Atomic-level structure of the amorphous drug atuliflapon via NMR crystallography

Abstract

We determine the complete atomic-level structure of the amorphous form of the drug atuliflapon, a 5-lipooxygenase activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor, via chemical-shift-driven NMR crystallography. The ensemble of preferred structures allows us to identify a number of specific conformations and interactions that stabilize the amorphous structure. These include preferred hydrogen-bonding motifs with water and with other drug molecules, as well as conformations of the cyclohexane and pyrazole rings that stabilize structure by indirectly allowing for optimization of hydrogen bonding.