Discovery of piperazin-1-ylpyridazine-based potent and selective stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 inhibitors for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome

J Med Chem. 2013 Jan 24;56(2):568-83. doi: 10.1021/jm301661h. Epub 2013 Jan 7.

Abstract

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) catalyzes de novo synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids from saturated fatty acids. Studies have demonstrated that rodents lacking a functional SCD1 gene have an improved metabolic profile, including reduced weight gain, lower triglycerides, and improved insulin response. In this study, we discovered a series of piperazinylpyridazine-based highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable compounds. Particularly, compound 49 (XEN103) was highly active in vitro (mSCD1 IC(50) = 14 nM and HepG2 IC(50) = 12 nM) and efficacious in vivo (ED(50) = 0.8 mg/kg). It also demonstrated striking reduction of weight gain in a rodent model. Our findings with small-molecule SCD1 inhibitors confirm the importance of this target in metabolic regulation, describe novel models for assessing SCD1 inhibitors for efficacy and tolerability and demonstrate an opportunity to develop a novel therapy for metabolic disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Mice
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Piperazines / chemistry
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Pyridazines / chemistry
  • Pyridazines / pharmacology
  • Pyridazines / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Zucker
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Pyridazines
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase