Discovery of TRPM8 Antagonist ( S)-6-(((3-Fluoro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)(3-fluoropyridin-2-yl)methyl)carbamoyl)nicotinic Acid (AMG 333), a Clinical Candidate for the Treatment of Migraine

J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 27;61(18):8186-8201. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00518. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Abstract

Transient-receptor-potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), the predominant mammalian cold-temperature thermosensor, is a nonselective cation channel expressed in a subpopulation of sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system, including nerve circuitry implicated in migraine pathogenesis: the trigeminal and pterygopalatine ganglia. Genomewide association studies have identified an association between TRPM8 and reduced risk of migraine. This disclosure focuses on medicinal-chemistry efforts to improve the druglike properties of initial leads, particularly removal of CYP3A4-induction liability and improvement of pharmacokinetic properties. A novel series of biarylmethanamide TRPM8 antagonists was developed, and a subset of leads were evaluated in preclinical toxicology studies to identify a clinical candidate with an acceptable preclinical safety profile leading to clinical candidate AMG 333, a potent and highly selective antagonist of TRPM8 that was evaluated in human clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / chemistry
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology*
  • Calcium Channel Agonists / toxicity
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Migraine Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Niacin / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidinones / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / drug therapy*
  • TRPM Cation Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Calcium Channel Agonists
  • Pyrimidinones
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • TRPM8 protein, human
  • Trpm8 protein, rat
  • Niacin
  • icilin