Discovery of a Highly Selective β2-Adrenoceptor Agonist with a 2-Amino-2-phenylethanol Scaffold as an Oral Antiasthmatic Agent

J Med Chem. 2022 Apr 14;65(7):5514-5527. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02006. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Abstract

Asthma patients in resource-poor countries cannot obtain adequate basic asthma medications because most asthma medications are supplied as inhalants. An alternative approach is to create oral antiasthmatic drugs with high β21-selectivity, which should reduce treatment costs. In this study, we designed a cohort of compounds 1 using 2-(4-amino-3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-(tert-butylamino)ethan-1-ol hydrogen chloride (1a) as the lead compound with an aim to expand the library of compounds possessing the 2-amino-2-phenylethanol scaffold. Structure-activity relationship studies on these compounds revealed that compounds created showed remarkable β2 selectivity compared to isoproterenol and gave additional insights on the rational design of β2-adrenoceptor agonists. Moreover, 1a was found as the best candidate compound showing the greatest potential for drug development. Cell-based assays showed that 1a was about 10 times more selective than salbutamol toward the β2-adrenoceptor. Moreover, 1a exhibited good oral bioavailability and low acute oral toxicity. These data reveal 1a as an oral antiasthmatic agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents*
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Ethanolamines
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2

Substances

  • 2-amino-2-phenylethanol
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Ethanolamines
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2