New potent azomethine prodrugs of the histamine H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine containing a heteroarylphenyl partial structure

Enzyme-catalyzed prodrug approaches for the histamine H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine

Five novel prodrug types of the potent and selective histamine H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (1) were prepared and pharmacologically tested in vitro as well as in vivo. In particular, an amide of fatty acid, mono- and dicarbamates, an (acyloxy)alkylcarbamate, and a diphthalidyl derivative were synthesized, all of which require initial prodrug activation through an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in contrast to formerly developed azomethine prodrugs which are cleaved by chemical hydrolysis only. Further drug liberation may ensue spontaneously in a cascade to give 1. Since they have diverse stabilities the prodrugs were investigated for drug liberation in vitro under neutral, acidic, and basic conditions at different temperatures as well as with liver homogenates. In vivo investigation of prodrugs after oral administration to mice proved that the fatty amide 2, the Nalpha-methylcarbamate 4a, and the Nalpha-(1-(acetyloxy)ethylcarbamate) 5 showed moderate to high plasma levels of 1. Compound 5 displayed even more than 2.5 times the AUC for 1 than that of the reference azomethine prodrug BP2.94 in the periphery and also displayed a detectable drug level in the central nervous system. It was shown that prodrug approaches based on an initial enzyme-catalyzed liberation step are successfully applicable to different pro-moieties for improved bioavailability and prolonged half-live. These approaches may also be used for other aminergic compounds of this class to optimize pharmacokinetic behavior.

Therapeutic potential of histamine H3 receptor agonists and antagonists

The histamine H3 receptor was discovered 15 years ago, and many potent and selective H3 receptor agonists and antagonists have since been developed. Currently, much attention is being focused on the therapeutic potential of H3 receptor ligands. In this review, Rob Leurs, Patrizio Blandina, Clark Tedford and Henk Timmerman describe the available H3 receptor agonists and antagonists and their effects in a variety of pharmacological models in vitro and in vivo. The possible therapeutic applications of the various compounds are discussed.