ABSTRACT
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is the enzyme that catalyzes a rate-determining step during the de novo synthesis of uridine, an important source of cellular pyrimidine nucleotides. Ability to modulate the activity of this enzyme may be used to control diseases associated with rapid, out-of-control cell growth in oncology, immunology, and virology. Emvododstat (PTC299) is a tetrahydro-ß-carboline DHODH inhibitor discovered through the GEMS technology (Gene Expression Modulation by Small-Molecules). Described in this paper is the lead optimization campaign that culminated in the discovery of this highly potent DHODH inhibitor.
Subject(s)
Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors , Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , CarbamatesABSTRACT
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness which is associated with excessive angiogenesis. Using the structure of wondonin marine natural products, we previously created a scaffold to develop a novel type of antiangiogenesis agent that possesses minimized cytotoxicity. To overcome its poor pharmaceutical properties, we further modified the structure. A new scaffold was derived in which the stereogenic carbon was changed to nitrogen and the 1,2,3-triazole ring was replaced by an alkyl chain. By comparing the bioactivity versus cytotoxicity, compound 31 was selected, which has improved aqueous solubility and an enhanced selectivity index. Mechanistically, 31 suppressed angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) expression induced by high glucose in retinal cells and exhibited in vivo antiangiogenic activity in choroidal neovascularization and oxygen-induced retinopathy mouse models. These results suggest the potential of 31 as a lead to develop antiangiogenic small-molecule drugs to treat diabetic retinopathy and as a chemical tool to elucidate new mechanisms of angiogenesis.
Subject(s)
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology , Drug Design , Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/chemistry , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/metabolism , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Angiopoietin-2/genetics , Angiopoietin-2/metabolism , Animals , Cell Survival/drug effects , Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy , Diabetic Retinopathy/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Drug Stability , Glucose/pharmacology , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Small Molecule Libraries/metabolism , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Small Molecule Libraries/therapeutic use , Structure-Activity Relationship , Triazoles/chemistry , Triazoles/metabolism , Triazoles/pharmacology , Triazoles/therapeutic useABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Given that osimertinib is the only approved third-generation EGFR-TKI against EGFR activating and resistant T790M mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), additional mutant-selective inhibitors with a higher efficacy, especially for brain metastases, with favorable toxicity profile are still needed. In this study, we investigated the antitumor efficacy of YH25448, an oral, mutant-selective, irreversible third-generation EGFR-TKI in preclinical models. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Antitumor activity of YH25448 was investigated in vitro using mutant EGFR-expressing Ba/F3 cells and various lung cancer cell lines. In vivo antitumor efficacy, ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and skin toxicity of YH25448 were examined and compared with those of osimertinib using cell lines and PDX model. RESULTS: Compared with osimertinib, YH25448 showed a higher selectivity and potency in kinase assay and mutant EGFR-expressing Ba/F3 cells. In various cell line models harboring EGFR activating and T790M mutation, YH25448 effectively inhibited EGFR downstream signaling pathways, leading to cellular apoptosis. When compared in vivo at equimolar concentrations, YH25448 produced significantly better tumor regression than osimertinib. Importantly, YH25448 induced profound tumor regression in brain metastasis model with excellent brain/plasma and tumor/brain area under the concentration-time curve value. YH25448 rarely suppressed the levels of p-EGFR in hair follicles, leading to less keratosis than osimertinib in animal model. The potent systemic and intracranial activity of YH25448 has been shown in an ongoing phase I/II clinical trial for advanced EGFR T790M mutated NSCLC (NCT03046992). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that YH25448 is a promising third-generation EGFR inhibitor, which may be more effective and better tolerated than the currently approved osimertinib.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/secondary , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Acrylamides/chemistry , Acrylamides/pharmacology , Acrylamides/therapeutic use , Adult , Aniline Compounds/chemistry , Aniline Compounds/pharmacology , Aniline Compounds/therapeutic use , Animals , Blood-Brain Barrier/drug effects , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy , Brain Neoplasms/mortality , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnostic imaging , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , ErbB Receptors/chemistry , ErbB Receptors/genetics , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Male , Mice , Models, Molecular , Mutation , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Structure-Activity Relationship , Treatment Outcome , Xenograft Model Antitumor AssaysABSTRACT
The underlying cause of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a deficiency of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Starting from hits identified in a high-throughput screening campaign and through structure-activity relationship investigations, we have developed small molecules that potently shift the alternative splicing of the SMN2 exon 7, resulting in increased production of the full-length SMN mRNA and protein. Three novel chemical series, represented by compounds 9, 14, and 20, have been optimized to increase the level of SMN protein by >50% in SMA patient-derived fibroblasts at concentrations of <160 nM. Daily administration of these compounds to severe SMA Δ7 mice results in an increased production of SMN protein in disease-relevant tissues and a significant increase in median survival time in a dose-dependent manner. Our work supports the development of an orally administered small molecule for the treatment of patients with SMA.
