A novel necroptosis inhibitor-necrostatin-21 and its SAR study

An initial structure-activity relationship study of the novel necroptosis inhibitor Nec-21 was described. Any changes of the tetracyclic scaffold were detrimental for the activity. Introduction of a substituent to 7 or 8 position (e.g., cyano or methoxy group, respectively), would increase the activity. The 7 and 8-position disubstituted compound 17b was 35-fold as potent as the lead, while EC50 reached 14 nM.