Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrimidine derivatives as bone anabolic agents promoting osteogenesis via the BMP2/SMAD1 signaling pathway

Abstract

Anti-resorptive inhibitors such as bisphosphonates are widely used but they have limited efficacy and serious side effects. Though subcutaneous injection of teriparatide [PTH (1–34)] is an effective anabolic therapy, long-term repeated subcutaneous administration is not recommended. Henceforth, orally bio-available small-molecule-based novel therapeutics are unmet medical needs to improve the treatment. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and carried out a biological evaluation of 31 pyrimidine derivatives as potent bone anabolic agents. A series of in vitro experiments confirmed N-(5-bromo-4-(4-bromophenyl)-6-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)hexanamide (18a) as the most efficacious anabolic agent at 1 pM. It promoted osteogenesis by upregulating the expression of osteogenic genes (RUNX2 and type 1 col) via activation of the BMP2/SMAD1 signaling pathway. In vitro osteogenic potential was further validated using an in vivo fracture defect model where compound 18a promoted the bone formation rate at 5 mg kg⁻¹. We also established the structure–activity relationship and pharmacokinetic studies of 18a.