Discovery of 4-Phenylpiperidine-2-Carboxamide Analogues as Serotonin 5-HT2C Receptor-Positive Allosteric Modulators with Enhanced Drug-like Properties

J Med Chem. 2020 Jul 23;63(14):7529-7544. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01953. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Abstract

Targeting the serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2CR) allosteric site to potentiate endogenous 5-HT tone may provide novel therapeutics to alleviate the impact of costly, chronic diseases such as obesity and substance use disorders. Expanding upon our recently described 5-HT2CR-positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) based on the 4-alkylpiperidine-2-carboxamide scaffold, we optimized the undecyl moiety at the 4-position with variations of cyclohexyl- or phenyl-containing fragments to reduce rotatable bonds and lipophilicity. Compound 12 (CTW0415) was discovered as a 5-HT2CR PAM with improved pharmacokinetics and reduced off-target interactions relative to our previous series of molecules. The in vivo efficacy of compound 12 to potentiate the effects of a selective 5-HT2CR agonist was established in a drug discrimination assay. Thus, 12 is reported as a 5-HT2CR PAM with characteristics suitable for in vivo pharmacological studies to further probe the biological and behavioral mechanisms of allosteric modulation of a receptor important in several chronic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Design
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / metabolism
  • Piperidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / chemistry
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / metabolism*
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / chemical synthesis
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacokinetics
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Piperidines
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists