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Wang X, Bell IM, Uslaner JM. Activators of α7 nAChR as Potential Therapeutics for Cognitive Impairment. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020; 45:209-245. [PMID: 32451955 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2020_140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a promising target for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several α7 nAChR agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have demonstrated procognitive effects in preclinical models and early clinical trials. However, despite intense research efforts in the pharmaceutical industry and academia, none of the α7 nAChR ligands has been approved for clinical use. This chapter will focus on the α7 nAChR ligands that have advanced to clinical studies and explore the reasons why these agents have not met with unequivocal clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohai Wang
- Department of Neuroscience Research, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Ian M Bell
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Jason M Uslaner
- Department of Neuroscience Research, Merck & Co. Inc., West Point, PA, USA.
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Garai S, Raja KS, Papke RL, Deschamps JR, Damaj MI, Thakur GA. B-973, a Novel α7 nAChR Ago-PAM: Racemic and Asymmetric Synthesis, Electrophysiological Studies, and in Vivo Evaluation. ACS Med Chem Lett 2018; 9:1144-1148. [PMID: 30429960 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We report here the total synthesis of B-973 (five steps), a recently identified α7 nAChR ago-PAM, its enantiomeric resolution, and its electrophysiological characterization in Xenopus oocytes to identify (-)-B-973B as the bioactive enantiomer. The asymmetric synthesis of B-973B was accomplished in 99% ee, and X-ray crystallography studies revealed its absolute "S" stereochemistry. B-973B was effective in attenuating pain behavior and decreasing paw edema (formalin test), and its analgesic effects were mediated through α7 nAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta Garai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Science, Northeastern University, 140 The Fenway, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Krishnamohan S. Raja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Science, Northeastern University, 140 The Fenway, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Roger L. Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Jeffrey R. Deschamps
- Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6930, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - M. Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Ganesh A. Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Science, Northeastern University, 140 The Fenway, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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