The Discovery of a Novel Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4B-Preferring Radioligand for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging

As part of our effort in identifying phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4B-preferring inhibitors for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, we sought to identify a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand to enable target occupancy measurement in vivo. Through a systematic and cost-effective PET discovery process, involving expression level (B (max)) and bio distribution determination, a PET-specific structure-activity relationship (SAR) effort, and specific binding assessment using a LC-MS/MS cold tracer method, we have identified 8 (PF-06445974) as a promising PET lead. Compound 8 has exquisite potency at PDE4B, good selectivity over PDE4D, excellent brain permeability, and a high level of specific binding in the cold tracer study. In subsequent non-human primate (NHP) PET imaging studies, [F-18]8 showed rapid brain uptake and high target specificity, indicating that [F-18]8 is a promising PDE4B-preferring radioligand for clinical PET imaging.