The occurrence of idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions during late clinical trials or after a drug has been released can lead to a severe restriction in its use and even in its withdrawal. Metabolic activation of relatively inert functional groups to reactive electrophilic intermediates is considered to be an obligatory event in the etiology of many drug-induced adverse reactions. Therefore, a thorough examination of the biochemical reactivity of functional groups/structural motifs in all new drug candidates is essential from a safety standpoint. A major theme attempted in this review is the comprehensive cataloging of all of the known bioactivation pathways of functional groups or structural motifs commonly utilized in drug design efforts. Potential strategies in the detection of reactive intermediates in biochemical systems are also discussed. The intention of this review is not to "black list" functional groups or to immediately discard compounds based on their potential to form reactive metabolites, but rather to serve as a resource describing the structural diversity of these functionalities as well as experimental approaches that could be taken to evaluate whether a "structural alert" in a new drug candidate undergoes bioactivation to reactive metabolites.

With the dramatic increase in the number of new chemical entities (NCEs) arising from combinatorial chemistry and modern high-throughput bioassays, novel bioanalytical techniques are required for the rapid determination of the metabolic stability and metabolites of these NCEs. Knowledge of the metabolic site(s) of the NCEs in early drug discovery is essential for selecting compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic credentials and aiding medicinal chemists in modifying metabolic "soft spots". In development, elucidation of biotransformation pathways of a drug candidate by identifying its circulatory and excretory metabolites is vitally important to understand its physiological effects. Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have played an invaluable role in the structural characterization and quantification of drug metabolites. Indeed, liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with atmospheric pressure ionization (API) MS has now become the most powerful tool for the rapid detection, structure elucidation, and quantification of drug-derived material within various biological fluids. Often, however, MS alone is insufficient to identify the exact position of oxidation, to differentiate isomers, or to provide the precise structure of unusual and/or unstable metabolites. In addition, an excess of endogenous material in biological samples often suppress the ionization of drug-related material complicating metabolite identification by MS. In these cases, multiple analytical and wet chemistry techniques, such as LC-NMR, enzymatic hydrolysis, chemical derivatization, and hydrogen/deuterium-exchange (H/D-exchange) combined with MS are used to characterize the novel and isomeric metabolites of drug candidates. This review describes sample preparation and introduction strategies to minimize ion suppression by biological matrices for metabolite identification studies, the application of various LC-tandem MS (LC-MS/MS) techniques for the rapid quantification and identification of drug metabolites, and future trends in this field.

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) impact millions of individuals and there remain few effective treatment strategies. Despite evidence that neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a role in AUDs, it has not been established which subtypes of the nAChR are involved. Recent human genetic association studies have implicated the gene cluster CHRNA3-CHRNA5-CHRNB4 encoding the α3, α5 and β4 subunits of the nAChR in susceptibility to develop nicotine and alcohol dependence; however, their role in ethanol-mediated behaviors is unknown due to the lack of suitable and selective research tools. To determine the role of the α3, and β4 subunits of the nAChR in ethanol self-administration, we developed and characterized high affinity partial agonists at α3β4 nAChRs, CP-601932 and PF-4575180. Both CP-601932 and PF-4575180 selectively decrease ethanol but not sucrose consumption and operant self-administration following long-term exposure. We show that the functional potencies of CP-601932 and PF-4575180 at α3β4 nAChRs correlate with their unbound rat brain concentrations suggesting that the effects on ethanol self-administration are mediated via interaction with α3β4 nAChRs. Also varenicline, an approved smoking cessation aid previously shown to decrease ethanol consumption and seeking in rats and mice, reduces ethanol intake at unbound brain concentrations that allow functional interactions with α3β4 nAChRs. Furthermore, the selective α4β2* nAChR antagonist, DHβE, did not reduce ethanol intake. Together, these data provide further support for the human genetic association studies implicating CHRNA3 and CHRNB4 genes in ethanol-mediated behaviors. CP-601932 has been shown to be safe in humans and may represent a potential novel treatment for AUDs.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibition provides a potential treatment approach to neuroinflammation through modulation of both the endocannabinoid pathway and arachidonoyl signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). Herein we report the discovery of compound 15 (PF-06795071), a potent and selective covalent MAGL inhibitor, featuring a novel trifluoromethyl glycol leaving group that confers significant physicochemical property improvements as compared with earlier inhibitor series with more lipophilic leaving groups. The design strategy focused on identifying an optimized leaving group that delivers MAGL potency, serine hydrolase selectivity, and CNS exposure while simultaneously reducing log  D, improving solubility, and minimizing chemical lability. Compound 15 achieves excellent CNS exposure, extended 2-AG elevation effect in vivo, and decreased brain inflammatory markers in response to an inflammatory challenge.

The role of single electron transfer (SET) in P450-catalyzed N-dealkylation reactions has been studied using the probe substrates N-cyclopropyl-N-methylaniline (2a) and N-(1'-methylcyclopropyl)-N-methylaniline (2b). In earlier work, we showed that SET oxidation of 2a by horseadish peroxidase leads exclusively to products arising via fragmentation of the cyclopropane ring [Shaffer, C. L.; Morton, M. D.; Hanzlik, R. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 8502-8508]. In the present study, we found that liver microsomes from phenobarbital pretreated rats (which contain CYP2B1 as the predominant isozyme) oxidize [1'-(13)C, 1'-(14)C]-2a efficiently (80% consumption in 90 min). Disappearance of 2a follows first-order kinetics throughout, indicating a lack of P450 inactivation by 2a. HPLC examination of incubation mixtures revealed three UV-absorbing metabolites: N-methylaniline (4), N-cyclopropylaniline (6a), and a metabolite (M1) tentatively identified as p-hydroxy-2a, in a 2:5:2 mole ratio, respectively. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine trapping indicated formation of formaldehyde equimolar with 6a; 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde and acrolein were not detected. Examination of incubations of 2a by (13)C NMR revealed four (13)C-enriched signals, three of which were identified by comparison to authentic standards as N-cyclopropylaniline (6a, 33.6 ppm), cyclopropanone hydrate (11, 79.2 ppm), and propionic acid (12, 179.9 ppm); the fourth signal (42.2 ppm) was tentatively determined to be p-hydroxy-2a. Incubation of 2a with purified reconstituted CYP2B1 also afforded 4, 6a, and M1 in a 2:5:2 mole ratio (by HPLC), indicating that all metabolites are formed at a single active site. Incubation of 2b with PB microsomes resulted in p-hydroxylation and N-demethylation only; no loss or ring-opening of the cyclopropyl group occurred. These results effectively rule out the participation of a SET mechanism in the P450-catalyzed N-dealkylation of cyclopropylamines 2a and 2b, and argue strongly for the N-dealkylation of 2a via a carbinolamine intermediate formed by a conventional C-hydroxylation mechanism.