Discovery of a potent, selective, and orally active phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitor for the potential treatment of schizophrenia

J Med Chem. 2014 May 22;57(10):4196-212. doi: 10.1021/jm500073h. Epub 2014 May 9.

Abstract

We report the discovery of a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives as novel inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A). In a high-throughput screening campaign we identified the imidazopyrazine derivative 1, a PDE10A inhibitor with limited selectivity versus the other phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Subsequent investigation of 1 and replacement of the trimethoxyphenyl group by a (methoxyethyl)pyrazole moiety maintained PDE10A inhibition but enhanced selectivity against the other PDEs. Systematic examination and analysis of structure-activity and structure-property relationships resulted in the discovery of 2, an in vitro potent and selective inhibitor of PDE10A with high striatal occupancy of PDE10A, promising in vivo efficacy in different rodent behavioral models of schizophrenia, and a good pharmacokinetic profile in rats.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Drug Discovery
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • PDE10A protein, human
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases