Synthesis and structure activity relationships of novel small molecule cathepsin D inhibitors.

Cathepsin D, a lysosomal aspartyl protease, has been implicated in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease as well as breast and ovarian cancer. A weakly active cathepsin D inhibitor was identified by high throughput screening. Subsequent optimization led to the discovery of a new class of small molecule inhibitors of this enzyme, culminating with the sulfonamide 13 (IC50 = 250 nM).