Novel substituted [5,5]-bicyclic pyrzazolones are presented as inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Many of these compounds show low nanomolar activity against lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha production in THP-1 cells. This class of molecules was co-crystallized with mutated p38, and several analogs showed good oral bioavailability in the rat. Oral activity of these compounds in the rat iodoacetate model for osteoarthritis is discussed.
4-Aryl-5-pyrimidyl based cytokine synthesis inhibitors that contain a novel monocyclic, pyrazolone heterocyclic core are described. Many of these inhibitors showed low nanomolar activity against LPS-induced TNF-α production. One of the compounds (6e) was found to be efficacious in the rat iodoacetate (RIA) in vivo model of osteoarthritis. The X-ray crystal structure of a pyrazolone inhibitor cocrystallized with mutated p38 (mp38) is presented.