Reactions of PH(3) and commercially available H(2)C=CHR(f) (R(f6)(/)(8)(/)(10) = (CF(2))(5)CF(3)/(CF(2))(7)CF(3)/(CF(2))(9)CF(3)) give, in two-stage processes conducted with free radical initiators (AIBN, VAZO; 80-90 degrees C), the phosphines P(CH(2)CH(2)R(f))(3) (1-3; 63-75%). Analogous reactions with H(2)C=CHCH(2)R(f8) (7) and H(2)C=CHCH(2)CH(2)R(f8) (10) give P(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)R(f8))(3) (4, 73%) and P(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)R(f8))(3) (5, 66%), in which the phosphorus is increasingly insulated from the electronegative R(f) moiety. The alkenes 7 and 10 are prepared from Bu(3)SnCH(2)CH=CH(2) and IR(f8) (hnu, CH(2)Cl(2), 81%) or ICH(2)R(f8) (VAZO, refluxing CF(3)C(6)H(5), 56%). The reaction of 1 and H(2)O(2) gives O=P(CH(2)CH(2)R(f6))(3) (6, 88%), which can be reduced with HSiCl(3) to 1. Partition coefficients (CF(3)C(6)F(11)/toluene, 27 degrees C) range from 98.8:1.2 (1, 4) through 98.9:1.1 (5) to >99.7:<0.3 (2, 3, 6). Crystals of 4 diffract poorly, but a packing motif that maximizes interactions between R(f) segments is evident.

GPR84 is a medium chain free fatty acid-binding G-protein-coupled receptor associated with inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. As the only reported antagonist of GPR84 (PBI-4050) that displays relatively low potency and selectivity, a clear need exists for an improved modulator. Structural optimization of GPR84 antagonist hit 1, identified through high-throughput screening, led to the identification of potent and selective GPR84 inhibitor GLPG1205 (36). Compared with the initial hit, 36 showed improved potency in a guanosine 5′-O-[γ-thio]­triphosphate assay, exhibited metabolic stability, and lacked activity against phosphodiesterase-4. This novel pharmacological tool allowed investigation of the therapeutic potential of GPR84 inhibition. At once-daily doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg, GLPG1205 reduced disease activity index score and neutrophil infiltration in a mouse dextran sodium sulfate-induced chronic inflammatory bowel disease model, with efficacy similar to positive-control compound sulfasalazine. The drug discovery steps leading to GLPG1205 identification, currently under phase II clinical investigation, are described herein.

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There are currently no approved disease-modifying osteoarthritis (OA) drugs (DMOADs). The aggrecanase ADAMTS-5 is key in the degradation of human aggrecan (AGC), a component of cartilage. Therefore, ADAMTS-5 is a promising target for the identification of DMOADs. We describe the discovery of GLPG1972/S201086, a potent and selective ADAMTS-5 inhibitor obtained by optimization of a promising hydantoin series following an HTS. Biochemical activity against rat and human ADAMTS-5 was assessed via a fluorescence-based assay. ADAMTS-5 inhibitory activity was confirmed with human aggrecan using an AGC ELISA. The most promising compounds were selected based on reduction of glycosaminoglycan release after interleukin-1 stimulation in mouse cartilage explants and led to the discovery of GLPG1972/S201086. The anticatabolic activity was confirmed in mouse cartilage explants (IC50 < 1.5 μM). The cocrystal structure of GLPG1972/S201086 with human recombinant ADAMTS-5 is discussed. GLPG1972/S201086 has been investigated in a phase 2 clinical study in patients with knee OA (NCT03595618).

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