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Ledneczki I, Némethy Z, Molnár KD, Tapolcsányi P, Ilkei V, Vágó I, Kolok S, Thán M, Laszy J, Balázs O, Krámos B, Szigetvári Á, Bata I, Makó A, Visegrády A, Fodor L, Vastag M, Lévay G, Lendvai B, Greiner I, Éles J. Optimization of Novel α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators and the Discovery of a Preclinical Development Candidate Molecule (RGH-560). J Med Chem 2023; 66:16276-16302. [PMID: 37989278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
During optimization of a previously identified lead compound, attempts were made to optimize the reactive indole structural element, the suboptimal metabolic stability, as well as the low kinetic solubility. It was concluded that the indole was important for in vitro activity. With the aim of further improvements, more thorough modifications were also carried out. As a result, a new chemotype (the azetidinespirochromone family) was identified, which proved to be 1 order of magnitude less lipophilic retaining the same high level of in vitro potency as the lead series itself, however, with improved metabolic stability and kinetic solubility. Compound 53 showed the most balanced physicochemical and pharmacological profile with significant in vivo efficacy in the scopolamine-induced amnesia test. Based on these promising results, cognitive enhancement through the positive modulation of α7 nAChRs appears to be a viable approach. Compound 53 was selected to be a preclinical development candidate (as RGH-560).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zsolt Némethy
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | | | - Pál Tapolcsányi
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Viktor Ilkei
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - István Vágó
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kolok
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Márta Thán
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Judit Laszy
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Ottilia Balázs
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Balázs Krámos
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Áron Szigetvári
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Imre Bata
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Attila Makó
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | | | - László Fodor
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Mónika Vastag
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - György Lévay
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - Balázs Lendvai
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - István Greiner
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
| | - János Éles
- Gedeon Richter Plc, 19-21 Gyömői útca, Budapest H-1103, Hungary
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Rodd ZA, Swartzwelder HS, Waeiss RA, Soloviov SO, Lahiri DK, Engleman EA, Truitt WA, Bell RL, Hauser SR. Negative and positive allosteric modulators of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor regulates the ability of adolescent binge alcohol exposure to enhance adult alcohol consumption. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:954319. [PMID: 37082421 PMCID: PMC10113115 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.954319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale and Objectives: Ethanol acts directly on the α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7). Adolescent-binge alcohol exposure (ABAE) produces deleterious consequences during adulthood, and data indicate that the α7 receptor regulates these damaging events. Administration of an α7 Negative Allosteric Modulator (NAM) or the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine can prophylactically prevent adult consequences of ABAE. The goals of the experiments were to determine the effects of co-administration of ethanol and a α7 agonist in the mesolimbic dopamine system and to determine if administration of an α7 NAM or positive allosteric modulator (PAM) modulates the enhancement of adult alcohol drinking produced by ABAE. Methods: In adult rats, ethanol and the α7 agonist AR-R17779 (AR) were microinjected into the posterior ventral tegmental area (VTA), and dopamine levels were measured in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). In adolescence, rats were treated with the α7 NAM SB-277011-A (SB) or PNU-120596 (PAM) 2 h before administration of EtOH (ABAE). Ethanol consumption (acquisition, maintenance, and relapse) during adulthood was characterized. Results: Ethanol and AR co-administered into the posterior VTA stimulated dopamine release in the AcbSh in a synergistic manner. The increase in alcohol consumption during the acquisition and relapse drinking during adulthood following ABAE was prevented by administration of SB, or enhanced by administration of PNU, prior to EtOH exposure during adolescence. Discussion: Ethanol acts on the α7 receptor, and the α7 receptor regulates the critical effects of ethanol in the brain. The data replicate the findings that cholinergic agents (α7 NAMs) can act prophylactically to reduce the alterations in adult alcohol consumption following ABAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A. Rodd
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - H. Scott Swartzwelder
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - R. Aaron Waeiss
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Serhii O. Soloviov
- Department of Pharmacy, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology and Biopharmacy, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Debomoy K. Lahiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Indiana Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Eric A. Engleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - William A. Truitt
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Richard L. Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Sheketha R. Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Recent Advances in the Discovery of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Allosteric Modulators. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031270. [PMID: 36770942 PMCID: PMC9920195 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), negative allosteric modulators (NAMs), silent agonists, allosteric activating PAMs and neutral or silent allosteric modulators are compounds capable of modulating the nicotinic receptor by interacting at allosteric modulatory sites distinct from the orthosteric sites. This survey is focused on the compounds that have been shown or have been designed to interact with nicotinic receptors as allosteric modulators of different subtypes, mainly α7 and α4β2. Minimal chemical changes can cause a different pharmacological profile, which can then lead to the design of selective modulators. Experimental evidence supports the use of allosteric modulators as therapeutic tools for neurological and non-neurological conditions.
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Neurobiology and Mechanisms of Nicotine Addiction. Respir Med 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-24914-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Perkins KA. The 2022 Ferno Award Address: CrEATE, an Efficient Crossover Evaluation of Addiction Treatment Efficacy. Nicotine Tob Res 2023; 25:77-85. [PMID: 35671343 PMCID: PMC9717395 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Dozens of drugs have been evaluated in recent decades for initial evidence of efficacy to aid smoking cessation (i.e. "early Phase 2" testing, according to U.S. FDA terminology), with the vast majority failing to show efficacy. Even small randomized clinical trials (RCTs), the most common early Phase 2 tests, are costly undertakings, made more unappealing by their high likelihood of failure. At the same time, another early Phase 2 approach, acute tests of drug effects on surrogate endpoints such as withdrawal or craving severity, are more practical but have little predictive clinical validity. Described here is an innovative procedure that optimally combines the validity of clinical trials with the practical advantages of surrogate endpoint studies to more efficiently determine whether or not a novel drug warrants continued clinical development. This CrEATE procedure, or Crossover Evaluation of Addiction Treatment Efficacy, does so by assessing short-term quit success in smokers highly motivated to quit when briefly treated with active drug versus placebo in a crossover design, so that quit efficacy from both conditions is compared within participants. The program to develop and evaluate CrEATE demonstrates its sensitivity to efficacy from all three FDA-approved first-line cessation medications (NRT, varenicline, bupropion), tested here as model drugs, as well as specificity in identifying lack of efficacy with a drug known to be ineffective for cessation (modafinil). CrEATE has subsequently been used to evaluate a few novel interventions, concluding they lack efficacy in increasing quit success. Future directions for the potential utility of CrEATE are provided. Implications: The ability of CrEATE to reach a Go/No Go decision more quickly and with far less cost lowers the risk of failure, meaning widespread use of the procedure should encourage the evaluation of more novel candidate drugs. With its greater efficiency, failed tests, unfortunately the most likely outcome in early Phase 2 studies, will cause less waste of resources. At the same time, CrEATE tests that indicate a novel treatment has efficacy will justify the substantial time and expense of moving forward to evaluate the drug in late Phase 2 RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Perkins
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania PA 15213, USA
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Veselinović T, Neuner I. Progress and Pitfalls in Developing Agents to Treat Neurocognitive Deficits Associated with Schizophrenia. CNS Drugs 2022; 36:819-858. [PMID: 35831706 PMCID: PMC9345797 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-022-00935-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) represent a central element of the symptomatology of this severe mental disorder. CIAS substantially determine the disease prognosis and hardly, if at all, respond to treatment with currently available antipsychotics. Remarkably, all drugs presently approved for the treatment of schizophrenia are, to varying degrees, dopamine D2/D3 receptor blockers. In turn, rapidly growing evidence suggests the immense significance of systems other than the dopaminergic system in the genesis of CIAS. Accordingly, current efforts addressing the unmet needs of patients with schizophrenia are primarily based on interventions in other non-dopaminergic systems. In this review article, we provide a brief overview of the available evidence on the importance of specific systems in the development of CIAS. In addition, we describe the promising targets for the development of new drugs that have been used so far. In doing so, we present the most important candidates that have been investigated in the field of the specific systems in recent years and present a summary of the results available at the time of drafting this review (May 2022), as well as the currently ongoing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Veselinović
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Irene Neuner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN, Aachen, Germany
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Higgins GA, Sellers EM. 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C receptors as potential targets for the treatment of nicotine use and dependence. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 259:229-263. [PMID: 33541678 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine use and dependence, typically achieved through cigarette smoking, but increasingly through vape products, is the leading cause of preventable death today. Despite a recognition that many current smokers would like to quit, the success rate at doing so is low and indicative of the persistent nature of nicotine dependence and the high urge to relapse. There are currently three main forms of pharmacotherapy approved as aids to treat nicotine dependence: a variety of nicotine replacement products (NRT's), the mixed NA/DA reuptake inhibitor bupropion (Zyban®), and the preferential nicotinic α4β2 receptor agonist drug, varenicline (Chantix®); the latter being generally recognized to be the most effective. However, each of these approaches afford only limited efficacy, and various other pharmacological approaches are being explored. This chapter focusses on approaches targeted to the serotonin (5-HT) system, namely, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) which served a pioneer role in the investigation of serotoninergic modulators in human smoking cessation trials; and secondly drugs selectively interacting with the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor systems. From an efficacy perspective, measured as smoking abstinence, the 5-HT2A agonist psychedelics, namely psilocybin, seem to show the most promise; although as the article highlights, these findings are both preliminary and there are significant challenges to the route to approval, and therapeutic use of this class should they reach approval status. Additional avenues include 5-HT2C receptor agonists, which until recently was pioneered by lorcaserin, and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists represented by pimavanserin. Each of these approaches has distinct profiles across preclinical tests of nicotine dependence, and may have therapeutic potential. It is anticipated as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers emerge, they may provide opportunities for subject stratification and opportunities for personalizing smoking cessation treatment. The clinical assessment of SSRI, 5-HT2A and/or 5-HT2C receptor-based treatments may be best served by this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy A Higgins
