5-Aminomethylbenzimidazoles as potent ITK antagonists.

Benzamide 1 demonstrated good potency as a selective ITK inhibitor, however the amide moiety was found to be hydrolytically labile in vivo, resulting in low oral exposure and the generation of mutagenic aromatic amine metabolites. Replacing the benzamide with a benzylamine linker not only addressed the toxicity issue, but also improved the cellular and functional potency as well as the drug-like properties. SAR studies around the benzylamines and the identification of 10n and 10o as excellent tools for proof-of-concept studies are described.

Discovery, SAR and X-ray structure of 1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid cyclohexyl-methyl-amides as inhibitors of inducible T-cell kinase (Itk).

A series of novel potent benzimidazole based inhibitors of interleukin-2 T-cell kinase (Itk) were prepared. In this report, we discuss the structure-activity relationship (SAR), selectivity, and cell-based activity for the series. We also discuss the SAR associated with an X-ray structure of one of the small-molecule inhibitors bound to ITK.

The determination and correlation of molecular and cellular equilibrium Kd and kinetic k(off) values for small molecule allosteric antagonists of LFA-1.

Molecular K(d) and k(off) parameters are often used to define the molecular potency of drugs. These constants, however, are determined on purified target proteins, and their relationship to in vivo binding phenomena is poorly understood. Herein, we report two novel assays to determine the off-rates of allosteric antagonists from lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1). The SPR assay involves using the non-blocking mAb TS2/4 to immobilize full-length LFA-1 on a hydrophilic chip surface, and the soluble, native ligand sICAM-1 to probe the fraction of free LFA-1. To determine the fraction of free LFA-1 on cell surfaces, a flow cytometry assay was developed utilizing the fluorophore-labeled Fab R3.1. The R3.1 antibody has been previously demonstrated to block the ability of both ICAM-1 and antagonists to bind to purified and cell-surface LFA-1. The molecular and ex vivo cellular parameters were determined for a set of nine structurally-related LFA-1 allosteric antagonists. The relationships between the parameters determined in the ELISA (K(d)), SPR (k(off)), and flow cytometry (k(off)) assays were shown to be linear with slopes approximately equal to 1, and a correlation analysis showed that the three assay datasets were equivalent at the alpha=0.05 level. These results were unexpected, as the ELISA and SPR assays involve high affinity LFA-1, and the flow cytometry assays involve cell surface LFA-1 in whole-blood, in which a distribution of affinity states would be expected. Nevertheless, the results presented herein show that the K(d) and k(off)'s determined in molecular assays can be used as predictors of LFA-1 receptor occupancy in ex vivo assays.

Discovery of potent and selective PKC-theta inhibitors.

An uHTS campaign was performed to identify selective inhibitors of PKC-theta. Initial triaging of the hit set based on selectivity and historical analysis led to the identification of 2,4-diamino-5-nitropyrimidines as potent and selective PKC-theta inhibitors. A homology model and initial SAR is presented demonstrating that a 2-arylalkylamino substituent in conjunction with suitable 4-diamino substituent are essential for achieving selectivity over many kinases. Additional hit to lead profiling is presented on selected compounds.

An orally active, primate selective antagonist of LFA-1 inhibits delayed-type hypersensitivity in a humanized-mouse model.

Compound I, a novel small molecule antagonist (Kd=6 nM) of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) was tested for activity in a humanized mouse model of delayed-type hypersensitivity (trans vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity). Trans vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity is a model for testing compounds with human targets in mice. Tetanus toxoid and 7-10x10(6) human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from tetanus-sensitized donors were coinjected into footpads of naive mice. Footpads were measured before and 24 h later. Injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells plus antigen resulted in swelling of 0.178-0.254 mm, significantly greater than peripheral blood mononuclear cells or tetanus toxoid alone (P<0.05). Preincubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with anti-human major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) or anti-human LFA-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not anti-mouse MHCII or anti-mouse LFA-1 mAb, significantly inhibited the response. Compound I inhibited footpad swelling in a dose related manner (0.1-100 mg/kg, p.o.; ED50 approximately 1 mg/kg), whereas its enantiomer had no effect. These data demonstrate the oral efficacy of a novel antagonist of LFA-1 in trans vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity.

Second-generation lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 inhibitors: 1H-imidazo[1,2-alpha]imidazol-2-one derivatives.

A novel class of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) inhibitors is described. Discovered during the process to improve the physicochemical and metabolic properties of BIRT377 (1, Figure 1), a previously reported hydantoin-based LFA-1 inhibitor, these compounds are characterized by an imidazole-based 5,5-bicyclic scaffold, the 1,3,3-trisubstituted 1H-imidazo[1,2-alpha]imidazol-2-one (i.e. structure 3). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) shows that electron-withdrawing groups at C5 on the imidazole ring benefit potency and that oxygen-containing functional groups attached to a C5-sulfonyl or sulfonamide group further improve potency. This latter gain in potency is attributed to the interaction(s) of the functionalized sulfonyl/sulfonamide groups with the protein, likely polar-polar in nature, as suggested by SAR data. X-ray studies revealed that these bicyclic inhibitors bind to the I-domain of LFA-1 in a pattern similar to that of compound 1.

Small molecule LFA-1 antagonists compete with an anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibody for binding to the CD11a I domain: development of a flow-cytometry-based receptor occupancy assay.

The beta(2) integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) is a leukocyte-specific adhesion molecule that mediates leukocyte extravasation, antigen presentation, and T-cell-mediated cytolysis through its interaction with its counter-receptors, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and ICAM-3. We have recently described a small molecule antagonist of LFA-1 (BIRT 377) that inhibits LFA-1/ICAM-1 molecular interactions, LFA-1-dependent adhesion assays, antigen-induced proliferation of T-cells, and superantigen-induced production of IL-2 in vivo in mice. We have also recently described a unique monoclonal antibody, R3.1, which competes with BIRT 377 and its analogs for binding to both purified full-length LFA-1 and the purified recombinant I domain module. In this manuscript, we extend these studies to cell-based systems and utilize this unique reagent for the development of a receptor occupancy assay. Exploiting these observations, we have designed and validated an assay that allows us to measure receptor occupancy in vitro on monkey and human peripheral blood leukocytes and ex vivo in whole blood from monkeys dosed with small molecule LFA-1 antagonists. Further refinement of these reagents has led to the development of a Fab-based assay that allows rapid and reproducible analysis of whole blood samples. These optimized reagents allow for quantification of the number of receptors expressed on the cell surface and a more accurate quantitation of receptor occupancy.

Characterization of the allosteric inhibition of a protein-protein interaction by mass spectrometry.

The allosteric inhibition of the lymphocyte function associated antigen-1/intercellullar adhesion molecule (LFA-1/ICAM-1) interaction, by a class of small molecules, is characterized by a battery of mass spectrometric techniques. Binding of hydantoins to the I domain of LFA-1 is observed by size exclusion chromatography/mass spectrometry (SEC/MS) and by direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). A photoactive hydantoin analog specifically labels an amino acid residue of LFA-1 I domain. Competition with this photoaffinity labeling by a panel of inhibitors is correlated with their Kd's for inhibition of the LFA-1/ICAM interaction. Alterations to the tertiary structure of LFA-1 I domain, upon compound binding, are inferred from perturbation in the ESI mass spectrum of the polypeptide's charge state distribution and by an altered level of nonspecific multimer formation. The results demonstrate specific, stoichiometric, reversible binding of the hydantoins to LFA-1. They further show correlation of this binding with activity and indicate alterations in the polypeptide's tertiary structure, on hydantoin binding, consistent with the proposed mechanism for inhibition of the protein-protein interaction.