derivatives was prepared as VLA-4/VCAM antagonists. Analogues substituted by electron deficient benzoylamino groups bearing bulky ortho substituents had low-nM potency in an ELISA assay and low-microM activity in a cell based assay.

Potent, selective MCH-1 receptor antagonists.

This paper describes the lead optimization of a new series of potent, selective, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrant MCH-1 receptor antagonists. A major focus of the work was to achieve a selectivity profile appropriate for in vivo efficacy studies and safety.

Identification of RO4597014, a Glucokinase Activator Studied in the Clinic for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

To resolve the metabolite redox cycling associated with our earlier clinical compound 2, we carried out lead optimization of lead molecule 1. Compound 4 showed improved lipophilic ligand efficiency and demonstrated robust glucose lowering in diet-induced obese mice without a liability in predictive preclinical drug safety studies. Thus, it was selected as a clinical candidate and further studied in type 2 diabetic patients. Clinical data suggests no evidence of metabolite cycling, which is consistent with the preclinical profiling of metabolism.