- Intervivo Solutions Inc, Fergus, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Edward M Sellers
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; DL Global Partners Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
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Moerke MJ, McMahon LR, Wilkerson JL. More than Smoke and Patches: The Quest for Pharmacotherapies to Treat Tobacco Use Disorder. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 72:527-557. [PMID: 32205338 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.018028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco use is a persistent public health issue. It kills up to half its users and is the cause of nearly 90% of all lung cancers. The main psychoactive component of tobacco is nicotine, primarily responsible for its abuse-related effects. Accordingly, most pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), nicotine's major site of action in the brain. The goal of the current review is twofold: first, to provide a brief overview of the most commonly used behavioral procedures for evaluating smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and an introduction to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of nicotine important for consideration in the development of new pharmacotherapies; and second, to discuss current and potential future pharmacological interventions aimed at decreasing tobacco use. Attention will focus on the potential for allosteric modulators of nAChRs to offer an improvement over currently approved pharmacotherapies. Additionally, given increasing public concern for the potential health consequences of using electronic nicotine delivery systems, which allow users to inhale aerosolized solutions as an alternative to smoking tobacco, an effort will be made throughout this review to address the implications of this relatively new form of nicotine delivery, specifically as it relates to smoking cessation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Despite decades of research that have vastly improved our understanding of nicotine and its effects on the body, only a handful of pharmacotherapies have been successfully developed for use in smoking cessation. Thus, investigation of alternative pharmacological strategies for treating tobacco use disorder remains active; allosteric modulators of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors represent one class of compounds currently under development for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Moerke
- Division of Preclinical Pharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.J.M.) and Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (L.R.M., J.L.W.)
| | - L R McMahon
- Division of Preclinical Pharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.J.M.) and Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (L.R.M., J.L.W.)
| | - J L Wilkerson
- Division of Preclinical Pharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.J.M.) and Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (L.R.M., J.L.W.)
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Terry AV, Callahan PM. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as therapeutic targets in schizophrenia: Update on animal and clinical studies and strategies for the future. Neuropharmacology 2020; 170:108053. [PMID: 32188568 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness and its effective treatment is among the most challenging issues in psychiatry. The symptoms of schizophrenia are heterogeneous ranging from positive symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations) to negative symptoms (e.g., anhedonia, social withdrawal) to cognitive dysfunction. Antipsychotics are effective at ameliorating positive symptoms in some patients; however, they are not reliably effective at improving the negative symptoms or cognitive impairments. The inability to address the cognitive impairments is a particular concern since they have the greatest long-term impact on functional outcomes. While decades of research have been devoted to the development of pro-cognitive agents for schizophrenia, to date, no drug has been approved for clinical use. Converging behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic evidence led to the identification of the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) as a therapeutic target several years ago and there is now extensive preclinical evidence that α7-nAChR ligands have pro-cognitive effects and other properties that should be beneficial to schizophrenia patients. However, like the other pro-cognitive strategies, no α7-nAChR ligand has been approved for clinical use in schizophrenia thus far. In this review, several topics are discussed that may impact the success of α7-nAChR ligands as pro-cognitive agents for schizophrenia including the translational value of the animal models used, clinical trial design limitations, confounding effects of polypharmacy, dose-effect relationships, and chronic versus intermittent dosing considerations. Determining the most optimal pharmacologic strategy at α7-nAChRs: agonist, positive allosteric modulator, or potentially even receptor antagonist is also discussed. article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia; Small Animal Behavior Core, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia.
| | - Patrick M Callahan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia; Small Animal Behavior Core, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
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Wang X, Daley C, Gakhar V, Lange HS, Vardigan JD, Pearson M, Zhou X, Warren L, Miller CO, Belden M, Harvey AJ, Grishin AA, Coles CJ, O'Connor SM, Thomson F, Duffy JL, Bell IM, Uslaner JM. Pharmacological Characterization of the Novel and Selective α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Positive Allosteric Modulator BNC375. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 373:311-324. [PMID: 32094294 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.119.263483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatments for cognitive deficits associated with central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as Alzheimer disease and schizophrenia remain significant unmet medical needs that incur substantial pressure on the health care system. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has garnered substantial attention as a target for cognitive deficits based on receptor localization, robust preclinical effects, genetics implicating its involvement in cognitive disorders, and encouraging, albeit mixed, clinical data with α7 nAChR orthosteric agonists. Importantly, previous orthosteric agonists at this receptor suffered from off-target activity, receptor desensitization, and an inverted U-shaped dose-effect curve in preclinical assays that limit their clinical utility. To overcome the challenges with orthosteric agonists, we have identified a novel selective α7 positive allosteric modulator (PAM), BNC375. This compound is selective over related receptors and potentiates acetylcholine-evoked α7 currents with only marginal effect on the receptor desensitization kinetics. In addition, BNC375 enhances long-term potentiation of electrically evoked synaptic responses in rat hippocampal slices and in vivo. Systemic administration of BNC375 reverses scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in rat novel object recognition and rhesus monkey object retrieval detour (ORD) task over a wide range of exposures, showing no evidence of an inverted U-shaped dose-effect curve. The compound also improves performance in the ORD task in aged African green monkeys. Moreover, ex vivo 13C-NMR analysis indicates that BNC375 treatment can enhance neurotransmitter release in rat medial prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that α7 nAChR PAMs have multiple advantages over orthosteric α7 nAChR agonists for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with CNS diseases. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: BNC375 is a novel and selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) that potentiates acetylcholine-evoked α7 currents in in vitro assays with little to no effect on the desensitization kinetics. In vivo, BNC375 demonstrated robust procognitive effects in multiple preclinical models across a wide exposure range. These results suggest that α7 nAChR PAMs have therapeutic potential in central nervous system diseases with cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohai Wang
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Christopher Daley
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Vanita Gakhar
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Henry S Lange
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Joshua D Vardigan
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Michelle Pearson
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Xiaoping Zhou
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Lee Warren
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Corin O Miller
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Michelle Belden
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Andrew J Harvey
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Anton A Grishin
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Carolyn J Coles
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Susan M O'Connor
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Fiona Thomson
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Joseph L Duffy
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Ian M Bell
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
| | - Jason M Uslaner
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey (X.W., C.D., V.G., H.S.L., J.D.V., M.P., X.Z., L.W., C.O.M., M.B., F.T., J.L.D., I.M.B., J.M.U.) and Bionomics Limited, Thebarton, Australia (A.J.H., A.A.G., C.J.C., S.M.O.)
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11
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Gendy MNS, Ibrahim C, Sloan ME, Le Foll B. Randomized Clinical Trials Investigating Innovative Interventions for Smoking Cessation in the Last Decade. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2020; 258:395-420. [PMID: 31267165 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Every year, billions of dollars are spent treating smoking and related conditions, yet smoking-related morbidity and mortality continue to rise. There are currently only three FDA-approved medications for smoking cessation: nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline. Although these medications increase abstinence rates, most individuals relapse following treatment. This chapter reviews clinical trials published within the past 10 years investigating novel smoking cessation pharmacotherapies. Among these pharmacotherapies, some showed promising results, such as cytisine and endocannabinoid modulators, whereas others failed to produce significant effects. More research is needed to develop drugs that produce higher rates of long-term abstinence and to determine which subgroups of patients benefit from a given treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie N S Gendy
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christine Ibrahim
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew E Sloan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Addictions Division, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Brain and Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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12
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Tregellas JR, Wylie KP. Alpha7 Nicotinic Receptors as Therapeutic Targets in Schizophrenia. Nicotine Tob Res 2019; 21:349-356. [PMID: 30137618 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/nty034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
While current treatments for schizophrenia often provide much relief for positive symptoms such as hallucinations, other symptoms, particularly cognitive deficits, persist and contribute to substantial suffering and reduced quality of life for patients. In searching for novel therapeutic avenues to treat cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, recent work is exploring nicotinic receptor neurobiology. Supported by a large body of evidence, with contributions from studies of smoking behaviors, genetics, receptor distribution and function, animal models and nicotinic effects on illness symptoms, the alpha7 nicotinic receptor has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Despite promise in early clinical trials, however, no drug targeting nicotinic systems has succeeded in larger phase 3 trials. Following a brief review of nicotinic receptor biology and the evidence that has led to pursuit of alpha7 nicotinic agonism as a therapeutic strategy, this review will provide an update on the status of recent trials, discuss potential issues that may have contributed to negative outcomes, and point to new directions and promising advances in developing alpha7 nicotinic receptor-based treatment for cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. IMPLICATIONS By examining alpha7 nicotinic receptor biology and recent efforts to target the receptor in clinical trials, it is hoped that investigators will be motivated to explore novel, promising directions focusing on the receptor as a strategy to treat cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Tregellas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.,Research Service, Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, CO
| | - Korey P Wylie
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.,Research Service, Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, CO
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Jackson A, Alkhlaif Y, Papke RL, Brunzell DH, Damaj MI. Impact of modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on nicotine reward in the mouse conditioned place preference test. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:3593-3599. [PMID: 31302720 PMCID: PMC6895411 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05331-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been implicated as a target in modulating nicotine reward. However, the effect of pharmacological agents that have been shown to alter the channel properties of the α7 nAChR is not well understood in nicotine reward. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the impact of α7 nAChR pharmacological modulation on nicotine conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice by using positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and a silent agonist. METHODS The effect of the orthosteric α7 nAChR full agonist PNU282987 (1.3 and 9 mg/kg, s.c.), Type I α7 PAM NS1738 (1 and 10 mg/kg; i.p.), the Type II α7 PAM PNU120596 (0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.), and the α7 silent agonist NS6740 (1 and 3 mg/kg, i.p) on nicotine CPP was measured in mice. Mice were conditioned with either saline or nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) for 3 days in the CPP paradigm. RESULTS The α7 full orthosteric agonist PNU282987 and the Type II α7 nAChR PAM PNU120596 reduced nicotine CPP, while the silent agonist NS6740 and Type I PAM NS1738 had no effect. The effects of PNU282987 and PNU120596 did not have an effect on morphine CPP. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest that modulation of the α7 nAChR can play important roles in nicotine CPP in mice. In addition, the Type II α7 nAChR PAM PNU120596 attenuated nicotine reward suggesting that endogenous acetylcholine/choline tone is sufficient to reduce nicotine CPP. These findings highlight a beneficial effect of using α7 nAChR PAMs in nicotine reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asti Jackson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park St., New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
| | - Y. Alkhlaif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - R. L. Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, PO Box 100267, Gainesville, FL 32610-0267, USA
| | - D. H. Brunzell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - M. I. Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
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14
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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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Perkins KA, Karelitz JL. Acute perceptions of preferred cigarettes when blinded to brand. Tob Control 2018; 28:311-316. [DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundMarketing claims often have promoted specific perceptions that users should expect from acutely smoking that cigarette brand. Yet, little controlled study has determined the degree to which actual perceptions are based on the cigarette’s tobacco constituents in the absence of knowledge about the brand’s identity.Methods194 adult dependent smokers rated their perceptions on ‘liking’, ‘satisfying’, ‘strong’ and perceived amount of ‘nicotine’ after smoking ad lib one of their preferred brands of cigarettes. All did so either when blinded (n=118) or unblinded (n=76) to the brand they were given, with the blinding conditions from separate studies. These between-groups secondary analyses determined differences in perceptions based on blinding to brand, controlling for age and cigarettes/day.ResultsAll perceptions were lower for those smoking own brand under blinded versus unblinded conditions, as hypothesised. Consistent with lowered perceptions for smoking one’s own brand obtained from the 118 blinded to brand, their ‘somewhat’ ratings for a ‘how similar to own brand’ item indicated uncertainty, just mid-way between ‘not at all’ and ‘very much’ on the 0–100 visual analogue scale. (The 76 unblinded were already informed it was their own brand.)ConclusionsAcute perceptions of one’s own cigarette are substantially lower when smokers are simply unaware of brand, relative to those aware it is their preferred brand. Results support the notion that perceptions of smoking own brand are enhanced by marketing efforts to associate brands with expectations of pleasurable subjective effects, beyond the impact due solely to the cigarette’s manufactured product constituents.
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