Han Yongxin, Giroux André, Colucci John, Bayly Christopher I, Mckay Daniel J, Roy Sophie, Xanthoudakis Steve, Vaillancourt John, Rasper Dita M, Tam John, Tawa Paul, Nicholson Donald W, Zamboni Robert J
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research, Merck Frosst Canada & Co., PO Box 1005, Pointe-Claire-Dorval, Quebec, Canada H9R 4P8.
Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2005 Feb 15;15(4):1173-80. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2004.12.006.
The iterative process for the discovery of a series of pyrazinone mono-amides as potent, selective and reversible non-peptide caspase-3 inhibitors (e.g., M826 and M867) is reported. These compounds display potent anti apoptotic activities in a number of cell based systems in vitro as well as in several animal models in vivo.