New sigma(σ) -receptor ligands with anti-apoptotic and/or pro-apoptotic properties over cellular biochemical mechanisms, with neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-metastatic and anti-(chronic) inflammatory action.

5 The present invention concerns the new and original (σ) sigma-receptor ligands (Mono- or Di- alkylaminoalkyl)-γ-butyrolactones (AL), their analogues aminotetrahydrofuranes (AE), with various substitutes: phenyl-, diphenyl-, phenoxymethyl, fluorenyl or adamantyl, the (1-adamantyl) phenyl (s) alkylamines- (AdBAA), the N ₅ N Dialkyl α-[(adamantyl-l) behzyloxy-2] alkylamines- 0 (AdBOAA) and the 3-cyclopentyl-adamantyl-aπiines or alkylamines or alkylphenyl amines (AdCP), halogenated, or methoxylated on their substitutes and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the racemics, enantiomers and diastereoisomers that were synthesized according to the methods described in the references: WO 97/30983, 1 and 2, with anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, anti-(chronic) 5 inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, antidepressive, nooanaleptic and anxiolytic action.

The present invention concretize the concept of bio-modulatory drug, with the new and original σ-receptor ligands AL, AE, AdBAA, AdBOAA and AdCP, which o exhibit a multi- component pharmacological profile with orthosteric, (σ-1 and/or σ-

2 -induced) allosteric, and (σ-1 and/or σ-2 -induced) pseudo-allosteric modulatory actions over functional biochemical reactions.

In vitro and in vivo experiments clearly demonstrated the principal interaction of 5 AL, AE, AdBAA, AdBOAA and AdCP over the β-1, σ-2 receptors or over the allosteric σ-type sites at low nanomolar up to sub-micromolar levels of affinity along with their regulatory roles over the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and

NaVCa ⁺ * ion channels.

In vitro studies demonstrated the anti-cancerous properties of AL, AE, AdBAA, 0 AdBOAA and AdCP which present σ-2 agonistic action and/or σ-1 antagonistic action via the mechanism of apoptosis which they specifically develop over the cancer cells.

The molecules mentioned above can be used as anti-cancer drugs, either alone or in combination with conventional anti-cancer drugs. They can also be used as diagnostics (sigma receptors are increasing in most of the different types of cancer cells) and as anti-metastatic drugs, since they inhibit the binding and migration of cancer cells via tumor cell membrane reorganization and inhibition of Na ⁺ ion channels (particularly for AL and AE compounds).

Finally, their ability to regulate cellular apoptotic processes, through both membrane and mitochondrial σ-1 and/or σ-2 receptors, associated with their aptitude to inhibit auto-immune reactions confer at these molecules new opportunities to be used as therapeutic agents (and not only as symptomatic drugs, as previously claimed for some of them: AL, AE) against neurodegenerative diseases (σ-1 agonism and inhibition of Na ⁺ ZCa ⁺ * ion channels) or against chronic inflammatory diseases (σ-1 antagonism, σ-2 agonism).

EXAMPLES

A) Sigma (σ)-l agonists with bio-modulatory action on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and with antagonistic action on the apoptotic processes of the cells.

- AE14: TETRAHYDRO-N,N _r DIMETHYL-5,5-DIPHENYL-3-

FURANOMETHANAMINE

AE 14 is a selective ligand for σ-1 receptors with a nanomolar affinity (pKi=7,6) while the affinity for σ-2 receptors is more than 100 times lower [over 10 micro- Moles (lOμM): pKi<5]. The above molecular profile is the basis for AE14 modulatory role over the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and its pharmacological properties: anti-amnesic action (antagonistic action against scopolamine and dizocilpine (MK-801) induced amnesia or amyloid peptide β25- 35 (Aβ25-35), at low doses (from 0,03mg/kg administered per os (po), in mice). This unique new profile of AEl 4: anti-apoptotic via agonistic sigma- 1 regulation of the volume regulated chloride channels (VRCC), anti-oxidative stress via agonistic action on the sigma- 1 receptors of the mitochondrion and the reticulum endoplasmic (ER), anti-microinflammatory effect via sigma- 1 modulation of the

micro-astroglial hyper-reactivity and modulation of the GPCRs, in the central nervous system (CNS), confer at this molecule putative therapeutic - and not only symptomatic, as previously claimed, -pharmaceutical applications against neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease but also multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and all forms of neurodegenerations coming from the above mentioned neuronal dysregulations.

Due to its modulatory role via σ-1 and, at concentrations over lOμM, also via σ-2 receptors and Na ⁺ channels, AE 14 presents strong antidepressive profile (very strong anti-immobility action at 30-lOOmg/kg (po), in the forced swimming test in mice and useful nooanaleptic action (non addictive since neurochemical studies in rats excluded dopaminegic action), anti-fatigue and antidepressive properties, according to the relevant experimental protocols in mice (Open field, Porsolt). The cytotoxic action of AE 14 on the cancer cells, via the mechanism of apoptosis, is shown only at high concentrations (over 200μM, depending on the cell line that it is used), since AE 14 partial agonistic action for σ-1 is transformed in these concentrations to antagonistic σ-1 action in synergy with its agonistic action for σ-2 that is shown at concentrations over lOμM. These results are representatives of the basic concept of the invention described, (see the last two paragraphs above). AE 14 presents anti-apoptotic action (neuroprotective and anti-amnesic action against neurodegenerative diseases at low σ-1 agonistic doses) and pro-apoptotic action for σ-1 antagonistic and σ-2 agonistic high doses (200μM equivalent to 200mg/kg per os in mice) with anti-cancer properties and action against chronic inflammatory diseases. In regards to the last action (pro-apoptotic), the presence of adverse events at high concentrations of AEl 4, led us to the discovery or synthesis of other compounds that were more effective and without adverse events (see section B).

- AE37: TETRAHYDRO-N,N-DIMETHYL-2,2 JHPHENYL-3- FURANOMETHANAMINE Similar pharmacological profile as to AE14: smaller affinity for σ-1 receptors (pKi= 6,3) and with no affinity for σ-2 receptors.

Therefore, AE37, as a selective σ-1 agonist with anti-apoptotic action, is especially a new putative therapeutic -and not only symptomatic, as previously claimed- agent against neurodegenerative diseases, very performant (0.03-lmg/kg, i.p) against the Aβ25-35 induced neutotoxicity and oxidative stress. AE37 is also an original anticonvulsive agent (via its σ-1 modulatory action over the Na ⁺ and Ca ⁺ * ion channels and its weak anti- glutamatergic action in the brain). Indeed, in contrast to the clinically used antiepileptic drugs -which were recently incriminated to be pro- apoptotic and, therefore, amplifiers of the neuronal losses coming from the epileptic crises- AE37, in good agreement with its σ-T agonism , was recently confirmed as anti-apoptotic and, therefore, as a new prototypical putative anti- epileptic drug protective against the neuronal losses coming from the epileptic crises, in monotherapy and also active against the neuronal losses coming from the pro-apoptotic effects of the clinically used anti-epileptics, when AE37 could be clinically associated with the above anti-epileptics. The above new prototypical antiepileptic and neuroprotective profile of AE37 is completed by the prementioned CNS indications of AE 14 (vigilance, anti-fatigue and putative antidepressive).

- AE37Met:TETRAHYDRO-N-METHYL-2,2-DIPHENYL-3- FURANOMETHANAMINE

AE37 Met is the only metabolite of AE37 and is slightly more active than AE37 for the properties mentioned above but it mainly concerns the neuroprotective action, especially against acute ischemic syndromes (brain, heart), in relevance with its exceptional protection against anoxia that is caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), in mice, following its protection against the PTZ-induced tonic crises.

B) Weak σ-1 agonists or σ-1 antagonists with agonistic σ-2 component and agonistic action to the apoptotic processes of the cells.

- The following molecules are representatives of the chemical families that concern the present invention:

1) AdAL: DIHYDR0-4-(DIMETHYLAMIN0METHYL) SPIRO {FURANE-2(5H),2' -TRIC YCLO [3.3.1.1 _3>7 ] DECAN}-5-0NE 6-

2) AdAE: (DfflYDRO-4-(DIMETHYLAMINOMETHYL) SPIRO {FURANE-2(3H),2'-TRICYCLO[3.3.1.1 3,7 ] DECANE}

3) AdPhAL: S-CTRICYCLOpj.l.1 ₃ , ₇ ] DEC- 1-YL)-DIH YDRO-3- [DIMETHYLAMINOMETHYL)-S-PHENYLFIJRAN^H)-ONE- 4) AdPhAE: 5- (TRIC YCLO [3.3.1.1 ₃ , ₇ ] DEC- 1-YL)-

TETRAHYDRO-KN-DIMETHYL-S-PHENYL-S-

FURANEMETHANAMINE-

5) ALl 42Me:(α-(DIMETHYLAMINOETHYL)-γ,γ-DIPHENYL-γ-

BUTYROLACTONE) 6) AdBPA:γ-(l -ADAMANTYL)PHENYL-N ₅ N-

DIMETHYLPROPANAMINE

7) AdBPP: γ-(l -ADAMANTYL)PHENYL-PROPYLPIPERIDINE

8) AdBOPP: [α-(AD AMANT YL- I)BENZ YLOX Y-2] PROPYLPIPEREDINE 9) AdBOEA (Me): N ₅ N DIMETHYL-[ α-(ADAMANTYL-

1 )BENZ YDRYL0XY-2-ETH YL AMINE 10) -Ad(Me)CP: S-CYCLOPENTYL-N-METYL-l-TRICYCLOβJ.l .1

3,7

] DECANEMETHANAMINE

- (See also, in appendix, undescribed derivatives of the above chemical families)

All molecules present strong chemical affinities (nanomolar) for σ-1 receptors with antagonistic action (except AdAE and AdPhAE which are weak agonists) and with nanomolar, sub-micromolar or micromolar affinity for σ-2 receptors with agonistic action. Therefore, all molecules above and their derivatives are pro-apoptotic and only at very low concentrations some of them (AdAE, AdPhAE) are anti-apoptotic. All molecules above are toxic to the cancer cells and make excellent drug candidates due to their exceptional and selective pro-apoptotic properties and their very low toxicity in vivo and therefore they could also be used against chronic inflammatory diseases (Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and microinflammations of the nervous system in

neurodegenerative diseases). It has been shown that at the concentrations and doses (10-lOOmg/kg intra-peritoneal (ip) or po), at which anti-cancer action is demonstrated, most of the above representative molecules of AL, AE, AdBAA, AdBOAA, and AdCP do not present toxic events but, in contrast, they present positive properties such as: neuroprotective, anti-depressive, elevating vigilance, nooanaleptic and anti-fatigue ( against fatigue syndrome), for AL, and AE, or sedative-anxiolytic properties for AdBAA, AdBOAA and AdCP according to the relevant experimental protocols in mice.

REFERENCES

1) Pouli N., Fytas G., Foscolos G., Kolocouris N., Marakos P., and Vamvakides A. Synthese et etude phaπnacologique des adaman-tylbenzenepropanamines et propenamines. Annales Pharmaceutiques Francoises, 1995, 53, No4, pp 163-169

2) Fytas G., Marakos P., Kolocouris N., Foscolos G., Pouli N., Vamvakides A., flceda S., De Clercq E. 3-cyclopentyl- 1-adamantamines and adamantanemethanamines. Antiviral activity evaluation and convulsion studies. Farmaco 1994, 49, NoIO, pp 641-647

3) Vamvakides Alexandra: Tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-2,2- diphenyl-3-furanemethanamine, its enantiomers and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. WO97/30983 and patent 1002616 (GR)