Discovery of N‐(2‐(Benzylamino)‐2‐oxoethyl)benzamide analogs as a novel scaffold of pancreatic β‐cell protective agents against endoplasmic reticulum stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and death play important roles in the development of diabetes. The 1,2,3-triazole derivative 1 is one of only a few structures that have thus far been identified that protect β cells against ER stress. However, this compound has narrow activity range and limited aqueous solubility. To overcome these, we designed and synthesized a new scaffold in which the triazole pharmacophore was substituted with a glycine-like amino acid. Structure-activity relationship studies on this scaffold identified a N-(2-(Benzylamino)-2-oxoethyl)benzamide analog WO5m that possesses β-cell protective activity against ER stress with much improved potency (maximal activity at 100% with EC50 at 0.1 ± 0.01 µm) and water solubility. Identification of this novel β-cell protective scaffold thus provides a new promising modality for the treatment of diabetes.