NZ753451B2

NZ753451B2 - Combinations comprising positive allosteric modulators or orthosteric agonists of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 and their use

Info

Publication number: NZ753451B2
Application number: NZ753451A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Roger Francis Bone; Marc Andre Ceusters; Nunez Jose Maria Cid; Brian D Klein; Hilde Lavreysen; Stefan Maria Christiaan Pype; Suarez Andres Avelino Trabanco; Roy E Twyman; Osselaer Nancy Eulalie Sylvain Van; H Steven White
Original assignee: Janssen Pharmaceutica Nv
Priority date: 2014-01-21
Filing date: 2015-01-20
Publication date: 2021-09-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to combinations comprising a positive allosteric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand. Specifically, combinations of the SV2A ligands levetiracetam, brivaracetam, or selectracetam are combined with the compounds LY-404039 or LY-2140023. or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand. Specifically, combinations of the SV2A ligands levetiracetam, brivaracetam, or selectracetam are combined with the compounds LY-404039 or LY-2140023.

Description

COMBINATIONS COMPRISING POSITIVE ALLOSTERIC TORS OR ORTHOSTERIC AGONISTS OF METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATERGIC RECEPTOR SUBTYPE 2 AND THEIR USE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to combinations comprising a positive allosteric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an teric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate f, and a ic vesicle protein 2A ") ligand.

BACKGROUND OF THE ION Epilepsy describes a condition in which a person has ent seizures due to a chronic, underlying process. Epilepsy refers to a clinical phenomenon rather than a single disease entity, since there are many forms and causes of epilepsy. Using a deﬁnition of epilepsy as two or more unprovoked es, the nce of epilepsy is estimated at approximately 0.3 to 0.5 t in different populations throughout the world, with the prevalence of epilepsy estimated at 5 to 10 people per 1000.

An essential step in the evaluation and management of a t with a seizure is to determine the type of seizure that has occurred. The main characteristic that distinguishes the different categories of seizures is r the seizure activity is partial (synonymous with focal) or lized.

Partial seizures are those in which the seizure activity is restricted to discrete areas of the cerebral cortex. If consciousness is fully preserved during the seizure, the clinical manifestations are considered relatively simple and the seizure is termed a simple- partial seizure. If consciousness is impaired, the seizure is termed a complex-partial seizure. An ant additional subgroup comprises those seizures that begin as partial seizures and then spread diffusely throughout the cortex, which are known as partial seizures with ary generalization. lized seizures involve difﬁJse regions of the brain simultaneously in a bilaterally symmetric fashion. Absence or petit mal seizures are characterized by sudden, brief lapses of consciousness without loss of postural control. Atypical absence seizures typically include a longer duration in the lapse of consciousness, less abrupt onset and cessation, and more obvious motor signs that may include focal or lateralizing features.

Generalized tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures, the main type of generalized seizures, are characterized by abrupt onset, t warning. The initial phase of the seizure is usually tonic contraction of muscles, impaired respiration, a marked enhancement of sympathetic tone leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and pupillary size.

After 10-20 s, the tonic phase of the e typically evolves into the clonic phase, produced by the superimposition ofperiods of muscle tion on the tonic muscle contraction. The periods of relaxation progressively increase until the end of the ictal phase, which usually lasts no more than 1 min. The postictal phase is characterized by onsiveness, muscular ﬂaccidity, and excessive salivation that can cause rous breathing and partial airway obstruction. Atonic seizures are characterized by sudden loss ofpostural muscle tone lasting 1-2 s. Consciousness is brieﬂy impaired, but there is usually no postictal confusion. Myoclonic seizures are characterized by a sudden and brief muscle contraction that may involve one part of the body or the entire body.

The synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") has been identiﬁed as a broad spectrum anticonvulsant target in models of partial and generalized epilepsy. Studies med in animal models and human tissue suggest that changes in the expression of SV2A are implicated in epilepsy (for a review see for instance: (a) Mendoza—Torreblanca et al.

"Synaptic vesicle protein 2A: basic facts and role in synaptic ﬁanction" European Journal ofNeuroscience 2013, pp. 1-11; (b) ki RM, et al. "Targeting SV2A for Discovery ofAntiepileptic Drugs". In: Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, et al., editors. Jasper's Basic isms of the Epilepsies [Internet]. 4th edition. Bethesda (MD): al Center for Biotechnology ation (US); 2012. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK98183/).

The exact role of SV2A remains unclear but studies suggest that s in the expression of SV2A affect synaptic on (Nowack et al. "Levetiracetam reverses synaptic deﬁcits produced by overexpression of SV2A" PLoS One 2011, Volume 6 (12), e29560). It has also been ted that SV2A is a key player in exocytosis and is involved in neurotransmission (Crowder et al. "Abnormal neurotransmission in mice lacking synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A)" Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1999, 96, pp. 15268-15273) and studies in out mice suggest that lack of SV2A results in an imbalance between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission (Venkatesan et al. "Altered balance between excitatory and tory inputs onto CA pyramidal neurons from SV2A-deficient but not SV2B-def1cient mice" J Neurosci Res 2012, 90, pp. 2317-2327). Decreased expression of SV2A may be a consequence of seizure activity and may be involved in the progression of epilepsy (van Vliet et al. "Decreased expression of synaptic e n 2A, the binding site for levetiracetam, during epileptogenesis and chronic sy" Epilepsia 2009, 50, pp. 422-433; Feng et al.

"Down-regulation of synaptic e protein 2A in the anterior temporal neocortex of patients with intractable epilepsy" J Mol Neurosci 2009, 39, pp. 354-359; Toering et al.

"Expression patterns of ic vesicle protein 2A in focal cortical dysplasia and TSC- cortical tubers" Epilepsia 2009, 50, pp. 1409-1418) and epileptogenesis in patients with brain tumours (de Groot et al. "Expression of synaptic vesicle protein 2A in epilepsy- associated brain tumors and in the peritumoral cortex" Neuro-Oncology 2010, 12, pp. 265-273).

SV2A ligands include levetiracetam (Lynch et al. "The synaptic vesicle protein SV2A is the binding site for the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2004, Vol. 101, pp. 9861-9866), acetam and seletracetam (Kaminski RM, et al.

"Targeting SV2A for Discovery of Antiepileptic Drugs". In: Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, et al., s. 's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies [Internet]. 4th n. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2012. Available from: /www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK98183/; Nowack et al. iracetam reverses synaptic deﬁcits produced by overexpression of SV2A" PLoSone December 2011, Vol. 6(12), e29560).

Levetiracetam, (-)-(S)-(x-ethyloxo-l-pyrrolidine acetamide or (S)(2- oxopyrrolidin- l -yl)butanamide, (EXO is an antiepileptic drug. It showed no activity in traditional acute models (maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol seizure tests) but was found potent in c epilepsy models and in genetic models of generalized epilepsy. It has shown a high safety margin compared to other antiepileptic drugs (Klitgaard "Levetiracetam: the preclinical proﬁle of a new class of antiepileptic drugs" Epilepsia 2001, 42 (Supplement 4), pp. 13-18). It is commercialized under the trademark Keppra®, available as tablets, as an oral solution, and as a concentrate made up into a solution for infusion. Keppra® has been approved in Europe as a erapy in ts from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy, in the treatment of partial-onset seizures (ﬁts) with or without secondary generalization and as an add-on therapy for use with other anti-epileptic drugs in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or t generalization in patients from 1 month of age; nic seizures in patients from 12 years of age with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy; and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients from 12 years of age with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (www.ema.europa.eu). Keppra® has also been approved in the USA as an add-on y for the treatment of partial onset seizures in patients from 1 month of age; myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy; and y generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Keppra XR®, available as extended-release tablets, has been approved in the USA for the add-on treatment of partial onset seizures in patients 16 years of age and older with epilepsy (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm).

Brivaracetam, the 4-n—propyl analog of levetiracetam, (2S)[(4R)-oxopropyl— pyrrolidinyl]butanamide, NH2 is in clinical trials and investigated as monotherapy in partial onset seizures and post- herpetic gia and as add-on therapy in refractory partial onset es, Unverricht-Lundborg disease in adolescents and adults and in photosensitive epilepsy (www.clinicaltrialsgov). 2O Seletracetam, (2S)[(4S)(2,2,-diﬂuorovinyl)oxo-pyrrolidinyl]butanamide, NH2 has been tested in clinical trials.

Processes for the preparation of the three nds are known in the literature. For instance, processes for making racetam are disclosed for instance, in EP 0 162 036 and in GB 2 225 322. A process for the preparation of Brivaracetam is disclosed for instance in W0 01/62726. A process for the preparation of Seletracetam is known for instance from W02005/121082. Alternative processes for making the three compounds are disclosed in EPl806339.

Antiepileptic drugs have found ness in neurological and psychiatric disorders, including neuropathic pain, migraine, essential tremor and in anxiety, schizophrenia and r disorder (Landmarck "Antiepileptic drugs in non-epilepsy disorders. ons between isms of action and clinical efficacy" CNS Drugs 2008, Vol. 22(1), pp. 27-47; Calabresi et al. "Antiepileptic drugs in migraine: from clinical aspects to cellular mechanisms" Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 2007, Vol. 28(4), pp. 188- 195; ki and Loscher "The neurobiology of antiepileptic drugs for the treatment ofnonepileptic conditions" Nat Med 2004, Vol. 10, pp. 685-692).

Levetiracetam has been found effective or potentially effective in a wide-spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders including mood disorders (Muralidharan and Bhagwagar "Potential of levetiracetam in mood disorders: a preliminary review" CNS Drugs 2006, Vol. 20, pp. 969-979; Mula et al. "The role of anticonvulsant drugs in anxiety disorders: a critical review of the evidence" J Clin Pshycopharmac012007, Vol. 27, pp. 263-272), anxiety disorders (Kinrys et al. "Levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy for refractory anxiety disorders" J Clin Psychiatry 2007, Vol. 68, pp. 1010-1013; Zhang et al. "Levetiracetam in social : a placebo controlled pilot study" J Psychopharmac012005, Vol. 19, pp. 3; Kinrys et al. "Levetiracetam for treatment-refractory posttraumatic stress disorder" J Clin atry 2006, Vol. 67, pp. 21 1-214), pain (Enggaard et al. "Specif1c effect of racetam in mental human pain models" Eur J Pain 2006, Vol. 10, pp. 193-198; Dunteman "Levetiracetam as an adjunctive analgesic in neoplastic plexopathies: case series and commentary" J Pain Palliative Care Pharmacother 2005, Vol. 19, pp. 35-43; Price "Levetiracetam in the treatment ofneuropathic pain: three case studies" Clin J Pain 2004, Vol. 20, pp. 33-36), movement disorders (Bushara et al. "The effect of levetiracetam on ial tremor" Neurology 2005, Vol. 64, pp. 1078-1080; McGavin et al "Levetiracetam as a treatment for tardive dyskinesia: a case report" Neurology 2003, Vol. 61, pp. 419; Woods et al.

"Effects of levetiracetam on tardive dyskinesia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study" J Clin Psychiatry 2008, Vol. 69, pp. 546-554; Zivkovic et al.

"Treatment of tardive dyskinesia with levetiracetam in a transplant t" Acta Neurol Scand 2008, Vol. 117, pp. 351-353; Striano et al. "Dramatic response to levetiracetam in post-ischaemic Holmes’ tremor" J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007, Vol. 78, pp. 43 8-439) and it is suspected to show potentially beneficial effects in cognitive ﬁanctioning (Piazzini et al. iracetam: An improvement of attention and of oral ﬂuency in patients with partial sy" Epilepsy Research 2006, Vol. 68, 8; de Groot et al. "Levetiracetam improves verbal memory in high-grade glioma patients" Neuro-oncology 2013, Vol. 15(2), pp. 216-223; Bakker et al. "Reduction of hippocampal hyperactivity improves cognition in amnestic mild cognitive ment" Neuron 2012, Vol. 74, pp. 467-474; for a review: Eddy et al. "The cognitive impact of antiepileptic drugs" Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2011, Vol. 4(6), pp. 385-407 and references cited therein; s iracetam in the ent of childhood epilepsy" Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2007, Vol. 3(4), pp. 409-421), and behavioral symptoms in dementia (Dolder and Nealy "The efﬁcacy and safety of newer anticonvulsants in patients with dementia" Drugs Aging 2012, Vol. 29(8), pp. 627- 63 7). Animal data and some preliminary clinical trials suggest that levetiracetam have potential for restraining raumatic epilepsy, such as those caused by status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke, and it appears to have neuroprotective effects. The potential of levetiracetam in easing epileptogenesis or cognitive dysﬁJnction remains to be ascertained by conclusive animal and clinical studies (for reviews: Loscher and Brandt "Prevention or modiﬁcation of epileptogenesis after brain insults: experimental ches and ational research" Pharmacol Rev 2010, Vol. 62, 668-700; Shetty "Prospects of levetiracetam as a neuroprotective drug against status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury and stroke" Front. Neur.2013, 4: 172. Doi: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00172) as it has yed antiepileptogenic activity in the kindling model in mice and rats. It has also been suggested that levetiracetam ts glutamate release (Lee et al. "Levetiracetam inhibits glutamate transmission through presynaptic P/Q-type m channels on the granule cells of the dentate gyrus" British Journal of Pharmacology 2009, Vol. 158, pp. 1 75 3 - 1 762).

Seletracetam and Brivaracetam, have been found to reduce the severity of dystonia in the dtSZ mutant hamster model and may be helpful in some patients suffering from dyskinetic and dystonic movement disorders (Hamann et al. "Brivaracetam and seletracetam, two new SV2A ligands, improve paroxysmal dystonia in the dtSZ mutant hamster" European Journal of Pharmacology 2008, Vol. 601, pp. ).

Positive allosteric modulators ofmGluR2 have emerged recently as promising novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of several CNS disorders, including epilepsy, and some mGluR2 PAMs are currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia, and y-depression (www.clinicaltrials.gov, see for ce: JNJ— 4041 1813/ADX71 149 by Addex Therapeutics and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). The initial tion that drugs that dampen glutamatergic ission may be efficacious in the treatment of epilepsy came from acute non-clinical studies with mixed mGlu2/3 receptor ts (Moldrich et al. "Glutamate metabotropic receptors as targets for drug therapy in epilepsy" Eur J Pharmacol. 2003, Vol. 476, pp. 3-l6). LY379268 and LY389795, two mGlu2/3 receptor agonists, were found ineffective in blocking MES seizures up to doses producing motor impairment but were found effective in the 6 Hz model in a ependent manner (Barton et al. "Comparison ofthe effect of glutamate receptor modulators in the 6 Hz and maximal electroshock seizure models" Epilepsy Research 2003, Vol. 56, pp. 17-26). Continued administration of an mGlu2/3 agonist paradoxically induced seizure activity in long-term toxicology studies evich et al. acy and tolerability of an mGlu2/3 agonist in the ent of generalized anxiety disorder" Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008, Vol. 33(7), pp. 1603- ). This paradoxical effect may be related to agonist-induced changes in the sensitivity ofthe or system (tachyphylaxis), but has not been reported r in preclinical models of epilepsy. Positive allosteric modulators, in contrast, modulate ongoing neurotransmission but are not directly stimulatory, thereby reducing the risk for hylaxis.

Prior to seizure activity, increases in extracellular glutamate are measured in human hippocampus and the increase is sustained during epileptogenic activity g and Spencer "Extracellular ampal glutamate and spontaneous seizure in the conscious human brain" Lancet 1993, Vol. 341(8861), pp. 0), thus lending t to the idea that a reduction in ate levels may be of beneﬁt in the treatment of epilepsy. In fact, during seizure activity glutamate levels increase to ially neurotoxic levels. Seizure activity results in ssive structural damage in human brain inducing further abnormalities in glutamate metabolism (Petroff et al.

"Glutamate-glutamine cycling in the epileptic human hippocampus" Epilepsia 2002, Vol. 43(7), pp. 703-10). Thus, an mGluR2 positive allosteric modulator or an mGluR2 orthosteric agonist may be ed to protect against seizure-induced neuronal damage.

WO2009/033704 and WO2010/130424 disclose mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators, uses thereof and processes for synthesizing the compounds.

W01997/18199 and W02003/104217 disclose excitatory amino acid receptor modulator compounds that later were shown to have mGlu2/3 orthosteric agonist activity (see for example Rorick-Kehn et al. (2007) The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental therapeutics Vol. 321, No. 1, pp. 308-317), r scientific and patent literature disclose additional examples of compounds having mGlu2/3 orthosteric agonist activity, and W02008/150233 discloses compounds with mGluR2 allosteric activator activity.

Currently ble anti-epileptic drugs do not solely affect glutamatergic transmission.

Their mechanism of action is generally conceptualized as altering the balance between excitatory (glutamate-mediated) and inhibitory (GABA-mediated) transmission nessen Landmark "Antiepileptic drugs in non-epilepsy disorders: relations between mechanisms of action and al efficacy" CNS Drugs 2008, Vol. 22(1), pp. 27-47).

A significant limiting factor in the use of SV2A ligands is tolerability and side-effect profile. For example the effective dose of levetiracetam for l onset seizures is dosed at 1000 mg, 2000 mg, and 3000 mg, given as twice-daily. The side effects reported for levetiracetam include aggressive or angry behavior, anxiety, change in personality, chills, cough or hoarseness, crying, depersonalization, diarrhea, dry mouth, euphoria, fever, general feeling of discomfort or s, he, hyperventilation, irregular heartbeats, irritability, joint pain, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, mental depression, muscle aches and pains, nausea, painful or difficult urination, paranoia, quick to react or overreact emotionally, rapidly changing moods, restlessness, g, shivering, ess of breath, sleepiness or unusual ness, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, sweating, trouble sleeping, unusual tiredness or weakness and vomiting. Thus, there is still a need to e an effective ent with a lower effective dose of racetam and a more favourable side effect profile for the treatment of epilepsy and related disorders, not only in the adult but also in the pediatric population.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a particular aspect, the present invention provides a combination comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand selected from the group consisting of levetiracetam, brivaracetam and seletracetam; and (b) an orthosteric agonist of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound selected from 1) LY-404039 S H R O H S OH S O O or a salt or a solvate thereof; and [FOLLOWED BY PAGE 8a] - 8a - 2) LY-2140023 or a salt or a solvate thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1A and B: Dose response for the 6Hz 44mA ED50 determination for the Co. No. 2 and LEV alone and in combination. Figure 1A: Co. No. 2 increases the potency and efficacy of levetiracetam ln the 6Hz (44mA) test. Figure 1B Levetiracetam increases the y of Co. No. 2 In the 6 Hz (44mA) test.

Figure 2: Isobolographic is for the combination of Co. No. 1 with levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) assay. Initial ED50 values (shown below) were determined for both Co. No. 1 and LEV (data points on x- and y-axes; filled diamonds). The theoretical line of additivity connects the calculated ED50 values for the two compounds (solid black line).

Theoretical ED50 (+ SEM) for three fixed dose ratio combinations (LEV: Co. No. 1) are plotted: 1:3 – filled squares/solid black line, 1:1 – filled upward triangles/solid black line, and 3:1 – filled downward triangles/solid black line. Experimental treatment doses were initially derived from theoretical values and adjusted according to observed s. Experimentallydetermined ED50 (+ SEM) [FOLLOWED BY PAGE 9] values for each fixed dose-ratio combination are also shown: 1:3’ — open s/dotted line, 1:1’ — open upward triangles/dotted line, and 3 :1’ — open downward triangles/dotted line. isons between theoretical and experimentally-determined ED50 values were compared using a t-test (***P<0.001). N=8 per group. In Figure 2, the ratio ofLEV to Co. No. 1 is depicted as follows: LEV : Co. No. 1 ratio I 1:3 Ar 1:l —V— 3:1 --E|-- 1:3’ "ﬁn 1:1’ ED50 (LEV) = 345 mg/kg 85) peritoneally, "Vu 3:1’ i.p.) ED50 (Co. No. 1) = 10.2 mg/kg (3.1-12.4) (s.c.) Figure 3: Combination Studies for Co. No. 25-3 with levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz Assay (44 mA). At a dose of 10 mg/kg s.c., Co. No. 25-3 increases the potency of LEV, leading to an approximate 70-fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship.

Figure 4: Combination Studies for Co. No. 2-21 with levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6 Hz Assay (44 mA). At a dose of 10 mg/kg s.c., Co. No. 2-21 increases the potency ofLEV, g to an approximate 35-fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship.

Figure 5: Combination Studies for Co. No. 6—b with levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6 Hz Assay (44 mA). At a dose of 10 mg/kg p.o., Co. No. 6-b increases the potency of LEV, leading to an approximate 100-fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship.

Figure 6: Combination Studies for LY-404039 with levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz 2O Assay (44mA). At a dose of 5 mg/kg s.c., 039 increases the y ofLEV, leading to an approximate 27-fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a combination comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic or subtype 2 R2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.

In a ular embodiment, the invention as described herein relates to a pharmaceutical combination, in particular a pharmaceutical combination product, comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle n 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 R2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof; (c) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In a ﬁarther embodiment, the invention relates to the combination described herein for use as a medicament.

A further embodiment of this invention relates to the use of the combination described herein for the cture of a medicament or a pharmaceutical product for the treatment or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or ant headache and bipolar and related disorders.

A further embodiment of this invention s to the use of the combination bed herein for the manufacture of a ment or a pharmaceutical product for neuroprotection.

A further embodiment of this invention relates to the use of the combination described herein for the cture of a medicament or a pharmaceutical product for the prevention of epileptogenesis.

A further embodiment relates to the ent or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; and bipolar and related disorders of a subject comprising administering concurrently or sequentially to the subject in need thereof a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and a positive allosteric tor ("PAM") of tropic atergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, in amounts that would be therapeutically effective when the SVZA ligand and mGluR2 nd are administered together.

A r embodiment relates to a combination as described herein for neuroprotection; or to a combination as described herein for use in neuroprotection.

A further embodiment relates to a combination as described herein for the prevention of epileptogenesis; or to a combination as described herein for use in the prevention of epileptogenesis.

IO In a further embodiment the invention relates to a method of treating or preventing epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; bipolar and related disorders in patients comprising administering a ﬁxed dose combination of (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SVZA") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate f, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor e 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a e thereof, in s that would be therapeutically effective when the SVZA ligand and mGluR2 compound are administered together.

In a ﬁarther embodiment the invention relates to a method of neuroprotection with a combination as d herein.

In a ﬁarther ment the invention relates to a method of pileptogenesis with a combination as defined herein.

A r embodiment relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; bipolar and related disorders said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a combination or a combination product comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle n 2A ("SVZA") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a e thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically able salt or a solvate thereof, to a t in need thereof, such as a warm-blooded animal, in ular a human.

A further embodiment relates to a method oprotection, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a combination or a combination product comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ; and (b) a ve allosteric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate f, to a subject in need thereof, such as a warm-blooded animal, in particular a human.

A further embodiment relates to a method of anti-epileptogenesis, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a combination or a ation product comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic atergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, to a subject in need thereof, such as a warm-blooded animal, in particular a human.

In an additional embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical product or a commercial package comprising a combination ing to the invention as described herein, in particular together with instructions, for aneous, separate or sequential use thereof in the treatment or prevention of sy and related ers; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache bipolar; and related disorders.

In an additional embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical t or a commercial package comprising a combination according to the invention as described , in particular together with instructions, for simultaneous, te or sequential use thereof in neuroprotection.

In an additional embodiment, the present invention relates to a ceutical product or a commercial package sing a combination according to the ion as described herein, in particular together with instructions, for simultaneous, separate or sequential use thereof in pileptogenesis.

In a further embodiment the invention relates to a combination comprising a quantity which is jointly therapeutically effective against epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; bipolar and related disorders; of (a) a ic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically able carrier.

In a ﬁarther embodiment the invention relates to a combination comprising a quantity which is y eutically effective as neuroprotectant, of (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic atergic receptor e 2 R2") compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor 2O subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In a further embodiment the invention relates to a combination comprising a quantity which is jointly therapeutically effective in the prevention of epileptogenesis, of (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric modulator ) of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor e 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a ceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically able salt or a solvate f, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable r. 3O In a ﬁarther embodiment, the invention relates to the use of (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SV2A") ligand; and (b) a positive allo steric tor ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound or a ceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or an orthosteric agonist of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound or a pharmaceutically able salt or a solvate thereof, for the preparation of a combination product according to the present invention.

The (b) components of the combination of the invention are in l referred to herein as "mGluR2 compounds" or "mGluR2 onist compounds", or "positive allosteric modulator of mGluR2/mGluR2 orthosteric agonist compound" meaning that the compounds have mainly activity at the metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2, and are in particular selected from positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2, and orthosteric ts of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor e 2. A skilled person will be familiar with the large homology ofmGluR2 and mGluR3, due to which some mGluR2 orthosteric agonists also display activity as mGluR3 orthosteric agonists. Such is the case for example, of (-)-(1R,4S,5S,6S)—4-aminosulfonylbicyclo[3 . l .0]—hexane-4,6- dicarboxylic acid (also known as LY-404,039 [CAS 6353185]), with a K = 149 nM (mGlu2 receptor) and K1- : 92 nM (mGlu3 receptor), lOO-fold selectivity for mGlu2 and mGlu3 over mGlu4a, -6, -7a, and -8a, and no activity at mGlula and mGluSa (Rorick-Kehn et al. (2007) The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental 2O Therapeutics Vol. 321, No. 1, pp. 308—317). The term "mGluR2 compounds" or "mGluR2 PAM/agonist compounds", or ive allosteric tor of mGluR2/mGluR2 orthosteric agonist compound" does therefore not exclude compounds displaying some other additional minor activity in vitro or in vivo.

The mGluR2 PAM compounds of the combination of the invention are in ular selected from those disclosed in /130424. A ular subgroup of said compounds disclosed in W0201 0/130424 can be deﬁned by the following Formula (I) R2 N, , N — (I) or a stereoisomeric form f; wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of (C3_7cycloalkyl)C1-3alkyl-, mono- or 3O polyhaloC1_4alkyl, and (C1_4alkyl)-O-(C1-4alkyl); R2 is halo or polyhaloC1_4alkyl; A is a covalent bond or a —CH2—; L is selected from the radicals (a), (b) and (c): 2015/051029 wherein R3a is selected from tituted phenyl or phenyl substituted with l or 2 halo substituents; R4&1 is selected from the group of hydrogen, C1_3alkyl and halo; or R4a together represent a radical of formula (a-l) R581 (a-l) wherein R5&1 is hydrogen or halo; R3b is selected from the group of phenyl substituted with l or 2 halo tuents, pyridinyl substituted with l or 2 halo substituents, unsubstituted pyrimidinyl and pyrimidinyl substituted with l or 2 C1_3alkyloxy substituents; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.

Thus, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of tropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound is a compound of Formula (I) as deﬁned herein.

In a particular ment, the nds of Formula (I) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of cyclopropylmethyl-, 2,2,2-triﬂuoroethyl, 2O and CH3-O-CH2-; R2 is chloro or CF3; A is a covalent bond or a —CH2—; L is selected from the radicals (a), (b) and (c): Rsa’Q /N pN,x' N _____ R4a R (a) (b) wherein R3&1 is selected from unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted with l or 2 ﬂuoro substituents; R4&1 is selected from the group of hydrogen, methyl and ﬂuoro; or R3a-C-R4a together represent a radical of formula (a-l) (3-1) wherein R a 1s hydrogen or ﬂuoro;. 5 .

R3b is selected from the group yl substituted with l or 2 ﬂuoro substituents, pyridinyl substituted with l or 2 ﬂuoro substituents, unsubstituted pyrimidinyl and pyrimidinyl substituted with l or 2 methoxy substituents; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I) are as deﬁned herein wherein (i) when A is CH2; and R2 is triﬂuoromethyl; then R1 is ropylmethyl-; and L is selected from 07» 7» b @8ng(N (L-a); (L-b); (L-c); (L-d); and (L-e); (ii) when A1s CH2; and R21s chloro; then R1 is cyclopropylmethyl—; and L is (L-a); (iii) when A is a covalent bond; and R2 is triﬂuoromethyl; then R1 is ropylmethyl; and L is selected from F\%§©NJ71 <\:N/>7N\_/N—§—N m \OA<\:N/>7N\_/N—§—N /—\ (L-b); (L-e); (L-f); and (L-g); (iV) when A is a covalent bond and R2 is Cl; then (iv-a) R1 is cyclopropylmethyl and L is (L-a); (iv-b) R1 is 2,2,2-triﬂuoroethyl and L is selected from N7" NA (L-d); and (L-h); (V) when A is CH2 and R1 is —CH2-O-CH3; then R2 is —CF3 and L is 3c E rac-(2au, 30L, 3am) (L-i); or a pharmaceutically able salt or a solvate f The compounds of Formula (I) are sed in WOZOlO/130424 and may be prepared according to the processes described therein, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their totality.

Particular compounds of Formula (I) include _ l8 _ F NQU/N‘/\N / /N\ F30 /N‘/N F R mad" Co. No. 1; or a hloride salt thereof Co. No. 2; or a hydrochloride salt (Co. No. 1a) thereof (.HCl) (Co. No. 23) N / /N\ \ N /N 3 R N / /N\ F R/ Co. No. 3 Co. No. 4 QNd(\N/béNN N«Cf/ N \ N / / \ \ N / F 1Q Co. No. 6; or a hydrochloride salt Co. No. 5 thereof (Co. N0. 63) F3C N\ F / N /N\N / ‘F N N N / NM o _ C >7N\ / \ / N _ Co. No. 7 Co. No. 8 F F CI N /N\N \ { ’ ,N‘N ; 2 / ’ o wN N NM {>0 MA/ Co. No. 9 Co. No. 10 ’N‘N F F CI N\ F N / My 0 — F Co. No. 11 Co. No. 12 WO 10435 F N,N H )ﬂN F \/ F / /N, Q ? ’ NO / Nd \ N /N W Q | I H"‘ N / F R rac-(2au,30t,3a0t) Co. No. 13 Co. No. 14 In an embodiment of the ion, the nd of Formula (I) is Co. No. 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferably a hydrochloride salt thereof.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the compound of Formula (I) is F3C N e / N Co. No. 2; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferably a hydrochloride salt thereof (.HCl).

The mGluR2 PAM compounds of the ation ofthe invention are also in ular selected from those disclosed in W02009/033704. Said compounds disclosed in W02009/033704 can be deﬁned by the following Formula (I-A) R3 (I-A) and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein R1 is C1_6alkyl; or C1_3alkyl substituted with C3_7cycloalkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with halo, triﬂuoromethyl or triﬂuoromethoxy; R2 is halo, triﬂuoromethyl, C1_3alkyl or cyclopropyl; R3 is hydrogen, ﬂuoro, hydroxyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyloxy, ﬂuoroC1_3alkyl, ﬂuoroC1_3alkyloxy or cyano; and Ar is unsubstituted phenyl; or phenyl substituted with n radicals R4, wherein n is l, 2 or R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, C1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, polyhaloC1_3alkyl, cyano, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, C1_3alkyloxyC1_3alkyl, kyloxy, polyhaloC1_3alkyloxy, kylcarbonyl, mono- and di(C1_3alkyl)amino, and morpholinyl; or two vicinal R4 radicals taken together form a bivalent radical of formula —N=CH-NH- (i), -CH=CH-NH- (ii), or -O-CH2-CH2-NH- (iii); or R3 and a R4 radical in ortho position taken together form a bivalent radical of formula -CH2-O- (iv), or -O-CH2- (v); and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as defined herein wherein R1 is C1_6alkyl; or C1_3alkyl substituted with C3_7cycloalkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with halo, triﬂuoromethyl or romethoxy; R2 is halo, romethyl, C1_3alkyl or cyclopropyl; R3 is hydrogen, ﬂuoro, hydroxyl, yC1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyloxy, fluoroC1_3alkyl, ﬂuoroC1_3alkyloxy or cyano; and Ar is tituted phenyl, or phenyl substituted with n radicals R4, wherein n is l, 2 or R4 is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, halo, C1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, polyhaloC1_3alkyl, cyano, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, C1_3alkyloxyC1_3alkyl, kyloxy, polyhaloC1_3alkyloxy; C1_3alkylcarbonyl, mono- 3O and di(C1_3alkyl)amino, and morpholinyl ; or two vicinal R4 radicals taken er form a bivalent radical of formula —N=CH-NH- (i), -CH=CH—NH- (ii), or -CH2-NH- (iii); and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof In a particular embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is C1_6alkyl; or C1_3alkyl substituted with C3_7cycloalkyl, phenyl or phenyl substituted with halo, triﬂuoromethyl or triﬁuoromethoxy; R2 is halo, triﬂuoromethyl, C1_3alkyl or cyclopropyl; R3 is hydrogen, ﬁuoro, hydroxyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyloxy, ﬂuoroC1_ galkyl, ﬁuoroC1_3alkyloxy or cyano; and Ar is unsubstituted phenyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the compounds of a (I-A) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is l-butyl, 2-methyl-l-propyl, 3-methyl-l-butyl, (cyclopropyl)methyl or 2- (cyclopropyl)ethyl; R3 is hydrogen, ﬂuoro or cyano; and Ar is tituted phenyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is l-butyl, 3 -methylbutyl, (cyclopropyl)methyl or 2-(cyclopropyl)- l -ethyl; R2 is chloro; R3 is hydrogen or ﬂuoro; and Ar is unsubstituted ; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates f.

In a ﬁarther embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as deﬁned herein R1 is C1_6alkyl; or kyl substituted with C3_7cycloalkyl, phenyl, or phenyl 3O substituted with halo, triﬂuoromethyl or triﬁuoromethoxy; R2 is halo, triﬂuoromethyl, C1_3alkyl or cyclopropyl; R3 is en, ﬁuoro, hydroxyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyloxy, 1_3alkyl, ﬁuoroC1_3alkyloxy or cyano; and Ar is phenyl substituted with n radicals R4, wherein n is l, 2, or 3; R4 is selected from the group ting of halo, C1_3alkyl, hydroxyC1_3alkyl, C1_3alkyloxy, polyhaloC1_3alkyloxy, C1_3alkylcarbonyl, mono- and di(C1_3alkyl)amino, and morpholinyl; or two vicinal R4 ls taken together form a nt radical of formula —N=CH-NH- (i), -NH- (ii), or -O-CH2—CH2-NH- (iii); or R3 and a R4 radical in ortho position taken together form a bivalent radical of formula -CH2-O— (iv), -O-CH2— (v); and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is l, 2-methyl- l -propyl, 3 -methylbutyl, (cyclopropyl)methyl or 2-(cyclopropyl)- l -ethyl; R3 is hydrogen, ﬂuoro or cyano; and Ar is phenyl substituted with halo, triﬂuoromethyl, morpholinyl or hydroxyC1_3alkyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-A) are as defined herein wherein R1 is l-butyl, 3 -methylbutyl, (cyclopropyl)methyl or 2-(cyclopropyl)- l ; R2 is chloro; R3 is hydrogen or ﬂuoro; and Ar is phenyl substituted with at least one halo group; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates f.

In an additional embodiment, the nds of Formula (I-A) are as deﬁned herein wherein R1 is l-butyl, 3 -methylbutyl, (cyclopropyl)methyl or 2-(cyclopropyl)- l -ethyl; R2 is chloro; 3O R3 is hydrogen or ﬂuoro; and Ar is phenyl substituted with at least two ﬂuoro groups; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and so lvates thereof.

The compounds of Formula (I-A) are disclosed in W02009/033704 and may be prepared according to the ses described therein, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their totality.

Particular compounds of Formula (I-A) include WO 10435 _ 23 _ O o g5" me/ g0 09 Co. No. 19-21 BNﬁw fﬁ Obj/V go E? Co. No. 20-21 :NW (Nb/V (>9 31/ Co. No. 21-21 636m; NM (>9 FW/ Co. No. 22-21 WO 10435 _ 24 _ D70"// Q76" C0. N0. 23-21 Co. No. 6-21 0" N0' 7'3 Co. No. 24-21 0 15:"M GO F/ In an ment of the ion, the compound of Formula (I-A) is / / N F N Co. No. 2-21 Co. No. 25-21, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.

The mGluR2 PAM compounds of the combination of the invention are also in particular selected from those disclosed in . Said compounds disclosed in 2014/068676 can be deﬁned by the following Formula (I-B) F N-—N NE;‘~R1 (1-f3) and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group ting of C1_6alkyl, (C3_gcycloalkyl)C1-3alkyl, and (C1_3alkyloxy)C1_3alkyl; each R2 is independently selected ﬁom F, Cl, C1_3alkyl, C1_3alkyloxy, mono- or polyhaloC1_3alkyl, and mono- or loC1_3alkyloxy; n is an integer selected from 1, 2, and 3; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates thereof.

The mGluR2 PAM nds of the combination of the invention are in particular ed ﬁom nds of Formula (I-B) as deﬁned hereinabove, and stereoisomeric forms thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of CH3CH2, CH3CH2CH2, (cyclopropyl)methyl, (cyclobutyl)methyl, ethyloxymethyl and methyloxymethyl; and the rest of variables are as deﬁned herein; and the pharmaceutically able salts and the solvates f.

In a ﬁarther embodiment, the mGluR2 PAM compounds of the combination of the invention are in particular selected from compounds of Formula (I-B) as deﬁned hereinabove, and stereoisomeric forms thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group ting of CH3CH2, (cyclopropyl)methyl, (cyclobutyl)methyl and methyloxymethyl; and the rest of variables are as deﬁned herein; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the so lvates thereof.

In a further embodiment, the mGluR2 PAM compounds of the combination of the invention are in particular selected from compounds of a (I-B) as deﬁned hereinabove, and stereoisomeric forms thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of CH3CH2, (cyclopropyl)methyl, (cyclobutyl)methyl and ethyloxymethyl; and the rest of variables are as deﬁned herein; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the so lvates thereof.

Thus, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the positive allo steric modulator ("PAM") of metabotropic glutamatergic or subtype 2 ("mGluR2") compound is a compound of Formula (I-B) as deﬁned herein.

In an onal embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-B) are as deﬁned herein, wherein each R2 is independently selected ﬁom F, Cl, CH3, CH30 and CF3; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates thereof.

In a ﬁthher embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-B) are as deﬁned herein having the Formula (I-Ba) F N"N N>\R1 (I-Ba) wherein the variables are as deﬁned in Formula (I-B) herein, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates f.

In a ﬁthher embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I-B) are as deﬁned herein having the Formula (I-Bb) F N"N N>\R1 (I-Bb) wherein the variables are as deﬁned in Formula (I-B) herein, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and the solvates thereof.

Particular compounds of formula (I-B) include 3 opropylmethyl)[ l -(4-ﬁuorophenoxy)ethyl](triﬁuoromethyl)[ l ,2,4]triazo lo- [4,3 -a]pyridine; 3-(Cyclopropylmethyl)[(l *R)- l -(4-ﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethyl)[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl) [(l * S)— l -(4-ﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethyl)[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl) [(l S)— l -(2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethyl)[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 opropylmethyl) [(l R)- l -(2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl] oromethyl)[ l riazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl)[ l -(2,4-diﬁuorophenoxy)ethyl](triﬂuoromethyl)[ l riazo lo- [4,3 —a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl) [(l S)— l -(3 ,5 -diﬁuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethyl)[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl) [(l S)— l -(3 ,4-diﬁuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1methy1)[(1 S)—1-(2,3-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] oromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1rnethy1) [(1 S)—1-(2,5 -diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1methy1)[(1S)(2,6-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1rnethy1) [(1 S)(4-ﬂuorornethoxyphenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 0buty1rnethy1)[ 1 -(2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1](triﬂuorornethy1)[ 1 ,2,4]triaz010- [4,3 -a]pyridine; 7- [( 1 S)(2-Chlorornethy1phenoxy)ethy1]-3 -(cyclopr0py1rnethy1) (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 riaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1methy1) [(1 S)— 1 -(4-ﬂuorornethy1phenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triazo 10 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyc10propy1methy1)(triﬂuoromethy1) [(1 S)—1-(2,4,6- triﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] [1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3 -a]pyridine; 7-[1-(2,4-Diﬂuor0phenoxy)ethy1](eth0xyrnethy1)(triﬂu0r0rnethy1)[1 ,2,4]triazo10- [4,3 -a]pyridine; 3 -Ethy1—8-(triﬂu0rornethy1)[1-(2,4,6-triﬂu0r0phen0xy)ethy1][1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3 -a]pyridine; 7-[1-(2,4-Diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1]ethy1—8-(triﬂu0r0rnethy1)[ 1 ,2,4]triaz010[4,3 -a]pyridine; 3 -(Cyclobuty1rnethy1) [(1 * 2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 ]pyridine ; 3 -(Cyc10buty1rnethy1)[( 1 * S)(2,4-diﬂuor0phenoxy)ethy1] (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 riaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -(Eth0xyrnethy1)(triﬂuor0methy1) [(1 * R)(2,4,6- triﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1][1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3 -a]pyridine; 3 -(Eth0xyrnethy1)(triﬂuor0methy1) [(1 * S)(2,4,6- triﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1] [1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3 -a]pyridine; 7- [(1 * S)(2,4-Diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1]-3 xyrnethy1) (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triazo 10 [4,3-a]pyridine; 7- [(1 * R)(2,4-Diﬂuor0phenoxy)ethy1]-3 -(eth0xyrnethy1) (triﬂuoromethy1)[1 ,2,4]triaz010 [4,3-a]pyridine; 7-[( 1 *R)(2,4-Diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1]-3 —8-(triﬂuorornethy1)[1 ,2,4]triazo10- [4,3 —a]pyridine; 7- [(1 * S)(2,4-Diﬂuorophenoxy)ethy1]-3 -ethy1—8-(triﬂuoromethy1)[1,2,4]triaz010- [4,3 —a]pyridine; 7-[ l -(2,4-Diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl]propyl(triﬂuoromethyl)[ l riazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -Ethyl(triﬂuoromethyl)[(l *R)- l -(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)ethyl] -[ l ,2,4]triazo lo- [4,3-a]pyridine; 3 -Ethyl(triﬂuoromethyl) [(l * S)- l -(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)ethyl] -[ l ,2,4]triazo lo- [4,3-a]pyridine; 7-[(l *R)-(2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl]propyl—8-(trifluoromethyl)-[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3- a]pyridine; and 7-[(l * S)-(2,4-diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl]propyl(trifluoromethyl)-[ l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3- a]pyridine.

Included within the scope of this list are stereoisomeric forms, the pharmaceutically able salts and the solvates thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the compound may be selected from 3 -(Cyclopropylmethyl) [(l S)— l diﬂuorophenoxy)ethyl] (triﬂuoromethyl)[l ,2,4]triazo lo [4,3-a]pyridine hydrochloride salt.

The orthosteric agonists of /mGluR2/3 of the combination ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, for example, LY-404039; LY-2969822; LY-2934747; LY-379268; DCG-IV; LY-354740; LY-3l4582; LY-544344; LY—2140023; LY-l 8 l 83 7; LY-3 89795; LY-446433; 477; LY-395756; LY-566332; LY- 541850; LY-2300559; 040; LY-281223; LY-2979165; talaglumetad; MGSOO8; MGSOOZZ; MGSOOZ8; MGSOO39; (-)oxaaminobicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate; (+)amino ylbicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid; (+)aminoﬂuorobicyclo- [3.l.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; 5S,6Saminoﬂuorooxobicyclo- [3.l.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; 4S,5S,6Saminofluoro hydroxybicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; 3R,5 S,6Samino ﬂuorobicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; lS,2R,3 S,5 S,6Saminoﬂuoro hydroxybicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; (+)aminosulfonylbicyclo- [3 . l .0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid; (+)aminoﬂuorobicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-2,6- dicarboxylic acid; lS,2R,5S,6Saminoﬂuorooxobicyclo[3. l .0]hexane-2,6- dicarboxylic acid; lS,2R,4S,5S,6Saminoﬂuorohydroxybicyclo[3. l .0]hexane- 2,6-dicarboxylic acid; lS,2R,3R,5S,6Saminoﬂuorobicyclo[3. l .0]hexane—2,6- dicarboxylic acid; or lS,2R,3 S,5 S,6Saminoﬂuorohydroxybicyclo- [3 . l .0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid.

A particular group of mGluR2 agonists include LY-379268; DCG-IV; LY-354740; LY-404039; LY-2969822; LY-2934747; LY-544344; and LY-2140023.

The orthosteric agonists of metabotropic glutamatergic or subtype 2 of the combination ofthe invention are in particular further selected from those disclosed in WC 1 997/ 1 8 199 and W02003/104217, incorporated herein in their entirety. Particular compounds disclosed therein are (-)-(1R,4S,5S,6S)—4-aminosulfonylbicyclo[3.1.0]- hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (also known as 039) or a salt or a e thereof, and (1R,4S,5S,6S)[[(ZS)amino- 4-(methylthio)oxobutyl]amino] thiabicyclo [3. 1 ane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid 2,2-dioxide (also known as LY-2140023 [CAS 6353187]) or a salt or a solvate thereof, for e the drate thereof.

The names of the compounds of the present invention were generated according to the nomenclature rules agreed upon by the Chemical Abstracts Service (C.A.S.) using Advanced Chemical Development, Inc., software (ACD/Name product version .01.0.14105, October 2006). In case of tautomeric forms, the name of the depicted tautomeric form of the structure was generated. However it should be clear that the other non-depicted tautomeric form is also included within the scope of the present ion.

As used herein, the notation "C1_3alkyl", "C1_4alkyl" or lkyl" as a group or part of a group defines a saturated, straight or branched, hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 3 or from 1 to 4 or from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, l-propyl, l- ethyl, butyl, l-methylpropyl, 2-methyl-l-propyl, l,l-dimethylethyl, 3-methyl-l- butyl, l-pentyl, l-hexyl and the like.

The notation "C3_7cycloalkyl" or "C3_scycloalkyl" as a group or part of a group deﬁnes a saturated, cyclic hydrocarbon l having from 3 to 7 or from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl.

The notation "halo" or "halogen" as used herein as a group or part of a group refers to ﬂuoro, chloro, bromo or iodo, with ﬂuoro or chloro being preferred.

The notation "mono- and loC1_3alkyl" or "mono- and polyhaloC1_4alkyl" shall denote C1_3alkyl or C1_4alkyl respectively, as deﬁned , substituted with l, 2, 3 or where possible with more halo atoms as d before.

Whenever the term "substituted" is used in the present invention, it is meant, unless otherwise is indicated or is clear from the context, to indicate that one or more hydrogens, preferably from 1 to 3 hydrogens, more preferably from 1 to 2 hydrogens, more preferably 1 hydrogen, on the atom or radical indicated in the expression using "substituted" are replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the normal valency is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in a chemically stable compound, i.e. a nd that is sufﬁciently robust to e isolation to a useful degree of purity from a reaction mixture, and formulation into a therapeutic agent.

As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term pileptic agent" and the abbreviation "AED" will be used hangeably with the term "anticonvulsant agent", and as used herein, refer to an agent capable of treating, inhibiting or preventing e activity or ictogenesis when the agent is administered to a subject or patient.

As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term "synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand" and the abbreviation "SVZA ligand" will be used interchangeably. Examples of SV2A ligands include, but are not limited to, the compounds included in the publications GB 1,039,113; GB 1,309,692; EP 1 262 036; EP 1 806 339; ; US 94787; ; WO 21082; ; WO 2006/128692; ; ; , and WO 2008/132142; ; ; and . Suitable particular examples of SVZA ligands include, but are not limited to: levetiracetam, brivaracetam and seletracetam.

Therefore, in an embodiment ofthe invention, the SVZA ligand is selected from levetiracetam, brivaracetam and acetam.

In a particular embodiment, the SVZA ligand is levetiracetam.

In a particular embodiment, the SVZA ligand is brivaracetam.

Processes for the preparation of the above SVZA ligands are known from the literature and bed for instance in EP 1 806 339; in EP 0 162 036 and in GB 2 225 322 (levetiracetam); in WO 01/62726 (brivaracetam); and in WC 2005/121082 racetam); such ses are hereby incorporated by reference in their totality.

In an additional embodiment, the combination according to the invention comprises (a) a SVZA ligand selected from levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) F {\N / /N\ QV N \ "R F Co. No. l or a pharmaceutically able salt thereof, preferably a hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate thereof.

In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of F N / /N\ F Co. No. l or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, ably a hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the combination ing to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of (Co. No. 2-a) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of (Co. No. 2-a) or a pharmaceutically able salt, or a e thereof In an additional embodiment, the combination according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically ive amount of racetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of F (Co. No. 25-a) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically ive amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of F (Co. No. 25-a) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the ation according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of (Co. No. 6-b) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in ular the hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically ive amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a ceutically effective amount of F N’N>_)> (Co. No. 6-b) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in particular the hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate thereof In an additional embodiment, the combination according to the invention comprises (a) a ceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically ive amount of LY-404039 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt f, in particular the hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate f.

In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprises (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount ofLY—404039 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in particular the hydrochloride salt thereof, or a solvate thereof.

In an onal embodiment, the combination ing to the invention comprises (a) a ceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a pharmaceutically effective amount of LY-2140023 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, in ular the monohydrate thereof In an additional embodiment, the pharmaceutical ition according to the invention ses (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of levetiracetam or brivaracetam; and (b) a ceutically effective amount of LY-2140023 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, in particular the monohydrate thereof The combination product ofthe present invention, in particular, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention, is especially appropriate for the treatment of epilepsy and related disorders.

It will be appreciated that some of the mGluR2 compounds, in particular the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and solvates thereofmay contain one or more centres of chirality and exist as stereoisomeric forms.

The term "compounds of the ion" as used herein, is meant to include the mGluR2 PAM compounds, in particular the compounds of a (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and the mGluR2 agonist compounds as disclosed herein, and the salts and solvates thereof As used herein, any chemical formula with bonds shown only as solid lines and not as solid wedged or hashed wedged bonds, or otherwise indicated as having a ular configuration (e. g. R, S) around one or more atoms, contemplates each possible 3O stereoisomer, or mixture of two or more stereoisomers.

Hereinbefore and after, the terms "mGluR2 compound" and "mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound" are meant to include the stereoisomers thereof and the tautomeric forms thereof. The terms "stereoisomers", "stereoisomeric forms" or "stereochemically isomeric forms" hereinbefore or hereinafter are used interchangeably. The invention es all stereoisomers of the compounds of the ion either as a pure stereoisomer or as a mixture of two or more stereoisomers.

Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. A 1:1 mixture of a pair of enantiomers is a racemate or racemic mixture.

Diastereomers (or diastereoisomers) are stereoisomers that are not enantiomers, i.e. they are not d as mirror images. If a compound contains a double bond, the substituents may be in the E or the Z ration. Substituents on bivalent cyclic (partially) saturated radicals may have either the cis- or conﬁguration; for example if a compound contains a disubstituted lkyl group, the substituents may be in the cis or trans conﬁguration. Therefore, the invention includes enantiomers, diastereomers, racemates, E isomers, Z isomers, cis isomers, trans isomers and mixtures thereof, whenever chemically possible. The meaning of all those terms, i.e. enantiomers, diastereomers, racemates, E s, Z isomers, cis isomers, trans isomers and mixtures thereof are known to the d person. The absolute conﬁguration is speciﬁed ing to the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog system. The conﬁguration at an tric atom is speciﬁed by either R or S. Resolved stereoisomers whose absolute conﬁguration is not known can be designated by (+) or (-) depending on the direction in which they rotate plane polarized light. For instance, resolved enantiomers whose absolute conﬁguration is not known can be designated by (+) or (-) depending on the ion in which they rotate plane polarized light.

When a speciﬁc stereoisomer is identiﬁed, this means that said stereoisomer is substantially free, i.e. associated with less than 50%, preferably less than 20%, more ably less than 10%, even more preferably less than 5%, in particular less than 2% and most preferably less than 1%, of the other isomers. Thus, when a mGluR2 compound is for instance speciﬁed as (R), this means that the nd is substantially ﬁee of the (S) ; when a mGluR2 compound is for instance speciﬁed as E, this means that the compound is substantially free of the Z isomer; when a mGluR2 compound is for instance speciﬁed as cis, this means that the compound is substantially ﬁee of the trans isomer.

Some ofthe mGluR2 compounds may also exist in their tautomeric form. Such forms in so far as they may exist, although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

WO 10435 It s that a single compound may exist in both stereisomeric and tautomeric forms.

For use in medicine, the salts of the compounds of this invention refer to non-toxic aceutically acceptable salts" (salts ofthe compounds of the present invention wherein the counterion is pharmaceutically acceptable). Other salts may, however, be useful in the preparation or puriﬁcation of compounds according to this invention or of their pharmaceutically able salts, and may encompass acids and bases which are non-pharmaceutically acceptable. All salts, whether pharmaceutically acceptable or not, are included within the ambit of the present invention.

The pharmaceutically acceptable acid and base addition salts as mentioned hereinabove or hereinafter are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid and base addition salt forms which the compounds of the invention are able to form. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds include acid addition salts which may, for e, be formed by mixing a on ofthe compound with a solution of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid such as for example, nic acids such as hydrohalic acids, e. g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid, sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric and the like acids; or organic acids such as, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, lactic, c, oxalic (i.e. ethanedioic), malonic, succinic (i.e. butanedioic acid), maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, , methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclamic, salicylic, p-aminosalicylic, pamoic and the like acids. Conversely, said salt forms can be converted by treatment with an appropriate base into the free base form. Furthermore, where the compounds of the invention carry an acidic moiety, le ceutically acceptable salts f may include organic and inorganic bases. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and alkaline earth metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic and aromatic amines such as methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, the four butylamine isomers, dimethylamine, diethylamine, nolamine, dipropylamine, diisopropylamine, utylamine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, quinuclidine, pyridine, quino line and isoquino line; the benzathine, N—methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like. Conversely, the salt form can be converted by treatment with acid into the free acid form.

The term "solvate" comprises the solvent addition forms as well as the salts thereof, which the nds of Formula (I) are able to form. Examples of such t addition forms are e.g. hydrates, lates and the like.

Preparation of the compounds of Formula (I-B) The compounds of Formula (I-B) according to the invention can lly be ed by a succession of steps, each of which is known to the skilled person. In particular, the compounds can be prepared according to the following synthesis methods.

The nds of Formula (I-B) may be synthesized in the form of racemic es of enantiomers which can be separated from one another following own resolution procedures. The racemic compounds of Formula (I-B) may be converted into the corresponding diastereomeric salt forms by reaction with a suitable chiral acid.

Said diastereomeric salt forms are subsequently separated, for e, by selective or fractional crystallization and the enantiomers are liberated therefrom by alkali. An alternative manner of separating the enantiomeric forms of the compounds of Formula (I-B) es liquid chromatography or supercritical ﬂuid chromatography (SFC) using a chiral stationary phase. Said pure stereochemically ic forms may also be derived from the corresponding pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the appropriate starting als, provided that the reaction occurs stereospeciﬁcally.

A. Preparation ofthe final compounds of Formula (I-B) Final compounds according to Formula (I-B), can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (111) according to reaction scheme (1), a reaction that is performed under classical Mitsunobu conditions.

The reaction is preferably conducted with a phosphine and an azodicarboxylic ester or amide in tetrahydrofuran, l,4-dioxane, l ether, toluene, benzene, dichloromethane, or mixtures thereof, at -30 to 150°C, under thermal heating or ave irradiation. Phosphines often used are triphenylphosphine and tributylphosphine which are usually combined with dimethyl azodicarboxylate, diethyl 3O azodicarboxylate, diisopropyl azodicarboxylate, di-(4-chlorobenzyl) azodicarboxylate, dibenzyl azodicarboxylate, di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate, azodicarboxylic acid bis- (dimethyylamide), azodicarboxylic acid dipiperidide, or azodicarboxylic acid dimorpholide. In reaction scheme (1), all variables are as defined in Formula (I-B) Reaction Scheme 1 F N4:/ F R1 (ﬁg 7—\N 1 (III) F N B. Preparation of the intermediates Experimental procedure 2 Intermediate compounds according to Formula (II) can be prepared by subjecting an intermediate of Formula (IV) to conditions that are known to those skilled in the art. This is illustrated in reaction scheme (2) wherein all variables are deﬁned as mentioned hereinabove. Methods lishing these transformations are well known to those skilled in the art. Treatment of the aldehyde of formula (IV) with an organometallic such as methyl lithium or methyl magnesium bromide gives a compound of formula (II). A suitable solvent for this reaction is an ether such as tetrahydrofuran and the reaction is usually carried out at a temperature between -78°C and 40°C. In reaction scheme (2), all variables are d as in a (I-B).

Reaction Scheme 2 F N—N F 7') : /NB*\€ 1 MeMgX F N>\R | l ——> H0 O / (IV) (In mental ure 3 Intermediate compounds ing to Formula (IV) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of Formula (V) under dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage conditions that are known to those skilled in the art and can be realized for example with oxone, osmium tetroxide. The s may be carried out optionally in a solvent such as l,4-dioxane, water and generally at temperatures between about -lOO°C and about 100°C. A summary of such methods is found in "Comprehensive Organic Transformations", VCH Publishers, (1989), rock, pp.595-596. This is illustrated in reaction scheme (3) wherein all variables are deﬁned as mentioned hereinabove.

Reaction Scheme 3 1 F N4: R / 1 F N ——> O / (V) H (IV) Experimental procedure 4 Intermediate compounds ing to Formula (V) can be prepared by coupling reactions, such as Stille or Suzuki reactions of an intermediate of Formula (VI) with a compound of Formula (VII) under conditions that are known to those skilled in the art.

The process may be carried out optionally in a solvent such as oxane, water and generally at temperatures between about r.t. and about 200°C in the presence of a base.

This is illustrated in reaction scheme (4) wherein all variables are deﬁned as mentioned hereabove, wherein M is trialkyltin, boronic acid or boronate ester, and a palladium catalyst and halo is chloro, bromo or iodo. on Scheme 4 F N~N WM F / >\R1 F N | (VII) halo Palladium catalyst (VI) M Experimental procedure 5 Intermediate compounds according to Formula (VI) can be prepared following art known procedures by cyclization of an intermediate compound of Formula (VIII) in the ce of a halogenating agent such as for example phosphorus (V) oxychloride (POClg) in a suitable t such as, for e, dichloroethane, stirred under microwave irradiation, for a le period oftime that allows the completion of the reaction, as for example 5 min at a temperature between 0 0C. In reaction scheme (5), R1 is deﬁned as in Formula (LB) and halo is chloro, bromo or iodo. on Scheme 5 /NH F N~N F HN F / >\R1 F N F \N | ’ l 0 / halo (VIII) (VI) Experimental procedure 6 Intermediate compounds according to Formula (VIII) can be prepared by art known procedures by reaction of a ine intermediate of Formula (IX) with acid halides of Formula (X). The reaction can be d out using an inert-solvent, such as for example DCM, in the presence of a base such as for example triethylamine, for example at r.t. for a suitable period of time that allows completion of the reaction, for example 20 min. In reaction scheme (6), R1 is deﬁned as in Formula (I-B).

Reaction Scheme 6 F HN/ RQLCI F HN’ F \ N I F \ N GAO / GAO / (VIII) Experimental procedure 7 ediate compounds according to Formula (IX) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (XI) with hydrazine according to reaction scheme (7), a reaction that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for example, ethanol, THF or 1,4-dioxane under thermal conditions such as, for example, g the reaction mixture for example at 160 0C under microwave irradiation for 30 min or cal thermal heating at 70°C for 16 h. In reaction scheme (7), halo is chloro, bromo or iodo. 2015/051029 Reaction Scheme 7 F hmo F F HN/NH2 | :N —_,N2H4 F \N ©/\O I (X) ©/\O (IX) Experimental procedure 8 Intermediate compounds according to Formula (XI) can be prepared by reacting an intermediate compound of Formula (XII) with benzyl alcohol according to reaction scheme (8), a on that is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent, such as, for e, N,N—dimethylformamide in the presence of a suitable base, such as for example sodium hydride at r.t. for a le period of time that allows the completion IO ofthe reaction, such as for example 1 h. In reaction scheme (8), halo is chloro, bromo or iodo.

Reaction Scheme 8 halo (XII) GAO (XI) Experimental procedure 9 Intermediate compounds of Formula (XII), can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of Formula , with a le triﬂuoromethylating agent, such as for example ﬂuorosulfonyl(diﬂuoro)acetic acid methyl ester, according to reaction scheme (9). This reaction is performed in a suitable reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of a suitable coupling agent such as for example, copper(I) iodide, under thermal conditions such as, for example, heating the reaction mixture for example at 160 0C under ave irradiation for 45 min. In reaction scheme (9), halo is chloro, bromo or iodo.

Reaction Scheme 9 O 0 halo O‘ShJLo/F n ‘ F halo I F \ N F I F F \ N (XIII) (XII) The ng materials according to Formulae (11), (VII), (X) or (XIII) are compounds that are either commercially ble or may be prepared according to conventional reaction procedures generally known to those d in the art.

As used herein, the term sition" is intended to encompass a product comprising the speciﬁed ingredients in the speciﬁed amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, ﬁom combinations of the speciﬁed ingredients in the speciﬁed amounts .

As used herein, the term "subject" refers to an animal, ably a mammal, most preferably a human adult, child or infant, who is or has been the object of treatment, observation or experiment.

The term "therapeutically effective amount" as used herein, means that amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue system, animal or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician, which includes ation of one or more ofthe symptoms ofthe e or disorder being treated; and/or reduction of the severity of one or more of the symptoms of the disease being treated.

The combination of compounds (a) SVZA ligand and (b) positive eric tor ("PAM") ofmetabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 ("mGluRZ") or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, or orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor e 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, whether the compounds (a) and (b) are given simultaneously, separately or sequentially, may be beneﬁcial ed to the effect of the compounds (a) or (b) administered alone. In particular, there may be at least one ial effect, e. g. a mutual enhancement of the effect of the compounds (a) and (b), a more than additive effect, in particular a synergic effect; additional advantageous effects, include for e, a signiﬁcantly reduced effective dose for the combination of (a) and (b); a further therapeutic effect not observed for any ofthe compounds (a) or (b) alone, a more beneﬁcial side effect proﬁle, or a combined therapeutic effect in a fective dosage of one or both of (a) and (b).

As deﬁned herein, the term "ﬁxed-dose ratio of (a) synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand to (b) compound of Formula (I) of 1:1, calculated on the ED50 values of the individual compounds (a) and (b)" refers to compositions comprising compounds (a) and (b) in a dose corresponding to 50% of the respective ED50 dose of the dual compounds (a) and (b) or a multiple of this ﬁxed-dose ratio. The term "ﬁxed-dose ratio of (a) synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand : (b) compound of Formula (I) of 3:1, calculated on the ED50 values of the individual compounds (a) and (b)" refers to compositions comprising (b) the compound of Formula (I) in a dose corresponding to 75% ofthe tive ED50 dose and compound (a) in a dose corresponding to 25% of the respective ED50 dose of compound (a) or a multiple of this ﬁxed-dose ratio, and so 011.

Thus, in another embodiment ofthe ion, (a) the SVZA ligand and (b) the compound of Formula (I) are present in the pharmaceutical composition in a ﬁxed-dose ratio of (a):(b) of about 1:10 to about 10:1, preferably about 1:5 to about 5:1, more preferably about 1:3 to about 3:1, in another embodiment of about 1:1 to about 3:1; in an alternate embodiment of 1 :3; in yet another ment of 1 :1; further embodiment of 3 : 1; wherein the ﬁxed-dose ratio is calculated on the ED50 values of the dual compounds (a) and (b).

Wherein the present invention is ed to co-therapy or combination therapy, comprising stration of (a) synaptic vesicle protein 2A ("SVZA") ligand; and (b) a mGluR2 onist compound, in particular a compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I— B) as deﬁned herein, pharmaceutically or therapeutically effective amount shall mean that amount of the combination of agents taken together so that the combined effect elicits the desired biological or medicinal response. For example, the eutically effective amount of co-therapy comprising administration of (a) a SVZA ligand as deﬁned herein and (b) a mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular a compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B) as deﬁned herein would be the amount of the (a) a SVZA ligand as deﬁned herein and the amount of (b) a mGluR2 onist compound, in ular compound of Formula -A)/(I-B) that when taken together or sequentially have a combined effect that is therapeutically effective. Further, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that in the case of co-therapy with a therapeutically effective amount, as in the example above, the amount of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, 2015/051029 in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and/or the amount of the suitable SV2A ligand individually may or may not be therapeutically effective.

The present invention provides methods of prevention or ent comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, co-therapy with a therapeutically ive amount of a SV2A ligand and a therapeutically effective amount of a mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular a compound of formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), as described herein. In order to accomplish this objective the compounds or compositions ofthis invention must be used in the t therapeutically effective amount or dose, as described below. l dosages and schedules to be administered may be readily determined by those skilled in the art, and will vary with the particular compound used, the mode of administration, the strength of the preparation, the mode of administration, and the advancement ofthe disease condition. In addition, factors associated with the particular patient being treated, including patient age, weight, diet and time of administration, will result in the need to adjust dosages.

One skilled in the art will recognize that a therapeutically effective dosage of the compounds of the present invention can include repeated doses within a ged treatment regimen that will yield clinically signiﬁcant results.

The amounts of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular of the nd of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), in the combinations of the invention that are administered on a daily basis may vary from about 0.01 to about 2000 mg. Examples of daily amounts of the compound ofFormula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B) are 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, .0, 50.0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750 and 1000 milligrams for the symptomatic adjustment ofthe dosage to the patient to be treated. An effective amount of the drug is ordinarily supplied at a dosage level of from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 150.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day or any range therein. Preferably, the range is from about 0.1 to about 100.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day, more preferably, from about 0.5 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, more ably, from about 1.0 to about 25.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of l, 2, 3 or 4 times per day.

The amounts of SV2A ligand that are administered on a daily basis may vary from about 0.01 to about 7000 mg, preferably will be n 250 and 5000 mg and more preferably will be between 500 and 3000 mg. Examples of daily amount of the SV2A ligand are 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 25.0, 50.0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500 and 3000 rams for the matic adjustment of the dosage of the patient to be treated. An effective amount ofthe drug is ordinarily supplied at a dosage level of from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 150.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day or any range n.

Preferably, the range is from about 0.1 to about 100.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day, more preferably, from about 0.5 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, more preferably, from about 1.0 to about 25.0 mg/kg ofbody weight per day. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of l, 2, 3 or 4 times per day. All amounts mentioned in this and the following paragraphs refer to the free form (i.e. non-salt form). The above values represent free- form equivalents, i.e. quantities as if the free form would be administered. If salts are administered the amounts need to be calculated in function of the molecular weight ratio n the salt and the free form.

The above mentioned daily doses are calculated for an average body weight of about 70 kg and should be recalculated in case of paediatric applications, or when used with patients with a substantially diverting body weight.

The dosages may be presented as one, two, three or four or more sub-doses administered at appropriate intervals hout the day. The dosage used preferably corresponds to the daily amount of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist nd, in particular ofthe compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or of the SV2A ligand, mentioned above, or a sub-dose thereof, such as l/2, U3, U4 thereof. A dosage form may contain the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound -A)/(I-B), or the SVZA ligand or both er, in an amount equal to the ranges or quantities ned in the previous aphs, for example a dosage form may n 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, or 200 mg ofmGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular of compound -A)/(I-B), 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg or 250 mg, of SV2A ligand, either in separate formulations or in a combined formulation. In one embodiment, the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I- B), is administered once daily (q.d.), in particular as one dose per day, and the SV2A ligand is administered once or twice daily (q.d. or b.i.d.), in particular as one or as two doses per day. In the instance where both compounds are to be administered once daily, this can be accomplished by administering two te doses, one with the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I- B), one with the SV2A ligand, or by administering a combined dose containing the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I- B), and SV2A ligand.

The combinations of the invention may be administered once, twice, three, four, or if desired, multiple times daily. In one ment, the combination is administered once daily. In another embodiment, the combination is administered twice daily, or 2015/051029 three times per day. Administration of dosages may be by separate dosage forms, i.e. dosage forms only containing mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or only SV2A ligand; or by combined dosage forms containing active ingredients mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in ular compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and SV2A . Also, a mix of using a combined dosage form and separate dosage forms can be used. Dosage forms that can be administered are described hereinafter, oral dosage forms, in particular tablets or es being preferred.

Active ingredients may be formulated in pharmaceutical compositions either separately or as a combined pharmaceutical composition. In the latter instance, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a eutically effective amount of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular of the nd of Formula (I)/(I- A)/(I-B), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the SV2A ligand, the foregoing being as speciﬁed herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In a r aspect, this invention relates to a process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition as speciﬁed herein, which comprises tely mixing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier with a therapeutically ive amount of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular of the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or a ceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one SVZA ligand.

The combinations provided herein may also be formulated as a combined preparation for simultaneous, te or sequential use in the prevention or treatment of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; bipolar and related ers; in neuroprotection; or in the prevention of epileptogenesis. In such a case, the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), is ated in a pharmaceutical composition containing other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, and the SV2A ligand is formulated separately in a pharmaceutical composition containing other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Conveniently, these separate pharmaceutical compositions can be part of a 3O kit for simultaneous, te, or sequential use.

The individual components of the combination of the present invention can be administered simultaneously or separately at different times during the course of therapy or concurrently in divided or single combination forms.

Therefore, the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compounds, in particular the compounds of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and the SVZA ligand, individually or combined, may be formulated into various pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration purposes. In these, a therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, or of both two compounds, is combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. Pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared as medicaments to be administered orally, parenterally (including aneously (s.c.), intramuscularly (i.m.), and intravenously (i.v.)), ly, transdermally, bucally, or nasally. The pharmaceutical compositions may also be prepared to be administered directly to the nervous system by routes including, but not limited to, intracerebral, intraventricular, intracerebroventricular, intrathecal, intracisternal, intraspinal and/or pinal route by delivery via intracranial or intravertebral needles and/or catheters with or without pump s. Suitable compositions for oral administration include powders, granulates, aggregates, tablets, compressed or coated pills, dragees, sachets, hard or gelatin capsules, syrups and suspensions. Suitable compositions for parenteral administration include s or non-aqueous solutions or emulsions, while for rectal administration suitable compositions for administration include suppositories with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic e. For topical administration le transdermal delivery s can be used and for nasal delivery suitable aerosol delivery s can be used.

For example, in preparing the compositions for oral administration, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid compositions such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs, ons and solutions; or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, , lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of solid compositions. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, such as solubilizers, fiers or further aries may be added thereto. Inj ectable solutions may be prepared in which 3O the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of both. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid rs, suspending agents and the like may be employed. Also included are solid form preparations intended to be ted, shortly before use, to liquid form preparations such as powders for reconstitution. In the compositions suitable for aneous administration, the carrier ally ses a skin penetration enhancing agent and/or a wetting agent, ally combined with suitable skin-compatible additives in minor proportions. The mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in ular the compound of a (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or SV2A ligand, or combinations thereof, may also be administered via oral inhalation or insufﬂation by ations suited for this type of stration such as a solution, a suspension or a dry powder. Suitable pharmaceutical compositions for administration in the form of aerosols or sprays are, for example, suspensions of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in ular of the compound ofFormula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or SV2A ligand, or both, in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier, such as ethanol or water, or a mixture thereof. If required, the formulation can also additionally contain other pharmaceutical auxiliaries such as surfactants, emulsifiers and stabilizers as well as a propellant. Such a preparation customarily contains the active compound in a concentration from approximately 0.1 to 50%, in particular from approximately 0.3 to 3% by weight.

The pharmaceutical compositions may contain the active ingredient mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), or the SV2A ligand, or both combined in a concentration of about 0.1% to about 50%, or about 1% to about 30%, or about 3% to about 20%, or about 5% to about 20%, all tages being by weight, wherein the total of all components in said pharmaceutical itions does not exceed 100%. In the compositions containing both two compounds mGluR2 PAM/agonist nd, in particular compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and SV2A ligand, the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), is present in a concentration of about 0.1% to about 50%, or about 1% to about 30%, or about 3% to about 20%, or about 5% to about 20%; and the SV2A ligand is present in a tration of about 3% to about 50%, or about 5% to about 50%, or about 10% to about 50%, or about 10% to about 40%, or about 10% to about 30%, wherein the total of all components in said pharmaceutical compositions does not exceed 100%.

The ceutical compositions may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Examples include s (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, suppositories, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or sions and the like, and segregated multiples thereof. Of interest are solid dosage forms for oral administration such as tablets or capsules.

The solid dosage forms in unit dose form may be packed in any known package, blister packs being preferred, in particular for tablets and es. Where the mGluR2 PAM/agonist nd, in particular the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and SVZA ligand are formulated separately, they could be packed in separate blisters, but one r could as well comprise unit dose forms of the mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in ular of the compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and of the SVZA ligand, for example one row with units of mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound, in particular of compound of Formula (I)/(I-A)/(I-B), and another with SVZA ligand.

Other possibilities may be possible as well.

The combinations of this invention may be used to treat or t epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache; and bipolar and related disorders; or they may be used as a neuroprotectant or to prevent epileptogenesis.

As used herein, the term "treatment" is intended to refer to all ses, wherein there may be a slowing, interrupting, ing or stopping of the progression of a disease or an alleviation of symptoms, but does not necessarily indicate a total elimination of all symptoms As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the terms "epilepsy and related disorders" or "epilepsy or related disorder" shall mean any disorder in which a t (preferably a human adult, child or ) experiences one or more seizures and / or tremors.

Suitable examples include, but are not limited to, epilepsy (including, but not limited to, localization-related epilepsies, generalized epilepsies, epilepsies with both generalized and local es, and the like), partial-onset seizures with or without generalization, myoclonic seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in particular in patients with thic generalized epilepsy, seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut me, es as a complication of a disease or condition (such as seizures associated with encephalopathy, phenylketonuria, juvenile Gaucher’s disease, Lundborg’s ssive myoclonic sy, stroke, head trauma, stress, hormonal changes, drug use or withdrawal, alcohol use or withdrawal, sleep deprivation, fever, infection, and the like), status epilepticus (convulsive or non convulsive), essential , restless limb syndrome, and the like. Preferably, the er is selected from epilepsy (regardless of type, underlying cause or origin), essential tremor or restless limb syndrome. More preferably, the disorder is epilepsy (regardless of type, 3O underlying cause or origin) or essential tremor. A particular example of epilepsy is refractory epilepsy, also referred to as ent or therapy resistant epilepsy. This term is often used when patients have failed three or more pileptic drugs (AEDs).

Refractory epilepsy also includes refractory partial epilepsy and tory generalized epilepsy (including idiopathic or symptomatic).

As used herein, the term "neuropathic pain" includes pain resulting from chronic or debilitating ions or disorders. The chronic or debilitating conditions or disorders which can lead to neuropathic pain include, but are not limited to, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, post-stroke pain, multiple sclerosis-associated pain, neuropathies-associated pain such as in idiopathic or post-traumatic neuropathy and mononeuritis, HIV-associated neuropathic pain, cancer- ated neuropathic pain, carpal tunnel-associated neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury-associated pain, complex al pain syndrome, fibromyalgia-associated neuropathic pain, lumbar and al pain, reﬂex sympathic dystrophy, phantom limb syndrome and other chronic and debilitating condition-associated pain syndromes.

As used herein, the term "migraine" shall mean a chronic, episodic and debilitating clinical condition that is diagnosed by the presence of moderate to severe pulsating unilateral headaches lasting between 4 and 72 h, which includes ne without aura and migraine with aura. As used herein, "migraine t aura" shall mean at least ﬁve attacks fulﬁlling the ing ia: (a) the headache attack lasts 4-72 hours with the headache having at least two of the following features: unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate or severe intensity with direct inﬂuence on activities of daily living, and aggravation by walking up stairs or similar routines: and (b) during the he at least one of the following occurs: nausea and/or vomiting, and photophobia and phonophobia. As used herein, "migraine with aura" shall mean at least two attacks accompanied by at least 3 of the 4 ing features: (a) one or more fully reversible aura symptoms: (b) at least one aura symptom which develops gradually over more than four minutes or two or more symptoms which occur in succession; (c) no aura symptom which lasts more than 60 minutes; (d) a he occurs prior to, simultaneously with or following the aura, with a free interval between aura and headache of less than about 60 minutes.

As used herein, the term "bipolar and related disorders" shall include bipolar disorder I (e.g. single manic episode, most recent episode hypomanic, most recent episode manic, most recent e mixed, most recent episode depressed and most recent e ified), bipolar disorder 11, cyclothymic disorder and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (as these terms are defined by their diagnostic criteria, in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders 4th n, Text Revision, American Psychiatric Association, 2000 (DSM-IV-TR) or in the 5th Edition, Text Revision, American Psychiatric ation, 2013 (DSM-STM). Preferably, the bipolar disorder is characterized by depressive and manic (or hypomanic) phases, wherein the phases cycle. Preferably, the bipolar disorder is bipolar disorder I or bipolar disorder 11. As used herein "mania" shall include mania or a manic mood phase, regardless ofunderlying cause. As used herein, the term "bipolar mania" is intended to mean the mania associated with, teristic of or symptomatic of a bipolar disorder. Thus, methods of treating bipolar mania of the present invention are directed to methods which treat the mania and/or manic phase ofbipolar disorders. As used herein, the term "bipolar depression" is ed to mean the depression associated with, teristic of or symptomatic of a bipolar disorder. Thus, methods oftreating bipolar depression of the present ion are directed to methods which treat the depression and/or depressed phase of bipolar disorders. As used herein, unless otherwise noted the terms "cycling" or "bipolar cycling" shall refer to the alteration of mood between depressive and manic phases characteristic of bipolar disorders. Thus, the present invention es methods for the ization of said cycling, including, but not limited to, decreasing the frequency of the cycling and/or decreasing the magnitude of the manic and/or depressive phases.

Thus, in an ment, the pharmaceutical composition ofthe present invention may be used for mood stabilization, in ular mood stabilization for manic depression.

As used herein, the term "epileptogenesis" refers to the gradual process by which sy develops. This process may occur following brain insults or a variety of conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, tic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, infections of the central nervous system, and status epilepticus; or it may occur following gene mutations.

As used herein, the term "anxiety" refers in particular to generalized anxiety disorder.

As used herein, the term "about" has its conventional g. In particular embodiments, when in relation to a cal value, it may be interpreted to mean the numerical value :: 10%, or :: 5%, or :: 2%, or :: l%, or :: 0.5 %, or :: 0.1%. In other embodiments, the precise value is meant, i.e. by leaving out the word "about".

"And/0r" means that each one or both or all of the components or features of a list are possible variants, especially two or more thereof in an alternative or cumulative way.

As used herein, the term " 3, " , an", "the" and similar terms used in the context of the present invention (especially in the context of the claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and plural unless otherwise ted herein or y contradicted by the context.

EXAMPLES The following Examples are set forth to aid in the understanding of the invention, and are not intended and should not be construed to limit in any way the invention set forth in the claims which follow thereafter.

A) COMPOUNDS OF FORMULA (I-B) — CHEMISTRY AND IN VITRO TESTING Several methods for preparing the compounds of Formula (I-B) of this invention are illustrated in the following Examples. Unless otherwise noted, all starting materials were obtained from commercial suppliers and used without ﬁthher cation.

Hereinafter, "aq." means aqueous; "DCE" means chloroethane, "DCM" means dichloromethane; "DIPE" means diisopropylether; "DIPEA" means N,N— diisopropylethylamine; "DMF" means N,N-dimethylformamide; "ES" means electrospray; "Et3N" means ylamine; "EtzO" means diethyl ether; "EtOAc" means ethyl acetate; "h" means hours; "HPLC" means high performance liquid chromatography; "HRMS" means high-resolution mass spectra/spectrometry; "l" or "L" means liter; "LRMS" means solution mass spectrometry/spectra; "MeOH" means methanol; "min" means minute(s); "mp" means melting point; "Pd(PPh3)4" means tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0); "RP" means reverse phase; "r.t." means room temperature; "s" means seconds; "sat." means saturated; "SFC" means supercritical ﬂuid chromatography; "sol." means solution; "THF" means ydroﬂlran.

Microwave ed reactions were performed in a single-mode r: InitiatorTM Sixty EXP microwave reactor (Biotage AB), or in a multimode reactor: MicroSYNTH Labstation tone, Inc.).

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was d out on silica gel 60 F254 plates (Merck) using reagent grade solvents. Open column chromatography was performed on silica gel, particle size 60 A, mesh = 230-400 ) using standard techniques. Automated ﬂash column chromatography was performed using ready-to-connect cartridges from Merck, on irregular silica gel, particle size 15-40 um (normal phase disposable ﬂash 3O columns) on a SPOT or LAFLASH system from Armen Instrument.

The absolute stereochemical configuration for some of the compounds was determined using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). They were measured on a Bruker Equinox 55 equipped with a PMA 37, in a KBr liquid cell using CDzClz as solvent (PEM: l350cm—l, LIA: lmV, resolution: 4 cm'l). A description on the use ofVCD for the determination of absolute conﬁguration can be found in n AB. et. al, Chirality, 14:215-219 (2002).

Whenever the notation "RS" is ted herein, it denotes that the compound is a racemic mixture, unless otherwise indicated. The stereochemical conﬁguration for some compounds has been designated "R" or "S" when the mixture was separated; for some compounds, the stereochemical conﬁguration has been designated as "*R" or "*S" when the absolute stereochemistry is undetermined although the compound itself has been isolated as a single stereoisomer and is enantiomerically pure. The enantiomeric excess of compounds reported herein was ined by analysis ofthe racemic mixture by supercritical ﬂuid chromatography (SFC) followed by SFC comparison of the separated enantiomer(s).

Preparation of intermediates Description 1 - Intermediate 1 ropylacetic acid ([CAS 52397], 50 g, 500 mmol) was dissolved in CHzClz (300 mL) then SOClz (100 mL) was added. The reaction e was stirred at 60 °C for 2 h and then the solvent was ated to yield intermediate 1 (53 g, 90%), which was used without further puriﬁcation. ption 2 - Intermediate 2 CIFF |\ F To a solution of 2,4-dichloroiodopyridine ([CAS 3437812], 290 g, 1058 mmol) in DMF (1.7 L) was added methyl 2,2-diﬂuoro(ﬂuorosulfonyl)acetate ([CAS 680- -9], 403 g, 2098 mmol) and CuI (403 g, 2. 13 mol), the reaction was then heated at 100 0C for 5 h.

The reation was cooled and d. The ﬁltrate was diluted with H20 and extracted with EtZO and washed with a NH3 solution. The organic layer was dried (NaZSO4), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate 2 (160 g), which was used without ﬁarther puriﬁcation.

Description 3 - Intermediate 3 ©—\F CI 0 / \ To a solution ofNaH (60% in oil, 24 g, 600 mmol) in DMF (2 L) at 0 0C was added benzyl alcohol (35 g, 325 mmol), then the reaction was stirred for 2 min. Intermediate 2 (160 mg, 741 mmol) was added in one portion, and stirred at 0 0C for l h. The reaction was diluted by the addition ofH20 and ted with EtZO. The organic layer was dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 20/ l). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated to yield intermediate 3 (100 g, 38%).

Description 4 - ediate 4 Q. .H | N\NH2 To a solution of intermediate 3 (100 g, 277 mmol) in l,4-dioxane (1.5 L) was added NHZNHZ hydrate (85% solution in water, 300 g, 9.11 mo 1), the reaction was then heated in sealed tube at 160 0C for 2 h. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo, ved in DCM, washed with NaHCOg. The organic layer was dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate 4 (90 g, 90%), which was used t further puriﬁcation.

Description 5 - Intermediate 5 To a solution of intermediate 4 (90 g, 318 mmol) in CHzClz (1.5 L) was added ylamine (64.3 g, 636 mrnol), the mixture was cooled to 0 0C, then a solution of intermediate 1 (53 g, 449 mrnol) in CHzClz was added. The solution was d at RT for l h. The reaction mixture was washed with a sat. aq. sol. ofNaHC03, and extracted with CHzClz. The organic layer was dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate 5 (104.4 g, 90%).

The following intermediates were synthesized following a synthetic sequence ous to that reported in Description 5 (D5).

Intermediate Acid chloride Conditions F propionyl de Addition run at F FHNJK/ ©\/0 ([CAS 798]) RT.

Intermediate 6 Q/OF O F H cyclobutaneacetyl Conditions as in F .

NIH I< chlor1de ([CAS D5. / <> l 595433]) Intermediate 7 ©\/0 F o 2-ethoxy—acetyl Conditions as in F " L/‘k/ chloride ([CAS D5. / \ﬁ \ IN 140778]) Intermediate 8 QCF O butyryl chloride Conditions as in F H M ([CAS1413]) D5.

/ \N I H ediate 25 Description 6 (a) Intermediate 9 F N"N To a solution of intermediate 5 (101 g, 277 mmol) in CH3CN (1.2 L) were added phosphorus(V) oride (84.7 g, 553 mmol) and isopropylethylamine (71.3 g, 553 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 90 0C for 38 h. The reaction was WO 10435 then diluted with DCM and washed with a N32C03 solution. The organic layer was dried (NaZSO4), d and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 4/ 1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated to yield intermediate 9 (31.39 g, 41%). (b) Intermediate 10 F N’N F | \ The on was performed in 4 batches then combined for work up and puriﬁcation.

To a solution of intermediate 6 (7 g, 20.6 mmol) in DCE (50 mL), was added N,N— diisopropylethylamine (3.96 mL, 22.69 mmol) and then phosphorus oxychloride (2.12 mL, 22.69 mrnol) and the reaction mixture was heated in a microwave at 150 0C for 5 min. Then DCM was added and the organic layer was washed with a sat. sol. of NaHC03, dried 4) and concentrated in vacuo to afford the desired compound, which was puriﬁed by column chromatography (gradient elution: DCM 100% to MeOH.NH3 2% in DCM) to yield intermediate 10 (2.5 g, 49%).

The following intermediates were sized following a synthetic sequence analogous to that ed in Description 6(a) or (b).

Intermediate Starting material Conditions Intermediate 7 Reaction performed as in (a) F N—N / w but in CHgCN. After the l reaction was complete, the CI reaction mixture was poured Intermediate 1 1 into ice/water then washed with NaHCO3 sat. sol. And extracted with DCM, dried (NaZSO4), ﬁltered and trated. Puriﬁcation was performed in Spot (Si cartridge, eluent DCM/EtOAc up to 10—20%). _ 59 _ Intermediate Starting material Conditions J ediate 8 Reaction performed as in (b).

F I \ Puriﬁcation by ﬂash column N chromatography (silica; / EtOAc in DCM 0/100 to 40/60).

Intermediate 12 F N’N Intermediate 25 Reaction performed as in (a).

F | \>_/— Puriﬁcation by ﬂash column F N / chromatography (silica; MeOH in CHzClz, from 0/100 Intermediate 26 to 4/96).

Description 7 - Intermediate 13 F N—NM Pd (2.096 g, 1.81 mmol) was added to a stirred on of intermediate 9 (10 g, 36.28 mmol) and 4,4,5,5-tetramethylVinyl-l,3,2-dioxoborolane ([CAS 759270], 7.77 mL, 43.53 mmol) in deoxygenated dioxane (30 mL) and a deoxygenated NaHC03 saturated solution (30 mL) under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 100 0C for 18 h.

The mixture was diluted with EtOAc/water and ﬁltered h a pad of diatomaceous earth. The ﬁltrate was treated with brine and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was ted, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and the solvents evaporated in vacuo. The crude product was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; EtOAc in CHzClz 0/100 to 5/95). The desired fractions were collected and trated in vacuo to yield intermediate 13 (6.08, 63%) as a yellow solid.

The following intermediates were synthesized following a synthetic sequence analogous to that ed in Description 7.

Intermediate Starting material ions Intermediate 10 Reaction performed at 150 oC.

Puriﬁcation by ﬂash column tography (silica; 7N solution of ammonia in methanol in DCM 0/100 to Intermediate 14 1/9).

F N——NMD Intermediate 1 1 Extraction with DCM, puriﬁcation by ﬂash column tography (silica; MeOH in DCM 4/96).

Intermediate 12 Puriﬁcation by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; EtOAc in DCM 0/100 to /90).

Intermediate 16 F N’N>_/— Intermediate 26 Reaction mixture performed at 150 0C in microwave.

Puriﬁcation by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; EtOAc in DCM 0/100 to Intermediate 27 1 0/90).

Description 8 (a) ediate 17 FF N|\>_)>,N Osmium tetraoxide (2.5% in t-BuOH, 10.103 mL, 0.781 mmol) and then, sodium periodate 12.53 g, 58.58 mmol) in water (48.5 mL) were added to a suspension of Intermediate 13 (6.08 g, 20.02 mmol) in dioxane (192 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h.

The e was treated with water and EtOAc and it was ﬁltered off through a pad of diatomaceous earth. The ﬁltrate was extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and the solvents ated in vacuo. The crude product was washed with EtZO and it was ﬁltered and dried to yield intermediate 17 (4.25 g, 79%) as a brown solid. (b) Intermediate 18 F N---N />\/ F N H / A suspension of sodium periodate (5.04 g, 23.54 mmol) in led water (19 mL) was added to a stirred solution of osmium tetraoxide (2.5% in t-BuOH, 4.06 mL, 0.31 mrnol) and intermediate 14 (2.08 g, 7.85 mmol) in dioxane (75 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 150 min, and then the mixture was treated with sat NaHC03 and brine, and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The product was triturated with EtZO and ﬁltered in vacuo, and ﬁnally put in desiccator at 50 0C for 18 h, to yield intermediate 18 (1.6 g, 80%) as a brown solid.

The following intermediates were synthesized following a synthetic ce analogous to that reported in Description 8.

Intermediate Starting material Conditions Intermediate 15 F N—N ure as in (a).

/ \ F N F l H / Intermediate 19 OJ Intermediate 16 ure as in (a) .

F N’N F | \>_/ F N H / Intermediate 20 _ 62 _ Intermediate Starting material Conditions F '7": Intermediate 27 Procedure as in (a), order of F N>\/\ addition: osmium tetroxide was H / added to a stirred solution of intermediate 27 in 1,4-di0xane, then a suspension of sodium Intermediate 28 periodate in water was added and the reaction e was stirred for 2 h at RT. No ion through a pad of diatomaceous earth. ption 9 (a) Intermediates 21a, 21b and 21c . N—w OH OH Intermediate 21a Intermediate 21b Intermediate 21c Methylmagnesium bromide (1.4 M in THF, 12.40 mL, 17.37 mrnol) was added dropwise to a stirred sion of intermediate 17 (4.25 g, 15.79 mmol) in THF (281.07 mL) at -20 0C under N2 atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at -20 0C for 45 minutes. The crude was treated with a sat. sol. ofNH4C1 and extracted with EtOAc.

The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2S04), d and trated in vacuo.

The residue was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 4/96). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo to yield intermediate 21a (racemic mixture) (2.96 g, 66%). Intermediate 21a (1.82 g) was puriﬁed by chiral SFC: [Stationary phase: CHIRALPAK AD-H (5 urn 250 x20 mm), Mobile phase: 80% C02, 20% EtOH] yielding 21b (R-enantiomer) (0.453 g, 10%) as a pale grey solid and intermediate 21c (S—enantiomer) (0.439 g, 10%). (b) Intermediate 22 F N——N Methylmagnesium bromide (1.4 M in THF, 3.97 mL, 5.56 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of ediate 18 (1.23 g, 5.06 mmol) in THF (90 mL) at -20 0C under N2 atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at -20 0C for 45 minutes. The crude was treated with a sat. sol. ofNH4C1 and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried (NaZSO4), ﬁltered and trated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 4/96). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo. The residue thus obtained was triturated with EtZO to yield intermediate 22 (620 mg, 35%) as a pale yellow solid.

The following intermediates were synthesized following a synthetic sequence analogous to that reported in Description 9.

Intermediate Starting material Conditions F :| Intermediate 19 Procedure (b).

Intermediate 20 ure (b).

Intermediate 28 ure (b).

Intermediate 29 Intermediate 24a was further separated into ediate 24b and Intermediate 24c: Intermediate 24b Intermediate 24c Chiral SFC conditions: Stationary phase Chiralpak AD-H 5 um 250*30 mm; Mobile phase: 80% C02, 15% EtOH ation of the ﬁnal nds of Formula (I-B) Example 1 (a) Synthesis of nds 4-b, 6-b and 5-b F N’N>_)> Compound 4-b Compound 6-b Compound 5-b DIAD (2.07 mL, 10.52 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution of intermediate 21a (2 g, 7.01 mmol), 2,4-diﬂuorophenol (1.00 mL, 10.52 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (2.76 g, 10.52 mmol) in THF (74.18 mL) at 0 0C and under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was d at 100 0C for 10 minutes under microwave irradiation. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with a sat. sol. of NaHC03. The organic layer was separated, dried (NazSO4), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The e was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 97/3). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo.

The residue was triturated with DIPE to give compound 4-b (1.46 g, 52%) as a white solid, which was puriﬁed by chiral SFC [Stationary phase: Chiralpak AD (5um 250*30 mm, Mobile phase: 85% C02, 15% iPrOH)], yielding compound 6-b (0.659 g, 24%) and compound 5-b (0.693 g, 25%). (b) Alternative synthesis of compound 6-b F N’N>_)> Co. No. 6-b DIAD (31.06 uL, 0.16 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution of intermediate 21b (30 mg, 0.11 mmol), 2,4-diﬁuorophenol (15.07 uL, 0.16 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (41.38 mg, 0.16 mmol) in THF (1.11 mL) at 0 0C and under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at 100 0C for 10 minutes under microwave irradiation. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with a sat. sol. ofNaHCOg. The c layer was ted, dried (Na2S04), d and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 97/3). The desired fractions were collected and trated in vacuo.

The residue was triturated with DIPE to give compound 6-b (40 mg, 96%) as a white solid. (c) sis of compound 6-b hloride salt (.HCl) DIAD (207.06 uL, 1.05 mmol) was added dropwise to a d solution of intermediate 21b (200 mg, 0.70 mmol), 2,4-diﬂuorophenol (100.45 uL, 1.05 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (275.84 mg, 1.0516 mmol) in THF (4 mL) at 0 0C and under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at 100 0C for 15 minutes under microwave irradiation. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with a sat. sol.

Og. The organic layer was ted, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by RP HPLC (Stationary phase: C18 XBridge 30 x 100 mm 5 mm, Mobile phase: Gradient from 60% 0.1% NH4C03H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 40% CH3CN to 43% 0.1% NH4C03H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 57% CH3CN), yielding a white solid residue that was dissolved in EtZO (8 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (0.5 mL). To the solution thus obtained HCl (4M in dioxane, 200 uL) was added dropwise. The white solid precipitate was ﬁltered, washed with EtZO, dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under vacuum. The white residue thus ed was triturated with EtZO to give compound 6-b .HCl (110 mg, 36%) as a white solid.

The following compounds were synthesized following a synthetic sequence analogous to that reported in Example 1(b), starting from intermediate 21b.

Co. Co.

(R)n (R)n No. No. 9-b QF 12-b F CI -b O 13-b Q 11-b ii" Z)" F F Example 2 Synthesis of compound 7-b F Nl\>—)>,N Co. No. 7-b Procedure (21): DIAD (31.06 uL, 0.158 rnrnol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution ofinterrnediate 21b (30 mg, 0.105 ), 3,5-diﬂuorophen01 (20.52 mg, 0.158 rnrnol) and triphenylphosphine (41.38 mg, 0.158 rnrnol) in THF (1.113 rnL) at 0 0C and under WO 10435 nitrogen atmosphere. The e was stirred at 100 0C for 10 s under microwave irradiation. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with a sat. sol. ofNaHCOg. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography a; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 96/4). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo.

The residue was triturated with DIPE to give compound 7-b (21 mg, 50%) as a white solid.

Procedure (b): Alternatively, compound 7 was also synthesized following a synthetic sequence analogous to that reported in Example l(b), starting from intermediate 21b.

Example 3 Synthesis of compound 8-b F ,N Co. No. 8-b Procedure (a): DIAD (31.06 uL, 0.158 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution of intermediate 21b (30 mg, 0.105 mmol), 3,4-diﬂuorophenol (20.52 mg, 0.158 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (41.38 mg, 0.158 mmol) in THF (1.11 mL) at 0 0C and under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at 100 0C for 10 minutes under microwave irradiation. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with a sat. sol. ofNaHCOg. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 96/4). The desired fractions were collected and trated in vacuo.

The residue was triturated with DIPE to give compound 8-b (10.6 mg, 25%) as a white solid.

Procedure (b): Alternatively, compound 8-b was also synthesized ing a synthetic sequence analogous to that reported in Example l(b), ng from intermediate 21b. 2015/051029 _ 68 _ Synthesis of compound 15-b F N’"{>_)> F F Co. No. 15-b Procedure (a): DIAD (155.3 uL, 0.789 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution ofintermediate 21b (150 mg, 0.526 mmol), 2,4,6-triﬁuorophenol (116.8 mg, 0.789 mol) and triphenylphosphine (206.88 mg, 0.789 mmol) in THF (5.56 mL) at 0 0C and under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at 100 0C for 10 minutes under microwave. The e was diluted with DCM and washed with a sat. sol. of NaHC03. The organic layer was ted, dried (Na2S04), ﬁltered and concentrated in vacuo, then puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH/NH3 7 N in DCM 0/100 to 90/10). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo. The was d by RP HPLC (Stationary phase: C18 XBridge 30 x 100 mm 5 urn, Mobile phase: Gradient from 54% 0.1% NH4C03H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 46% CH3CN to 64% 0.1% NH4C03H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 36% CH3CN) yielding a colourless oil that was crystallized upon standing (2 days). The solid was triturated with heptane to give compound 15-b (129.8 mg, 59%) as a white solid. ure (b): Alternatively, compound 15-b was also synthesized following a synthetic ce analogous to that reported in Example 1(b), starting from intermediate 21b.

Example 5 sis of compounds l-b, 2-b and 3-b F N’N>_)> Compound 2-b Compound 3-b Compound 1-b Compounds l-b, 2—b and 3-b were synthesized following the procedure described in Example 1(a). Thus, reaction of DIAD (500.05 uL, 2.54 mmol), intermediate 21a (483 W0 2015/110435 mg, 1.69 mmol), 4-ﬁuorophenol (227.77 mg, 2.03 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (666.14 mg, 2.54 mmol) in THF (17.91 mL) as described in Example 1(a) yielded a residue that was puriﬁed by ﬂash column tography (silica; EtOAc in DCM 0/100 to 90/10). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was triturated with DIPE to yield compound l-b (320 mg, 50%) as a white solid, which was puriﬁed by chiral SFC [Stationary phase: Chiralpak AD (5um 250*30 mm, Mobile phase: 77% C02, 23% MeOH)], ng compound 2-b (131mg, %) and compound 3-b (129 mg, 20%) as white solids.

Example 6 sis of compounds 24-b, 26-b, and 27—b F N’N F N’N \ \>_/ nd 24-b Compound 26-b Compound 27—b Compounds 24-b, 26—b and 27-b were synthesized following the procedure described in Example 1(a). Thus, reaction of DIAD (364.57 uL, 1.85 mmol), intermediate 22 (320 mg, 1.23 mmol), 2,4-diﬁuorophenol (176.86 uL, 1.85 mrnol) and triphenylphosphine (485.67 mg, 1.85 mmol) in THF (13.06 mL) as described in Example 1(a) d a residue that was puriﬁed by ﬂash column chromatography (silica; MeOH in DCM 0/100 to 96/4). The desired fractions were collected and concentrated in vacuo to yield a colourless oil that crystallized with DIPE to give compound 24 as a white solid, which was puriﬁed by RP HPLC (Stationary phase: C18 XBridge 30 x 100 mm 5 um; mobile phase: Gradient ﬁom 54% 0.1% NH4C03H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 46% CH3CN to 64% 0.1% H/NH4OH pH 9 solution in Water, 36% CH3CN) yielding a colourless oil that was crystallized upon trituration with heptane to give 240 mg (52%) of nd 24-b as a white solid, which was then puriﬁed by chiral SEC (Stationary phase: CHIRALPAK AD-H Sum 250x20mm; mobile phase: 85% C02, 15% iPOH (0.3% iPrNH2)), yielding compound 26-b (103 mg, 22%) and compound 27-b (107 mg, 23%).

The following compounds were ed following a synthetic ce similar to that reported in Example 1(a).

F N’hi>_/ Compound 25-b Compound 28-b Compound 29-b Starting al: ediate 22 Chiral SFC conditions: Stationary phase: Chiralpak AD-H 5pm 250 x 20 mm); Mobile phase: 85% C02, 15% mixture of EtOH/iPrOH 50/50 V/V (+03% iPrNHz) F N’Nf Compound 16-b Compound 17-b Compound 18-b Starting material: Intermediate 23 Chiral SFC conditions: Stationary phase: Chiralpak AD-H (5 mm 250*30 mm); Mobile phase: 80% C02, 20% mixture MeOH/iPrOH 50/50 V/V (+03% iPrNHz) The following compounds were synthesized following a synthetic sequence as ed in Example l(b), starting from the indicated intermediates.

Compound 20-b; obtained from Compound 21-b; obtained from intermediate 24c intermediate 24b Compound 19—b; ed from Compound 22-b; obtained from intermediate 24a intermediate 24c Compound 30-h; obtained from ediate 29 Compound 23-b; obtained from intermediate 24b F N’N>_/— Compound 31-b; Compound 32-b; Starting material: Intermediate 30 Chiral SFC conditions: Stationary phase: Chiralpak AD-H Sum 250 x 20 mm); Mobile phase: 85% C02, 15% iPrOH.

Table A below lists additional compounds of Formula (I-B) which were prepared by analogy to the above examples (Exp. no.).

WO 10435 Table A: Example compounds according to Formula (I-B). # indicates that the experimental procedure is described in the examples.

/ N>\R1 0 / Exp no. 1 R Ar Stereo-chem. [10. / "-1 l-b E5# | RS 2-b E5# V l *R 3-b E5# <7 I *S 4-b El# | RS / -—-— -b El# W \J R F F E] (:)):1nd ' F E1(c)# F b.HCl 7-b E2# W K) s 8-b E3# W 1:} s 9-b E1(b) W ' S WO 10435 _ 73 _ / N»\R1 0 / Exp no. 1 R Ar Stereo-chem. -h E1(b) W Q S 11-b E1(b) W Q S 12-b E1(b) W Q S F o/ 13-b E1(b) W Q S 14-b E1(b) W Q S -b E4# W Q’ S F F 16-b E1(a) E Q RS F F 17-b E1(a) E Q *R F F __ E 18-b E1(a) *S FQ F 19-b E1(b) \o/\ RS FQ F 2015/051029 F3C /»\R1 0 / Exp no. 1 R Ar Stereo-chem. -h E1(b) \o/\ Q *R F F 21-b E1(b) \o/\ *S FQ F F F F F 24-h E6# -"'\ Q RS F F -b E1 "'\ Ki RS F F 26-h E6# --"\ *R FQ F 27-b E6# --"\ Q *S F F 28-b E1 "'\ *R _ 75 _ / N»\R1 0 / Exp no. 1 R Ar Stereo-chem. 29-h we \ Ki *8 F F -b E1(b) V RS 31-b Elan V Q *R F F 32-b Bub) V /©\ *5 F F Analytical part Optical Rotations Optical rotations were measured on a Perkin-Elmer 341 polarimeter with a sodium lamp and reported as follows: [(1]0 (7t, c g/100ml, solvent, TOC). [(1]ny = (100a) / (l x c) : where l is the path length in dm and c is the concentration in g/100 ml for a sample at a temperature T (0C) and a wavelength X (in mm). If the wavelength of light used is 589 nm (the sodium D line), then the symbol D might be used instead. The sign of the rotation (+ or -) should always be given. When using this equation the concentration and t are always provided in parentheses after the rotation. The rotation is reported using s and no units of concentration are given (it is assumed to be g/100 ml).

LCMS For (LC)MS-characterization of the compounds of the present invention, the following methods were used.

General ure The High mance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) measurement was performed using a LC pump, a diode-array (DAD) or a UV detector and a column as specified in the tive methods. If necessary, additional ors were included (see table of methods below).

Flow from the column was brought to the Mass Spectrometer (MS) which was conﬁgured with an atmospheric pressure ion source. It is within the knowledge of the skilled person to set the tune ters (e. g. scanning range, dwell time...) in order to obtain ions allowing the identiﬁcation of the nd’s nominal monoisotopic molecular weight (MW). Data acquisition was performed with appropriate software.

Compounds are described by their experimental retention times (R) and ions. If not speciﬁed differently in the table of data, the reported molecular ion corresponds to the [M--H]+ (protonated molecule) and/or [M-H]' (deprotonated molecule). In case the compound was not ly ionizable the type of adduct is speciﬁed (i.e. [M+NH4]+, [M--HCOO]', etc. . .). For molecules with multiple isotopic patterns (Br, Cl..), the reported value is the one obtained for the lowest isotope mass. All results were obtained with experimental uncertainties that are commonly associated with the method used.

Hereinafter, "SQD" means Single Quadrupole Detector, "RT" room temperature, "BEH" bridged ethylsiloxane/silica hybrid, "HSS" High th Silica, "DAD" Diode Array Detector.

Table B: LCMS Method codes (Flow expressed in mL/min; column temperature (T) in oC; Run time in minutes).

Mobile phase Gradient Agilent: A: 95% From 95% Eclipse Plus CH3COONH4 A to 5% A C18 RRHD 6.5mM + 5% in 4.6min, (1.8um, CH3CN, B: held for mm) CH3CN 0.4min A: 95% From 95% Waters: CH3COONH4 A to 5% A CSHTM C18 6.5mM + 5% in 4.6min, (1.7um, CH3CN, B: held for 2.1x50mm) CH3CN 0.4min 84.2% A for n, to .5% A in A: 95% 2.18min, Waters: BEH CH3COONH4 held for 7mM / 5% n, 2.1X100mm) CH3CN, back to B: CH3CN 84.2% A in 0.73min, held for 0.73min.

A: 95% Waters: From 95% CHgCOONH4 CSHTM C 1 8 A to5% A in 6.5mM + 5% , 7.8min, held CH3CN, B: 2.1X50mm) for l.2min CH3CN Melting points Values are peak values, and are obtained with experimental uncertainties that are commonly ated with this ical method.

Mettler FP 81HT/FP90 apparatus For a number of compounds, melting points were determined in open capillary tubes on a PP 81HT / FP90 apparatus (Mettler-Toledo). Melting points were measured with a temperature gradient of l, 3, 5 or 10 oC/minute. Maximum temperature was 300 oC.

The melting point was read from a digital display.

Table C: Physico-chemical data for some compounds, retention time (R) in min, [M+H]+ peak (protonated molecule), LCMS method and mp (melting point in oC). (n.d. = not determined).

C0. Mp Rt + LCMS [MH l Optical Rotation' ° no. (0C) (min) method 1.10 156.3 2.32 380 1 -585 O (589 nm, c 0.53 2-1, 176.9 2.93 380 3 w/V%, DMF, 20 °C) +594 0 (589 nm, c 0.52 3.10 177.3 2.93 380 3 W/V%, DMF, 20 °C) _ 78 _ C0. Mp Rt + LCMS [MH ] l Rotatlon. . no. (0C) (min) method 4-b 121.7 2.41 398 1 +957 0 (589 11m, 0 0.69 -b 142 2.99 398.3 3 w/V%, DMF, 20 0C) -954 o (589 mm, c 0.7 6-b 142.4 2.99 398.2 3 W/V%’ DMF, 20 0C) -557 o (589 mm, c 0.96 7-b 170.08 2.37 398 2 w/V %, DMF, 20 0C) 8-b n.d. 2.32 398 2 n.d. 9-b n.d. 2.32 398 2 n.d. -b n.d. 2.25 398 2 n.d. 11-b n.d. 2.28 398 2 n.d. 12-b n.d. 2.16 410 2 n.d. 13-b 144.1 2.68 410 2 n.d. 14-b 161.7 2.51 394 2 n.d. -167.0 0 (589 nm, c -b 80.3 2.37 416 2 0.55 w/V%, DMF, 20 16—b n.d. 2.50 412 2 n.d. 17-b n.d. 3.12 412 3 n.d. 18-b n.d. 3.12 412 3 n.d. l9-b n.d. 2.39 402 2 n.d. -b n.d. 2.3 402 2 n.d. _ 79 _ C0. Mp R + LCMS [MH ] Optlcal Rotatlon. . no. (0C) (min) method 21-b n.d. 3.36 402 n.d. 22-h n.d. 2.35 420 2 n.d. 23-b n.d. 2.35 420 2 n.d. 24-b 135.7 2.05 372 2 n.d. -b 138.3 2.13 390 2 n.d. -83.9 o (589 nm, 0 0.52 26-b n.d. 2.80 372 3 W/V %, DMF, 25 0C) +921 0 (589 27-b n.d. 2.80 372 nm, c 0.55 W/V %, DMF, 25 0C) -129.2 0 (589 nm, 0 0.5 28-b n.d. 2.85 390 3 w/V %, DMF, 25 0C) +1373 0 (589 nm, c 29-b n.d. 2.85 390 3 0.51 w/V %, DMF, 25 -b 130.6 2.29 386 2 n.d. -67.5 o (589 nm, 0 0.83 31-b 127.85 2.29 386 2 w/V %, DMF, 20 0C) +895 0 (589 nm, 0 0.83 32-b 127.69 2.29 386 2 w/V %, DMF, 20 0C) SFC-MS General ure The SFC measurement was performed using Analytical system from Berger instrument comprising a FCM-1200 dual pump ﬂuid control module for delivering carbon dioxide (CO2) and modiﬁer, a CTC Analytics automatic liquid sampler, a TCM-20000 thermal control module for column heating from room temperature to 80°C. An Agilent 1100 UV photodiode array detector equipped with a high-pressure ﬂow cell ng up to 400 bars was used. Flow from the column was split to a MS spectrometer. The MS detector was conﬁgured with an atmospheric pressure ionization source.The following WO 10435 ionization ters for the Waters ZQ mass spectrophotometer are: corona: 9ua, source temp: 140°C, cone: 30 V, probe temp 450°C, extractor 3 V, desolvatation gas 400L/hr, cone gas 70 L/hr. Nitrogen was used as the nebulizer gas. Data acquisition was performed with a Waters-Micromass MassLynX-OpenlynX data system.

Method 1: In addition to the l procedure: The analytical chiral separation in SFC- MS was carried out on a CHIRALPAK AD DAICEL column (10 um, 4.6 X 250 mm) at 0C with a ﬂow rate of 3.0 ml/min. The mobile phase is 85% C02, 15% iPrOH (+ 0.3% 1PI'NH2) hold 7 min in isocratic mode.

Method 2: In addition to the general procedure: The analytical chiral tion in SFC- MS was carried out on a CHIRALPAK AD DAICEL column (10 um, 4.6 X 250 mm) at 0C with a ﬂow rate of 3.0 ml/min. The mobile phase is 75% C02, 15% iPrOH (+ 0.3% iPrNHz) hold 7 min in isocratic mode.

Method 3: In addition to the general procedure: The analytical chiral separation in SFC- MS was carried out on a CHIRALPAK AD DAICEL column (10 um, 4.6 X 250 mm) at 0C with a ﬂow rate of 3.0 ml/min. The mobile phase is 80% C02, 10% Methanol + % iPrOH (+ 0.3% ) hold 7 min in isocratic mode.

Table D: Analytical SFC data — Rt means retention time (in minutes), [M+H]+ means the protonated mass of the compound, method refers to the method used for SFC/MS analysis of enantiomerically pure compounds. The measurement was ed against the mixture.

C0. Isomer Elution Rt [M+H]+ UV Area % Method Nr. Oram 6-b 4.28 398 100 1 A S-b 5.98 398 100 1 B 2-b 2.13 380 100 2 A 3-b 2.97 380 100 2 B 17-b 2.46 412 100 3 A 18-b 3.12 412 100 3 B 31-b 2.93 386 100 1 A 32-h 3.81 386 100 1 B *A means the ﬁrst isomer that elutes. B means the second isomer that elutes.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) For a number of compounds, 1H NMR spectra were recorded either on a Bruker DPX- 400 or on a Bruker AV-SOO spectrometer with standard pulse sequences, operating at 400 MHz and 500 MHz respectively. Chemical shifts (8) are ed in parts per n (ppm) downﬁeld from tetramethylsilane (TMS), which was used as internal standard.

Co. No. 6-b: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDClg) 8 ppm 0.30 _ 0.38 (m, 2 H), 0.59 — 0.68 (m, 2 H), 1.14 _ 1.22 (m, 1 H), 1.72 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 3 H), 3.02 _ 3.14 (m, 2 H), 5.84 (q, J=6.3 Hz, 1 H), 6.67 — 6.73 (m, 1 H), 6.80 — 6.89 (m, 2 H), 7.30 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1 H), 8.11 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 7-b: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 0.30 _ 0.39 (m, 2 H), 0.59 — 0.68 (m, 2 H), 1.11 _ 1.23 (m, 1 H), 1.70 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 3 H), 3.01 _ 3.14 (m, 2 H), 5.83 (q, J=6.2 Hz, 1 H), 6.35 — 6.45 (m, 3 H), 7.13 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H), 8.08 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 8-b: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 0.30 _ 0.38 (m, 2 H), 0.58 — 0.68 (m, 2 H), 1.11 _ 1.22 (m, 1 H), 1.69 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3 H), 3.01 _ 3.13 (m, 2 H), 5.79 (q, J=6.2 Hz, 1 H), 6.53 (dtd, J=9.2, 3.1, 3.1, 1.7 Hz, 1 H), 6.72 (ddd, J=11.6, 6.5, 3.1 Hz, 1 H), 6.95 _ 7.04 (m, 1 H), 7.15 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1 H), 8.07 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 15-h: 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 0.30 _ 0.41 (m, 2 H), 0.59 — 0.71 (m, 2 H), 1.16 — 1.25 (m, 1 H), 1.70 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3 H), 3.05 _ 3.16 (m, 2 H), 5.80 (q, J=6.4 Hz, 1 H), 6.62 — 6.70 (m, 2 H), 7.45 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1 H), 8.16 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 13-b: 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 0.27 _ 0.39 (m, 2 H), 0.58 — 0.67 (m, 2 H), 1.12 _ 1.21 (m, 1 H), 1.73 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3 H), 2.22 (s, 3 H), 3.06 (qd, J=15.4, 6.6 Hz, 2 H), 5.92 (q, J=6.4 Hz, 1 H), 6.71 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1 H), 6.89 (dd, J=8.4, 1.4 Hz, 1 H), 7.18 (d, J=1.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.32 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H), 8.07 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H) 3O Co. No. 14-b: 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 0.28 — 0.39 (m, 2 H), 0.57 — 0.69 (m, 2 H), 1.12 — 1.21 (m, 1 H), 1.70 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 3 H), 2.31 (s, 3 H), 3.01 — 3.12 (m, 2 H), .79 (q, J=6.6 Hz, 1 H), 6.55 (dd, J=9.0, 4.3 Hz, 1 H), 6.69 (td, J=8.5, 3.0 Hz, 1 H), 6.87 (dd, J=9.0, 2.9 Hz, 1 H), 7.17 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1 H), 8.06 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 20-b: 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 8 ppm 1.22 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3 H), 1.72 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3 H), 3.58 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2 H), 5.03 — 5.10 (m, 2 H), 5.84 (q, J=6.5 Hz, 1 H), 6.67 _ 6.74 (m, 1 H), 6.81 — 6.88 (m, 2 H), 7.34 (d, .1272 Hz, 1 H), 8.40 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1 Co. No. 22-b: 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 5 ppm 1.23 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 3 H), 1.70 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3 H), 3.58 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2 H), 5.05 — 5.12 (m, 2 H), 5.81 (q, J=6.6 Hz, 1 H), 6.62 — 6.70 (m, 2 H), 7.48 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1 H), 8.45 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1 H) Co. No. 31-b: 1H NMR (400 MHZ, CDClg) 8 ppm 1.07 (t, J=7.40 Hz, 3 H) 1.72 (d, J=6.24 Hz, 3 H) 1.92 (sxt, J=7.63 Hz, 2 H) 2.98 - 3.14 (m, 2 H) 5.84 (q, J=6.47 Hz, 1 H) 6.65 - 6.74 (m, 1 H) 6.78 - 6.89 (m, 2 H) 7.29 (d, J=7.40 Hz, 1 H) 8.02 (d, J=7.40 Hz, 1 H).

In vitro testing of compounds of Formula (I-B) The compounds ofFormula (I-B) provided in the present invention are positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2. These compounds appear to potentiate glutamate ses by binding to an allosteric site other than the glutamate binding site. The response ofmGluR2 to a concentration of glutamate is increased when compounds of Formula (l-B) are present. Compounds of Formula (I-B) are expected to have their effect substantially at mGluR2 by virtue of their y to enhance the function of the 2O or. The effects of positive allosteric modulators tested at mGluR2 using the [3SS]GTP1/S binding assay method described below and which is suitable for the ﬁcation of such compounds, and more particularly the compounds according to Formula (l-B), are shown in Table E. [35S]GTPyS binding assay The [35S]GTP1/S binding assay is a ﬁanctional ne-based assay used to study G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) function whereby incorporation of a non-hydrolysable form of GTP, [35S]GTPyS (guanosine 5’-triphosphate, labelled with gamma-emitting 35 S), is measured. The G-protein 01 subunit catalyzes the exchange of guanosine 5 ’-diphosphate (GDP) by ine triphosphate (GTP) and on activation of 3O the GPCR by an t, [3SS]GTP1/S, becomes incorporated and cannot be cleaved to continue the exchange cycle (Harper (1998) t Protocols in Pharmacology 2.6.1-10, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). The amount of radioactive [35S]GTP1/S incorporation is a direct measure of the activity of the ein and hence the activity ofthe agonist can be ined. mGlu2 receptors are shown to be preferentially coupled to Geri-protein, a preferential coupling for this , and hence it is widely used to study receptor activation of mGlu2 receptors both in recombinant cell lines and 2015/051029 in tissues. Here we describe the use of the [35S]GTPyS binding assay using membranes from cells transfected with the human mGlu2 receptor and adapted from Schaffhauser et a]. (Molecular Pharmacology, 2003, 810) for the detection of the positive allosteric modulation (PAM) properties of the compounds of this invention.

Membrane preparation CHO-cells were cultured to pre-conﬂuence and stimulated with 5 mM butyrate for 24 h. Cells were then collected by scraping in PBS and cell suspension was centrifuged (10 min at 4000 RPM in benchtop centrifuge). Supernatant was discarded and pellet gently resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 by mixing with a vortex and pipetting up and down. The suspension was centrifuged at 16,000 RPM (Sorvall RC-5C plus rotor SS-34) for 10 minutes and the supernatant discarded. The pellet was homogenized in 5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 using an ultra-turrax homogenizer and centrifuged again (18,000 RPM, 20 min, 4 oC). The final pellet was resuspended in 50 mM Tris—HCl, pH 7.4 and stored at —80 0C in riate aliquots before use. Protein tration was determined by the rd method (Bio-Rad, USA) with bovine serum albumin as standard. [35s1GTPys g assay Measurement ofmGluR2 positive allo steric tory activity of test compounds was med as follows. Test compounds and glutamate were diluted in assay buffer containing 10 mM HEPES acid, 10 mM HEPES salt, pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgClz and 10 uM GDP. Human mGlu2 receptor-containing membranes were thawed on ice and diluted in assay buffer supplemented with 14 ug/ml n. Membranes were pre-incubated with compound alone or together with a predefined (~EC20) concentration of glutamate (PAM assay) for 30 min at 30 0C. After addition of [35S]GTPyS (f.c. 0.1 nM), assay mixtures were shaken brieﬂy and farther incubated to allow [35S]GTPyS incorporation on activation (30 s, 30 oC). Final assay mixtures contained 7 ug of membrane protein in 10 mM HEPES acid, 10 mM HEPES salt, pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgC12, 10 uM GDP and 2 ug/ml n. Total reaction volume was 200 ul. Reactions were terminated by rapid filtration h Unifilter-96 GF/B plates (Perkin Elmer, Massachusetts, USA) using a 96-well ﬁltermate universal harvester. Filters were washed 6 times with ld 10 mM NaH2P04/10 mM NazHPO4, pH 7.4. Filters were then air-dried, and 40 ul of liquid scintillation cocktail (Microscint-O) was added to each well. Membrane-bound radioactivity was counted in a Microplate Scintillation and Luminescence Counter from Perkin Elmer.

Data analysis The concentration-response curves ofrepresentative compounds of the t invention -obtained in the presence of ECZO ofmGluR2 agonist ate to determine positive allosteric modulation (PAM)- were generated using the Lexis software interface (developed at J&J). Data were calculated as % of the control ate response, deﬁned as the maximal se that is generated upon addition of glutamate alone. Sigmoid concentration-response curves plotting these percentages versus the log concentration of the test compound were analyzed using non-linear regression analysis.

The concentration producing half-maximal effect is then calculated as EC50.

The pECso values below were ated as the —log EC50, when the EC50 is expressed in M. Emax is defined as relative maximal effect (i.e. maximal % effect relative to the control glutamate response).

Table E below shows the pharmacological data obtained for nds of Formula (LB) and current pharmacological data obtained for compounds of Formulae (I) and (I- A).

Table E: Pharmacological data for compounds according to the invention.

GTPyS - GTPyS - hmGluR2 hmGluR2 Co. No. PAM pECso PAM Emax l-b 6.59 296 2-b 6.84 228 3-b 5.79 187 6-b 7.39 256 -b 6.06 141 4-b 7.04 329 7-b 7.31 292 8-b 7.04 244 9-b 7.3 260 -b 7.47 218 11-b 8.25 239 12-b 6.99 178 16-b 7.54 284 13-b 7.75 280 14-b 7.53 281 -b 8.16 293 _ 85 _ GTPyS - GTPyS - 2 hmGluR2 Co. No. PAM pECso PAM Emax 19-b 6.71 297 -b 6.9 233 24-b 6.42 193 17-b 7.73 317 18-b 6.24 213 22-b 7.61 325 23-b 5.94 167 21-b 6.32 102 -h 7.07 332 26-b 6.78 214 27—b n.c. 51 -h 6.9 227 28-b 7.19 234 29-b 5.85 77 31-b 7.05 251 32-b 5.71 116 1 7.11 258 la 6.95 286 2 7.82 290 2a 7.61 484 3 7.55 212 4 6.88 260 6.26 231 7.79 263 6a 7.68 261 8.45 263 6.73 360 6.9 462 7.21 357 11 6.94 310 12 8.36 261 13 6.9 278 l-a 6.78 314 2015/051029 _ 86 _ GTPyS - GTPyS - hmGluR2 hmGluR2 Co. No. PAM pECso PAM Emax 2-a 6.84 340 3-a 6.88 231 4-21 6.6 269 -21 n.t. 6-a 6.34 255 7-a 6.64 291 8-21 6.04 157 9-21 6.59 222 -21 6.88 290 11-21 7.11 249 12-21 7.03 242 13-21 6.67 212 14-21 6.92 259 -21 7 253 16-21 7.12 223 17-21 6.54 261 18-21 n.t. 19-21 6.71 240 -a 6.91 243 21-a 6.25 207 22-a 6.05 259 23-21 6.58 203 24-a 6.91 258 —a 7.07 261 26-a 6.5 248 27-21 6.48 284 28-a 6.96 297 29-a 6.97 317 -21 n.t. 31-a n.t. 32-21 6.66 347 33-21 6.58 362 no. means that the pECso could not be calculated n.t. means not tested pEC50 values were not calculated in cases where the concentration-response curve did not reach a plateau level.

All compounds were tested in ce ofmGluR2 agonist glutamate at a predetermined ECZO concentration, to determine positive allosteric modulation . pECso values were calculated from a concentration-response experiment of at least 8 concentrations.

B) NVULSANT STUDIES WITH mGluR2 COMPOUNDS (ORTHOSTERIC AGONIST AND COMPOUNDS OF FORMULAE -A)/(I-B) Preparation of test compounds and solutions Test compounds were administered using an optimal ﬂuid volume to body ﬂuid ratio.

Test compounds were administered to mice in a volume of 0.01 mL/g of body weight (White H.S., et al., General ples: Experimental selection, quantiﬁcation, and evaluation of ileptic drugs, in Antiepileptic Drugs, Fourth Edition, R. H. Levy, R.H. Mattson, and B. S. Meldrum, Editors. 1995, Raven Press, Ltd.: New York, pp. 99- l 10). For aneous (s.c.) administration, the test compounds were administered into a loose fold of skin along the back of the animal except compound 6-b, which was administered orally (p.o). For each of the tests performed on the test compounds (except on compound 6-b), ﬁnal compound concentrations were administered as aqueous on in 20% D. For compound 6-b, a 40% Hp-B-CD stock solution was ﬁrst prepared and utilized for formulating compound 6-b at the desired concentrations for testing via the oral route; ﬁnal compound concentrations were administered as suspensions in 20% Hp-B-CD. A 20% Hp-B-CD solution was used for the vehicle groups.

For LY-404039, ﬁnal compound concentrations were administered as a saline solution S.C..

For compound CAS 10924530, ﬁnal compound concentrations were stered in 10% Hp-B-CD (+NaCl) vehicle following dissolution.

Final levetiracetam concentrations were administered in a 0.5% methylcellulose (MC) aqueous solution stered by eritoneal (i.p.) injection.

Critical Reagents a) Vehicle Solutions 0.5% Methylcellulose (MC) 40% Hydroxypropyl-B-cyclodextrin (Hp-B-CD) stock solution [9) laneous Solutions Tetracaine (0.5% solution w/v) was added dropwise from a plastic dropper bottle onto the eyes of all animals that would subsequently receive electrical stimulation via corneal electrodes.

Animals and Animal Husbandry Adult male CF No l albino mice (26-35 g) were obtained from Charles River, Portage, an. The animals were ined on an adequate diet (Prolab RMH 3000) and allowed free access to food and water, except during the short time they were removed from their cage for testing. Animals newly received in the laboratory were allowed sufficient time to correct for possible food and water restriction incurred during transit before being employed in testing. All mice were housed in plastic cages in specially constructed rooms with controlled humidity, exchange of air and controlled lighting (12 hours on — 12 hours off). The animals were , fed, and handled in a manner consistent with the recommendations in the National Council ation, "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals".

Minimal Motor ment (MMI) Acute MMI was assessed by a combination of direct observations of the animal for overt symptoms of the animal’s neurological or muscular ﬁanction. In mice, the rotarod procedure was used to disclose minimal muscular or neurological impairment. When a mouse is placed on a rod that s at a speed of 6 rpm, the animal can maintain its equilibrium for long periods of time. The animal was considered toxic if it fell off this rotating rod three times during a l min period.

Determination of Median Effective and Toxic Doses (EDﬂ and TDﬂ) In the ination of an ED50 or TD50 for each test compound, the first dose administered is usually the same dose as that used in a successful TPE determination.

If the initial dose employed was effective or toxic in more than 50% of s, the next dose would be lf that of the initial dose; if the initial dose was ive or toxic in less than 50% of animals, the following dose would be twice that of the initial dose. Third and fourth doses were selected to produce an evenly spaced dose response line. There should be a minimum of 4 points either including or lying between 0 and 1 00%.

TPE Determination Groups of generally four animals each were administered test compounds and each group was tested at one of ﬁve time points: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4h post-treatment (White et al. 1995). TPE was determined using the 6Hz (32mA) assay. The time (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4h post-treatment) at which maximal protection was ed was considered the Time ofPeak Effect (TPE).

At the TPE determined for this study, or ined previously, compounds were tested in the 6Hz assay (32 and/or 44 mA), across several doses and sing doses that elicited little or no protection to full protection.

An ED50 and 95% confidence interval (C.I.) were calculated using Probit analysis on a computer program provided in the laboratory (Finney "Probit Analysis" 34d Ed 1971, London: Cambridge University Press).

Serum Collection for pK/pD Analysis In various tests, animals were sacriﬁced following testing, and trunk blood and/or brain tissue (whole brains) was collected for quantification of drug levels. Innnediately after testing, animals were decapitated and trunk blood was ted into a BD Vacutainer® tube containing K2EDTA and chilled on ice until centriﬁagation. ing centriﬁagation (13000 — 18000 rpm, 5-7 min), the plasma was removed and transferred to a labeled microcentrifuge tube and stored at -80 0C. For brain tissue collection, brains were removed immediately following tation and ﬂash frozen. The frozen sample was placed in a labeled centrifuge tube and stored at -80 oC. 6 Hz Psychomotor Seizure Test in Mice The 6Hz seizure test is used as a model of pharmacoresistant limbic seizures. The 6Hz e displays a resistance to phenytoin, azepine, lamotrigine, and topiramate (Barton et al. "Pharmacological characterization of the 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model ofpartial epilepsy" Epilepsy Research 2001, Vol. 47, pp. 217-222).

Method for 6 Hz Psychomotor Seizure Test Focal seizures were induced in mice via corneal stimulation (6Hz, 0.2 msec rectangular pulse, 3 sec duration; Barton et al. 2001). Mice were tested at either 32mA or 44mA.

Prior to stimulation, drops of 0.5% tetracaine were applied to each eye. The seizures that arise from corneal stimulation in this assay are characterized by a minimal clonic phase followed by typed automatistic behaviors including stun, forelimb , twitching of the vibrissae, and -tail. Animals not displaying these behaviors were considered protected.

EXAMPLE 1 — S WITH COMPOUNDS 1 AND 2 1.1. Combination Study with Co. No. 1, Co. No. 2 and Levetiracetam First, each nd was tested individually at a dose that yed minimal activity in the 6Hz 44 mA test at each compound’s TPE. When the mGluR2 PAM compounds and levetiracetam were administered in combination (same dose and time-point as individual tests) nearly complete protection was observed in the 6Hz 44 mA test (Table 2). In addition to recording the efficacy and toxicity data for these compounds alone or in ation, both plasma and brain samples were collected from each of the groups for cokinetic/pharmacokinetic analysis. No pharmacokinetic interaction was observed based on compound levels in the plasma and brain samples (data not shown).

In summary, compounds 1 and 2 displayed positive pharmacodynamic interaction with levetiracetam in the 6Hz model that does not appear to be due to pharmacokinetic interaction, and without increasing motor impairment (Tables 2, 2a, 2b). The effect of 1 dose of Compound 2 was also tested on the dose-response of LEV. As shown in Table 3, there was a ~200-fold shift in the ED50 ofLEV compared to when LEV was tested alone. LEV seemed to increase the potency ofCo No. 2 slightly (Table 3). 1.2. Isobolographic analysis of interactions n Co. No. 1 and Levetiracetam in the 6 Hz seizure model Isobolographic studies were conducted for the combined administration of Co. No. 1 with LEV in the 6Hz (44mA) assay. Studies were ted according to previously described methods (Madsen et al. 2011). Initial EDso values were determined for both Co. No. 1 and LEV and used to calculate theoretical ED50 (i standard error of the mean, SEM) values for three ﬁxed dose ratio combinations (LEV: Co. No. 1): 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1. Doses used were proportional to calculated ED50 values. For example, the .9]. dose ratio used for the 1:1 paradigm was based on 0.5 x ED50 for LEV and 0.5 x ED50 for Co. No. 1. rly, the 1:3 paradigm used 0.25 x ED50 for LEV and 0.75 x EDso for Co. No. 1. The 3:1 dose ratio used 0.75 x ED50 LEV and 0.25 x ED50 for Co. No. 1.

Experimental treatment doses (see Table 4) were based on theoretical values and ed according to observed effects. Experimentally determined ED50 (i SEM) values for each ﬁxed dose-ratio combination were compared to the theoretical values (t-test) for statistical purposes. The dose ratio was determined to be supra-additive (synergistic) if the experimentally-determined ED50 value was signiﬁcantly lower than the theoretical ED50. Subsequently, the experimental combined doses were determined for the same paradigms in the 6Hz seizure test (Table 4 below). The isobolographic study with compound 1 and levetiracetam in the 6 Hz model demonstrates a signiﬁcant istic pharmacodynamic interaction at all dose ratios evaluated and corresponds closely with compound 1 plasma . Furthermore, no motor impairment was observed at any of the dose ratios evaluated suggesting that the synergistic pharmacodynamics ction does not produce increased motor toxicity. 1.3. Mouse Corneal Kindling Model and studies with compound 1 Mice were kindled electrically with 3 second, 3 mA, 60 Hz stimulus, twice daily using l electrodes until a criterion of 5 consecutive Stage 5 seizures as deﬁned by Racine (Racine cation of seizure activity by electrical stimulation" 11. motor seizure" Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 1972, 32, pp. 281-294). After the mice reached a stable kindled state, the test compound or vehicle was administered and, at the previously determined TPE, each animal was given the electrical us indicated above. Following stimulation, the animals were observed for the presence or absence ofthe seizure activity scored on the Racine scale (0 — 5) with 5 representing the highest stage rearing and falling. One dose of LEV and two doses of Co. No. 1 were tested individually and in ation against corneal kindled es. Combination of nd 1 with levetiracetam in this model suggests a positive codynamics interaction (Table 5 below).

A summary ofthe data for the compounds tested alone is presented in Table l and additional results of studies performed according to example 1 are listed in Tables 2-5 below.

Table 1: Summary of the acute anticonvulsant data in the 6Hz model at 32 mA and 44 mA for the mGluR2 PAM compounds 1, 2, 11, 2-a, 25-a, 6-b and LY- 404039 following s.c. administration (except compound 6-b, which was tested p.0.).

TPE means time of peak effect, CI means nce interval, s.c. means aneous, p.o. means orally, n.t. means not tested. TPE was determined in 32 mA 6Hz test. s are generally observed at doses that do not produce impairment in rotarod test.

For compounds 11 and 2-a the individual values of repeat experiments are provided.

For compound 25a, both 0.25 and 1h time points were used for 6Hz (44mA) studies.

El)50 (95% CI) mg/kg, s.c.

Co. No. TPE (h) scffﬁggie) Corneal 32 mA 44 mA kindling 4.77 (3.54 — 2.8 11 0.5 6.76) 31.5 (15.1 — 47.3) (100 mg/kg) 9.41 (1.53-15.1) 3.83 (1.62— 3.4 2 0.25 5.89 (3.89 — 8.45) 6.71) (40 mg/kg) 1 0.5 2.8 (1.3 — 4.3) 10.2 (3.1 — 12.4) (20 mg/kg) 1 hr TPE: 25.9 n.t. -a 1 (15.5-33.7) 7.7 (2.3-18.4) 025 hr TPE: 29.1 (21.6-39.6) 44.7 (23.4-80.5) 50% protection at 4.4 2-a 0.5 20.8 (10.0-31.7) 100 mg/kg (100 mg/kg) 12.2 (8.4—17.4) 21 (179—274) 6-b 0.5 7.2 (4211.8) 16.1 (13.0—20.1) n.t.

LY-404039 0.5 10.2 (3.62-12.4) n.t. (100 mg/kg) Table 1a: Summary of the 6Hz 32 mA TPE determination for Co. No. 1 Dose (mg/kg, s.c.) Time (h) 6Hz 32 mA Motor impairment 4 0/4 0/0 2 0/4 0/0 1 3/4 0/0 0.5 4/4 0/0 0.25 4/4 0/0 0.5 8/12 0/0 0.25 8/12 0/0 0.5 5/8 0/0 0.25 1/8 0/0 (number of mice ted in 6Hz or toxic on rotarod/number tested) Table 1b: Dose-response s for Co. No. 1. The TPE for Co. No. 1 was previously determined to be 0.5 h (results shown above in table 1a). Several doses of Co. No. 1 were administered at this TPE and tested in the 6Hz assay, using both 32 and 44 mA stimulus intensities.

Dose (mg/kg, #rotarod motor Test #protected/#tested s.c.) ment/#tested. , 6Hz 32 mA 20 8/8 1/8 7/8 0/8 8/12 0/ 12 2.5 7/ 16 0/ 16 0.5 1/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 2.8 mg/kg (1.3 to 4.3) 6Hz 44 mA 20 8/8 1/8 7/8 0/8 4/8 0/8 2.5 0/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 10.2 mg/kg (3.1 to 12.4) Table 2: Summary of interaction of Co. No. 1 and Co. No. 2 with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the mouse 6Hz, 44 mA seizure model. Results are listed as number of mice exhibiting ﬁlll protection/total number of mice tested in each dosing group (at the speciﬁed test compound or combination dosage levels).

Dose Time (h) # protected / # # motortox / # tested tested LEV 10 mg/kg i.p. 1 1/6 0/6 Co. No. 2 + 3 mg/kg s.c. 0.25 5/6 0/6 Co. No. 2 3 mg/kg s.c. 0.25 1/6 0/6 LEV 10 mg/kg i.p. 1 1/8 0/8 Co. No. 1 + 2.5 mg/kg s.c. 0.5 6/8 0/8 Co. No. 1 2.5 mg/kg s.c. 0.5 0/8 0/8 Table 2a: Plasma and brain levels Co. No. 1. in combination study with Levetiracetam (LEV). BQL means below quantiﬁable limit.

Plasma Plasma 6 Hz Co. No. 1 LEV Co. No. 1 ) (ng/ml) Protecti¢ 6 Hz 44 mA 10 mg/kg 9350 2.5 mg/kg BQL Yes 85 80 244 No 10900 3 14 Yes 10300 3 82 Yes 9780 416 Yes 9780 377 Yes 13 700 2260"< No 10100 607 Yes Mean Plasma 657. 1 103 11 6/8 Level (390) Mean Plasma Levels (non- 1/8 8254 0/8 438 combination) Mean plasma level shown in parenthesis ( ) is calculated with a statistical outlier* removed Table 2b: Plasma and brain levels Co. No. 2 in combination study with racetam (LEV). AQL means above quantiﬁable limit.

Co. No. 2 LEV Plasma Brain Co. No. Plasma Brain 6 Hz (ng/ml) (ng/ml) 2 (ng/ml) (ng/ml) Protection 6 Hz 44 mA 10 6450 6290 3 1830 1540 Yes mg/kg mg/kg 8200 7990 386 1020 Yes 3540 4760 4700 1310 Yes 3850 NA 467 NA No 7150 6380 AQL 1120 Yes (>500) 3890 3960 2080 1140 Yes Mean 5513 5876 1893 1226 5/6 Plasma / Brain Levels Mean 1/6 8750 5773 1/6 1295 1113 Plasma / Brain Levels (non- combination) NA — sample not available for analysis Table 3: 6 Hz seizure (44mA) model ED50 determinations for No. Co. 2 and levetiracetam (LEV) alone and in combination. LEV at a dose of 10 mg/kg increased the potency of the No. Co. 2 (~5-fold shift in ED50). Co. No. 2 at a dose of 3 mg/kg increased both the y (to 100% protection) and potency of LEV (~200- fold shift in ED50).

Figure 1 shows the dose-response for the 6 Hz 44mA ED50 determinations for the Co.

No. 2 and LEV alone and in combination. _ 96 _ Treatment ED50 (95% CI) Maximum Effect mg/kg (% Protection) Co. No. 2 alone 6.97 100% (5.44 — 8.30) Co. No. 2 1.35 100% + LEV (10 rug/kg) (0.8 — 1.9) LEV alone ~ 200 75% LEV 1.0 100% + Co. No. 2 (3 nag/kg) (0.23 — 2.24) Table 4: Results of Co. No. 1 and Levetiracetam in Isobolographic Study.

Co. No. 6Hz LEV comblne. d 1 (44mA) Group (mg/kg f f d dose #motortox . (mg/kg #protected 1.p.) (mg/kg) /#tes et d s.c.) ed 181 5.1 93.1 0/8 8/8 11 90.5 2.6 46.6 0/8 6/8 0.5 0.5 Paradlgm, 45.3 1.3 23.3 0/8 3/8 22.6 0.6 11.6 0/8 3/8 EDso (95% CI; mg/kg): 22.2 (8.4-35.7) 45.3 3.8 14.2 0/8 8/8 22.6 .25 1.9 .75 , 7.1 0/8 4/8 parad1grn 11.3 1.0 3.6 0/8 2/8 EDso (95% CI; mg/kg): 5.9 (3.5-8.7) 271.5 2.6 204.3 0/8 8/8 3.1 135.8 1.3 102.2 0/8 3/8 .75 .25 Paradlgm_ 67.9 0.6 51.1 0/8 3/8 33.9 0.3 25.5 0/8 0/8 EDso (95% CI; mg/kg): 86.3 (56.8-131.4) The isobolographic analysis (Figure 2) trates that the combination of Co. No. 1 and racetam s in a signiﬁcantly positive synergistic effect.

Table 5: Results of Co. No. 1 and Levetiracetam combination study in the corneal kindling model in mice. # protected/# % Mean Seizure Compound(s) tested Protected Score Vehicle (20% HPBCD@30’, s.c.; 0.5% 0/10 0% 4.7 MC@60’, i.p.) LEV 3 mg/kg 5/13 38% 3.3 Co. No. 1 30 mg/kg 3/12 25% 4.0 LEV 3 mg/kg & Co. No. 1 30 /10 100% 0.6 mg/kg Co. No. 1 20 mg/kg 5/16 31% 3.7 LEV 3 mg/kg & Co. No. 1 20 7/10 70% 1.9 mg/kg 0 to 5 Racine Seizure 0 = no seizure activity Score = maximal seizure activity EXAMPLE 2 — STUDIES WITH COMPOUNDS 25-a AND 2-a 2.1. Combination Study with Co. No. 25-a and Levetiracetam Independent dose-response studies were performed in the 6 Hz 44mA test for both compounds to determine EDso values at the TPE of l h i.p. for levetiracetam and l h s.c. for Co. No. 25-a. The ED50 value for Co. No. 25-a was 25.9 mg/kg and for levetiracetam the value was estimated to be approximately 345 mg/kg. The dose- response for levetiracetam was repeated with co-administration of 10 mg/kg Co. No. -a (a dose of Co. No. 25-a that alone did not protect in the 6 Hz 44mA model). The co-administration of 10 mg/kg Co. No. 25-a produced an ED50 in the levetiracetam esponse of 4.9 mg/kg (~70-fold lower compared with levetiracetam alone) and importantly yielded ﬁall protection in the 6Hz 44mA seizure model. These results are suggestive of a positive pharmacodynamic interaction in the 6Hz seizure model between Co. No. 25-a and levetiracetam.

Table 6: Time-to-Peak Effect Determination for Co. No. 25-a in the 6Hz (32mA) Assay. Two doses were used in this study, 10 and 20 mg/kg, across several time points (0.25-4h). The compound showed the greatest degree of protection in the 6Hz assay between 0.25 and 1h, which was more evident at 20 mg/kg. Plasma levels of the compound lly corresponded to behavioural e protection. A TPE of 0.25h was used for 6Hz (32 mA) studies whereas both the 0.25 and 1h time points were used for 6Hz (44mA) studies. s.c. means subcutaneous Dose # rotarod motor Co. No. 25-a mean Time. # ted/# (mg/kg, impalrment / #. plasma levels (h) tested s.c.) tested (ng/mL) 0.25 2/4 0/4 10,983 (2,477) 0.5 1/4 0/4 3,330 1 1/4 1/4 700 2 0/4 0/4 256 4 0/4 0/4 40 0.25 4/4 0/4 4,095 0.5 3/4 1/4 2,800 1 4/4 1/4 1,765 2 1/4 0/4 618 4 1/4 1/4 28 Mean plasma level shown in parenthesis ( ) is calculated with a tical outlier removed.

Table 7: Dose-Response Studies for Co. No. 25-a in the 6Hz Assay (32 mA21 and 44 mAb) CI means conﬁdence interval Test Dose # protected/ # d motor Co. No. 25-a mean (mg/kg, # tested impairment / # plasma levels s.c.) tested (ng/mL) 6Hz 32 mA 20 8/8 0/8 5,570 3/8 0/8 1,201 4/8 0/8 6,113 4/8 0/8 2,558 1 1/8 0/8 466 EDso (95% CI): 7.7 mg/kg (2.3 to 18.4) 6Hz 44 mA 40 7/8 0/8 6,263 3/8 0/8 7,220 2/8 0/8 3,368 0/8 0/8 4,345 (1,526) 0/8 1/8 1,428 ED50 (95% CI): 29.1 mg/kg (21.6 to 39.6) aThe time-to-peak effect in the 6Hz 32mA assay for Co. No. 25-a was ined to be 0.25 h (see Table l). bThe time-to-peak effect in the 6Hz 44 mA assay for Co. No. 25-a was similar for 0.25 h and 1 h; results for 1h confirmed the ED50 (95% CI) 25.9 (15.5 — 33.7) (see Table 1 and 6).

Mean plasma level shown in parenthesis ( ) is calculated with a statistical outlier removed.

Table 8: Combination Studies for Co. No. 25-a with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) Assay.

Drug Dose , s.c.) # protected / # rotarod motor # tested impairment / # tested LEV 200 2/8 0/8 400 4/9 0/9 800 10/12 0/ 12 ED50 (95% CI): 345.4 mg/kg (211.0 to 485.3) Drug Dose (mg/kg, s.c.) # protected / # rotarod motor # tested impairment / # tested LEV + Co. No. 25-a 200 8/8 1/8 mg/kg 100 7/8 2/8 50 5/8 1/8 4/8 0/8 1 4/8 1/8 ED50 (95% CI): 4.9 (0.0 — 14.2) Co. No. 25-a (s.c.) 10 mg/kg tested in combination with LEV (i.p.) - Co. No. 25—a 10 mg/kg, not active when administered alone. 2.2. Combination Study with Co. No. 2-a and Levetiracetam Dose-response s were performed in the 6 Hz 32 mA and 44mA tests (table 9 below) and in the combination test with levetiracetam (effect of Co. No. 2-a on the dose-response 0f LEV in tables 10a and effect ofLEV on the dose-response of Co. No. 2-a in table 10b below) in the same manner as described for the studies with Co. No. -a and levetiracetam above.

Table 9: esponse Studies for Co. No. 2—a in the 6Hz Assay (32 mA and 44 mA; 0.5 h TPE). A time-to-peak effect of 0.5 h was determined in the 32 mA 6 Hz test (s.c.) and used for 6Hz (32 mA and 44 mA) studies. # 1313:2331 / # Test Dose (mg/kg, s.c.) @3332?gotteosrted 6Hz 40 8/8 2/8 32 mA 6/8 3/8 4/8 0/8 0/8 0/8 2. 5 0/8 1/8 ED50 (95% CI): 12.2 mg/kg (8.4 to 17.4) # protected / # # d motor Test Dose (mg/kg, S'C') tested impairment / # tested 6Hz 40 8/8 4/8 44 "1A 3/8 0/8 3/8 0/8 2/8 1/8 0/8 1/8 0/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 21.0 mg/kg (17.9 to 27.4) TDSO: > 40 mg/kga a40 mg/kg — 6 out of 16 total (32 mA and 44 mA combined) with impairment.

Dose selected for combination studies with LEV in 6Hz : Co. No. 2-a 10 mg/kg.

Table 10a: Combination Studies for Co. No. 2-a with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) Assay. Combination of 10 mg/kg Co. No. 2-a with varying doses of levetiracetam.

Drug mung/kg) "12:52?" 11.135331213333101 200 2/8 0/8 LEV 400 4/9 0/9 800 10/ 12 0/ 12 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 345.4 mg/kg (211.0 to 485.3) 200 6/8 1/8 100 6/8 0/8 50 6/8 0/8 LEV + Co. No. 2-a 25 8/8 0/8 mg/kga 12.5 5/8 0/8 6.25 4/8 0/8 3.125 3/8 1/8 1.5625 0/8 0/8 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 9.6 mg/kg (1.7 — 21.9) aCo. No. 2-a (s.c.) 10 mg/kg tested in combination with LEV (i.p.); Co. No. 2—a 10 mg/kg, not active when administered alone.

Additional LEV (low-dose) control groups were tested at 25 and 6.25 mg/kg (1/8 and 0/6 protected, respectively).

Vehicle-treated mice (0.5% methylcellulose i.p. (lh) / 20% HPBCD s.c. ) showed no tion (0/8 protected).

Table 10b: Combination s for Co. No. 2—a with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) Assay. ation of 350 mg/kg levetiracetam with varying doses of Co. No. 2-a. # rotarod motor # protected / # Drug Dose (mg/kg) impairment / # tested tested LEV (alone)a 350 3/8 0/8 8/8 2/8 LEV 350 mg/kg + Co. No. 10 7/8 1/8 2-a 5 7/8 1/8 2.5 5/8 0/8 1.25 4/8 0/8 previous Co. No. 2-a ED50 (95% CI): 21.0 mg/kg (17.9 to 27.4) LEV combination Co. No. 2—a ED50 (95% CI): 1.5 mg/kg (0.1 — 2.7) ~14-fold shift in potency aLEV ED50 (presented separately) previously determined in 6Hz (44 mA): 345 mg/kg. bCo. No. 2-a (s.c.) 10 mg/kg tested in ation with LEV (i.p.); Co. No. 2-a 10 mg/kg, not active when administered alone.

Additional LEV (low-dose) control groups were tested at 25 and 6.25 mg/kg (1/8 and 0/6 ted, respectively).

Vehicle-treated mice (0.5% methylcellulose i.p. (lh) / 20% HPBCD s.c. (0.5h) showed no protection (0/8 protected).

At a dose of 10 mg/kg s.c., Co. No. 2-a increases the potency of LEV, leading to an approximate 35—fold shift in the EDso. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship (Table 10a). At a dose of 350 mg/kg i.p., LEV increases the potency of Co. No. 2-a, leading to an approximate 14-fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamics relationship (Table 10b).

EXAMPLE 3 — STUDIES WITH COMPOUND 6-b 3.1. Combination Study with Co. No. 6-b and Levetiracetam Independent dose-response s were performed in the 6 Hz 44mA test for both nds to determine ED50 values at the TPE of l h i.p. for levetiracetam and 0.5 h p.o. for Co. No. 6—b. The ED50 value for Co. No. 6—b was 16.1 mg/kg and for levetiracetam the value was estimated to be approximately 345 mg/kg. The dose- response for levetiracetam was repeated with co-administration of 10 mg/kg Co. No. 6- b (a dose of Co. No. 6-b that alone did not protect in the 6 Hz 44mA model). The co- administration of 10 mg/kg Co. No. 6—b produced an ED50 in the levetiracetam dose- response of 2.4 mg/kg (~100-fold lower compared with levetiracetam alone) and importantly d full tion in the 6HZ 44mA seizure model. These results are suggestive of a ve pharmacodynamic interaction in the 6HZ seizure model between Co. No. 6-b and levetiracetam.

The results of the studies performed with compound 6-b are listed in Tables 11-13 below.

Table 11: Time-to-Peak Effect Determination for Co. No. 6-b (p.o.) in the 6HZ (32mA) Assay. # rotarod motor Dose (mg/kg, p.o.) Time (h) # protected / # tested impairment / # tested 0.25 1/4 0/4 0.5 3/4 0/4 1 0/4 0/4 2 1/4 0/4 4 0/4 0/4 0.25 4/4 0/4 0.5 3/4 0/4 1 4/4 0/4 2 0/4 0/4 4 1/4 0/4 TPE determined to be 0.5h. —104— Table 12: Dose-Response Study for Co. No. 6—b in the 6Hz Assay (32mA and 44mA; 0.5h TPE). # rotarod motor # protected / # Test Dose (mg/kg, p.o.) 1mpa1rment/ #. . tested tested 6Hz 32mA 20 7/8 0/8 6/8 0/8 2/8 0/8 2.5 1/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 7.2 mg/kg (4.2 to 11.8) 6Hz 44mA 40 8/8 0/8 6/8 0/8 4/8 0/8 0/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 16.1 mg/kg (13.0 to 20.1) Table 13: Combination Studies for Co. No. 6-b with LEV in the 6Hz Assay (44mA). # ted / # # rotarod motor Drug Dose (mg/kg) tested impairment / # tested LEV 200 2/8 0/8 400 4/9 0/9 800 10/12 0/ 12 ED50 (95% CI): 345.4 mg/kg (211.0 to 485.3) LEV + Co. No. 200 8/8 0/8 6-b 10 mg/kg 100 8/8 0/8 50 5/8 0/8 # protected / # # rotarod motor Drug Dose (mg/kg) tested impairment / # tested 5/8 0/8 1 5/8 0/8 ED50 (95% CI): 2.4 (0.0 — 6.4) Co. No. 6-b (p.0.) 10 mg/kg tested in combination with LEV (i.p.) Co. No. 6-b 10 mg/kg, not active when administered alone E 4 —— STUDIES WITH COMPOUND LY404039 3.1. Combination Study with LY404039 and Levetiracetam LY-404039 was tested alone and in combination with levetiracetam according to the procedures already described above. The results of the studies performed with LY-404039 are listed in tables l4-15.

Table 14: Dose-Response Studies for LY404039 in the 6Hz Assay (32 mA and 44 mA). A time-to-peak effect of 0.5 h was determined in the 32 mA 6 Hz test (s.c.) and used for 6Hz (32 mA and 44 mA) studies.

Dose , # protected / # # rotarod motor Test s.c.) tested impairment / # tested 6Hz 32mA 40 8/8 l/8 6/8 l/8 5/8 0/8 1/ 16 1/16 ED50 (95% CI): 10.9 mg/kg (7.8 to 15.9) 6Hz 44mA 40 7/8 2/8 7/8 l/8 3/8 l/8 0/16 0/16 ED50 (95% CI): 14.1 mg/kg (10.0 to 20.6) TDSO: > 40 mg/kga a40 mg/kg — 3 out of 16 total (32 mA and 44 mA combined) with impairment.

Note: no activity observed following vehicle administration in 32 or 44 mA. -lO6- Dose selected for combination studies with LEV in 6Hz (44 mA): LY404039 5 mg/kg.

Table 15: Combination Studies for LY404039 with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) Assay. # protected / # # d motor Drug Dose (mg/kg) tested impairment / # tested LEVa 200 2/8 0/8 400 4/9 0/9 800 10/12 0/12 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 345.4 mg/kg (211.0 to 485.3) LEV + 200 8/8 0/8 "404033 5 50 6/8 1/8 mg/kg 6/8 2/8 2/8 1/8 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 12.8 mg/kg (2.5 — 25.2) aLEV alone shown previously, ation doses performed in ation with Co.

No. 2-a (see previous table above). bLY404039 (s.c.) 5 mg/kg tested in combination with LEV (i.p.); LY404039 5 mg/kg was not active when administered alone.

Additional LEV (low-dose) control groups were tested at 25 and 6.25 mg/kg (l/8 and 0/6 protected, respectively).

Vehicle-treated mice (10% sterile water — NaCl; s.c., 0.5 h TPE and 0.5% MC, i.p., lh TPE) showed no protection or d impairment.

At a dose of 5 mg/kg LY404039 increases the potency ofLEV, leading to an approximate 27—fold shift in the ED50. This suggests a positive pharmacodynamic relationship.

EXAMPLE 5 – REFERENCE STUDIES WITH COMPOUND CAS 10924530 54.1. Combination Study with hydromethyl[3-(1-piperazinylmethyl)-1,2,4- zolyl][[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]methyl]-1H-isoindolone [CAS 10924530] (described in WO 2008150233, WO 2011084098) and Levetiracetam CAS 10924530 was tested alone and in ation with levetiracetam according to the procedures already described hereinabove. The results of example 5 are listed in tables 16- Table 16: Dose-Response Studies for CAS 10924530 in the 6Hz Assay (32 mA).

Dose # protected / # rotarod motor Time (h) (mg/kg, s.c.) # tested impairment / # tested 0.25 1/4 0/4 0.5 0/4 0/4 1 1/4 0/4 2 0/4 0/4 4 0/4 0/4 0.25 1/4 0/4 0.5 1/4 0/4 40 1 1/4 0/4 2 0/4 0/4 4 0/4 0/4 0.25 0/4 0/4 80 0.5 0/4 0/4 1 1/4 1/4 Low activity was observed at doses and time points tested. Greatest ty at 0.25-1 h in tested doses. Combination studies were performed using 20 mg/kg, sc, lh TPE in the 6Hz (44 mA) assay.

Table 17: Combination Studies for CAS 10924530 with Levetiracetam (LEV) in the 6Hz (44 mA) Assay.

LEV Dose # protected / # # rotarod motor Drug (mg/kg) tested impairment / # tested 200 2/8 0/8 LEVa 400 4/9 0/9 800 10/ 12 0/ 12 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 345.4 mg/kg (211.0 to 485.3) [CAS 1092453— 0/8 0/8 -0] (20 mg/kg, alone) 400 4/8 0/8 200 5/8 0/8 LEV + [cAS 1092453-15g0] 50 3/8 0/8 mg/kg 2/8 0/8 1/8 1/8 LEV ED50 (95% CI): 238.9 mg/kg (41.6 — above highest dose tested) aAdditional LEV (low-dose) l groups were tested at 25 and 6.25 mg/kg (1/8 and 0/6 protected, respectively). b[CAS 10924530] 20 mg/kg (s.c.; lh TPE) tested in ation with LEV (i.p.; lh TPE); [CAS 10924530] 20 mg/kg displayed low ty when administered alone (6Hz, 32 mA), and it was not tested in 6Hz (44mA). This compound displayed an in vitro EC50 = 562 nM (Emax = 197%) when tested in the GTPyS assay described hereinbefore and no occupancy was observed in ex vivo experiments in rats.

Note: Vehicle-treated animals (10% HPBCD-NaCl, s.c., l h and 0.5% MC, i.p., lh) showed no protection or motor impairment, N=8.

The current data set indicates that mGlu2 PAM or agonist molecules have anti— convulsant ty in the 6Hz animal model. Tested mGlu2 PAMs with EC50 potencies £150 nM (as determined in the [3SS]GTPyS assay), appropriate PK parameters and brain penetration, showed activity in both the 32 and 44 mA 6Hz paradigm. Furthermore, all the tested molecules showed synergistic effects with LEV.

In contrast, molecule CAS 10924530, which was only weakly active (EC50 562 nM) in vitro, did not show activity in either of the 6Hz tests, and also did not display synergy with LEV. antly, the data indicate that, under conditions of comparable PK characteristics and appropriate brain penetration, the most potent mGlu2 PAMs, based on in vitro EC50 values, also appeared most potent in viva, suggesting that in vitro and in viva y can be linked. Moreover, synergistic effects with LEV were consistently seen with mGlu2 PAM doses r to the ED50 obtained in the 32 mA model or at least 2-fold lower as the ED50 determined in the 44 mA paradigm (i.e. a dose inactive in the 44mA test when the molecules were tested alone).

Also for 39, the mGlu2/3 agonist, activity in both 6Hz tests was seen and synergy was seen at a dose 3-fold lower than the ED50 determined in the 44 mA model, which was ve when tested alone.

Based on the available nical data in the 6Hz 44mA model, it seems that combining a potent SV2A ligand and a potent mGlu2 PAM, leads to a decrease in the median effective dose or EDSO ofthe SV2A ligand, such as LEV, between 35 and 100- fold. 2O Thus, while not wishing to be bound by theory, it is suggested that positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 (mGluR2 PAM) compounds, in particular mGluR2 PAM compounds having an EC50 potency of £150 nM (as determined in the [3SS]GTPyS assay), wherein EC50 is the concentration producing half-maximal effect in a concentration-response curve obtained in the presence of ECzo of glutamate, and appropriate PK parameters and brain penetration, result in a synergistic combination with an SV2A ligand, in particular levetiracetam, at non-effective doses of one or both of compound (a) and compound (b) of the combination of the invention.

Thus, in a ﬁarther ment, the positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic 3O glutamatergic or subtype 2 (mGluR2 PAM) nd of the combination of the invention as deﬁned herein is selected from an mGluR2 PAM compound having an ECSO potency of £150 nM (as determined in the [3SS]GTPyS assay), wherein EC50 is the tration producing aximal effect in a concentration-response curve obtained in the presence ofECZO of glutamate. 2015/051029 PROPHETIC EXAMPLES A) DOMINANT-SUBMISSIVE ONS (DSR) IN RAT IN VIVO ASSAY The DSR assay is divided into two : Reduction of Dominant Behavior Model (RDBM) ofmania and Reduction of Submissive Behavior Model (RSBM) of depression. The RDBM, wherein the nt s are treated with test compound, is predictive of the ability of the test compound to treat mania. The RSBM, wherein the submissive animals are treated with test compound, is predictive of the ability of the test compound to treat depression.

Male Sprague Dawley rats (140 to 160g) from Charles River Laboratories Wilmington, MA are used in this assay. Shipments of rats are received at two-week intervals. Each shipment will go h ﬁve-day quarantine, one-week ation period and one- week selection process, followed by ﬁve-weeks of drug or e treatment to those pairs selected.

Rats will be housed four per cage. Access to food will be restricted to one hour per day after testing on Monday through Thursday. After testing on Friday, rats will have free access to food until being fasted again on Sunday. At no time will the rats be deprived ofwater. The food deprivation periods used will have little effect on weight gain as the average weight of rats will be about 300g by the end of the study. At the conclusion of experiment rats will be sacrificed by decapitation, the trunk blood and brains will be collected for in vitro experiments and drug concentration ements.

The basic testing apparatus consisted of two chambers connected with a tunnel only large enough to allow one rat to pass through at a time. On the ﬂoor, at the mid-point ofthe tunnel will be a container of sweetened milk. This basic apparatus will be replicated, so that a total of four pairs of rats can be video tracked simultaneously. The camera can distinguish rats marked by different colors. Thus, the rats’ heads will be d for the purpose of video tracking, red in one cage and yellow in the other cage.

Only one animal at a time can have comfortable access to the feeder, but both animals can drink milk during the ﬁve-minute daily session. During the ﬁve-minute daily sessions, time spent in the feeder zone by each rat will be recorded by the video tracking software and saved into a text ﬁle.

The test will begin with a random assignment of rats into pairs. Each member of a pair will be placed in an opposite chamber of the testing apparatus. The time spent in the feeder zone by each animal will be recorded. During the ﬁrst week (ﬁve days) of testing the animals ate to the new environment. Dominance will be assigned to the animal with the highest score during the second week of testing if three ia are achieved. First, there must be a signiﬁcant difference (two-tailed t-test, P<0.05) between the average daily drinking scores of both animals. Second, the dominant animal score must be at least 25% greater than the submissive animal's score. Finally, there must be no "reversals" during the pair selection week where the putative submissive rat out-scored its dominant r on isolated occasions. Ideally there will be minimal reversals during the acclimation week as well. Only animal pairs that e these criteria will be continued in the study.

Signiﬁcant differences between time spent on the feeder by nt and submissive rats will be determined by ANOVA using GraphPad Prism software (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego, CA) followed by a two-tailed t-test (P<0.05). Comparisons will be made between treatment groups using normalized dominance level values in paired s. The dominance level is a value that measures social relation between paired subjects. Dominance level (DL) = FTD—FTS where FTD is the feeder time of dominant rats and FTS is the feeder time of submissive rats. The normalization will be conducted according to the formula: nce Level (week 11 in %) = (Dominance Level (week n)) / (Dominance Level (week 2) The statistical signiﬁcance of the difference in nce level between the control group (pairs of rats where both dominant and submissive s will be treated with vehicle) and the treatment group ssive rats will be treated with drug and dominant rats with e) will be determined by ANOVA, followed by a t-test. The activity onset time value at 50% of response (AOT-50) and the minimum and maximum response to drug will be calculated based on the reduction of the dominance level value using non-linear regression analysis (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA). The normalized DL values will be used for this calculation, where DL values for treatment weeks will be normalized as a percent of the second week (pretreatment) value of that pair according the above formula. In these settings the m of the response (DL) ines drug positive activity, corresponding to efﬁcacy, since DL values will be reduced if the response to a drug is positive. In the case of the negative response to a drug (worsening of symptoms) DL values will be increased. If the drug does not have such activity the maximum of the response will not exceed 100%. Any maximal DL value signiﬁcantly higher than l value (about 100%) indicates drug negative activity.

Levetiracetam and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound (e. g. compounds 2, 2-a, 25-3, 6-b or LY—404039) will be evaluated in the rat RDBM according to the procedure described in more detail below.

Groups of dominant rats will be treated p.o. QD with levetiracetam 10 mg/kg and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound at various concentrations from imately 0.05 mg/kg (n23), at 0.5 mg/kg (n23), at 2.5 mg/kg (n23), at 5.0 mg/kg (n23) and at 50.0 mg/kg (n23) . A vehicle control group of dominant rats will be treated with 0.5% methylcellulose (n23) and a second l group of dominant rats will be treated i.p.

QD with sodium valproate at 30 mg/kg (n26 from 2 studies ofn23 each).

All treatments will be administered approximately 1 hour prior to testing. All treatments will be started on Saturday after the second testing week (selection week).

The levetiracetam and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound will be administered orally (p.o.).

When dominant animals are treated with levetiracetam lOmg/kg and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound the ence between dominant and submissive rats will be lost after the ﬁrst or second week of treatment depending on the dosage. Similarly, when nt animals are treated with sodium valproate, the difference between dominant and submissive rats will also be lost after ﬁrst week of ent. The permissiveness of the dominant rats d with levetiracetam and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound or sodium valproate may be observed to increase. Thus the treated dominant rats will permit their sive partners to increase their time on the feeder.

To compare different drug and dose s the data will be ized to the initial control week values. The strongest effect of levetiracetam and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound combination will be observed where there is a signiﬁcant difference in dominance level (DL) values between vehicle and combination treated rats starting in the second week and continuing through the ent duration of 5 weeks. In comparison, animals (30 mg/kg) that will be treated with sodium ate will consistently show a decreased dominance level after the second week of treatment with the effect increasing in the following weeks.

To estimate activity onset time (AOT), daily e values for feeder time of dominant and submissive animal pairs will be plotted and significant ences between these two groups will be calculated using the two-tail t-test.

To compare activity onset time (AOT) between different treatments the activity onset time will be estimated from the non-linear regression fit. The non-linear regression model will fit for each drug, combination and dose normalized daily DL values.

Effects of levetiracetam and mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound in the RDBM are expected to be dose dependent.

In this assay, the ation of levetiracetam and mGlu2 PAM/agonist compounds is expected to reduce dominant behavior indicating that the combination is active as an nic.

B) ORAL TABLETS As a specific e of an oral composition, 100 mg of a mGluR2 PAM/agonist compound is formulated with sufficiently finely divided lactose to provide a total amount of 580 to 590 mg to fill a size O hard gel capsule.

While the ing specification teaches the principles of the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the practice of the invention encompasses all of the usual variations, adaptations and/or modifications as come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A combination comprising (a) a synaptic vesicle protein 2A (“SV2A”) ligand selected from the group consisting of levetiracetam, brivaracetam and seletracetam; and (b) an orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic or subtype 2 compound selected from 1) LY-404039 S H R O H S OH S O O or a salt or a solvate thereof; and 2) LY-2140023 or a salt or a e f.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the SV2A ligand is levetiracetam or brivaracetam.

3. The combination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound is S H R O H S OH S O O (LY-404039), or a hydrochloride salt thereof.

4. The ation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the n the orthosteric agonist of metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2 compound is (LY-2140023), or the drate thereof.

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, and a pharmaceutically able carrier.

6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5, formulated as a combined pharmaceutical composition.

7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5, formulated in separate pharmaceutical compositions.

8. A process for the preparation of the pharmaceutical composition ing to claim 5 or 6, wherein the combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 is intimately admixed with a pharmaceutical r.

9. A product comprising the combination of the SV2A ligand and the orthosteric agonist of the metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 2, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, as a combined preparation adapted for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration in the treatment or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant he; bipolar and related ers.

10. Use of a combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, or a pharmaceutical composition as defined in any one of claims 5 to 7, in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention of togenesis.

11. Use of a combination as d in any one of claims 1 to 4, or a pharmaceutical composition as defined in any one of claims 5 to 7, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or ant headache; and bipolar and d disorders.

12. The use according to claim 11, for the ent or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders.

13. The use according to claim 12, for the treatment or prevention of epilepsy.

14. The use according to claim 13, wherein epilepsy is treatment resistant epilepsy.

15. The use according to claim 13, wherein epilepsy is epilepsy with focal seizures with or without generalization.

16. The use according to claim 13, wherein epilepsy is sy with generalized seizures.

17. The use according to claim 13, wherein epilepsy is sy with primary generalized tonic-clonic es.

18. A pharmaceutical product or a commercial package comprising a combination according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or a pharmaceutical composition as defined in any one of claims 5 to 7, er with instructions, adapted for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration thereof in the treatment or prevention of epilepsy and related disorders; neuropathic pain; migraine or resistant headache bipolar; and related disorders.

19. The combination ing to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples and/or