Discovery of a First-In-Class Small Molecule Antagonist against the Adrenomedullin-2 Receptor: Structure-Activity Relationships and Optimization

J Med Chem. 2021 Mar 25;64(6):3299-3319. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02191. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Abstract

Class B G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain an underexploited target for drug development. The calcitonin receptor (CTR) family is particularly challenging, as its receptors are heteromers comprising two distinct components: the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) or calcitonin receptor (CTR) together with one of three accessory proteins known as receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). CLR/RAMP1 forms a CGRP receptor, CLR/RAMP2 forms an adrenomedullin-1 (AM1) receptor, and CLR/RAMP3 forms an adrenomedullin-2 (AM2) receptor. The CTR/RAMP complexes form three distinct amylin receptors. While the selective blockade of AM2 receptors would be therapeutically valuable, inhibition of AM1 receptors would cause clinically unacceptable increased blood pressure. We report here a systematic study of structure-activity relationships that has led to the development of first-in-class AM2 receptor antagonists. These compounds exhibit therapeutically valuable properties with 1000-fold selectivity over the AM1 receptor. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of AM2 antagonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Discovery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Receptors, Adrenomedullin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Adrenomedullin / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / therapeutic use
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, Adrenomedullin
  • Small Molecule Libraries