Pharmacology of endothelin receptor antagonists ABT-627, ABT-546, A-182086 and A-192621: ex vivo and in vivo studies

Endothelins (ETs), 21-amino-acid peptides involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, bind to ETA and ETB receptors to initiate their effects. Based on the same core structure, we have developed four small-molecule ET receptor antagonists, ABT-627 (atrasentan), ABT-546, A-182086 and A-192621, which exhibit differences in selectivity for ETA and ETB receptors. In this report, we compare the efficacy, potency and pharmacokinetic properties of these four antagonists, including potency in inhibiting ET-1- or Sarafotoxin 6c-induced vessel constriction in isolated arteries and efficacy in antagonizing ET-1-, big ET-1- or Sarafotoxin 6c-induced pressor responses in rats.