IMAGING

The present invention concerns new Huprine derivatives comprising a fluorophore or a nuclear probe and their use in medical imaging, respectively in optical imaging, MRI or nuclear imaging, and in radiotherapy. Huprine derivatives are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and, for this reason, labelled Huprines derivatives are useful for investigating the role of such enzyme in the mechanism of neurological diseases in which the level of acetylcholine is affected such as Alzheimer's disease.

Although the cholinergic deficiencies are a wellknown symptom of Alzheimer's disease, their exact role in the first stages of the disease is still controversial. Ability to image acetylcholine activity in human brain in vivo is needed to assess directly the involvement of the cholinergic system in neurodegenerative diseases and their current therapies, particularly the Alzheimer's disease. This will help to justify or refute current hypothesis concerning the role of the cholinergic system in the Alzheimer's disease.

Cholinesterases (AChE and BChE, or ChE) are key enzymes ending the process of nerve impulse transmission and their enzymatic activity is directly related to the cholinergic activity. Cholinesterases (ChE) inhibitors are commonly used in palliative treatment of neurological diseases in which the level of acetylcholine is affected such as Alzheimer's disease. Also, labeled ChE inhibitors are used in medical imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), for monitoring cholinergic activity. Such techniques can detect the decrease of enzymatic activity induced by a neurological disease or measure the inhibiting efficiency of the ChE inhibitors. Cerebral ChE imaging is useful for diagnosis of dementia disorders and also for therapeutic monitoring of the effects of ChE inhibitors and for decision of the appropriate clinical dosage of newly developed ChE inhibitors. Several ChE inhibitors or derivatives thereof have been labeled with positron emitters for mapping cerebral ChE by positron emission tomography (PET). However, the available radiolabeled ChE inhobitors, such as ⁿ C-physostigmine and ⁿ C-donepezil, do not exhibit enough strong signals and poorly reflect the regional distribution of ChE in the brain because of high non-specific binding and/or less specific to ChE in vivo in the brain tissue. Fluorinated Huprine derivatives were described (J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42 3227- 3242). However, the route for synthetising such products do not allow a quick introduction of the fluorine atom in the Huprine structure, which is necessary especially for short time half- life radioisotope ¹⁸ F used for PET. Also, the chemical structures of the compounds approved by international regulatory organizations regarding public health (Tacrine (Cognex ®), Donepezil (E2020, Aricept®), Rivastigmine (Exlon®) and Galanthamine (Reminyl®)) are not easily functionalizable and are not suitable for use as precursors for preparing labelled ChE inhibitors.

Therefore there is a need to provide new and more specific cholinesterase

(AChE or BChE) inhibitors, able to be labelled for medical imaging techniques, to cross the blood brain barrier and to have a specific and efficient brain mapping of AChE or BChE distribution. Such compounds would also be useful for monitoring the evolution of the AChE or BChE distribution during Alzheimer's disease progress and evaluate the efficiency of the palliative treatments.

European patent application EP 10305366.6 describes new highly functionalizable Huprine derivatives. The high functionalizability of these compounds allows introducing any desired label. In particular, by choosing the appropriate function, it is possible to quickly introduce the desired label which is of great interest for short time half- life radioisotopes such as ¹⁸ F.

Therefore the present invention provides new Huprine derivatives comprising a fluorophore or/and a nuclear probe. Such labelled compounds are useful for monitoring, analysing and measuring the AChE or BChE enzymatic activity with medical imaging techniques. The present invention thus concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula

I :

wherein,

R is a moiety comprising a fluorophore or a nuclear probe;

R ^a , R ^b , R ^c and R ^d are independently H, halogen, cyano, carboxyl, -0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), or -CH ₂ S(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); preferably H, halogen, cyano,— SCH ₃ or -CH ₂ SCH ₃ ; more preferably H or CI; even more preferably R ^a , R ^b and R ^d are H and R ^c is H or CI;

R ¹ is H or =CH ₂ ; and

R ² is CI or NR ³ R' ³ wherein R ³ and R' ³ are independently H, acetyl, Ci-C ₄ alkyl, — CO(Ci-C ₄ alkyl) or any hydrocarbyl chain linked to a ligand of the peripheral site of the AChE or BChE, said ligand being preferably selected from phenyltetraisoquinoline derivatives, beta-carboline derivatives, indole derivatives or coumarine derivatives; preferably, R ³ and R' ³ are independently H, acetyl, Ci-C ₄ alkyl or— CO(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); more preferably, R ³ and R' ³ are independently H or acetyl,

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The expression "Ci-C ₄ alkyl" represents any monovalent radical of a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 1 to 4 carbon atom such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, /-propyl, n-butyl, /-butyl, s-butyl or /-butyl.

The term "fluorophore" represents a component of a molecule which causes a molecule to be fluorescent in sufficient quantity and activity to generate a signal in an organism, including a human. It is a functional group in a molecule which will absorb energy of a specific wavelength and re-emit energy at a different wavelength. The fluorophore can be quantum dots, i.e. fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles, or aromatic or conjugated small molecules which fluoresce thanks to delocalized electrons. The fluorophore is for example selected from fluoresceine derivatives (such as fluoresceine isothiocyanate (FITC)), coumarine derivatives (such as hydroxycoumarin, aminocoumarin and methoxycoumarin), indole derivatives, rhodamine derivatives (such as substituted rhodamine isothiocyanate (XRITC)), cyanine derivatives (such as allophycocyanin (APC)) and R-phycoerythrin (PE) or other commercially available fluorescent dyes such as the CF dyes, the FluoProbes dyes, the DyLight Fluors, the Oyester dyes, the Atto dyes, the HiLyte Fluors, and the Alexa Fluors. Preferred fluorophores are selected from rhodamine derivatives, indole derivatives and coumarine derivatives.

The term "nuclear probe" means a radioactive or paramagnetic substance or a chelator comprising such a substance attached to the compound in sufficient quantity and activity to generate a signal in an organism, including a human. That is, the nuclear probe forms part of the chemical structure of the inhibitor and comprises a radioactive or non-radioactive isotope present at a level significantly above the natural abundance level of said isotope. Such elevated or enriched levels of isotope are suitably at least 5 times, preferably at least 50 times the natural abundance level of the isotope in question, or present at a level where the level of enrichment of the isotope in question is 90 to 100% of the total quantity of nuclear probe attached. Nuclear probes may include CH ₃ groups on the present probes with elevated levels of ¹³ C or ⁿ C and fluoroalkyl groups with elevated levels of 18 F, such that the nuclear probe is the isotopically labeled 13 C, 11 C or 18 F within the chemical structure of the probe. Preferred nuclear probes are those which can be detected externally in a non- invasive manner following administration in vivo. The nuclear probe is preferably chosen from: (i) a positron emitting radioactive substance; (ii) a gamma-emitting radioactive substance; (iii) a hyperpolarised NMR-active nucleus; (iv) a β -emitting radioactive substance; (v) an a-emitting radioactive substance; and (vi) an Auger electron-emitting substance. Most preferred nuclear probes are radioactive, especially radioactive metal ions, gamma-emitting radioactive halogens and positron-emitting radioactive non-metals, particularly those suitable for imaging using SPECT or PET. The positron-emitting substance is for example a positron-emitting radioisotope among radioactive non-metal, radioactive transition elements plus lanthanides and actinides, and metallic main group elements. Suitable such positron-emitting radioisotopes include ⁶⁴ Cu, ⁴⁸ V, ⁵² Fe, ⁵⁵ Co, ^94m Tc, ⁶⁸ Ga ⁿ C, ¹³ N, ¹⁵ 0, ¹⁷ F, ¹⁸ F, ⁶⁴ Cu, ⁶² Cu, ⁷⁵ Br, ⁷⁶ Br or ¹²⁴ I. Preferred positron-emitting radioisotopes are 1 1 C, 13 N, 124 I and 18 F, especially 1 1 C and 18 F, most especially 18 F. The gamma- emitting substance can be a gamma-emitting radioisotope among radioactive halogen, radioactive transition elements plus lanthanides and actinides, and metallic main group elements. Suitable gamma-emitting radioisotopes include ^99m Tc, ^m In, ^113m In, ⁶⁷ Cu, ⁶⁷ Ga, ¹²³ I, ¹²⁵ I, ¹³¹ I or ⁷⁷ Br. Preferred gamma-emitting radioisotope are ¹²⁵ I and ^99m Tc. The suitable paramagnetic metal ions include Gd (III), Mn (II), Cu (II), Cr (III), Fe (III), Co (II), Er (II), Ni (II), Eu (III) or Dy (III). Preferred paramagnetic metal ions are Gd (III), Mn (II) and Fe (III), with Gd (III) being especially preferred. The hyperpolarised NMR-active nuclei have a non-

13 15 19 29 31 13

zero nuclear spin, and include ^1J C, ^1J N, ^iy F, ^zy Si and ^J1 P. Of these, ^1J C is preferred. Contrary to other nuclear probes cited above, β -emitting radioactive substances, a-emitting radioactive substances and Auger electron-emitting substances are generally used in radiotherapy rather than in medical imaging technology.

131 111 90 89 153

Suitable β -emitting radioactive substances include I, Lu, Y, Sr, Sm,

188 186 131

Re and Re. Preferred β -emitting radioisotopes is I. Advantageously, the a-

153 211 212 212 emitting radioactive substance is seleceted from Sm, At, Bi and Pb. Suitable Auger electron-emitting substances include In, Gd, Pt, Ru, Os, Au, La, Ce, Ba, Cs, I, Te, Sb, Sn, Cd, Ag and Pd. Of these, In, Gd, Pt, Pd and Au are preferred.

The term "chelator" as used in the present invention refers to a chemical moiety that binds noncovalently to, or complexes with, one or more ions. Chelators can bind to lithium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and/or other biologically important metal ions, although in the present case it binds to a radioisotope or paramagnetic metal ion. Examples of chelators are well known in the art. Preferably, the chelator binds a metal cation. Suitable chelators are bipyridyl (bipy); terpyridyl (terpy); ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); crown ethers; aza-crown ethers; succinic acid; citric acid; salicylic acids; histidines; imidazoles; ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA); nitroloacetic acid; acetylacetonate (acac); sulfate; dithiocarbamates; carboxylates; alkyldiamines; ethylenediamine (en); diethylenetriamine (dien); nitrate; nitro; nitroso; (C ₆ Hs) ₂ PCH ₂ CH ₂ P(C ₆ H5) ₂ (diphos); glyme; diglyme; bis (acetylacetonate) ethylenediamine (acacen); 1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (DOT A), 1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane- 1,4,7-triacetic acid (D03A), l-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane- triacetic acid (OTTA), 1,4,7-triazacyclononanetriacetic acid (NOT A), 1,4,8,11- tetraazacyclotetradecanetetraacetic acid (TETA), DOTA-N-(2-aminoethyl) amide; DOTA-N- (2-aminophenethyl) amide; and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane.

In a first embodiment, R comprises a fluorophore.

In a second embodiment, R comprises a nuclear probe.

In a particular embodiment, R comprises a nuclear probe and a fluorophore. In another embodiment, R comprises two nuclear probes, for example a positron- emitting substance and a β -emitting substance or a gamma-emitting subtancce and a β -emitting substance.

Advantageouly, R can further comprise a lipophilic vector.

The term "lipohilic vector" in the present invention refers to any moiety that modifies the lipophilic affinity of the compound of the invention to allow crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Such definition includes brain targeting chemical delivery systems (BTCDS). BTCDS refers to chemical compounds covalently bound to the active compound. BTCDS are well known in the art {The Open Medicinal Chemistry Journal, 2008, 2, 97-100; J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 4775- 4782). Any suitable BTCDS, such as 1,4-dihydrotrigonellyl/trigonelline based systems, can be used in the compounds of the invention. The BTCDS modifies the lipophilic affinity of the compound of invention to allow crossing the BBB and is enzymatically hydrolysable once in the brain. For this purpose, the BTCDS is advantageously composed of a lipophilic transport moiety and conveniently choosen enzyme labile spacer. The lipophilic transport moiety is for example selected from 1 ,4-dihydrotrigonellyl, esters of highly lipophilic alcohol such as cholesterol. The enzyme labile spacer is for example an aminoacid spacer strategically selected to ensure the release of the labelled AChE or BChE inhibitor through specific peptidase once in the brain. Suitable aminoacid spacers are for example described by Prokai and Bodor {Science, 1992, 257, 1698; N. J. Med. Chem., 1996, 39, 4775; and Open Med. Chem. J, 2008, 2, 97-100,). Preferred spacers are for example the proline (PRO) or alanine (ALA) spacers.

Preferably, R is a moiety of formula:

-X-Y-Z

wherein,

X is Ci-C ₆ alkylene or C ₂ -C ₆ alkenylene; in a preferred embodiment, X is a linear Ci-C ₆ alkylene or a linear C ₂ -C ₆ alkenylene; more preferably, X is a linear Ci-C ₆ alkylene; even more preferably, X is a a linear C3-C6 alkylene; in another preferred embodiment, X is a branched Ci-C ₆ alkylene or a branched C ₂ -C ₆ alkenylene;

Y is a single bound, -0-, -C(O)-, -C(0)0- , -OC(O)-, -NH-N=C- - - N=C- -C=N-NH- -C=N-0- , -CH(Z')- -CH(CH ₂ Z')-CH ₂ -,

Z is a fluorophore or a nuclear probe; and

Z' is H, a lipophilic vector, a fluorophore or a nuclear probe.

The expression "Ci-C ₆ alkylene" represents any divalent radical of a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as— CH ₂ — , -(CH ₂ ) ₂ - -(CH ₂ ) ₃ - -(CH ₂ ) ₄ - -(CH ₂ ) ₅ - -(CH ₂ ) ₆ - -CH(CH ₃ )-CH ₂ - -CH ₂ -CH(CH ₃ )-, -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH(CH ₃ )-, -CH ₂ -CH(CH ₃ )-CH ₂ - or -CH(CH ₃ )-CH ₂ -CH ₂ -.

The expression "C ₂ -C ₆ alkenylene" represents any divalent radical of a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one double bound, such as -CH=CH- -CH=CH-CH ₂ - -CH ₂ -CH=CH- -CH=CH-CH ₂ -CH ₂ - -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH=CH- or -CH ₂ - CH=CH-CH ₂ -.

More preferably, R is selected from the group consisting of— (CH ₂ ) ₂ — Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₄ -Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₅ -Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₆ -Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH(Z')-Z,

-(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH(CH ₂ Z')-CH ₂ -Z,

N=N

N=N

-(CH^-N^-Z

N=N -(CH ₂ ) ₄ -

-(CH ₂₎₄ N^Z ^ I , ^ ^ _ _(CH2 ) ₂ _ _NH _ _N=C _ _Z?

-(CH ₂ ) ₂ -0-N=C-Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -C=N-NH-Z, -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -C=N-0-Z, wherein,

Z is a fluorophore or a nuclear probe; and

Z' is a lipohilic vector, a fluorophore or a nuclear probe.

In a first embodiment, the present invention concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula la:

wherein R, R ¹ , R ³ , R' ³ , R ^a , R ^b , R ^c and R ^d are as defined in formula I; preferably, R ^a , R ^b and R ^d are H and R, R ¹ , R ³ , R' ³ and R ^c are as defined in formula I;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In a first alternative of this embodiment, the present invention concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula Ia-1 :

(la-1 )

wherein R is as defined in formula I;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a second alternative of this embodiment, the present invention concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula Ia-2:

(la-2)

wherein R is as defined in formula I;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a third alternative of this embodiment, the present invention labelled Huprine derivatives of formula Ia-3:

(la-3)

wherein R is as defined in formula I; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a second embodiment, the present invention concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula lb:

(lb)

wherein R, R ¹ , R ³ , R' ³ , R ^a , R ^b , R ^c and R ^d are as defined in formula I; preferably, R ^a , R ^b and R ^d are H and R, R ¹ , R ³ , R' ³ and R ^c are as defined in formula I;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In an alternative of this embodiment, the present invention concerns labelled Huprine derivatives of formula Ib-1 :

(lb-1 )

wherein R is as defined in formula I;

harmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of:

(FLUO 5) (FLUO 6)

(PET 4)

(MRI 1 )

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The compounds of the invention are obtainable from appropriately fonctionalized Huprine derivatives described in European patent application EP 10305366.6. The compounds of the invention are therefore obtainable from a recursor of formula HUP according to the following scheme:

wherein R, R ¹ , R ² , R ^a , R ^b R ^c and R ^d are as defined above and R' is an appropriately functionalized moiety. The synthesis routes for obtaining the compound of formula I from the prescursor of formula HUP comprise common reactions well known to the skilled person. It includes for example nucleophilic substitution, click chemistry reactions or coupling reactions such as between aldehyde/hydrazine or aldehyde/oxamine coupling reactions. The skilled person would be able to determine the adequate precursor and the corresponding synthesis route to introduce the fluorophore or the radio labelnuclear probe.

The following table illustrates some possible synthesis routes for obtaining the compounds of formula I.

