New β-Alanine Derivatives Are Orally Available Glucagon Receptor Antagonists

• Published in: Journal of medicinal chemistry 2007-01, Vol.50 (1), p.113-128
• Main Authors: Lau, Jesper, Behrens, Carsten, Sidelmann, Ulla G, Knudsen, Lotte B, Lundt, Behrend, Sams, Christian, Ynddal, Lars, Brand, Christian L, Pridal, Lone, Ling, Anthony, Kiel, Dan, Plewe, Michael, Shi, Shengua, Madsen, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; beta-Alanine - analogs & derivatives; beta-Alanine - chemical synthesis; beta-Alanine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Dogs; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - chemical synthesis; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Obese; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Receptors, Glucagon - antagonists & inhibitors; Structure-Activity Relationship
• ISSN: 0022-2623; 1520-4804
• DOI: 10.1021/jm058026u

A weak human glucagon receptor antagonist with an IC50 of 7 μM was initially found by screening of libraries originally targeted to mimic the binding of the glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) hormone to its receptor. Optimization of this hit for binding affinity for the glucagon receptor led to ligands with affinity in the nanomolar range. In addition to receptor binding, optimization efforts were made to stabilize the molecules against fast metabolic turnover. A potent antagonist of the human human glucagon receptor was obtained that had 17% oral availability in rats with a plasma half-life of 90 min. The major metabolites of this lead were identified and used to further optimize this series with respect to pharmacokinetic properties. This final optimization led to a potent glucagon antagonist that was orally available in rats and dogs and was efficacious in lowering blood glucose levels in a diabetic animal model.