JDQ443, a Structurally Novel, Pyrazole-Based, Covalent Inhibitor of KRASG12C for the Treatment of Solid Tumors.

Rapid emergence of tumor resistance via RAS pathway reactivation has been reported from clinical studies of covalent KRASG12C inhibitors. Thus, inhibitors with broad potential for combination treatment and distinct binding modes to overcome resistance mutations may prove beneficial. JDQ443 is an investigational covalent KRASG12C inhibitor derived from structure-based drug design followed by extensive optimization of two dissimilar prototypes. JDQ443 is a stable atropisomer containing a unique 5-methylpyrazole core and a spiro-azetidine linker designed to position the electrophilic acrylamide for optimal engagement with KRASG12C C12. A substituted indazole at pyrazole position 3 results in novel interactions with the binding pocket that do not involve residue H95. JDQ443 showed PK/PD activity in vivo and dose-dependent antitumor activity in mouse xenograft models. JDQ443 is now in clinical development, with encouraging early phase data reported from an ongoing Phase Ib/II clinical trial (NCT04699188).

Identification of NVP-CLR457 as an Orally Bioavailable Non-CNS-Penetrant pan-Class IA Phosphoinositol-3-Kinase Inhibitor.

Balanced pan-class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition as an approach to cancer treatment offers the prospect of treating a broad range of tumor types and/or a way to achieve greater efficacy with a single inhibitor. Taking buparlisib as the starting point, the balanced pan-class I PI3K inhibitor 40 (NVP-CLR457) was identified with what was considered to be a best-in-class profile. Key to the optimization to achieve this profile was eliminating a microtubule stabilizing off-target activity, balancing the pan-class I PI3K inhibition profile, minimizing CNS penetration, and developing an amorphous solid dispersion formulation. A rationale for the poor tolerability profile of 40 in a clinical study is discussed.

Identification and optimisation of 4,5-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:3,4-d]bisthiazole and 4,5-dihydrothiazolo[4,5-h]quinazoline series of selective phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase alpha inhibitors.

A cyclisation within a 4',5-bisthiazole (S)-proline-amide-urea series of selective PI3Kα inhibitors led to a novel 4,5-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:3,4-d]bisthiazole tricyclic sub-series. The synthesis and optimisation of this 4,5-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:3,4-d]bisthiazole sub-series and the expansion to a related tricyclic 4,5-dihydrothiazolo[4,5-h]quinazoline sub-series are described. From this work analogues including 11, 12, 19 and 23 were identified as potent and selective PI3Kα inhibitor in vivo tool compounds.

Discovery of a novel tricyclic 4H-thiazolo[5',4':4,5]pyrano[2,3-c]pyridine-2-amino scaffold and its application in a PI3Kα inhibitor with high PI3K isoform selectivity and potent cellular activity.

A novel, previously undescribed 4H-thiazolo[5',4':4,5]pyrano[2,3-c]pyridine tricyclic scaffold has been discovered. The application of this novel chemotype leading to a potent and selective prototype PI3Kα inhibitor with favorable physicochemical and PK-properties is described.

Identification and optimisation of a 4',5-bisthiazole series of selective phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase alpha inhibitors.

Exploring the affinity-pocket binding moiety of a 2-aminothiazole (S)-proline-amide-urea series of selective PI3Kα inhibitors using a parallel-synthesis approach led to the identification of a novel 4',5-bisthiazole sub-series. The synthesis and optimisation of both the affinity pocket and (S)-proline amide moieties within this 4',5-bisthiazole sub-series are described. From this work a number of analogues, including 14 (A66) and 24, were identified as potent and selective PI3Kα inhibitor in vitro tool compounds.

A distinct p53 target gene set predicts for response to the selective p53-HDM2 inhibitor NVP-CGM097.

Biomarkers for patient selection are essential for the successful and rapid development of emerging targeted anti-cancer therapeutics. In this study, we report the discovery of a novel patient selection strategy for the p53-HDM2 inhibitor NVP-CGM097, currently under evaluation in clinical trials. By intersecting high-throughput cell line sensitivity data with genomic data, we have identified a gene expression signature consisting of 13 up-regulated genes that predicts for sensitivity to NVP-CGM097 in both cell lines and in patient-derived tumor xenograft models. Interestingly, these 13 genes are known p53 downstream target genes, suggesting that the identified gene signature reflects the presence of at least a partially activated p53 pathway in NVP-CGM097-sensitive tumors. Together, our findings provide evidence for the use of this newly identified predictive gene signature to refine the selection of patients with wild-type p53 tumors and increase the likelihood of response to treatment with p53-HDM2 inhibitors, such as NVP-CGM097.

Bim and Mcl-1 exert key roles in regulating JAK2V617F cell survival.

BACKGROUND: The JAK2V617F mutation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms and is found in the vast majority of patients suffering from polycythemia vera and in roughly every second patient suffering from essential thrombocythemia or from primary myelofibrosis. The V617F mutation is thought to provide hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitors with a survival and proliferation advantage. It has previously been shown that activated JAK2 promotes cell survival by upregulating the anti-apoptotic STAT5 target gene Bcl-xL. In this study, we have investigated the role of additional apoptotic players, the pro-apoptotic protein Bim as well as the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. METHODS: Pharmacological inhibition of JAK2/STAT5 signaling in JAK2V617F mutant SET-2 and MB-02 cells was used to study effects on signaling, cell proliferation and apoptosis by Western blot analysis, WST-1 proliferation assays and flow cytometry. Cells were transfected with siRNA oligos to deplete candidate pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to assess the impact of JAK2 inhibition on complexes of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. RESULTS: Treatment of JAK2V617F mutant cell lines with a JAK2 inhibitor was found to trigger Bim activation. Furthermore, Bim depletion by RNAi suppressed JAK2 inhibitor-induced cell death. Bim activation following JAK2 inhibition led to enhanced sequestration of Mcl-1, besides Bcl-xL. Importantly, Mcl-1 depletion by RNAi was sufficient to compromise JAK2V617F mutant cell viability and sensitized the cells to JAK2 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Bim and Mcl-1 have key opposing roles in regulating JAK2V617F cell survival and propose that inactivation of aberrant JAK2 signaling leads to changes in Bim complexes that trigger cell death. Thus, further preclinical evaluation of combinations of JAK2 inhibitors with Bcl-2 family antagonists that also tackle Mcl-1, besides Bcl-xL, is warranted to assess the therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms.