Brain-penetrating 2-aminobenzimidazole H(1)-antihistamines for the treatment of insomnia

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 Aug 1;19(15):4380-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.05.086. Epub 2009 May 27.

Abstract

The benzimidazole core of the selective non-brain-penetrating H(1)-antihistamine mizolastine was used to identify a series of brain-penetrating H(1)-antihistamines for the potential treatment of insomnia. Using cassette PK studies, brain-penetrating H(1)-antihistamines were identified and in vivo efficacy was demonstrated in a rat EEG/EMG model. Further optimization focused on strategies to attenuate an identified hERG liability, leading to the discovery of 4i with a promising in vitro profile.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzimidazoles / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Benzimidazoles / chemistry*
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods*
  • Drug Design
  • ERG1 Potassium Channel
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Electromyography / methods
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / chemistry
  • Histamine Antagonists / chemical synthesis*
  • Histamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Chemical
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • ERG1 Potassium Channel
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels
  • Histamine Antagonists
  • KCNH2 protein, human
  • 2-aminobenzimidazole