Characterization of PF-6142, a Novel, Non-Catecholamine Dopamine Receptor D1 Agonist, in Murine and Nonhuman Primate Models of Dopaminergic Activation

Characterization of PF-6142, a Novel, Non-Catecholamine Dopamine Receptor D1 Agonist, in Murine and Nonhuman Primate Models of Dopaminergic Activation

Blog Article

Selective activation of dopamine D1 receptors remains a promising pro-cognitive therapeutic strategy awaiting robust clinical investigation.PF-6142 is a key example from a recently disclosed novel series of non-catechol agonists and partial agonists of the dopamine D1/5 receptors (D1R) that exhibit pharmacokinetic (PK) properties suitable for oral delivery.Given their reported potential for functionally biased signaling compared to Metal Cover known catechol-based selective agonists, and the promising rodent PK profile of PF-6142, we utilized relevant in vivo assays in male rodents and male and female non-human primates (NHP) to evaluate the pharmacology of this new series.Studies in rodents showed that PF-6142 increased locomotor activity and prefrontal cortex acetylcholine release, increased time spent in wakefulness, and desynchronized the EEG, like known D1R agonists.

D1R selectivity of PF-6142 was supported by lack of effect in D1R knock-out mice and blocked response in the presence of the D1R antagonist SCH-23390.Further, PF-6142 improved performance in rodent models of NMDA receptor antagonist-induced cognitive dysfunction, such as MK-801-disrupted paired-pulse facilitation, and ketamine-disrupted working memory performance in the radial arm maze.Similarly, PF-6142 reversed ketamine-induced deficits in NHP performing the spatial delayed recognition task.Of importance, PF-6142 did not alter the efficacy of risperidone in assays predictive of antipsychotic-like Natural Gas Dryer effect in rodents including pre-pulse inhibition and conditioned avoidance responding.

These data support the continued development of non-catechol based D1R agonists for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with brain disorders including schizophrenia.