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A new series of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) antagonists were designed and synthesized from N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl-4-carboxamide hydrochloride (8). SAR studies identified (R)-N-(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-quinolyl)-2-[(2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide hydrochloride (ASP8370, 7), as a compound with high aqueous solubility, satisfactory stability in human liver microsomes, and reduced CYP3A4 inhibition. ASP8370 was selected as a clinical development candidate with significant ameliorative effects on neuropathic pain. SAR studies also revealed the structural mechanisms underlying the switching between TRPV1 antagonism and agonism.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is activated by a variety of stimulations, such as endogenous ligands and low pH, and is believed to play a role in pain transmission. TRPV1 antagonists have been reported to be effective in several animal pain models; however, some compounds induce hyperthermia in animals and humans. We discovered the novel TRPV1 antagonist (R)-N-(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-quinolyl)-2-[(2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide (AS1928370) in our laboratory. AS1928370 bound to the resiniferatoxin-binding site on TRPV1 and inhibited capsaicin-mediated inward currents with an IC₅₀ value of 32.5 nM. Although AS1928370 inhibited the capsaicin-induced Ca²(+) flux in human and rat TRPV1-expressing cells, the inhibitory effect on proton-induced Ca²(+) flux was extremely small. In addition, AS1928370 showed no inhibitory effects on transient receptor potential vanilloid 4, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, and transient receptor potential melastatin 8 in concentrations up to 10 μM. AS1928370 improved capsaicin-induced secondary hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in an L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation model in rats with respective ED₅₀ values of 0.17 and 0.26 mg/kg p.o. Furthermore, AS1928370 alleviated inflammatory pain in a complete Freund's adjuvant model at 10 mg/kg p.o. AS1928370 had no effect on rectal body temperature up to 10 mg/kg p.o., although a significant hypothermic effect was noted at 30 mg/kg p.o. In addition, AS1928370 showed no significant effect on motor coordination. These results suggest that blockage of the TRPV1 receptor without affecting the proton-mediated TRPV1 activation is a promising approach to treating neuropathic pain because of the potential wide safety margin against hyperthermic effects. As such, compounds such as ASP1928370 may have potential as new analgesic agents for treating neuropathic pain.

A series of (4,4-difluoro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1-benzazepin-5-ylidene)acetamide derivatives was synthesized, and their structure-activity relationships were examined in order to identify potent and selective arginine vasopressin V(2) receptor agonists. Attempts to substitute other chemical groups in place of the 2-pyridilmethyl moiety of 1a led to the discovery that potent V(2) binding affinity could be obtained with a wide range of functional groups. This structural tolerance allowed for the manipulation of other attributes, such as selectivity against V(1a) receptor affinity or avoidance of the undesirable inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP), without losing potent affinity for the V(2) receptor. Some representative compounds obtained in this study were also found to decrease urine volume in awake rats.

The sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) transports Na+ and Ca2+ ions, and controls the Ca2+ concentration in myocytes. Calcium overload is induced via activation of reverse NCX, and is responsible for reperfusion injury in heart failure. Hence, NCX is an attractive target for prevention and treatment of reperfusion arrhythmias, myocardial contracture, and necrosis. We have synthesized a series of 6-{4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]phenoxy}nicotinamide derivatives, and evaluated their inhibitory activity against the reverse and forward modes of NCX. N-(3-Aminobenzyl)-6-{4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]phenoxy}nicotinamide (8) was shown to be a potent inhibitor of reverse NCX activity, with an IC50 value of 0.24 microM. A QSAR study showed that inhibition of reverse NCX activity by 6-{4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]phenoxy}nicotinamide derivatives is multiply dependent on the hydrophobicity (pi) and the shape (B(iv)) of the substituent at the 3-position of the phenyl ring.

In the context of heart failure and myocardial ischemia reperfusion, the activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger can lead to calcium overload, which in turn can lead to contractile dysfunction and arrhythmia. Therefore, NCX is an attractive target for treatment of heart failure and myocardial ischemia reperfusion. We have designed and synthesized a series of benzyloxyphenyl derivatives as potential NCX inhibitors, based on compound 4. These derivatives have been evaluated for their inhibitory activity against both the reverse and forward modes of NCX, and two novel potent NCX inhibitors (7i, 10a) were discovered. Compound 7i was evaluated for its efficacy on ouabain-induced tonotropy and arrhythmia in a heart-failure model.

