The Discovery of ( S)-1-(6-(3-((4-(1-(Cyclopropanecarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)-2-methylphenyl)amino)-2,3-dihydro-1 H-inden-4-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic Acid, a Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Activator Specifically Designed for Topical Ocular Delivery as a Therapy for Glaucoma

J Med Chem. 2018 Mar 22;61(6):2552-2570. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00007. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Abstract

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the endogenous receptor for nitric oxide (NO), has been implicated in several diseases associated with oxidative stress. In a pathological oxidative environment, the heme group of sGC can be oxidized becoming unresponsive to NO leading to a loss in the ability to catalyze the production of cGMP. Recently a dysfunctional sGC/NO/cGMP pathway has been implicated in contributing to elevated intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Herein we describe the discovery of molecules specifically designed for topical ocular administration, which can activate oxidized sGC restoring the ability to catalyze the production of cGMP. These efforts culminated in the identification of compound (+)-23, which robustly lowers intraocular pressure in a cynomolgus model of elevated intraocular pressure over 24 h after a single topical ocular drop and has been selected for clinical evaluation.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Ophthalmic
  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cyclic GMP / biosynthesis
  • Drug Discovery
  • Enzyme Activators / administration & dosage
  • Enzyme Activators / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Activators / therapeutic use*
  • Glaucoma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure / drug effects
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Rabbits
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / drug effects*

Substances

  • Enzyme Activators
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
  • Cyclic GMP