Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists have been shown clinically to be effective treatments for migraine. Zavegepant (BHV-3500, BMS-742413) is a high affinity antagonist of the CGRP receptor (hCGRP K-i = 0.023 nM) that has demonstrated efficacy in the acute treatment of migraine with intranasal delivery in a Phase 2/3 trial, despite showing low oral bioavailability in rats (F-PO = 1.7%). Using zavegepant as a template, we sought to improve oral bioavailability through a series of azepinones which were designed in an attempt to reduce the number of rotatable bonds. These efforts led to the discovery of compound 21 which was able to mostly maintain high affinity binding (hCGRP K-i = 0.100 nM) and in vivo efficacy in the marmoset facial blood flow assay, while greatly improving oral bioavailability (rat F-PO = 17%).

We describe the synthesis of quinuclidine-containing spiroguanidines and their utility as α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonists. The convergent synthetic route developed for this study allowed for rapid SAR investigation and provided access to a structurally diverse set of analogs. A potent and selective α7 nAChR partial agonist, N‐(6‐methyl‐1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)‐3′,5′‐dihydro‐4‐azaspiro[bicyclo[2.2.2]octane‐2,4′‐imidazole]‐2′‐amine (BMS-910731, 16), was identified. This compound induced immediate early genes c-fos and Arc in a preclinical rodent model of α7 nAChR-derived cellular activation and plasticity. Importantly, the ability to incorporate selectivity for the α7 nACh receptor over the 5-HT3A receptor in this series suggested a significant difference in steric requirements between the two receptors.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is thought to play an important role in human cognition. Here we describe the in vivo effects of BMS-902483, a selective potent α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, in relationship to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor occupancy. BMS-902483 has low nanomolar affinity for rat and human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and elicits currents in cells expressing human or rat α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are about 60% of the maximal acetylcholine response. BMS-902483 improved 24h novel object recognition memory in mice with a minimal effective dose (MED) of 0.1mg/kg and reversed MK-801-induced deficits in a rat attentional set-shifting model of executive function with an MED of 3mg/kg. Enhancement of novel object recognition was blocked by the silent α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, NS6740, demonstrating that activity of BMS-902483 was mediated by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. BMS-902483 also reversed ketamine-induced deficits in auditory gating in rats, and enhanced ex vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation examined 24h after dosing in mice. Results from an ex vivo brain homogenate binding assay showed that α7 receptor occupancy ranged from 64% (novel object recognition) to ~90% (set shift and gating) at the MED for behavioral and sensory processing effects of BMS-902483.

Since zwitterionic benzenesulfonamide Nav1.7 inhibitors suffer from poor membrane permeability, we sought to eliminate this characteristic by replacing the basic moiety with non-basic bicyclic acetals and monocyclic ethers. These efforts led to the discovery of the non-zwitterionic aryl sulfonamide 49 as a selective Nav1.7 inhibitor with improved membrane permeability. Despite its moderate cellular activity, 49 exhibited robust efficacy in mouse models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain and modulated translational electromyogram measures associated with activation of nociceptive neurons.

The development of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists is considered a promising approach for the treatment of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia patients. In the present studies we characterized the novel agent, (2R)-N-(6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-pyrimidinyl)-4'H-spiro[4-azabicyclo[2.2.2] octane-2,5'-[1,3] oxazol]-2'-amine (BMS-933043), in vitro and in rodent models of schizophrenia-like deficits in cognition and sensory processing. BMS-933043 showed potent binding affinity to native rat (Ki = 3.3 nM) and recombinant human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Ki = 8.1 nM) and agonist activity in a calcium fluorescence assay (EC50 = 23.4 nM) and whole cell voltage clamp electrophysiology (EC50 = 0.14 micromolar (rat) and 0.29 micromolar (human)). BMS-933043 exhibited a partial agonist profile relative to acetylcholine; the relative efficacy for net charge crossing the cell membrane was 67% and 78% at rat and human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors respectively. BMS-933043 showed no agonist or antagonist activity at other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes and was at least 300 fold weaker at binding to and antagonizing human 5-HT3A receptors (Ki = 2,451 nM; IC50 = 8,066 nM). BMS-933043 treatment i) improved 24 hour novel object recognition memory in mice (0.1-10 mg/kg, sc), ii) reversed MK-801-induced deficits in Y maze performance in mice (1-10 mg/kg, sc) and set shift performance in rats (1-10 mg/kg, po) and iii) reduced the number of trials required to complete the extradimensional shift discrimination in neonatal PCP treated rats performing the intra-dimensional/extradimensional set shifting task (0.1-3 mg/kg, po). BMS933043 also improved auditory gating (0.56-3 mg/kg, sc) and mismatch negativity (0.03-3 mg/kg, sc) in rats treated with S(+) ketamine or neonatal phencyclidine respectively. Given this favorable preclinical profile BMS-933043 was selected for further development to support clinical evaluation in humans.

When subjected to a phasic input, sensory cortical neurons display a remarkable ability to entrain faithfully to the driving stimuli. The entrainment to rhythmic sound stimuli is often referred to as the auditory steady‐state response (ASSR) and can be captured using noninvasive techniques, such as scalp‐recorded electroencephalography (EEG). An ASSR to a driving frequency of approximately 40 Hz is particularly interesting in that it shows, in relative terms, maximal power, synchrony, and synaptic activity. Moreover, the 40‐Hz ASSR has been consistently found to be abnormal in schizophrenia patients across multiple studies. The nature of the reported abnormality has been less consistent; while most studies report a deficit in entrainment, several studies have reported increased signal power, particularly when there are concurrent positive symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations. However, the neuropharmacological basis for the 40‐Hz ASSR, as well as its dysfunction in schizophrenia, has been unclear until recently. On the basis of several recent reports, it is argued that the 40‐Hz ASSR represents a specific marker for cortical NMDA transmission. If confirmed, the 40‐Hz ASSR may be a simple and easy‐to‐access pharmacodynamic biomarker for testing the integrity of cortical NMDA neurotransmission that is robustly translational across species.

Schizophrenia patients exhibit a decreased ability to detect change in their auditory environment as measured by auditory event-related potentials (ERP) such as mismatch negativity. This deficit has been linked to abnormal NMDA neurotransmission since, among other observations, non-selective channel blockers of NMDA reliably diminish automatic deviance detection in human subjects as well as in animal models. Recent molecular and functional evidence links NR2B receptor subtype to aberrant NMDA transmission in schizophrenia. However, it is unknown if NR2B receptors participate in pre-attentive deviance detection. We recorded ERP from the vertex of freely behaving rats in response to frequency mismatch protocols. We saw a robust increase in N1 response to deviants compared to standard as well as control stimuli indicating true deviance detection. Moreover, the increased negativity was highly sensitive to deviant probability. Next, we tested the effect of a non-selective NMDA channel blocker (ketamine, 30 mg/kg) and a highly selective NR2B antagonist, CP-101,606 (10 or 30 mg/kg) on deviance detection. Ketamine attenuated deviance mainly by increasing the amplitude of the standard ERP. Amplitude and/or latency of several ERP components were also markedly affected. In contrast, CP-101,606 robustly and dose-dependently inhibited the deviant's N1 amplitude, and as a consequence, completely abolished deviance detection. No other ERPs or components were affected. Thus, we report first evidence that NR2B receptors robustly participate in processes of automatic deviance detection in a rodent model. Lastly, our model demonstrates a path forward to test specific pharmacological hypotheses using translational endpoints relevant to aberrant sensory processing in schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia show marked deficits in processing sensory inputs including a reduction in the generation and synchronization of 40 Hz gamma oscillations in response to steady-state auditory stimulation. Such deficits are not readily demonstrable at other input frequencies. Acute administration of NMDA antagonists to healthy human subjects or laboratory animals is known to reproduce many sensory and cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia patients. In the following study, we tested the hypothesis that the NMDA antagonist MK-801 would selectively disrupt steady-state gamma entrainment in the auditory cortex of urethane-anesthetized rat. Moreover, we further hypothesized that nicotinic receptor activation would alleviate this disruption. Auditory steady state responses were recorded in response to auditory stimuli delivered over a range of frequencies (10-80 Hz) and averaged over 50 trials. Evoked power was computed under baseline condition and after vehicle or MK-801 (0.03 mg/kg, iv). MK-801 produced a significant attenuation in response to 40 Hz auditory stimuli while entrainment to other frequencies was not affected. Time-frequency analysis revealed deficits in both power and phase-locking to 40 Hz. Nicotine (0.1 mg/kg, iv) administered after MK-801 reversed the attenuation of the 40 Hz response. Administered alone, nicotine augmented 40 Hz steady state power and phase-locking. Nicotine's effects were blocked by simultaneous administration of the α4β2 antagonist DHßE. Thus we report for the first time, a rodent model that mimics a core neurophysiological deficit seen in patients with schizophrenia and a pharmacological approach to alleviate it.

Acrylamide (S)-6, a potent and efficacious KCNQ2 (Kv7.2) opener, demonstrated significant activity in two models of neuropathic pain and in the formalin test, suggesting that KCNQ2 openers may be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain including diabetic neuropathy.

A novel series of 5-((4-aminopiperidin-1-yl)methyl)-pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amines with small aniline substituents at the C4 position were optimized for dual EGFR and HER2 protein tyrosine kinase inhibition. Compound 8l exhibited promising oral efficacy in both EGFR and HER2-driven human tumor xenograft models.

Pyrrolotriazine dual EGFR/HER2 kinase inhibitors with a 5-((4-aminopiperidin-1-yl)methyl) solubilizing group were found to be superior to analogs with previously reported C-5 solubilizing groups. New synthetic methodology was developed for the parallel synthesis of C-4 analogs with the new solubilizing group. Interesting new leads were evaluated in tumor xenograft models and the C-4 aminofluorobenzylindazole, 1c, was found to exhibit the best antitumor activity. It is hypothesized that this solubilizing group extends into the ribose-phosphate portion of the ATP binding pocket and enhances the binding affinity of the inhibitor.

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a key enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanosine nucleotides, catalyzes the irreversible nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide dependent oxidation of inosine-5‘-monophosphate to xanthosine-5‘-monophosphate. Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF), a prodrug of mycophenolic acid, has clinical utility for the treatment of transplant rejection based on its inhibition of IMPDH. The overall clinical benefit of MMF is limited by what is generally believed to be compound-based, dose-limiting gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity that is related to its specific pharmacokinetic characteristics. Thus, development of an IMPDH inhibitor with a novel structure and a different pharmacokinetic profile may reduce the likelihood of GI toxicity and allow for increased efficacy. This article will detail the discovery and SAR leading to a novel and potent acridone-based IMPDH inhibitor 4m and its efficacy and GI tolerability when administered orally in a rat adjuvant arthritis model.