-(C1-C6 alkylene)-NH-NH ₂

-(C1-C6 alkylene)-NH-N=C-Z or

Z-CHO or

-(C1-C6 alkenylene)-NH-

-(C1-C6 alkenylene)-NH-N=C-Z NH ₂

-(C1-C6 alkylene)-0-NH ₂ -(C1-C6 alkylene)-0- N=C-Z or Z-CHO or

-(C1-C6 alkenylene)-0-NH ₂ -(C1-C6 alkenylene)-0-N=C-Z

-(C1-C6 alkylene)-CHO -(C1-C6 alkylene)-C=N-NH-Z or Z-NH-NH ₂ or

-(C1-C6 alkenylene)-CHO -(C1-C6 alkenylene)-C=N-NH-Z

-(C1-C6 alkylene)-CHO -(C1-C6 alkylene)-C=N-0- Z or Z-0-NH ₂ or

-(C1-C6 alkenylene)-CHO -(C1-C6 alkenylene)-C=N-0-Z

The compounds of formula I are inhibitors of AChE or BChE and therefore bind to AChE or BChE. These compounds may thus be useful for treatment, in vivo diagnosis and imaging of diseases and conditions in which the level of acetylcholine is affected. Such diseases or conditions include neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cognitive disorders, memory disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders and schizophrenic disorders, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, vascular dementia, fronto- temporal dementia, Lewy bodies dementia, Creutzfeld- Jacob disease, epilepsy, migraine, anxiety, panic, psychosis, hypersensitive syndrome and pain, or cancers. In particular, the compounds of formula I can be used for treatment, in vivo diagnosis and imaging of Alzheimer's disease.

Compounds of the invention are provided for use as imaging agent. In particular, the compounds of formula I are provided for use in medical imaging techniques including positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scintillation or fluorescence imaging. The skilled person can easily choose the appropriate fiuorophore or nuclear probe corresponding to the desired imaging technique.

Fluorescent imaging has the advantage of producing results very quickly, with lower cost and while avoiding the long exposure time required for the PET technique. Furthermore, there is no constraint related to time, radiation or the use of special isotopes of atoms. The fluorescent probes behave as "classical" chemical compounds synthesizable by all routes of organic chemistry, can be stored in large quantities and for long periods before being injected to the subject. Countless fluorescent probes and labeling techniques are available for all types of diseases and biological targets. However, with regard to AChE, their number is much smaller, and constraints remained using current methods. New probes with both good affinity and good selectivity for their target and interesting spectral characteristics are still necessary. Compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a fiuorophore are provided for use in in vivo or in vitro fluorescence imaging, for example in fluorescence endoscopic imaging. The fiuorophore is for example selected from fluoresceine derivatives (such as fluoresceine isothiocyanate (FITC)), coumarine derivatives (such as hydroxycoumarin, aminocoumarin and methoxycoumarin), indole derivatives, rhodamine derivatives (such as substituted rhodamine isothiocyanate (XRITC)), cyanine derivatives (such as allophycocyanin (APC)) and R- phycoerythrin (PE) or other commercially available fluorescent dyes such as the CF dyes, the FluoProbes dyes, the DyLight Fluors, the Oyester dyes, the Atto dyes, the HiLyte Fluors, and the Alexa Fluors. The fiuorophore is advantageously selected from cyanine derivatives, dansyl derivatives, coumarine derivatives, indole derivatives and rhodamine derivatives. For example, compounds of formula FLUOl, FLU02, FLU03, FLU04, FLU05, FLU06 and FLU07 can advantageously be used in fluorescence imaging.

Compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a positron-emitting radioisotopes, such as ⁶⁴ Cu, ⁴⁸ V, ⁵² Fe, ⁵⁵ Co, ^94m Tc, ⁶⁸ Ga ⁿ C, ¹³ N, ¹⁵ 0, ¹⁷ F, ¹⁸ F, ⁶⁴ Cu, ⁶² Cu, ⁷⁵ Br, ⁷⁶ Br or ¹²⁴ I, preferably ⁿ C, ¹³ N, ¹²⁴ I and ¹⁸ F, and more preferably ⁿ C and ¹⁸ F are suitable for use in PET imaging. In particular, the compound of formulae PET1, PET2, PET3 and PET4 can be advantageously used in PET imaging.

Compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a gamma-emitting radioisotopes, such as ^99m Tc, ^m In, ^113m In, ⁶⁷ Cu, ⁶⁷ Ga, ¹²³ I, ¹²⁵ I, ¹³¹ I or ⁷⁷ Br, preferably ¹²⁵ I and ^99m Tc are provided for use in SPECT imaging. For example, the compound of formula SPECT 1 can be advantageously used in SPECT imaging.

Compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a paramagnetic metal ion, such as Gd (III), Mn (II), Cu (II), Cr (III), Fe (III), Co (II), Er (II), Ni (II), Eu (III) or Dy (III), preferably Gd (III), Mn (II) or Fe (III), or a hyperpolarised NMR-

13 15 19 29 31 13

active nucleus, such as C, N, F, Si and P, preferably C are suitable for use in MRI imaging. In particular, the compound of formula MRIl can be advantageously used in MRI imaging.

The present invention also concerns a method for medical imaging, especially in vivo imaging, comprising the step of administering to a patient a compound of formula I to a mammal, such as a human, and obtaining an image with an apparatus detecting the radiation emitted by the administered compound. Depending on the labelled compound of formula I to be detected, the skilled person can select the appropriate imaging apparatus.

The compounds of formula I are inhibitors of the AChE or BChE and are therefore suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or conditions in which the level of acetylcholine is affected.

In a further aspect of the invention, the compounds of formula I are provided for use in radiotherapy. In that case, R comprises advantageously a β -emitting substance, an a-emitting substance or an Auger electron-emitting substance. Therefore, compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a β -emitting substance, an a-emitting substance or an Auger electron-emitting substance are used in the treatment of diseases or conditions in which the level of acetylcholine is affected. In a particular embodiment, compounds of formula I wherein R comprises a β - emitting substance, such as ¹³¹ I, ¹⁷⁷ Lu, ⁹⁰ Y, ⁸⁹ Sr, ¹⁵³ Sm, ¹⁸⁸ Re and ¹⁸⁶ Re, especially

131 I, an a-emitting substance, such as 153 Sm, 21 1 At, 212 Bi and 212 Pb, or an Auger electron-emitting substance, such as In, Gd, Pt, Ru, Os, Au, La, Ce, Ba, Cs, I, Te, Sb, Sn, Cd, Ag and Pd, especially In, Gd, Pt, Pd and Au, are used in the treatment of cancers. For example, the compound of formula RADl can advantageously be used in the treatment of such diseases.

When R comprises an Auger electron-emitting substance, the compound of formula I is advantageously associated with a radiation source. Preferably, the radiation source produces a photon (X- or γ-ray). Suitable radiation source comprises for example one or more radioisotope selected from ¹⁰³ Pd, ¹⁴⁵ Sm, ¹⁷⁰ Tm, ¹²⁵ I, ¹²⁷ I, ²³⁴ Th, ^93m Nb, ¹⁴⁰ Ba, ¹⁹⁵ Au, ¹⁴⁴ Ce, ^125m Te, ^95m Tc, ²⁴⁵ Am, ²⁵³ Eu, ¹⁸³ Re, ¹⁸⁵ W, ¹⁵⁹ Dy, ^127m Te, ¹⁶⁹ Yb, ¹⁰⁵ Ag, ^119m Sn, ¹⁷¹ Tm, ¹⁴⁵ Pm, ¹⁵³ Gd, ¹³³ Ba, ¹⁷⁴ Ln, ¹⁶³ Tm, ¹⁴⁷ Eu, ¹⁷⁵ Hf and ^97m Tc. In a particular embodiment, the radiation source can be implanted near or in the body region to be treated. In another embodiment, the radiation source is introduced in the compound of formula I itself, i.e. R further comprises a radiation source as defined above.

There is also provided a compound of formula I for use in the manufucture of a medicament.

The compounds of the invention are preferably administered in a pharmaceutical composition. A pharmaceutical composition is defined in the present invention as a formulation comprising a compound of formula I in a suitable form for administration to a mammal, such as a human. The pharmaceutical composition can be formulated for enteral or parenteral administration and their preparation are well known in the art. The composition is advantageously formulated for an intravenous administration. The pharmaceutical composition comprises an effective amount of the compound of formula I with conventional carriers and excipients appropriate for the type of administration. For example, intravenous formulations advantageously contain a steril aqueous medium, such as saline, physiological serum or plasma. Such pharmaceutical composition may optionally comprise further ingredient such as buffers, pharmaceutically acceptable solubilizers, stabilizers, antioxidants or bulking agents. The pharmaceutical composition is administred in an amount wich gives a reliable image and/or therapeutic effect, taking into account the nature of the disease or condition being investigated, size of the patient, and such other factors as would be apparent to a man skilled in the art.

Therefore the invention also concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, excipient or diluent.

