Contilistat, a new polyfunctionalized histone deacetylase inhibitor, showing potential capacity to inhibit cholinesterase/monoamine oxidase enzymes, and modulate histamine 3, sigma 1, 5-HT6 and dopamine 3 receptors for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

The present work describes the design, and synthesis of the polyfunctionalized indole derivative Contilistat for the treatment of a broad diversity of cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases such as glioblastoma, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Contilistat has been designed as a Multi-Target-Directed (MTD) small molecule, able to inhibit HDAC6, cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase enzymes, and modulate histamine 3, sigma 1, 5-HT6, and dopamine 3 receptors. Contilistat has been submitted to biological evaluation in suitable in vitro and vivo glioblastoma and AD models.