Discovery of 6-phenylpyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]oxazines as potent and selective acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitors with in vivo efficacy in rodents

J Med Chem. 2014 Apr 24;57(8):3464-83. doi: 10.1021/jm500135c. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Abstract

The discovery and optimization of a series of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitors based on a pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]oxazine scaffold is described. The SAR of a moderately potent HTS hit was investigated resulting in the discovery of phenylcyclohexylacetic acid 1, which displayed good DGAT1 inhibitory activity, selectivity, and PK properties. During preclinical toxicity studies a metabolite of 1 was observed that was responsible for elevating the levels of liver enzymes ALT and AST. Subsequently, analogues were synthesized to preclude the formation of the toxic metabolite. This effort resulted in the discovery of spiroindane 42, which displayed significantly improved DGAT1 inhibition compared to 1. Spiroindane 42 was well tolerated in rodents in vivo, demonstrated efficacy in an oral triglyceride uptake study in mice, and had an acceptable safety profile in preclinical toxicity studies.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Dogs
  • Drug Discovery
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxazines / chemical synthesis*
  • Oxazines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Oxazines
  • Triglycerides
  • Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase