Gregory Martin Benson

Optimization of a novel class of benzimidazole-based farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists to improve physicochemical and ADME properties

Structure-guided lead optimization of recently described benzimidazolyl acetamides addressed the key liabilities of the previous lead compound 1. These efforts culminated in the discovery of 4-{(S)-2-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-5,6-difluoro-benzoimidazol-1-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-acetylamino}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid 7g, a highly potent and selective FXR agonist with excellent physicochemical and ADME properties and potent lipid lowering activity after oral administration to LDL receptor deficient mice.

Discovery of novel and orally active FXR agonists for the potential treatment of dyslipidemia & diabetes

Herein we describe the synthesis and structure activity relationship of a new class of FXR agonists identified from a high-throughput screening campaign. Further optimization of the original hits led to molecules that were highly active in an LDL-receptor KO model for dyslipidemia. The most promising candidate is discussed in more detail.

Identification of an N-oxide pyridine GW4064 analog as a potent FXR agonist.

According to the docking studies and the analysis of a co-crystal structure of GW4064 with FXR, a series of 3-aryl heterocyclic isoxazole analogs were designed and synthesized. N-Oxide pyridine analog (7b) was identified as a promising FXR agonist with potent binding affinity and good efficacy, supporting our hypothesis that through an additional hydrogen bond interaction between the pyridine substituent of isoxazole analogs and Tyr373 and Ser336 of FXR, binding affinity and functional activity could be improved.