Activation of the volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC) is considered to be involved in arrhythmia, but it has not yet been fully elucidated because of the lack of its high affinitive and selective compounds. A newly synthesized compound, YM-198313 (sodium 4-({[2-(methylthio)benzyl]amino}-5-[(1-phenylethyl)thio]isothiazol-3-olate), strongly inhibited VRAC in HeLa cells with an IC50 of 3.03+/-0.05 microM. However, YM-198313 weakly affected both the Ca2+-activated Cl- channels in HTC cells and the cAMP-activated Cl- channels in T84 cells, demonstrating that this compound is selective for VRAC among Cl- channels. At 10 microM, YM-198313 almost completely (100+/-7.8%) inhibited the VRAC current in guinea pig atrial myocytes. However, at the same concentration, YM-198313 showed little inhibitory effect on the cardiac cation currents in ventricular myocytes. We believe that YM-198313 is a potent and selective VRAC inhibitor, therefore, it should be use to clarify the role VRAC plays in arrhythmia.

In the setting of heart failure and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) can lead to calcium overload, which is responsible for contractile dysfunction and arrhythmia. NCX is an attractive target for treatment in heart failure and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. We have designed and synthesized a series of benzyloxyphenyl derivatives based on compound 3. These derivatives have been evaluated for their inhibitory activity against both the reverse and forward modes of NCX. We have discovered a novel potent and selective reverse NCX inhibitor (12) with an IC50 value of 0.085 microM against reverse NCX.

The sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) is known as the transporter that controls the concentration of Ca2+ in cardiac myocytes. In the setting of heart failure and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, NCX underlies an arrhythmogenic transient inward current responsible for delayed after––depolarizations and nonreentrant initiation of ventricular tachycardia. NCX is an attractive target for treatment in heart failure and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. We have designed and synthesized a series of phenoxypyridine derivatives, based on compound 3. These derivatives have been evaluated for their inhibitory activity against both the reverse and forward mode of NCX in CCL39 cells. We have discovered several novel potent NCX inhibitors (39q, 48k), which have a high selectivity for reverse NCX inhibitory activity.

Factor Xa (FXa) is a serine protease which plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade. The inhibition of FXa has received great interest as a potential target for the development of new antithrombotic drug. Herein we describe a series of novel 7-amidino-2-naphthoanilide and 7-amidino-2-naphthalensulfonanilide derivatives which are potent FXa inhibitors. These scaffolds are rigid and are allowed to adopt an L-shape conformation which was estimated as the active conformation based on a docking study of YM-60828 with FXa. Optimization of the side chain at the central aniline nitrogen of 7-amidino-2-naphthoanilide has led to several potent and orally active FXa inhibitors. 5h (YM-169964), the best compound of these series, showed potent FXa inhibitory activity (IC 50 =3.9 nM) and effectively prolonged prothrombin time by 9.6-fold ex vivo at an oral dose of 3 mg/kg in squirrel monkeys.

Enantioselective synthesis of the unnatural antipode of cordiaquinone B possesing a 3-substituted 2,3,4-trimethylcyclohexanone framework was accomplished starting with (4 S , 5 S )-4-methyl-5-trimethylsilyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one. By this synthesis, the absolute structure of (+)-cordiaquinone B has been established.

Enantioselective synthesis of the unnatural antipode of cordiaquinone B possesing a 3-substituted 2,3,4-trimethylcyclohexanone framework was accomplished starting with (4 S , 5 S )-4-methyl-5-trimethylsilyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one. By this synthesis, the absolute structure of (+)-cordiaquinone B has been established.

The present work describes the discovery of novel series of (4,4-difluoro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1-benzazepine-5-ylidene)acetamide derivatives as arginine vasopressin (AVP) V(2) receptor agonists. By replacing the amide juncture in YM-35278 with a direct ring connection gave compound 10a, which acts as a V(2) receptor agonist. These studies provided the potent, orally active non-peptidic V(2) receptor agonists 10a and 10j.

Ca(2+) overload in myocardial cells is responsible for arrhythmia. Sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) inhibitors are more effective than sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) inhibitors with regard to modulation of Ca(2+) overload, because NCX inhibitors can directly inhibit the influx of Ca(2+) into cells. NCX is an attractive target for the treatment of heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion. We have designed and synthesized a series of N-(2-aminopyridin-4-ylmethyl)nicotinamide derivatives, based on compound 5. We have discovered a novel NCX inhibitor (23 h) with an IC(50) value of 0.12 microM against reverse NCX. The inhibitory activities of our NCX inhibitors against cytochrome P450 were also evaluated. The effects on heart failure and the pharmacokinetic profile of compound 23 h are discussed.

Cyclization of 3-benzoyl-2-cyanobutyronitrile to 2-amino-4-methyl-5-phenylfuran-3-carbonitrile was effected under acidic conditions, rather than the basic conditions previously reported. Since treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at room temperature is very mild, 2-amino-4-methyl-5-phenylfuran-3-carbonitriles containing various functional groups can be accessed via this route.