Discovery of (R)- N-Benzyl-2-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide [ (R)-AS-1], a Novel Orally Bioavailable EAAT2 Modulator with Drug-like Properties and Potent Antiseizure Activity In Vivo

J Med Chem. 2022 Sep 8;65(17):11703-11725. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00534. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Abstract

(R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] showed broad-spectrum antiseizure activity across in vivo mouse seizure models: maximal electroshock (MES), 6 Hz (32/44 mA), acute pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and PTZ-kindling. A remarkable separation between antiseizure activity and CNS-related adverse effects was also observed. In vitro studies with primary glia cultures and COS-7 cells expressing the glutamate transporter EAAT2 showed enhancement of glutamate uptake, revealing a stereoselective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) effect, further supported by molecular docking simulations. (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] was not active in EAAT1 and EAAT3 assays and did not show significant off-target activity, including interactions with targets reported for marketed antiseizure drugs, indicative of a novel and unprecedented mechanism of action. Both in vivo pharmacokinetic and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADME-Tox) profiles confirmed the favorable drug-like potential of the compound. Thus, (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] may be considered as the first-in-class small-molecule PAM of EAAT2 with potential for further preclinical and clinical development in epilepsy and possibly other CNS disorders.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants* / pharmacology
  • Anticonvulsants* / therapeutic use
  • Epilepsy* / chemically induced
  • Epilepsy* / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Pentylenetetrazole
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Pentylenetetrazole