Discovery of a Potent SARM1 Base-Exchange Inhibitor with In Vivo Efficacy

Abstract

Sterile alpha and TIR Motif Containing 1 (SARM1) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) hydrolase that plays a central role in programmed axonal degeneration. Axonal degeneration has been linked to neurodegenerative and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and peripheral neuropathies. Therefore, developing potent and selective SARM1 inhibitors could be an effective strategy to treat these disorders. We present herein the structure-guided discovery of two novel SARM1 inhibitors, 7 and 35. Compounds 7 and 35 are potent inhibitors across assays and possess favorable ADMET properties. When tested in vivo, compound 7 showed efficacy after oral dosing in a mouse model of peripheral nerve injury by decreasing plasma neurofilament light (NfL) levels at 50 mg/kg compared with vehicle-treated control mice, holding promise for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders.