Further Advances in Optimizing (2-Phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines as Novel Serotonin 2C Agonists: Effects on Hyperlocomotion, Prepulse Inhibition, and Cognition Models

J Med Chem. 2016 Jan 28;59(2):578-91. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01153. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Abstract

A series of novel compounds with two halogen substituents have been designed and synthesized to further optimize the 2-phenylcyclopropylmethylamine scaffold in the quest for drug-like 5-HT2C agonists. Compound (+)-22a was identified as a potent 5-HT2C receptor agonist, with good selectivity against the 5-HT2B and the 5-HT2A receptors. ADMET assays showed that compound (+)-22a possessed desirable properties in terms of its microsomal stability, and CYP and hERG inhibition, along with an excellent brain penetration profile. Evaluation of (+)-22a in animal models of schizophrenia-related behaviors revealed that it had a desirable activity profile, as it reduced d-amphetamine-stimulated hyperlocomotion in the open field test, it restored d-amphetamine-disrupted prepulse inhibition, it induced cognitive improvements in the novel object recognition memory test in NR1-KD animals, and it produced very little catalepsy relative to haloperidol. These data support the further development of (+)-22a as a drug candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Catalepsy / chemically induced
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperkinesis / chemically induced
  • Hyperkinesis / drug therapy
  • Hyperkinesis / psychology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Prepulse Inhibition / drug effects*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / drug effects*
  • Recognition, Psychology / drug effects
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / chemical synthesis*
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists
  • Dextroamphetamine