Discovery of AD258 as a Sigma Receptor Ligand with Potent Antiallodynic Activity

The design and synthesis of a series of 2,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nonanederivatives as potent sigma receptor (SR) ligands, associated withanalgesic activity, are the focus of this work. In this study, affinitiesat S1R and S2R were measured, and molecular modeling studies wereperformed to investigate the binding pose characteristics. The mostpromising compounds were subjected to in vitro toxicitytesting and subsequently screened for in vivo analgesicproperties. Compound 9d (AD258) exhibitednegligible in vitro cellular toxicity and a highbinding affinity to both SRs (K (i)S1R =3.5 nM, K (i)S2R = 2.6 nM), but not for otherpain-related targets, and exerted high potency in a model of capsaicin-inducedallodynia, reaching the maximum antiallodynic effect at very low doses(0.6-1.25 mg/kg). Functional activity experiments showed thatS1R antagonism is needed for the effects of 9d and thatit did not induce motor impairment. In addition, 9d exhibiteda favorable pharmacokinetic profile.