Discovery of a novel class of benzoxazole derivatives as histamine H3 receptor ligands for the treatment of neuropathic pain

[Display omitted] •A series of benzoxazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as H3R ligands.•Compound 8d showed high affinity for H3R, low affinities for ten other off-target receptors, and negligible effects on hERG.•Compound 8d exerted dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the formalin-induced pain and chronic constriction injury (CCI) models.•Compound 8d exhibited an excellent safety profile in acute toxicity test and had a favorable drug-like pharmacokinetic profile. To discover effective analgesics, we summarize the synthesis, optimization, and pharmacological anti-nociceptive effects of a novel series of benzoxazole derivatives targeting H3 receptor (H3R). The new benzoxazoles were assayed in vitro for histamine H3R and H1R binding affinity. The best compound 8d (2-methyl-6-(3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)propoxy)benzo[d]oxazole) exhibited high affinity for H3R (Ki = 19.7 nM), high selectivity for ten other off-target receptors, and negligible effects on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG, cardiac ion channel). In rodent animals, compound 8d dose-dependently reversed formalin-evoked pain (Phase I, ED50 = 6.0 mg/kg; Phase II, ED50 = 7.8 mg/kg) and CCI-induced neuropathic pain (chronic constriction injury, ED50 = 15.6 mg/kg). Furthermore, compound 8d showed an excellent safety profile in acute toxicity test (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg) with a therapeutic index (TI = LD50/ED50) > 250 and showed a desirable drug-like pharmacokinetic profile. Above characteristics indicate that compound 8d represents a promising candidate analgesic for the treatment of neuropathic pain.