From methylene bridged diindole to carbonyl linked benzimidazoleindole: Development of potent and metabolically stable PCSK9 modulators

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a recently validated therapeutic target for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Through phenotypic screening, we previously discovered a class of small-molecules with a 2,3′-diindolymethane (DIM) skeleton that can decrease the expression of PCSK9. But these compounds have low potency and low metabolically stability. After performing structure-activity relationship (SAR) optimization by nitrogen scan, deuterium substitution and fluorine scan, we identified a series of much more potent and metabolically stable PCSK9 modulators. A preliminary in vivo pharmacokinetic study was performed for representative analogues difluorodiindolyketone (DFDIK) 12 and difluorobenzoimidazolylindolylketone (DFBIIK-1) 13. The in vitro metabolic stability correlate well with the in vivo data. The most potent compound 21 has the EC50 of 0.15 nM. Our SAR studies also indicated that the NH on the indole ring of 21 can tolerate more function groups, which may facilitate the mechanism of action studies and also allow further improvement of the pharmacological properties. [Display omitted] •Novel PCSK9 modulators were synthesized and evaluated in cell-based assays.•Compound 21 can potently reduce PCSK9 protein in cell-based assays.•Compound 21 has improved metabolic stability.•Compound 21 could be a potential candidate for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.