Discovery of an orally-bioavailable CC Chemokine Receptor 2 antagonist derived from an acyclic diaminoalcohol backbone.

We describe an isostere-driven approach to improve upon a previously-described series of capped dipeptide antagonists of CC Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2). Modification of the substitution around the isostere was combined with additional changes in a distal aromatic substituent to provide single-digit nanomolar antagonists of CCR2. These studies led to the identification of 18, a compound that was suitable for studies in murine models of CCR2 activity.