Discovery of a Novel Inhaled PI3Kδ Inhibitor for the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases.

Oral PI3Kδ inhibitors such as Idelalisib and Duvelisib have shown efficacy as anticancer agents and Idelalisib has been approved for the treatment of three B-cell cancers. However, Idelalisib has a black box warning on its product label regarding the risks of fatal and serious toxicities including hepatic toxicity, severe diarrhea, colitis, pneumonitis, infections, and intestinal perforation. Some of these side effects are mechanism-related and could hinder the development of Idelalisib for less severe conditions. For respiratory diseases, compounds administered by inhalation are delivered directly to the site of action and may improve the therapeutic index of a drug, minimizing undesired side effects. This work describes the discovery and optimization of inhaled PI3Kδ inhibitors intended for the treatment of severe asthma and COPD. Once the potency was in the desired range, efforts were focused on identifying the particular physicochemical properties that could translate into better lung retention. This medicinal chemistry exercise led to the identification of LAS195319 as a candidate for clinical development.

4-Amino-7,8-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridin-5(6 H)-ones as Inhaled Phosphodiesterase Type 4 (PDE4) Inhibitors: Structural Biology and Structure-Activity Relationships.

Rational design of a novel template of naphthyridinones rapidly led to PDE4 inhibitors with subnanomolar enzymatic potencies. X-ray crystallography confirmed the binding mode of this novel template. We achieved compounds with double-digit picomolar enzymatic potencies through further structure-based design by targeting both the PDE4 enzyme metal-binding pocket and occupying the solvent-filled pocket. A strategy for lung retention and long duration of action based on low aqueous solubility was followed. In vivo efficacies were measured in a rat lung neutrophilia model by suspension microspray and dry powder administration. Suspension microspray of potent compounds showed in vivo efficacy with a clear dose-response. Despite sustained lung levels, dry powder administration performed much less well and without proper dose-response, highlighting clear differences between the two formulations. This indicates a deficiency in the low aqueous solubility strategy for long duration lung efficacy.

Discovery of a Potent, Selective, and Orally Available PI3Kδ Inhibitor for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases.

The delta isoform of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3Kδ) has been shown to have an essential role in specific immune cell functions and thus represents a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Herein, the optimization of a series of pyrrolotriazinones as potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors is described. The main challenge of the optimization process was to identify an orally available compound with a good pharmacokinetic profile in preclinical species that predicted a suitable dosing regimen in humans. Structure-activity relationships and structure-property relationships are discussed. This medicinal chemistry exercise led to the identification of LAS191954 as a candidate for clinical development.

Biphenyl Pyridazinone Derivatives as Inhaled PDE4 Inhibitors: Structural Biology and Structure-Activity Relationships.

Cyclic nucleotide cAMP is a ubiquitous secondary messenger involved in a plethora of cellular responses to biological agents involving activation of adenylyl cyclase. Its intracellular levels are tightly controlled by a family of cyclic nucleotide degrading enzymes, the PDEs. In recent years, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) has aroused scientific attention as a suitable target for anti-inflammatory therapy in respiratory diseases, particularly in the management of asthma and COPD. Here we describe our efforts to discover novel, highly potent inhaled inhibitors of PDE4. Through structure based design, with the inclusion of a variety of functional groups and physicochemical profiles in order to occupy the solvent-filled pocket of the PDE4 enzyme, we modified the structure of our oral PDE4 inhibitors to reach compounds down to picomolar enzymatic potencies while at the same time tackling successfully an uncovered selectivity issue with the adenosine receptors. In vitro potencies were demonstrated in a rat lung neutrophilia model by administration of a suspension with a Penn-Century MicroSprayer Aerosolizer.

Synthesis and biological activity of pyrido[3',2':4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel and potent phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors.

A series of pyrido[3',2':4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidines (PFP) were synthesized and tested for phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitory activity, with the potential to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Structure-activity relationships within this series, leading to an increase of potency on the enzyme, is presented. Both gem-dimethylcyclohexyl moieties fused to the pyridine ring and the substitution at the 5 position of the PFP scaffold, proved to be key elements in order to get a high affinity in the enzyme.

Synthesis and biological activity of pyrido[3',2':4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines as phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors.

A series of pyrido[3',2':4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines (PTP) has been synthesized and tested as phosphodiesterase IV inhibitors (PDE4), a target for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Structure-activity relationships within this series, leading to an increase of potency on the enzyme, are presented. The gem-dimethylcycloalkyl moiety fused to the pyridine ring proved to be a key element of the scaffold in order to get a higher affinity in the enzyme.

Novel pyrazolopyrimidopyridazinones with potent and selective phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitory activity as potential agents for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Pyrazolo[1',5':1,6]pyrimido[4,5-d]pyridazin-4(3H)-ones and their analogues, potentially useful for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5). Several compounds showed IC50 values in the low nanomolar range, and in particular, compound 5r, displaying high potency toward PDE5 (IC50 = 8.3 nM) and high selectivity versus PDE6 (240-fold) appeared to be a very promising new lead both in comparison with the potent but not selective sildenafil and in comparison with some analogues previously reported by us. SAR studies in this triheterocyclic scaffold led us to conclude that the best arranged groups are a methyl in position 1, a benzyl in position 3, a phenyl in position 9, and a linear four-carbon chain in position 6.