Ralf Heim

In Vivo Active Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors with Improved Selectivity: Lead Optimization Providing a Series of Pyridine Substituted 3,4-Dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one Derivatives

Pyridine substituted naphthalenes (e.g., I-III) constitute a class of potent inhibitors of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). To overcome the unwanted inhibition of the hepatic enzyme CYP1A2, we aimed at reducing the number of aromatic carbons of these molecules because aromaticity has previously been identified to correlate positively with CYP1A2 inhibition. As hypothesized, inhibitors with a tetrahydronaphthalene type molecular scaffold (1-11) exhibit a decreased CYP1A2 inhibition. However, tetralone 9 turned out to be cytotoxic to the human cell line U-937 at higher concentrations. Consequent structural optimization culminated in the discovery of heteroaryl substituted 3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-ones (12-26), with 12, a bioisostere of 9, being nontoxic up to 200 microM. The investigated molecules are highly selective toward both CYP1A2 and a wide range of other cytochrome P450 enzymes and show a good pharmacokinetic profile in vivo (e.g., 12 with a peroral bioavailability of 71%). Furthermore, isoquinoline derivative 21 proved to significantly reduce plasma aldosterone levels of ACTH stimulated rats.

Novel Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors with Extended Carbocyclic Skeleton by a Combined Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Drug Design Approach

Pharmacophore modeling of a series of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitors triggered the design of compounds 11 and 12 by extending a previously established naphthalene molecular scaffold (e.g., present in molecules 1 and 2) via introduction of a phenyl or benzyl residue in 3-position. These additional aromatic moieties have been hypothesized to fit into the newly identified hydrophobic pharmacophore feature HY3. Subsequent docking studies in our refined CYP11B2 protein model have been performed prior to synthesis to estimate the inhibitory properties of the proposed molecules. While phenyl-substituted compound 11 (IC50 > 500 nM) did not dock under the given pharmacophore constraint (i.e., the Fe(heme)-N(ligand) interaction), benzyl-substituted compound 12 (IC50 = 154 nM) was found to exploit a previously unexplored subpocket of the inhibitor binding site. By structural optimization based on the pharmacophore hypothesis, 25 novel compounds were synthesized, among them highly potent CYP11B2 inhibitors (e.g., 17, IC50 = 2.7 nM) with pronounced selectivity toward the most important steroidogenic and hepatic CYP enzymes.

Overcoming Undesirable CYP1A2 Inhibition of Pyridylnaphthalene-Type Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors: Influence of Heteroaryl Derivatization on Potency and Selectivity

Recently, we reported on the development of potent and selective inhibitors of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) for the treatment of congestive heart failure and myocardial fibrosis. A major drawback of these nonsteroidal compounds was a strong inhibition of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP1A2. In the present study, we examined the influence of substituents in the heterocycle of lead structures with a naphthalene molecular scaffold to overcome this unwanted side effect. With respect to CYP11B2 inhibition, some substituents induced a dramatic increase in inhibitory potency. The methoxyalkyl derivatives 22 and 26 are the most potent CYP11B2 inhibitors up to now (IC50 = 0.2 nM). Most compounds also clearly discriminated between CYP11B2 and CYP11B1, and the CYP1A2 potency significantly decreased in some cases (e.g., isoquinoline derivative 30 displayed only 6% CYP1A2 inhibition at 2 microM concentration). Furthermore, isoquinoline derivative 28 proved to be capable of passing the gastrointestinal tract and reached the general circulation after peroral administration to male Wistar rats.

Fine-tuning the selectivity of aldosterone synthase inhibitors: structure-activity and structure-selectivity insights from studies of heteroaryl substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-4-one derivatives.

Pyridine substituted 3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-ones (e.g., 1-3) constitute a class of highly potent and selective inhibitors of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), a promising target for the treatment of hyperaldosteronism, congestive heart failure, and myocardial fibrosis. Among these, ethyl-substituted 3 possesses high selectivity against CYP1A2. Rigidification of 3 by incorporation of the ethyl group into a 5- or 6-membered ring affords compounds with a pyrroloquinolinone or pyridoquinolinone molecular scaffold (e.g., 4 and 5). It was found that these molecules are even more potent and selective CYP11B2 inhibitors than their corresponding open-chain analogues. Moreover, pyrroloquinolinone 4 exhibits no inhibition of the six most important hepatic CYP enzymes as well as a bioavailability in the range of the marketed drug fadrozole. The SAR studies disclose that subtle changes in the heterocyclic moiety are responsible for either a strong or a weak inhibition of the highly homologous 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1). These results are not only important for fine-tuning the selectivity of CYP11B2 inhibitors but also for the development of selective CYP11B1 inhibitors that are of interest for the treatment of Cushings syndrome and metabolic syndrome.

1-Phenylsulfinyl-3-(pyridin-3-yl)naphthalen-2-ols: A new class of potent and selective aldosterone synthase inhibitors

1-Phenylsulfinyl-3-(pyridin-3-yl)naphthalen-2-ols and related compounds were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), a potential target for cardiovascular diseases associated with elevated plasma aldosterone levels like congestive heart failure and myocardial fibrosis. Introduction of substituents at the phenylsulfinyl moiety and changes of the substitution pattern at the naphthalene core were examined. Potent compounds were further examined for selectivity versus other important steroidogenic CYP enzymes, i.e. the highly homologous 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), CYP17 and CYP19. The most potent compound (IC50 = 14 nM) discovered was the meta-trifluoromethoxy derivative 11, which also exhibited excellent selectivity toward CYP11B1 (SF = 415), and showed no inhibition of CYP17 and CYP19.