3‑Oxoisoindoline-1-carboxamides: Potent, State-Dependent Blockers of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel NaV1.7 with Efficacy in Rat Pain Models

The voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 is believed to be a critical mediator of pain sensation based on clinical genetic studies and pharmacological results. Clinical utility of nonselective sodium channel blockers is limited due to serious adverse drug effects. Here, we present the optimization, structure–activity relationships, and in vitro and in vivo characterization of a novel series of NaV1.7 inhibitors based on the oxoisoindoline core. Extensive studies with focus on optimization of NaV1.7 potency, selectivity over NaV1.5, and metabolic stability properties produced several interesting oxoisoindoline carboxamides (16A, 26B, 28, 51, 60, and 62) that were further characterized. The oxoisoindoline carboxamides interacted with the local anesthetics binding site. In spite of this, several compounds showed functional selectivity versus NaV1.5 of more than 100-fold. This appeared to be a combination of subtype and state-dependent selectivity. Compound 28 showed concentration-dependent inhibition of nerve injury-induced ectopic in an ex vivo DRG preparation from SNL rats. Compounds 16A and 26B demonstrated concentration-dependent efficacy in preclinical behavioral pain models. The oxoisoindoline carboxamides series described here may be valuable for further investigations for pain therapeutics.