Design and Identification of a GPR40 Full Agonist (SCO-267) Possessing a 2-Carbamoylphenyl Piperidine Moiety

J Med Chem. 2020 Sep 24;63(18):10352-10379. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00843. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Abstract

GPR40/FFAR1 is a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in pancreatic β-cells and enteroendocrine cells. GPR40 activation stimulates secretions of insulin and incretin, both of which are the pivotal regulators of glycemic control. Therefore, a GPR40 agonist is an attractive target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Using the reported biaryl derivative 1, we shifted the hydrophobic moiety to the terminal aryl ring and replaced the central aryl ring with piperidine, generating 2-(4,4-dimethylpentyl)phenyl piperidine 4a, which had improved potency for GPR40 and high lipophilicity. We replaced the hydrophobic moiety with N-alkyl-N-aryl benzamides to lower the lipophilicity and restrict the N-alkyl moieties to the presumed lipophilic pocket using the intramolecular π-π stacking of cis-preferential N-alkyl-N-aryl benzamide. Among these, orally available (3S)-3-cyclopropyl-3-(2-((1-(2-((2,2-dimethylpropyl)(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)carbamoyl)-5-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-4-yl)methoxy)pyridin-4-yl)propanoic acid (SCO-267) effectively stimulated insulin secretion and GLP-1 release and ameliorated glucose tolerance in diabetic rats via GPR40 full agonism.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzamides / chemical synthesis
  • Benzamides / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzamides / therapeutic use*
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Ffar1 protein, mouse
  • G-protein-coupled receptor 40, rat
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Piperidines
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled