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Publication Abstract from PubMed

11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11beta-HSD1) has been a target of intensive research effort across the pharmaceutical industry, due to its potential for the treatment of type II diabetes and other elements of the metabolic syndrome. In order to demonstrate the value of 11beta-HSD1 in pre-clinical models we required inhibitors with good potency against both human and rodent isoforms. Herein we describe our efforts to understand how to co-optimize human and murine potency within the (5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)-pyrimidine-5-carboxamide series. Two approaches are described - a data driven (Free-Wilson) analysis and a structure-based design approach. The conclusions from these approaches were used to inform an efficient campaign to design compounds with consistently good human/murine potency within a logD7.4 range of 1-3. Compounds 20 and 26 demonstrated good rodent PK, which allowed us to demonstrate a PK/PD relationship in rat and mouse. We then evaluated 26 against glycaemic and bodyweight endpoints in murine disease models, where it demonstrated glucose and bodyweight efficacy at 300 mg/kg/day but only bodyweight efficacy at 50 mg/kg/day, despite providing >90% target engagement in the liver.

Free-Wilson and Structural Approaches to Co-optimising Human and Rodent Isoform Potency for 11beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11beta-HSD1) Inhibitors.,Goldberg FW, Leach AG, Scott JS, Snelson W, Groombridge S, Donald C, Bennett S, Bodin C, Gutierrez PM, Gyte A J Med Chem. 2012 Nov 16. PMID:23153367^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.