Discovery and Preclinical Evaluation of BMS-955829, a Potent Positive Allosteric Modulator of mGluR5

Abstract

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) are of interest due to their potential therapeutic utility in schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders. Herein we describe the discovery and optimization of a novel oxazolidinone-based chemotype to identify BMS-955829 (4), a compound with high functional PAM potency, excellent mGluR5 binding affinity, low glutamate fold shift, and high selectivity for the mGluR5 subtype. The low fold shift and absence of agonist activity proved critical in the identification of a molecule with an acceptable preclinical safety profile. Despite its low fold shift, 4 retained efficacy in set shifting and novel object recognition models in rodents.

Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others.¹ Some of the most common symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and affective flattening.² The onset of symptoms usually occurs in young adults, with a global lifetime prevalence of 0.3–0.7%.³ The incidence of schizophrenia, without regard to severity or classification, has been estimated to be ∼1% of the United States population or roughly 3.2 million people. Of these 3.2 million people, it is estimated that 60% are using some form of healthcare, which in 2002, cost an estimated $63 billion dollars in the U.S. alone. Tragically, schizophrenia patients die 12–15 years earlier than the general population. While antipsychotic drugs are available to treat schizophrenia, most result in difficult-to-manage side effects such as blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, and extrapyramidal symptoms.⁴ Furthermore, atypical antipsychotic medications can cause significant weight gain and changes in metabolism, resulting in an increased risk of diabetes and high cholesterol.⁵ As a result, weight, glucose levels, and lipid levels need to be regularly monitored by a healthcare professional, causing an extra burden on the patient and additional healthcare costs.

Schizophrenia has long been attributed to an excess of dopamine in certain pathways of the brain. More recent evidence implicates N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction in the glutamate system. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the human brain and plays a key physiological role in a wide variety of processes.⁶ Glutamatergic neurotransmission occurs mainly through activation of cell surface receptors, including ligand-gated ion channels (ionotropic receptors) and metabotropic glutamate G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The metabotropic glutamate receptor family (mGluRs) consists of eight family members that are part of the family 3 GPCR superfamily. These receptors are further subdivided into Group I (mGluR 1, 5), Group II (mGluR 2, 3), and Group III (mGluR 4, 6, 7, 8) based upon sequence homology, receptor signaling, and pharmacology.⁷

The mGlu5 receptor is expressed broadly throughout the CNS with predominantly postsynaptic localization.⁸ mGluR5 is a Gαq-coupled receptor that activates phospholipase C and elevates intracellular calcium levels, resulting in activation of downstream signaling molecules. Recent studies in mGluR5 knockout mice using small molecules that negatively modulate mGluR5 function suggested that blocking mGluR5 function may have therapeutic utility in CNS and peripheral disease states including, pain, anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), Parkinson’s disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, and fragile X syndrome.⁹ The potential for therapies based upon the negative modulation of mGluR5 is somewhat limited by side effects such as deficits in memory, learning, and sensory processing.¹⁰ Conversely, mGluR5 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have been shown to positively impact cognition in a variety of animal models,¹¹ to exhibit efficacy in animal models of psychosis,^12,13 and to enhance EEG power, which is indicative of an increased state of arousal.¹⁴ Taken together, these in vivo preclinical findings support the use of mGluR5 PAMs for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Our medicinal chemistry effort began prior to the reports of mGluR5 PAM-based seizures and neurotoxicity.¹⁵⁻¹⁷ At that time, we targeted the identification of a potent positive allosteric modulator with high in vitro efficacy in the hopes that a high fold shift compound would maximize the potential for robust in vivo efficacy. It was in this context that we undertook an mGluR5 PAM screening effort, which resulted in the identification of lead 1. Herein we describe the optimization of lead 1 to identify compound 4 (BMS-955829), a potent and selective positive allosteric modulator of mGluR5.

Oxazolidinone 1 (Figure 1) was identified from a high throughput screening campaign and shown to possess an EC₅₀ of 29 nM for PAM activity in a FLIPR-based mGluR5 functional assay¹⁸ (Table 1). MPEPy is a small molecule ligand, which binds to the MPEP allosteric site of mGluR5.¹⁹ In a binding experiment using ³H-MPEPy as the radiolabeled ligand, 1 had binding affinity in good agreement with its functional potency (K_i = 13 nM). The glutamate fold shift (fs = 7.1) was at a level consistent with that required to achieve in vivo efficacy in the literature.¹¹⁻¹⁴ Compound 1 was found to be a pure PAM, lacking any inherent mGluR5 agonist activity up to 30 μM. While 1 had good microsomal stability, further evaluation revealed potent time-dependent cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4) inhibition and extensive protein binding. Using 1 as our starting point, we set as our goals for the lead optimization efforts: a) to determine the minimum pharmacophore necessary for potent activity; b) increase potency; c) reduce protein binding; and d) minimize time-dependent CYP inhibition. We first examined replacement of the methoxy group with a 3-fluoro moiety leading to 2, which retained the excellent glutamate shift response (fs = 6.0) and exhibited a slight increase in potency. Furthermore, 2 was devoid of the time-dependent CYP3A4 inhibition observed with 1. We next turned our sights toward opportunities to enhance free fraction. To this end, the phenyl “B-ring” of 2 (Figure 1) was replaced with the more polar pyridine to afford compound 3. While increases in free fraction were negligible, compound 3 proved to be 30 times more potent than initial screening hit 1 (Table 1). Unfortunately, intraperitoneal (ip) administration of compound 3 to C57/Bl6 mice at 3 mg/kg induced convulsions and, in some cases, death (1/4 mice). The finding of convulsions (presumably indicative of underlying seizures) in mice was surprising, as there had been no prior reports of mGluR5 PAMs causing convulsions.²⁰

Figure 1.

Evolution of 1 to BMS-955829 (4).

Table 1. Biological Data for Compounds 1–6.

compd	PAM EC50 (nM)a	MPEPy Ki (nM)a	glutamate EC50 shifta	TD HLM-CYP3A4b	agonist EC50 (μM)a	protein binding (%)	convulsions (dose)
1	29 ± 2	13 ± 1	7.1 ± 0.1	9	>30	99.7	no (10 mg/kg)
2	15 ± 8	6.5 ± 1.3c	6.0 ± 0.8	1	>30	NA	NA
3	0.83 ± 0.08	1.5 ± 0.1	8.7 ± 0.7	1	>30	99.6	yes (3 mg/kg)
4	2.6 ± 1.0	1.6 ± 0.4	2.4 ± 0.1	1	>30	99.3	no (30 mg/kg)
5	6.0 ± 1.5	25 ± 5	7.1 ± 0.5	1	0.31 ± 0.05d	96.5	yes (10 mg/kg)
6	>3000	10 ± 8	NA	1	>3	99.4	no (30 mg/kg)

^aData represents mean ± SEM (≥2 replicates).

^bRatio of CYP3A4 inhibition from 30 to 5 min using BFC as the substrate.

^c3H-MPEP used in place of ³H-MPEPy as radioligand.

^dAgonist activity was confirmed in primary rat cortical astrocytes, which showed comparable expression to HEK transfected cells (B_max: HEK-mGLuR5 10.9 pmol/mg; Astrocytes 6.6 pmol/mg).

During the course of our medicinal chemistry effort, we were fortunate to have identified a number of useful tool compounds with a wide range of pharmacologies. Two such tool compounds are illustrated in Figure 2. PAM 5 was also found to cause convulsions in mice (@10 mg/kg ip, n = 4) while the structurally-related silent allosteric modulator (SAM) 6 did not (@30 mg/kg ip, n = 4). Coadministration of PAM 5 and SAM 6 demonstrated complete pharmacological blockade of convulsions, strongly suggesting that the convulsions were mechanism-based.

Figure 2.

Structurally related tool compounds used in pharmacological blockade experiment.

Until this point, we had targeted a compound with a high glutamate fold shift in order to maximize the probability for in vivo efficacy. With the finding of convulsions, however, we reconsidered this approach. Instead, we decided to test the hypothesis that a low fold shift compound might maintain efficacy in rodent models relevant to schizophrenia while mitigating or eliminating the convulsion liability. Earlier structure–activity relationships²¹ indicated that fold shift was exquisitely sensitive to the substitution pattern on the fluorophenyl “D-ring.” Further optimization of this aryl ring led us to compound 4 (BMS-955829, Figure 1), which differed from 3 only by addition of a single fluorine atom. Compound 4 was found to be a potent mGluR5 PAM (EC₅₀ = 2.6 ± 1.0 nM; n = 6), devoid of inherent mGluR5 agonist activity (EC₅₀ > 30 μM). The measured binding K_i of 4 was found to be 1.6 nM, which was in good agreement with its functional potency. Against a panel of related mGluR receptors (1–4 and 6–8), 4 was shown to be completely selective for mGluR5, lacking any measurable PAM, NAM, or agonist activity at other mGluRs (>10 μM). The main differentiator of 4 from other analogues in this series was its remarkably low glutamate fold shift (fs = 2.4). Based on the in vitro profile of 4, we felt that this compound was a good candidate to explore our hypothesis that a decrease in glutamate fold shift would decrease convulsions. Gratifyingly, when compound 4 was administered to mice, no convulsions were observed up to the maximum dose examined (30 mg/kg, ip). In conjunction with this experiment, ex vivo occupancy experiments showed that the mGlu5 receptors were essentially saturated at both the 10 and 30 mg/kg doses (94%), suggesting elimination of the convulsion risk with a low fold shift PAM.

The medicinal chemistry route adopted to prepare 4 (BMS-955829) is illustrated in Scheme 1. Diethylphosphonate 8 was prepared via a Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction,²² employing benzyl bromide 7. Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination²³ with 5-bromonicotinaldehyde afforded stilbene 9. Asymmetric aminohydroxylation^24,25 provided 10 in moderate yield, affording both possible regioisomers (desired/undesired = 4:1). Separation of the regioisomers by flash chromatography, removal of the Boc group under acidic conditions, and cyclization of the resulting aminoalcohol with carbonyldiimidazole afforded oxazolidinone 12 in 99% ee.²⁶ Completion of the synthesis via a palladium-mediated Sonogashira cross coupling²⁷ with ethynylbenzene provided 4.

Scheme 1. Synthesis of 4 (BMS-955829).

Reagents and conditions: (a) P(OEt)₃, 160 °C, 2–4 h, 93–100%; (b) 5-bromonicotinaldehyde, potassium t-butoxide, −10 °C, THF; (c) K₂OsO₄·2H₂O, t-butylcarbamate, (DHQD)₂PHAL, t-BuOCl, NaOH (0.5 M), H₂O/propanol, 0 to 22 °C, 16 h, 32–35%; (d) HCl 4 M in dioxane, 50 °C, 3 h; (e) CDI, Hünig’s base, THF, 23–72%; (f) ethynylbenzene, PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂, PPh₃, CuI, TEA, reflux, 18 h, 60–85%.

While the lack of convulsions upon administration of 4 was encouraging, we needed to determine whether an mGluR5 PAM with a low glutamate fold shift would be efficacious in preclinical behavioral models relevant to schizophrenia. We investigated the efficacy of 4 in multiple rodent models designed to mimic the pronounced deficits in cognitive and executive function found in patients with schizophrenia. The novel object recognition (NOR) assay was designed to exploit a rodent’s instinctive proclivity to explore novel objects at the expense of familiar ones to assess their capacity for episodic recognition.²⁸ Compound 4 was administered subcutaneously (sc) to mice 60 min prior to training on day 1. On day 2, one of the familiar objects was replaced with a novel object and time spent with each object was recorded. Figure 3 illustrates results obtained with compound 4. Mice dosed with 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg showed significant reductions in time spent with the familiar object, indicating improved recognition memory. Plasma concentrations and ex vivo receptor occupancy data were obtained using satellite animals and indicated total plasma levels of 116 ± 5 nM, total brain levels of 178 ± 13 nM, and 18% receptor occupancy at the minimum efficacious dose (MED) of 0.3 mg/kg.

Figure 3.

Dose response of 4 in mouse novel object recognition.

In humans, executive function is typically measured using an intradimensional/extra-dimensional (ID/ED) shift task or the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST).^29,30 The rat set-shifting experiment was designed to be a rodent analogue of the WCST where the observed ED behavior has been shown to be mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region of the brain implicated in mediating working memory for spatial and visual object information.³¹ On day 1, rats were trained to discriminate on the basis of the first dimension (brightness: light versus dark). Twenty-four hours later, rats were administered MK-801 (an NMDA antagonist used to mimic observed deficits in executive function)³² along with varying doses of 4 and tested against the second dimension (texture: rough versus smooth), recording the number of trials needed until rats achieved the preselected criterion (eight consecutive correct selections). Figure 4 illustrates results obtained with compound 4. Rats that received 0.1, 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg of 4 showed significant reductions in the number of trials required to achieve criterion, indicating reversal of MK-801 induced deficits in executive function. As in the mouse NOR experiment, plasma concentrations and ex vivo occupancy were obtained using satellite animals and indicated total plasma levels of 34 ± 4 nM, total brain levels of 34 ± 3 nM, and 19% receptor occupancy at the minimum efficacious dose (MED) of 0.1 mg/kg.

Figure 4.

Compound 4 reverses MK-801 deficit in rat set-shifting.

Given its robust in vivo efficacy and low potential for convulsions, compound 4 was further subjected to a battery of in vitro testing designed to evaluate its potential for drug–drug interactions and toxicity. Against a panel of eight recombinant human CYP isoforms, 4 showed low levels of inhibition (IC₅₀s ≥ 1.3 μM). Compound 4 had a measured IC₅₀ of 3.6 μM in a hERG patch clamp experiment, but given the very low exposure required for efficacy and the high protein binding of 4, the potential for QT related electrocardiographic findings was deemed to be low. There was minimal inhibition in a sodium patch clamp experiment (∼40% @ 10 μM), indicating little risk of affecting cardiac conduction. Compound 4 was tested in a broad panel of receptor and ion channel binding assays, which identified a potential interaction with the progesterone receptor (IC₅₀ = 2.3 μM). Follow-up in a progesterone functional assay demonstrated no significant agonist or antagonist activity at this receptor. Compound 4 was negative in the in vitro micronucleus assay and in an Ames mutagenicity assay, both in the presence and absence of S9 liver fractions, indicating a low potential for genetic toxicity.

The oral bioavailability of compound 4 was examined in multiple species where it ranged from good to excellent (rat Fpo = 100%, dog Fpo = 68%, and cyno Fpo = 50%).¹⁸ In rat, 4 showed low clearance at 11 mL/kg/min, low volume of distribution (1.8 L/kg), and favorable brain uptake (B/P ≈ 1). A recent disclosure of Parmentier-Batteur et al. reported that repeat dosing of high fold shift PAMs (fs = 6–22) resulted in neurotoxicity.¹⁶ The neurotoxicity was characterized by moderate to severe neuronal necrosis particularly in the auditory complex and hippocampus. On the basis of their studies, the authors speculated that it may be possible to identify a compound with an acceptable margin of safety if fold shift was capped at ∼2. Indeed, H&E stained sections of the brain, including the auditory complex and hippocampus, showed no evidence of necrosis in rats administered oral doses of 4 at 100 mg/kg/day for 8 days (day 1: C_max = 41 μM; AUC_0–24 = 751 μM·h).¹⁸ Upon repeat dosing for 2 weeks in rats and for 5 days in dog, 4 demonstrated an acceptable margin of safety. On the basis of its favorable efficacy and safety profiles, 4 advanced into IND-enabling toxicology studies.

In conclusion, we have described the discovery of BMS-955829 (4), a potent and selective positive allosteric modulator of mGluR5 that was devoid of agonist activity (EC₅₀ > 30 μM). Owing to its lack of inherent agonist activity and low fold shift (2.4), 4 presented low potential for convulsions or neurotoxicity, results which were confirmed in mice and rats, respectively. Despite its low fold shift, 4 demonstrated robust in vivo efficacy in preclinical models of schizophrenia, suggesting the potential to reverse cognitive and executive functional deficits in schizophrenia patients. The efficacy and safety profile of 4 suggests the existence of a development path for mGluR5 PAMs possessing a low fold shift (∼2). A more detailed disclosure of preclinical efficacy, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and SAR studies leading to the discovery of BMS-955829 will be reported in due course.

Glossary

ABBREVIATIONS

BFC

7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin

CYP

cytochrome P450

CNS

central nervous system

(DHQD)₂PHAL

hydroquinidine 1,4-phthalazinediyl diether

EEG

electroencephalography

FLIPR

fluorometric imaging plate reader

fs

fold shift

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux

Glu

glutamate

HLM

human liver microsome

IND

investigational new drug

ip

intraperitoneal

MED

minimum efficacious dose

mGluR5

metabotropic glutamate receptor 5

MK-801

dizocilpine

MPEP

2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine

MPEPy

3-methoxy-5-pyridin-2-ylethynylpyridine

NAM

negative allosteric modulator

NMDA

N-methyl-d-aspartate

NOR

novel object recognition

PAM

positive allosteric modulator

SAM

silent allosteric modulator

sc

subcutaneous

Supporting Information Available

The Supporting Information is available free of charge on the ACS Publications website at DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00450.

• Experimental procedures for the preparation of compound 4, characterization data for 1–6, X-ray crystal structure of 4, biological experimental methods, a summary of PK parameters for compound 4, and representative slides from the rat neurotoxicity study (PDF)

The authors declare no competing financial interest.