Discovery of Fevipiprant (NVP-QAW039), a Potent and Selective DP2 Receptor Antagonist for Treatment of Asthma.
Sandham DA, Barker L, Brown L, Brown Z, Budd D, Charlton SJ, Chatterjee D, Cox B, Dubois G, Duggan N, Hall E, Hatto J, Maas J, Manini J, Profit R, Riddy D, Ritchie C, Sohal B, Shaw D, Stringer R, Sykes DA, Thomas M, Turner KL, Watson SJ, West R, Willard E, Williams G, Willis J.
Further optimization of an initial DP2 receptor antagonist clinical candidate NVP-QAV680 led to the discovery of a follow-up molecule 2-(2-methyl-1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)acetic acid (compound 11, NVP-QAW039, fevipiprant), which exhibits improved potency on human eosinophils and Th2 cells, together with a longer receptor residence time, and is currently in clinical trials for severe asthma.