Potent and Selective Human Prostaglandin F (FP) Receptor Antagonist (BAY-6672) for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

J Med Chem. 2020 Oct 22;63(20):11639-11662. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00834. Epub 2020 Oct 8.

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare and devastating chronic lung disease of unknown etiology. Despite the approved treatment options nintedanib and pirfenidone, the medical need for a safe and well-tolerated antifibrotic treatment of IPF remains high. The human prostaglandin F receptor (hFP-R) is widely expressed in the lung tissue and constitutes an attractive target for the treatment of fibrotic lung diseases. Herein, we present our research toward novel quinoline-based hFP-R antagonists, including synthesis and detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR). Starting from a high-throughput screening (HTS) hit of our corporate compound library, multiple parameter improvements-including increase of the relative oral bioavailability Frel from 3 to ≥100%-led to a highly potent and selective hFP-R antagonist with complete oral absorption from suspension. BAY-6672 (46) represents-to the best of our knowledge-the first reported FP-R antagonist to demonstrate in vivo efficacy in a preclinical animal model of lung fibrosis, thus paving the way for a new treatment option in IPF.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quinolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinolines / chemistry
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Quinolines
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin
  • prostaglandin F2alpha receptor