The following examples illustrate method for preparing the compounds of the present invention and their use as imaging agent. These examples represent specific embodiments of the invention and are not intended as limiting the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 represents in vitro autoradiographies of rat brain slices after introduction of the compound PET1.

Fig. 2 represents an in vivo Micro-PET imaging of rat after administration of the compound PET1.

Fig 3 represents an in vivo PET image of PET1 biodistribution in anaesthetized cat showing a brain penetration (corronal planes and anatomical MRIs).

Example 1: preparation of fluoroHuprine of formula PET 1

The fluoroHuprine of formula PET 1 is obtained through the fluorination of the compound HUP 13 described in EP10305366.6:

[ ¹⁸ F]F was separated from ¹⁸ 0-enriched water using ion exchange resin (QMA light, Waters, ABX) eluted with a solution of potassium carbonate (2-3 mg) and Kryptofix 2.2.2 (22-24 mg) and K ₂ CO ₃ (4.5-5.5 mg) in water (50 μί) and acetonitrile (550 μί). The water was removed azeotropically with acetonitrile (4x500 μί) under a stream of nitrogen affording a dry residue of [Κ/Κ ₂₂₂ ¹⁸ F ^~ .

Precursor (4-6 mg) in acetonitrile (500 μί) was added to the dried [Κ/Κ ₂₂₂ ¹⁸ F ^" complex and the sealed reaction vial was heated at 120 °C for 10 min. The crude mixture was diluted with water and loaded on a CI 8 cartridge conditioned with ethanol and water and dried with air. Impurities were removed by rinsing with a solution of 25% acetonitrile in 75% water (6 mL). The final product was eluted by eluting with ethanol 50% in water (2 mL).

The product is characterized by coelution with its cold ¹⁹ F-fluorinated reference. Retention time: 22.90 min (ref: 21.86 min)

Example 2: in vitro autoradiography

The compound of formula PET 1 was introduced in a composition consisting of 90 wt% physiological serum and 10 wt% ethanol so as to obtain a radiation rate of 37 MBq/mL.

The composition was incubated on brain slices of rats. Autoradiography was performed on these samples. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River Laboratories) were used. All animals were kept in the animal facility (room temperature 22°C with a 12 h day-night cycle). All experiments were realised in accordance with European guidelines for care of laboratory animals (86/609 EEC) and were approved by the ethical animal use committee of the laboratory. The rat and cat in vitro autoradiography was performed similarly. After euthanasia by an overdose isoflurane inhalation, rat or cat brain was carefully removed and immediately frozen in 2-methylbutane cooled with dry ice (-29°C). Briefly, coronal sections (30 um thick) cut across the hippocampus, the raphe nuclei and the cerebellum were carried out using a -20°C-eryostat (Microm- Microtech), thaw-mounted on glass slides and allowed to air dry before storage at -80°C until used. The radiotracers PET 1 , the slides were allowed to reach ambient temperature and were then incubated for 20 min in Tris phosphate- buffered saline buffer (138 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KC1, pH adjusted to 7.6) containing 37 kBq/ml (1 μΟ/ΗΐΓ) of [ ^!8 F]-PET 1.

As shown in the in vitro radiography of Fig. 1, the striatum area appears in dark what shows that the compound can fix the striatum.

Example 3: in vivo PET imaging

The compound of formula PET 1 was introduced in a composition consisting of 90 wt% physiological serum and 10 wt% ethanol so as to obtain a radiation rate of 37 MBq/mL.

The composition was administrated by injection in a rat. A PET imaging of the brain of the rat was performed.

The ex vivo and in vivo micro-PET acquisitions were realized on a camera

ClearPET LYSO/LuYAP Phoswich scanner (Raytest) used in 3D mode. In the first part of the experiment, rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.25 g/kg i.p.) and an intravenous catheter was inserted in the caudal vein. PET 1 (74 MBq iv) was injected and the image is obtained on after an acquisition of 45 minutes.

The in vivo imaging (Fig. 2) shows that the compound of the invention can be detected in the brain of the rat. Ex vivo Micro-PET imaging and autoradiography of the brains of the rats also confirmed the presence of the compound PET1 in the striatum area. Example 4: in vivo PET imaging (in cat)

The compound of formula PET 1 was introduced in a composition consisting of 90 wt% physiological serum and 10 wt% ethanol so as to obtain a radiation rate of 150 MBq/mL.

