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Introduction Three studies evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CK-2127107 (CK-107), a next-generation fast skeletal muscle troponin activator (FSTA), in healthy participants. We tested the hypothesis that CK-107 would amplify the force-frequency response of muscle in humans. Methods To assess the force-frequency response, participants received single doses of CK-107 and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, 4-period, crossover study. The force-frequency response of foot dorsiflexion following stimulation of the deep fibular nerve to activate the tibialis anterior muscle was assessed. Results CK-107 significantly increased tibialis anterior muscle response with increasing dose and plasma concentration in a frequency-dependent manner; the largest increase in peak force was ∼60% at 10 Hz. Discussion CK-107 appears more potent and produced larger increases in force than tirasemtiv-a first-generation FSTA-in a similar pharmacodynamic study, thereby supporting its development for improvement of muscle function of patients. Muscle Nerve 57: 729-734, 2018.

A series of prolyl-N-isonicotinoyl-(L)-4-aminophenylalanine derivatives substituted at the proline 4-position with cyclic amines was evaluated as VLA-4 antagonists. The ring size and presence or absence of fluorine affected potency and receptor occupancy. The analog with 3,3-difluoropiperidine at the proline 4-position (13) was the most potent compound and had very good duration of receptor occupancy in vitro. The ethyl ester prodrug of 13 demonstrated excellent receptor occupancy after oral dosing in rats.

A series of VLA-4 antagonist were synthesized wherein carboxylic acid was replaced by various acid surrogates. The effect of these acid surrogates toward potency was evaluated in a binding assay. A number of acid surrogates were potent antagonist of VLA-4, albeit significantly less potent than the corresponding carboxylic acid. Heterocyclic acid surrogate, oxadiazolidinone 3, demonstrated an improved pharmacokinetic property when dosed intravenously.

We have identified and synthesized a brain penetrant propanoic acid as an allosteric potentiator of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2. Structure-activity relationship studies directed toward improving the potency, level of potentiation and brain penetration led to the discovery of 8 (EC50=1200 nM, 77% potentiation, 119% brain/plasma in rat, 20 mpk i.p., brain level of 5700 nM).

We have identified and synthesized a series of phenyl-tetrazolyl and 4-thiopyridyl indanones as allosteric potentiators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2. Structure activity relationship studies directed toward improving the potency and level of potentiation, as well as PK properties, led to the discovery of 28 (EC50 = 186 nM), which displayed activity in a rodent model for schizophrenia.

Proton high-resolution magic angle spinning (1H HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy and quantitative histopathology were performed on the same 54 MRI/3D-MRSI-targeted postsurgical prostate tissue samples. Presurgical MRI/3D-MRSI targeted healthy and malignant prostate tissues with an accuracy of 81%. Even in the presence of substantial tissue heterogeneity, distinct 1H HR-MAS spectral patterns were observed for different benign tissue types and prostate cancer. Specifically, healthy glandular tissue was discriminated from prostate cancer based on significantly higher levels of citrate (P = 0.04) and polyamines (P = 0.01), and lower (P = 0.02) levels of the choline-containing compounds choline, phosphocholine (PC), and glycerophosphocholine (GPC). Predominantly stromal tissue lacked both citrate and polyamines, but demonstrated significantly (P = 0.01) lower levels of choline compounds than cancer. In addition, taurine, myo-inositol, and scyllo-inositol were all higher in prostate cancer vs. healthy glandular and stromal tissues. Among cancer samples, larger increases in choline, and decreases in citrate and polyamines (P = 0.05) were observed with more aggressive cancers, and a MIB-1 labeling index correlated (r = 0.62, P = 0.01) with elevated choline. The elucidation of spectral patterns associated with mixtures of different prostate tissue types and cancer grades, and the inclusion of new metabolic markers for prostate cancer may significantly improve the clinical interpretation of in vivo prostate MRSI data. Magn Reson Med 50:944–954, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A series of potent, selective platelet-derived growth factor receptor-family kinase inhibitors was optimized starting from a globally selective lead molecule 4 through structural modifications aimed at improving the physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, as exemplified by 18b. Further clearance reduction via per-methylation of the α-carbons of a solubilizing piperidine nitrogen resulted in advanced leads 22a and 22b. Results from a mouse tumor xenograft, a collagen-induced arthritis model, and a 7 day rat in vivo tolerability study culminated in the selection of compound 22b (AC710) as a preclinical development candidate.

The solution structure of the DNA analogue of the unusually stable r[C(UUCG)G] RNA hairpin, 5'-d[GGA-C(TTCG)GTCC]-3', has been determined by NMR spectroscopy, and its structure has been compared to that of the RNA molecule. The RNA molecule is compact and rigid with a highly structured loop. However, the DNA molecule is much less structured. The DNA hairpin contains a B-form stem of four base pairs. The terminal base pair frays, and the 3'-terminal nucleotides, C11 and C12, are in equilibrium between 2'-endo and 3'-endo conformations. Unlike the RNA loop, the DNA loop contains no syn nucleotides, and there is no evidence for base-base or base-phosphate hydrogen bonding in the loop. The loop is flexible, and reveals no specific internucleotide interactions.

Metabolism and disposition of MGS0028 [(1 R ,2 S ,5 S ,6 S )-2-amino-6-fluoro-4-oxobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid monohydrate], a potent group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, were examined in three preclinical species (Sprague-Dawley rats, beagle dogs, and rhesus monkeys). In rats, MGS0028 was widely distributed and primarily excreted in urine as parent and as a single reductive metabolite, identified as the 4 R -isomer MGS0034 [(1 R ,2 S ,4 R ,5 S ,6 S )-2-amino-6-fluoro-4-hydroxybicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid]. MGS0028 had a low brain to plasma ratio at efficacious doses in rats and was eliminated more slowly in rat brain than in plasma. Exposure increased proportionally (1–10 mg/kg p.o.) in rats, with bioavailability >60% at all doses. However, bioavailability was only ∼20% in monkeys, and MGS0034 was found in relatively high abundance in plasma. In dogs, oral bioavailability was >60%, and the metabolite was not detected. In vitro metabolism was examined in liver subcellular fractions (microsomes and cytosol) from rat, dog, monkey, and human. Reductive metabolism was observed in rat, monkey, and human liver cytosol incubations, but not in dog liver cytosol incubations. No metabolism of MGS0028 was detected in incubations with liver microsomes from any species. Similar to in vivo results, MGS0028 was reduced in cytosol stereospecifically to MGS0034. The rank order of in vitro metabolite formation (monkey ≫ rat ∼ human ≫ dog) was in agreement with in vivo observations in rats, dogs, and monkeys. Based on the observation of species difference in reductive metabolism, rat and monkey were recommended to be the preclinical species for further characterization prior to testing in humans. Finally, allometric scaling predicts that human pharmacokinetic parameters would be acceptable for further development.

We have identified and synthesized a series of biphenyl-carboxylic acid indanones as allosteric potentiators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2. Structure-activity relationship studies directed toward improving the potency and the brain to plasma ratio of the initial lead led to the discovery of 5 and 23 (EC50=111 and 5 nM, respectively).

We have identified and synthesized a series of 4-thiopyridyl acetophenones as positive allosteric potentiators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2. Structure-activity relationship studies directed toward replacement of the tetrazole in the initial lead led to the discovery of 16 (EC(50)=340 nM), which showed improved brain penetration over the initial lead.