Subject(s)
Alternative Splicing/drug effects , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/drug therapy , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Line , Drug Discovery , Exons/drug effects , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Mice, Knockout , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Small Molecule Libraries/administration & dosage , Small Molecule Libraries/therapeutic use , Structure-Activity Relationship , Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein/geneticsABSTRACT
Several imidazole-based cyclohexyl amides were identified as potent CB-1 antagonists, but they exhibited poor oral exposure in rodents. Incorporation of a hydroxyl moiety on the cyclohexyl ring provided a dramatic improvement in oral exposure, together with a ca. 10-fold decrease in potency. Further optimization provided the imidazole 2-hydroxy-cyclohexyl amide 45, which exhibited hCB-1 K(i)=3.7nM, and caused significant appetite suppression and robust, dose-dependent reduction of body weight gain in industry-standard rat models.
Subject(s)
Anti-Obesity Agents/pharmacology , Body Weight/drug effects , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Anti-Obesity Agents/therapeutic use , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Imidazoles/therapeutic use , Obesity/drug therapy , Rats , Rats, Zucker , Receptors, Cannabinoid/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
A series of pyrrolopyridinones was designed and synthesized as constrained analogs of the pyrazole CB-1 antagonist rimonabant. Certain examples exhibited very potent hCB-1 receptor binding affinity and functional antagonism with Ki and Kb values below 10 nM, and with high selectivity for CB-1 over CB-2 (>100-fold). A representative analog was established to cause significant appetite suppression and reduction in body weight gain in industry-standard rat models used to develop new therapeutics for obesity.
Subject(s)
Anti-Obesity Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Obesity Agents/pharmacology , Piperidines/chemical synthesis , Piperidines/pharmacology , Pyrazoles/chemical synthesis , Pyrazoles/pharmacology , Pyridones/chemical synthesis , Pyrroles/chemical synthesis , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Anti-Obesity Agents/pharmacokinetics , Body Weight/drug effects , Crystallography, X-Ray , Drug Design , Eating/drug effects , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Male , Models, Molecular , Obesity/drug therapy , Pyridones/pharmacokinetics , Pyridones/pharmacology , Pyrroles/pharmacokinetics , Pyrroles/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Rats, Zucker , Rimonabant , Structure-Activity Relationship , Weight Gain/drug effectsABSTRACT
A series of 4,5-disubstituted cis-pyrrolidinones was investigated as inhibitors of 17beta-HSD II for the treatment of osteoporosis. Biochemical data for several compounds are given. Compound 42 was selected as the lead candidate.
Subject(s)
17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/antagonists & inhibitors , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Pyrrolidinones/chemistry , Pyrrolidinones/pharmacology , Thiophenes/chemistry , Thiophenes/pharmacology , 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism , Animals , Cell Line , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Macaca fascicularis , Pyrrolidinones/chemical synthesis , Rats , Stereoisomerism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Thiophenes/chemical synthesisABSTRACT
4,5-Disubstituted cis-pyrrolidinones were investigated as inhibitors of type II 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD). Early structure-activity relationship patterns for this class of compounds are discussed.
Subject(s)
17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/antagonists & inhibitors , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Pyrrolidinones/pharmacology , 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Humans , Pyrrolidinones/chemistry , Stereoisomerism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The worldwide population afflicted with diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate. There are almost five times the number of people suffering from this disease today as compared to 10 years ago and the worldwide diabetic population is expected to exceed 300 million by the year 2028. This trend appears to be driven by the world's adoption of a "western lifestyle" comprising a combination of unhealthy dietary habits and a sedentary daily routine. Today, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the death rates associated with diabetes have increased by 30% over the last decade. While medications are available to reduce blood glucose, approximately one third of the patients on oral medications will eventually fail to respond and require insulin injections. Consequently, there is a tremendous medical need for improved medications to manage this disease that demonstrate superior efficacy. Emerging knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms that impair glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and the action of insulin on its target tissues has grown tremendously over the last two decades. During that same period of time, an understanding of the important role that phosphorylation state plays in signal transduction has drawn attention to several kinases as attractive approaches for the treatment of diabetes. Recent advances include the discovery of a"small molecule" allosteric binding site on the insulin receptor, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3(GSK-3) which improve insulin sensitivity in diabetic animal models and inhibitors of protein kinase C- beta that are presently being evaluated in clinical trials for diabetic retinopathy. This review will detail these recent discoveries and highlight emerging biological targets that hold potential to normalize blood glucose and prevent the progression of diabetes related complications.