Joachim Mittendorf

Discovery of BAY 94‐8862: A Nonsteroidal Antagonist of the Mineralocorticoid Receptor for the Treatment of Cardiorenal Diseases

Aldosterone is a hormone that exerts manifold deleterious effects on the kidneys, blood vessels, and heart which can lead to pathophysiological consequences. Inhibition of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a proven therapeutic concept for the management of associated diseases. Use of the currently marketed MR antagonists spironolactone and eplerenone is restricted, however, due to a lack of selectivity in spironolactone and the lower potency and efficacy of eplerenone. Several pharmaceutical companies have implemented programs to identify drugs that overcome the known liabilities of steroidal MR antagonists. Herein we disclose an extended SAR exploration starting from cyano‐1,4‐dihydropyridines that were identified by high‐throughput screening. Our efforts led to the identification of a dihydronaphthyridine, BAY 94‐8862, which is a potent, selective, and orally available nonsteroidal MR antagonist currently under investigation in a clinical phase II trial.

The Chemistry and Biology of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulators and Activators

The vasodilatory properties of nitric oxide (NO) have been utilized in pharmacotherapy for more than 130 years. Still today, NO-donor drugs are important in the management of cardiovascular diseases. However, inhaled NO or drugs releasing NO and organic nitrates are associated with noteworthy therapeutic shortcomings, including resistance to NO in some disease states, the development of tolerance during long-term treatment, and nonspecific effects, such as post-translational modification of proteins. The beneficial actions of NO are mediated by stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), a heme-containing enzyme which produces the intracellular signaling molecule cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Recently, two classes of compounds have been discovered that amplify the function of sGC in a NO-independent manner, the so-called sGC stimulators and sGC activators. The most advanced drug, the sGC stimulator riociguat, has successfully undergone Phase III clinical trials for different forms of pulmonary hypertension.

Identification of acidic heterocycle-substituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines as soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators.

Novel guanylate cyclase stimulators are disclosed. Design, synthesis, SAR, and pharmacological profile of the compounds are discussed.