Identification of a 4-(Hydroxymethyl)diarylhydantoin as a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator

Structural modification performed on a 4-methyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hydantoin series is described which resulted in the development of a new series of 4-(hydroxymethyl)diarylhydantoin analogues as potent, partial agonists of the human androgen receptor. This led to the identification of (S)-(−)-4-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methyl-2,5-dioxo-4-phenylimidazolidin-1-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile ((S)-(−)-18a, GLPG0492) evaluated in vivo in a classical model of orchidectomized rat. In this model, (−)-18a exhibited anabolic activity on muscle, strongly dissociated from the androgenic activity on prostate after oral dosing. (−)-18a has very good pharmacokinetic properties, including bioavailability in rat (F > 50%), and is currently under evaluation in phase I clinical trials.