The discovery of the potent and selective prostaglandin D
2 (PGD
2) receptor (DP) antagonist [(3
R)-4-(4-chlorobenzyl)-7-fluoro-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocyclopenta[
b]indol-3-yl]-acetic acid
(13) ispresented. Initial lead antagonists
6 and
7 were found to be potent and selective DP antagonists (DP
Ki =2.0 nM for each); however, they both suffered from poor pharmacokinetic profiles, short half-lives andhigh clearance rates in rats. Rat bile duct cannulation studies revealed that high concentrations of parentdrug were present in the biliary fluid (
Cmax = 1100
M for
6 and 3900
M for
7). This pharmacokineticliability was circumvented by replacing the 7-methylsulfone substituent present in
6 and
7 with a fluorineatom resulting in antagonists with diminished propensity for biliary excretion and with superiorpharmacokinetic profiles. Further optimization led to the discovery of the potent and selective DP antagonist
13.