Identification of Potent, Selective, and Peripherally Restricted Serotonin Receptor 2B Antagonists from a High-Throughput Screen

Antagonists of the serotonin receptor 2B (5-HT2B) have shown great promise as therapeutics for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, valvular heart disease, and related cardiopathies. Herein, we describe a high-throughput screen campaign that led to the identification of highly potent and selective 5-HT2B antagonists. Furthermore, selected compounds were profiled for their predicted ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Two exemplary compounds, VU0530244 and VU0631019, were predicted to have very limited potential for brain penetration in human subjects, a critical profile for the development of 5-HT2B antagonists devoid of centrally-mediated adverse effects.

Automated summary

A high-throughput screen campaign led to the discovery of highly potent and selective 5-HT2B antagonists. Selected compounds were also evaluated for their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Two compounds, VU0530244 and VU0631019, showed limited potential for brain penetration, making them promising candidates for the development of 5-HT2B antagonists without centrally-mediated adverse effects.