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R. D. Gogliotti et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 26 (2016) 2915–2919
potent (human and rat mGlu4 EC50s of 64.6 nM and 46.6 nM,
respectively) and also possessed favorable physicochemical prop-
erties (MW = 396, cLogP = 2.27 and TPSA = 103). However, before
locking into these two novel mGlu4 PAMs for more detailed
characterization, we wanted to fully evaluate other SAR within this
series of mGlu4 PAMs.
As the 3-aminopicolinamide moiety afforded potent mGlu4
PAMs, we then surveyed the activity of the corresponding
3-hydroxypicolinamide analog of 17a, 18 (Fig. 3). Compound 18
(mGlu4 EC50 = 125 nM, 115.4% Glu Max) proved to be of compara-
ble potency to 17a, but offered no advantage in terms of physio-
chemical properties. Then, in the context of 17t, we surveyed
alternative heteroaromatic amino amides, and found that the ison-
icotinamide derivative, 19, was devoid of mGlu4 PAM activity
O
O
Cl
O
S
O
O
N
H
N
N
Cl
N
H
N
H
Cl
1
2
, VU0364439
, VU0361737 (ML128)
O
N
H
N
O
O
O
N
N
O
Cl
N
H
Cl
N
H
Cl
3
4
, VU0366037
, VU0400195 (ML182)
(EC50 > 10
lM), while
a
pyrazine analog, 20, was active
(EC50 = 296 nM, 103.9% Glu Max), but lost ꢀ5-fold relative to 17t.
Therefore, we advanced both 17a and 17t in a battery of in vitro
and in vivo DMPK assays.11–16
For in vivo tool compounds, the in vitro and in vivo DMPK pro-
files of both 17a (VU0477886) and 17t (VU0483872) were attrac-
tive. PAM 17a displayed moderate intrinsic clearance in both rat
and human microsomes (CLHEP 51 mL/min/kg and 5.8 mL/min/kg,
respectively), limited free fraction (Fu (h, r) of 0.007 and 0.003)
H
F
N
O
N
N
Cl
N
H
N
H
Cl
N
6
5
, VU0418506
, VU0364770 (ML292)
Figure 1. Structures of picolinamide-based mGlu4 PAMs (1–5), and the first
preclinical candidate, VU0418506 (6).
and
IC50s > 30
a
mixed cytochrome P450 profile (3A4, 2D6 and 1A2
M, 2C9 IC50 = 7.2 M). In Sprague Dawley (SD) rats,
l
l
17a was a low clearance compound (CLP = 3.98 mL/min/kg) with
a low volume (Vss = 0.85 L/kg) and a 3.7 h half-life. In a rat
plasma:brain level (PBL) cassette study (0.25 mg/kg, 0.25 h, IV),
17a effectively partitioned into the CNS (Kp = 1.31) and was not a
human P-gp substrate (efflux ratio = 1.2). Similarly, PAM 17t dis-
played moderate to high intrinsic clearance in both rat and human
microsomes (CLHEP 46.1 mL/min/kg and 17.71 mL/min/kg, respec-
tively), limited free fraction (Fu (h, r) of 0.004 and 0.004) and a
have all previously been described11–15 and were available as func-
tionalized anilines 16a–d (Scheme 1).
The SAR for analogs 17 (Table 1) represented a departure from
simple picolinamides 1–5 or the pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine head
group of 6, displaying a steep phenotype. Phthalimides, such as
17a and 17d, displayed good PAM activity, as did certain isoin-
dolinones, such as 17e and 17h. However, electronics played a
key role in activity, as an electron-rich isoindolinone, 17h, pos-
sessed an EC50 of 319 nM, whereas an electron-deficient congener,
mixed cytochrome P450 profile (2C9 2D6 IC50s > 30
lM, 1A2
IC50 = 2.6 M and 3A4 IC50 = 21.1 M). In SD rats, 17t was a low
l
l
17g, was devoid of PAM activity (EC50 > 10 lM). This proved to be a
clearance compound (CLP = 13.7 mL/min/kg) with a uniform vol-
ume (Vss = 0.86 L/kg) and a 1.5 h half-life. In a rat PBL cassette
study (0.25 mg/kg, 0.25 h, IV) 17t displayed moderate partitioning
into the CNS (Kp = 0.36) and was not a human P-gp substrate
(efflux ratio = 1.9). Both 17a and 17t displayed excellent selectivity
versus the other mGlu receptors. Thus, both new PAMs possessed
acceptable profiles to advance into our standard rodent pharmaco-
dynamic model for Parkinson’s disease (PD), reversal of haloperi-
dol-induced catalepsy (HIC).11–16
PAM 17a (VU0477886) was evaluated first via an oral route of
administration in the HIC model (Fig. 4), and compared side-by-
side with the preclinical candidate, 6 (VU0418506). In this study,
a 1 mg/kg p.o. dose of 17a, proved to be as efficacious as 6 in
reversing a robust 1.5 mg/kg dose of haloperidol. As our previous
PBL study was IV, we also collected plasma and brain samples from
general trend (F and CN also devoid of PAM activity). Lactams 17j–s
also displayed a range of mGlu4 PAM activity, from inactive to
758 nM, driven mainly by lipophilicity and steric bulk. Here, only
two analogs, 17a, a phthalimide congener, and 17t, an ether deriva-
tive, displayed potency (EC50s below 100 nM) comparable to the
clinical candidate, 6. The unsubstituted phthalimide 17a was
potent at both human and rat mGlu4 (EC50s of 94.5 nM and
128 nM, respectively), and possessed attractive physicochemical
properties (MW = 392, cLogP = 2.52 and TPSA = 105 Å2). Similarly,
the chemically distinct, pyrimidinyl ether 17t was even more
H
N
NH2
N
O
F
N
Cl
N
H
Cl
N
H
N
R
R
NH2
O
7
, EC50 = 578 nM
6
, EC50 = 67 nM
a
N
H
Cl
H2N
Cl
N
Cl
O
O
F
O
Br
O
16
17
N
H
N
H
N
N
H
H
N
N
10
N
N
R1
8
9
11
R1
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Het
N
N
n
Cl
Br
F3C
N
H2N
Cl
N
H
N
O
N
H2N
Cl
H2N
Cl
H
H
H
N
N
N
N
16a
16b
16c
12
13
14
15
Figure 2. Structures of the lone 3-aminopicolinamide mGlu4 PAM (7), and a diverse
array of inactive functionalized picolinamide head groups 8–15 (inset).
Scheme 1. Preparation of analogs 17. Reagents and conditions: (a) 3-aminopicolinic
acid or 3-hydroxypicolinic acid, HATU, DIEA, DCM:DMF, rt, 24 h, 65–90%.17