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The third in this series of papers describes our further progress into the discovery of a potent and selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist for the potential treatment of diseases in which a pathophysiological role for endothelin has been implicated. These include hypertension, ischemic diseases, and atherosclerosis. In earlier publications we have outlined the discovery and structure-activity relations of two moderately potent series of nonpeptide ETA receptor antagonists. In this paper, we describe how a pharmacophore model for ETA receptor binding was developed which enabled these two series of compounds to be merged into a single class of 4-phenoxybutanoic acid derivatives. The subsequent optimization of in vitro activity against the ETA receptor led to the discovery of (R)-4-[2-cyano-5-(3-pyridylmethoxy)phenoxy]-4-(2-methylphenyl)b utanoi c acid (12m). This compound exhibits low-nanomolar binding to the ETA receptor and a greater than 1000-fold selectivity over the ETB receptor. Data are presented to demonstrate that 12m is orally bioavailable in the rat and is a functional antagonist in vitro and in vivo of ET-1-induced vasoconstriction.

This publication describes the synthesis and optimization of a novel series of stilbene endothelin antagonists. Analysis of the SAR established for previous papers in this series prompted the design and synthesis of (Z)-4-phenyl-5-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)pent-4-enoic acid 3 which was found to be a moderately active inhibitor of the binding of [125I]ET-1 to ETA receptors with an IC50 of 6 microM. More interestingly, the intermediate compound (E)-2-phenyl-3-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)propenoic acid 5 was equiactive with 3. Optimization of 5 resulted in the preparation of (E)-2-phenyl-3-(2-cyano-5-(thien-3-ylmethoxy))phenylprope noic acid 18 (RPR111723) which had an IC50 in the binding assay of 80 nM on the ETA receptor and a pKB of 6.5 in the functional assay, measured on rat aortic strips. Reduction of the acid group of 5 gave the first nonacidic ETA antagonist in our series, (E)-2-phenyl-3-(3-benzyloxyphenoxy)prop2-enol 6 with an IC50 of 20 microM. Optimization of 6 resulted in the preparation of 2-(2-methylphenyl)-3-(2-cyano-5-(thien-3-ylmethyl)phenyl)pro p-2-enol 33 with an IC50 of 300 nM on the ETA receptor.

Summary The second in this series of papers describes the further progress made in the discovery of a potent and selective endothelin ETA receptor antagonist for the potential treatment of diseases in which endothelin has been shown to have a pathophysiological role including hypertension, ischaemic diseases and atherosclerosis. We describe herein the synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a novel series of 5-ketopentanoic acid derivatives exemplified by the lead compound 1 (IC50 0.72 μM, rat aortic ETAR). Optimisation of the in vitro binding of 1 led to the identification of a more potent compound (37) which exhibited an IC50 300-fold selectivity for the ETA receptor over the ETB receptor. This compound demonstrated functional antagonism of endothelin-induced vasoconstriction in vitro.

Summary This paper describes the discovery of a new non-peptide endothelin A (ETA) selective ligand, 2,4-dibenzyloxybenzoic acid 3, which inhibits the binding of [125I]ET-1 to ETA receptors with an IC50 of 9 μM (ET-1 = endothelin-1). Optimisation of 3 resulted in compound 52 which had an IC50 of 1 μM. One of the analogues of 3, compound 15, was examined in a functional assay and shown to antagonise ET-1-induced contraction of rat aorta. The identification of 3 was made through the application of ChemDBS-3D searching of our corporate database. The 3D query, using an aromatic ring to a carboxylic acid group separated by 10.2 ± 1.1 A, was derived from an examination of common pharmacophoric distances found in the low energy conformations of two known ETA antagonists, the cyclic pentapeptide BQ 123 1 and myriceron caffeoyl ester 2.

A series of phenylguanidines which bind to the C5a receptor has been developed. The lead compound 1 (IC50=30μM), discovered through random screening, has been modified to provide 32 (RPR121154) with submicromolar activity. This compound was shown to further elicit functional antagonism in a human neutrophil C5a stimulated respiratory burst assay.

A series of phenylguanidines which bind to the C5a receptor has been developed. The lead compound 1 (IC50=30μM), discovered through random screening, has been modified to provide 32 (RPR121154) with submicromolar activity. This compound was shown to further elicit functional antagonism in a human neutrophil C5a stimulated respiratory burst assay.

The second in this series of papers concerns our further investigations into the search for a potent bioavailable acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor suitable for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship for a series of ACAT inhibitors based on the 2-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole pharmacophore are described. Compounds such as 13a bearing simple alkyl or hydroxymethyl substituents at the 5-position of the 1,3-dioxane ring are potent bioavailable inhibitors of the rat hepatic microsomal enzyme in vitro (IC50100 nM) but are only weak inhibitors of the human hepatic enzyme. We have found however that 1,3-dioxanes substituted at the 5-cis position with pyrazolylalkyl or aminoalkyl groups are potent inhibitors in vitro of human macrophage ACAT, the potency depending on the nature of the terminal heterocycle and the length of the alkyl chain. An ex vivo bioassay herein demonstrates that potent inhibitors such as 13t (IC50 = 10 nM) which contain lipophilic terminal heterocycles do not appear to be systematically available. Less potent but more water soluble compounds such as 13h (IC50 = 60 nM) and 13n (IC50 = 70 nM) are absorbed following oral dosing and achieve plasma levels significantly in excess of their IC50 for ACAT inhibition. These compounds are therefore possible candidates for further investigation as oral antiatherosclerotic agents.