Triphenylethanamine Derivatives as Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Inhibitors: Discovery of <i>N</i>‑[(1<i>R</i>)‑1-(3-Cyclopropoxy-4-fluorophenyl)-1-[3-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)­phenyl]-2-phenylethyl]-4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)­benzamide (BMS-795311)

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors raise HDL-C in animals and humans and may be antiatherosclerotic by enhancing reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In this article, we describe the lead optimization efforts resulting in the discovery of a series of triphenylethanamine (TPE) ureas and amides as potent and orally available CETP inhibitors. Compound <b>10g</b> is a potent CETP inhibitor that maximally inhibited cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer activity at an oral dose of 1 mg/kg in human CETP/apoB-100 dual transgenic mice and increased HDL cholesterol content and size comparable to torcetrapib (<b>1</b>) in moderately-fat fed hamsters. In contrast to the off-target liabilities with <b>1</b>, no blood pressure increase was observed with <b>10g</b> in rat telemetry studies and no increase of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) was detected in H295R cells. On the basis of its preclinical profile, compound <b>10g</b> was advanced into preclinical safety studies

Triphenylethanamine Derivatives as Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Inhibitors: Discovery of <i>N</i>‑[(1<i>R</i>)‑1-(3-Cyclopropoxy-4-fluorophenyl)-1-[3-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)­phenyl]-2-phenylethyl]-4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)­benzamide (BMS-795311)

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors raise HDL-C in animals and humans and may be antiatherosclerotic by enhancing reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In this article, we describe the lead optimization efforts resulting in the discovery of a series of triphenylethanamine (TPE) ureas and amides as potent and orally available CETP inhibitors. Compound <b>10g</b> is a potent CETP inhibitor that maximally inhibited cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer activity at an oral dose of 1 mg/kg in human CETP/apoB-100 dual transgenic mice and increased HDL cholesterol content and size comparable to torcetrapib (<b>1</b>) in moderately-fat fed hamsters. In contrast to the off-target liabilities with <b>1</b>, no blood pressure increase was observed with <b>10g</b> in rat telemetry studies and no increase of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) was detected in H295R cells. On the basis of its preclinical profile, compound <b>10g</b> was advanced into preclinical safety studies

Discovery and Early Clinical Evaluation of BMS-605339, a Potent and Orally Efficacious Tripeptidic Acylsulfonamide NS3 Protease Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

The discovery of BMS-605339 (<b>35</b>), a tripeptidic inhibitor of the NS3/4A enzyme, is described. This compound incorporates a cyclopropyl­acylsulfonamide moiety that was designed to improve the potency of carboxylic acid prototypes through the introduction of favorable nonbonding interactions within the S1′ site of the protease. The identification of <b>35</b> was enabled through the optimization and balance of critical properties including potency and pharmacokinetics (PK). This was achieved through modulation of the P2* subsite of the inhibitor which identified the isoquinoline ring system as a key template for improving PK properties with further optimization achieved through functionalization. A methoxy moiety at the C6 position of this isoquinoline ring system proved to be optimal with respect to potency and PK, thus providing the clinical compound <b>35</b> which demonstrated antiviral activity in HCV-infected patients

Discovery of a Potent Acyclic, Tripeptidic, Acyl Sulfonamide Inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protease as a Back-up to Asunaprevir with the Potential for Once-Daily Dosing

The discovery of a back-up to the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease inhibitor asunaprevir (<b>2</b>) is described. The objective of this work was the identification of a drug with antiviral properties and toxicology parameters similar to <b>2</b>, but with a preclinical pharmacokinetic (PK) profile that was predictive of once-daily dosing. Critical to this discovery process was the employment of an ex vivo cardiovascular (CV) model which served to identify compounds that, like <b>2</b>, were free of the CV liabilities that resulted in the discontinuation of BMS-605339 (<b>1</b>) from clinical trials. Structure–activity relationships (SARs) at each of the structural subsites in <b>2</b> were explored with substantial improvement in PK through modifications at the P1 site, while potency gains were found with small, but rationally designed structural changes to P4. Additional modifications at P3 were required to optimize the CV profile, and these combined SARs led to the discovery of BMS-890068 (<b>29</b>)