MK-0974 (Telcagepant) is a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable antagonist of CGRP receptor with IC50 value of 0.77 nM [1].
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is a heteromeric transmembrane receptor composed of a G protein-coupled receptor which is called calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CALCRL) and a receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1). CGRP receptor is functional for mediating the activity of CGRP, which is widely distributed in human peripheral and central neuron system. The CGRP/CGRP receptor signaling pathway modulate a variety of physiological functions of respiratory, immune and cardiovascular system, and play a key role in the pathophysiology of migraine headache.
When binding study was carried out, it was found MK-0974 had high affinity for CGRP receptor but had no affinity for related human adrenomedullin receptors, which suggested the high specificity of MK-0974 [1]. In human HEK293 cells expressing CGRP receptor, treatment of MK-0974 resulted in potent blockage of α-CGRP-stimulated cAMP producation, which indicated a significant inhibition of CGRP receptor activity. However, addition of 50% human serum reduced the inhibition potency of MK-0974 by 5-fold [1]. MK-0974 displayed reversible and saturable binding to both SK-N-MC membranes and rhesus cerebellum with a Kd of 1.9 nM and 1.3 nM, respectively [2].
In rhesus model, capsaicin-induced release of endogenous CGRP resulted in dermal vasodilation. Following treatment of MK-0974 produced a dose-dependent inhibition of dermal vasodilation, with plasma concentrations of 127 and 994 nM required to block 50 and 90% of the blood flow increase, respectively. The suppression of CGRP function indicated the inhibition of CGRP receptor by MK-0974 [1]. In monkey model, MK-0974 showed moderate clearance (14-20 ml min-1 kg-1), while oral bioavailability was 6%. The pharmacokinetics of MK-0974 remained linear across 0.5-10 mg kg-1 intravenous dose in monkeys, but the oral area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) increase (5-30 mg kg-1) was 15-fold over dose-proportional [3].
References:
[1] Salvatore C A et al. , Pharmacological characterization of MK-0974 [N-[(3R,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-yl]-4-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl)piperidine-1-carboxamide], a potent and orally active calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008, 324(2): 416-421.
[2] Moore E L et al. , Examining the binding properties of MK-0974: a CGRP receptor antagonist for the acute treatment of migraine. Eur J Pharmacol. 2009, 602(2-3): 250-254.
[3]. Roller S et al., Preclinical pharmacokinetics of MK-0974, an orally active calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP)-receptor antagonist, mechanism of dose dependency and species differences. Xenobiotica. 2009, 39(1): 33-45.