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Witkin JM, Pandey KP, Smith JL. Clinical investigations of compounds targeting metabotropic glutamate receptors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 219:173446. [PMID: 35987339 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacological modulation of glutamate has long been considered to be of immense therapeutic utility. The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are potential targets for safely altering glutamate-driven excitation. Data support the potential therapeutic use of mGluR modulators in the treatment of anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders, pain, epilepsy, as well as neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. For each of the three mGluR groups, compounds have been constructed that produce either potentiation or functional blockade. PET ligands for mGlu5Rs have been studied in a range of patient populations and several mGlu5R antagonists have been tested for potential efficacy in patients including mavoglurant, diploglurant, basimglurant, GET 73, and ADX10059. Efficacy with mGlu5R antagonists has been reported in trials with patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease; data from patients with Parkinson's disease or Fragile X syndrome have not been as robust as hoped. Fenobam was approved for use as an anxiolytic prior to its recognition as an mGlu5R antagonist. mGlu2/3R agonists (pomaglumated methionil) and mGlu2R agonists (JNJ-40411813, AZD 8529, and LY2979165) have been studied in patients with schizophrenia with promising but mixed results. Antagonists of mGlu2/3Rs (decoglurant and TS-161) have been studied in depression where TS-161 has advanced into a planned Phase 2 study in treatment-resistant depression. The Group III mGluRs are the least developed of the mGluR receptor targets. The mGlu4R potentiator, foliglurax, did not meet its primary endpoint in patients with Parkinson's disease. Ongoing efforts to develop mGluR-targeted compounds continue to promise these glutamate modulators as medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA; RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA.
| | - Kamal P Pandey
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jodi L Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Barbaro L, Rodriguez AL, Blevins AN, Dickerson JW, Billard N, Boutaud O, Rook JL, Niswender CM, Conn P, Engers DW, Lindsley CW. Discovery of "Molecular Switches" within a Series of mGlu 5 Allosteric Ligands Driven by a "Magic Methyl" Effect Affording Both PAMs and NAMs with In Vivo Activity, Derived from an M 1 PAM Chemotype. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2021; 1:21-30. [PMID: 37101980 PMCID: PMC10114714 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.1c00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
In the course of optimizing an M1 PAM chemotype, introduction of an ether moiety unexpectedly abolished M1 PAM activity while engendering a "molecular switch" to afford a weak, pure mGlu5 PAM. Further optimization was able to deliver a potent (mGlu5 EC50 = 520 nM, 63% Glu Max), centrally penetrant (Kp = 0.83), MPEP-site binding mGlu5 PAM 17a (VU6036486) that reversed amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion. A pronounced "magic methyl" effect was noted with a regioisomeric methyl congener, leading to a change in pharmacology to afford a potent (mGlu5 IC50 = 110 nM, 3% Glu Min), centrally penetrant (Kp = 0.94), MPEP-site binding NAM 28d (VU6044766) that displayed anxiolytic activity in a mouse marble burying assay. These data further support the growing body of literature concerning the existence of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) allosteric privileged structures, and the value and impact of subtle methyl group walks, as well as the highly productive fluorine walk, around allosteric ligand cores to stabilize unique GPCR conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Barbaro
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Alice L. Rodriguez
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Ashlyn N. Blevins
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Jonathan W. Dickerson
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Natasha Billard
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Olivier Boutaud
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Jerri L. Rook
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - P.Jeffrey Conn
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Darren W. Engers
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Craig W. Lindsley
- Warren
Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Phone: 615-322-8700. Fax: 615-343-3088.
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