Highly potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors derived from Alogliptin through pharmacophore hybridization and lead optimization.

The superposition of the DPP-IV complex revealed that the butynyl group of Linagliptin can be freely switched with the cyanobenzyl group of Alogliptin. Thus, a pharmacophore hybridization of Alogliptin was initiated and led to a novel DPP-IV inhibitor, 11a. Although it did not exhibit the desired activity (IC50=0.2 μM), compound 11a acts as a lead compound, which triggered a resulting structural optimization and the formation of compound 11m. A novel series of potent DPP-IV inhibitors represented by compound 11m (IC50=0.4 nM) was ultimately obtained with a robust pharmacokinetic profile and superior in vitro and in vivo efficacy compared to Alogliptin.