The geminal dimethyl analogue of Flurbiprofen as a novel Aβ42 inhibitor and potential Alzheimer’s disease modifying agent

The subtle modification of a selection of Aβ42 inhibiting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), through synthesis of the geminal dimethyl analogues, was anticipated to ablate their cyclooxygenase activity whilst maintaining Aβ42 inhibition. Methylflurbiprofen 6 exhibited similar in vitro Aβ42 inhibition to its parent NSAID Flurbiprofen and was further evaluated in the Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease and an animal model of gastro-intestinal (GI) impairment, but proved unviable for further clinical development.