Design of Selective sPLA2‑X Inhibitor (−)-2-{2-[Carbamoyl-6-(trifluoromethoxy)‑1H‑indol-1-yl]pyridine-2-yl}propanoic Acid

A lead generation campaign identified indole-based sPLA2-X inhibitors with a promising selectivity profile against other sPLA2 isoforms. Further optimization of sPLA2 selectivity and metabolic stability resulted in the design of (−)-17, a novel, potent, and selective sPLA2-X inhibitor with an exquisite pharmacokinetic profile characterized by high absorption and low clearance, and low toxicological risk. Compound (−)-17 was tested in an ApoE–/– murine model of atherosclerosis to evaluate the effect of reversible, pharmacological sPLA2-X inhibition on atherosclerosis development. Despite being well tolerated and achieving adequate systemic exposure of mechanistic relevance, (−)-17 did not significantly affect circulating lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers and had no effect on coronary function or histological markers of atherosclerosis.