1. Academic Validation
  2. Discovery of 6,7-Dihydropyrazolo[1,5- a]pyrazin-4(5 H)-one Derivatives as mGluR2 Negative Allosteric Modulators with In Vivo Activity in a Rodent's Model of Cognition

Discovery of 6,7-Dihydropyrazolo[1,5- a]pyrazin-4(5 H)-one Derivatives as mGluR2 Negative Allosteric Modulators with In Vivo Activity in a Rodent's Model of Cognition

  • J Med Chem. 2024 Sep 12;67(17):15569-15585. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01227.
Sergio A Alonso de Diego 1 María Lourdes Linares 1 Aránzazu García Molina 1 Ana Isabel de Lucas 1 Alcira Del Cerro 1 Jose Manuel Alonso 1 Luc Ver Donck 2 Jose María Cid 1 Andrés A Trabanco 1 Michiel Van Gool 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Global Discovery Chemistry, Janssen Research and Development, Janssen-Cilag, S.A., C/Jarama 75A, 45007 Toledo, Spain.
  • 2 Neuroscience Discovery, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson and Johnson Company, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
Abstract

Allosteric modulators of the metabotropic group II receptors, mGluR2 and mGluR3, have been widely explored due to their ability to modulate cognitive and neurological functions in mood disorders, although none have been approved yet. In our search for new and selective mGluR2 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs), series of 6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one derivatives were identified from our published series of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles. SAR evolution of the initial hit resulted in 100-fold improvement in the mGluR2 NAM potency and subsequent selection of compound 11 based on its overall profile, including selectivity and ADMET properties. Further pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) relationship built showed that compound 11 occupied the mGluR2 receptor in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the compound revealed in vivo activity in V-maze as a model of cognition from a dose of 0.32 mg/kg. Compound 11 was selected to be evaluated further.

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