Discovery of 1-[2-fluoro-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-5-methoxy-3-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridazin-4(1H)-one (TAK-063), a Highly Potent, Selective, and Orally Active Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) Inhibitor

A novel series of pyridazinone-based phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors were synthesized. Our optimization efforts using structure-based drug design (SBDD) techniques on the basis of the X-ray crystal structure of PDE10A in complex with hit compound 1 (IC50 = 23 nM; 110-fold selectivity over other PDEs) led to the identification of 1-[2-fluoro-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-5-methoxy-3-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridazin-4(1H)-one (27h). Compound 27h has potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.30 nM), excellent selectivity (>15000-fold selectivity over other PDEs), and favorable pharmacokinetics, including high brain penetration, in mice. Oral administration of compound 27h to mice elevated striatal 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels at 0.3 mg/kg and showed potent suppression of phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion at a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0.3 mg/kg. Compound 27h (TAK-063) is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia.