Irreversible MAGL inhibitor. The adduct on the active serine without the leaving group is E3A FNIBKVOGYHDUDM-UOIKSKOESA-N. It is the same adduct for PF-06795071 and for compound 10 used in cristallization. [18F]PF06795071 developped as a PET probe
As a serine hydrolase, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is principally responsible for the metabolism of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to the formation of arachidonic acid (AA). Dysfunction of MAGL has been associated with multiple CNS disorders and symptoms, including neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, epileptogenesis, nociception and neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibition of MAGL provides a promising therapeutic direction for the treatment of these conditions, and a MAGL positron emission tomography (PET) probe would greatly facilitate preclinical and clinical development of MAGL inhibitors. Herein, we design and synthesize a small library of fluoropyridyl-containing MAGL inhibitor candidates. Pharmacological evaluation of these candidates by activity-based protein profiling identified 14 as a lead compound, which was then radiolabeled with fluorine-18 via a facile S(N)Ar reaction to form 2-[(18)F]fluoropyridine scaffold. Good blood-brain barrier permeability and high in vivo specific binding was demonstrated for radioligand [(18)F]14 (also named as [(18)F]MAGL-1902). This work may serve as a roadmap for clinical translation and further design of potent (18)F-labeled MAGL PET tracers.
Dysfunction of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is associated with several psychopathological disorders, including drug addiction and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein we design, synthesize, and evaluate several irreversible fluorine-containing MAGL inhibitors for positron emission tomography (PET) ligand development. Compound 6 (identified from a therapeutic agent) was advanced for (18)F-labeling via a novel spirocyclic iodonium ylide (SCIDY) strategy, which demonstrated high brain permeability and excellent specific binding. This work supports further development of novel (18)F-labeled MAGL PET probes.
Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibition provides a potential treatment approach to neuroinflammation through modulation of both the endocannabinoid pathway and arachidonoyl signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). Herein we report the discovery of compound 15 (PF-06795071), a potent and selective covalent MAGL inhibitor, featuring a novel trifluoromethyl glycol leaving group that confers significant physicochemical property improvements as compared with earlier inhibitor series with more lipophilic leaving groups. The design strategy focused on identifying an optimized leaving group that delivers MAGL potency, serine hydrolase selectivity, and CNS exposure while simultaneously reducing log D, improving solubility, and minimizing chemical lability. Compound 15 achieves excellent CNS exposure, extended 2-AG elevation effect in vivo, and decreased brain inflammatory markers in response to an inflammatory challenge.
