EST64454: a Highly Soluble σ1 Receptor Antagonist Clinical Candidate for Pain Management

J Med Chem. 2020 Dec 10;63(23):14979-14988. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01575. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

The synthesis and pharmacological activity of a new series of pyrazoles that led to the identification of 1-(4-(2-((1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methoxy)ethyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone (9k, EST64454) as a σ1 receptor (σ1R) antagonist clinical candidate for the treatment of pain are reported. The compound 9k is easily obtained through a five-step synthesis suitable for the production scale and shows an outstanding aqueous solubility, which together with its high permeability in Caco-2 cells will allow its classification as a BCS class I compound. It also shows high metabolic stability in all species, linked to an adequate pharmacokinetic profile in rodents, and antinociceptive properties in the capsaicin and partial sciatic nerve ligation models in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis
  • Analgesics / pharmacokinetics
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Piperazines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperazines / pharmacokinetics
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, sigma / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sigma-1 Receptor
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • EST64454
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptors, sigma