Structure optimization of a new class of PPARg antagonists

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) modulators have found wide application for the treatment of cancers, metabolic disorders and inflammatory diseases. Contrary to PPARg agonists, PPARg antagonists have been much less studied and although they have shown immunomodulatory effects, there is still no therapeutically useful PPARg antagonist on the market. In contrast to non-competitive, irreversible inhibition caused by 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide (GW9662), the recently described (E)-2-(5-((4-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-6-yl)methoxy)-2-((4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)oxy)-benzylidene)-hexanoic acid (MTTB, T-10017) is a promising prototype for a new class of PPARg antagonists. It exhibits competitive antagonism against rosiglitazone mediated activation of PPARg ligand binding domain (PPARgLBD) in a transactivation assay in HEK293T cells with an IC50 of 4.3 µM against 1 µM rosiglitazone. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the MTTB scaffold focusing on improving its physicochemical properties. Through this optimization, 34 new derivatives were prepared and characterized. Two new potent compounds (T-10075 and T-10106) with much improved drug-like properties and promising pharmacokinetic profile were identified.