Discovery of a selective M4 positive allosteric modulator based on the 3-amino-thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide scaffold: Development of ML253, a potent and brain penetrant compound that is active in a preclinical model of schizophrenia

Herein we report a next generation muscarinic receptor 4 (M4) positive allosteric modulator (PAM), ML253 which exhibits nanomolar activity at both the human (EC50 = 56 nM) and rat (EC50 = 176 nM) receptors and excellent efficacy by the left-ward shift of the ACh concentration response curve (fold shift, human = 106; rat = 50). In addition, ML253 is selective against the four other muscarinic subtypes, displays excellent CNS exposure and is active in an amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion assay.