The composition was administrated by injection in a cat. A PET imaging of the brain of the cat was performed.

The in vivo PET acquisitions were realized on a camera (Siemens HR+) to assess the in vivo behavior of PET 1. In the first part of the experiment, cats were anesthetized with ISOFLURANE (1.5% in the air.) and an intravenous catheter was inserted in the caudal vein. PET 1 (74 MBq iv) was injected and the image is obtained on after an acquisition of 60 minutes.

The in vivo imaging (Fig. 3) shows that the compound of the invention can be detected in the brain of the cat.

Exam le 5: preparation of FLUQ3

A mixture of azide HUP 32 described in EP10305366.6 (21.4 mg, 58 μπωΐ), Prop-2-yn-l-yl [7-(dimethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl] acetate (COUl) (free base, 20.0 mg, 70 μιηοΐ) and copper iodide (4.4 mg, 23 μιηοΐ) in acetonitrile (1 mL) was stirred at r.t. with light protection for 24 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness then purified by preparative HPLC (system A) to afford the desired huprine FLU03 as fluorescent yellow solid (42.7 mg, 64%).

1H NMR (300 MHz, MeOD): δ = 1.15-1.34 (m, 2H, His), 1.52-1.68 (m, 2H, Hi ₆ ), 1.86-2.0 (m, 5H, H _M , H _M , ¾<>, Hi ₃ , Hi ₀ ), 2.42 (dd, J = 17.2 Hz, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H, Hi ₃ ), 2.78-2.82 (m, 1H, H ₇ ), 2.85 (d, J = 18.0 Hz, 1H, H ₆ ), 3.03 (s, 6H, ¾i, H ₃₂ ), 3.19 (dd, J = 17.9 Hz, J = 5.1 Hz, 1H, H ₆ ), 3.33 (m, 1H, H„), 3.81 (s, 2H, H ₂₂ ), 4.22 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 2H, Η _π ), 5.22 (s, 2H, H ₂₀ ), 5.55 (d, J = 4.7 Hz, 1H, ¾), 5.97 (s, 1H, H ₂₄ ), 6.46 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, H ₂₇ ), 6.61 (dd, J = 9.0 Hz, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, H ₂₉ ), 7.36 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H, H ₃₀ ), 7.54 (dd, J = 9.0 Hz, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H, H ₂ ), 7.68 (d, J= 1.9 Hz, 1H, H ₄ ), 7.81 (s, 1H, ¾), 8.31 (d, J= 9.0 Hz, 1H, Hi).

¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, MeOD): δ = 25.0 (Ci ₅ ), 27.5 (Cn), 28.1 (C ₇ ), 29.3 (Cio), 30.2 (Cie), 33.8 (Ci ₃ ), 35.9 (C ₆ ), 37.1 (Ci ₄ ), 38.3 (C ₂₂ ), 40.2 (2C, C ₃₀ , C ₃ i), 50.9 (d ₇ ), 59.0 (C ₂₀ ), 98.7 (C ₂₇ ), 109.5 (Ci _2a ), 110.5 (2C, C ₂₄ , C ₂₉ ), 115.2 (C„ _a or C _30a ), 115.3 (Ciiaor C _30a ), 119.2 (C ₄ ), 125.5 (C ₈ ), 125.9 (C _26a or C _u or Ci ₉ ), 126.3 (Ci), 126.8 (C ₃₀ ), 127.7 (C ₂ ), 134.0 (C ₃ ), 139.4 (C ₉ ), 140.4 (C _4a ), 151.4 (Ci ₃ ), 153.0 (C ₂₈ ), 154.7 (C _26a or C _n or Ci ₉ ), 157.0 (C _26a or C _n or Ci ₉ ), 157.1 (C _5a ), 164.0

MS (ESI+): m/z (%): 655.27 (32), 653.27 (100) [M+H] ⁺

HPLC: tr=21.4 (purity >95%).

The fluorescence properties of FLU03 have been evaluated and are described below :

- max absorption = 249, 340, 389 nm with relative intensities 100, 35, 34.

- extinction coefficients : ε(λ=375 nm) = 9210 L.moi '.cm ¹ ; ε(λ=340 nm) = 10590 L.mol^.cm ¹ ; ε(λ= 249 nm) = 30480 L.mol^.cm ¹ .

- max excitation = 375 nm

- max emission = 480 nm

- limit emission wavelenghts : ληώι = 420 nm and max = 620 nm

- quantum yield (water) : Φ= 6,1 %.