A Novel C-C Chemoattractant Cytokine (Chemokine) Receptor 6 (CCR6) Antagonist (PF-07054894) Distinguishes between Homologous Chemokine Receptors, Increases Basal Circulating CCR6+ T Cells, and Ameliorates Interleukin-23-Induced Skin Inflammation.

Blocking chemokine receptor C-C chemoattractant cytokine (chemokine) receptor (CCR) 6-dependent T cell migration has therapeutic promise in inflammatory diseases. PF-07054894 is a novel CCR6 antagonist that blocked only CCR6, CCR7, and C-X-C chemoattractant cytokine (chemokine) receptor (CXCR) 2 in a ß-arrestin assay panel of 168 G protein-coupled receptors. Inhibition of CCR6-mediated human T cell chemotaxis by (R)-4-((2-(((1,4-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)(1-methylcyclopentyl)methyl)amino)-3,4-dioxocyclobut-1-en-1-yl)amino)-3-hydroxy-N,N-dimethylpicolinamide (PF-07054894) was insurmountable by CCR6 ligand, C-C motif ligand (CCL) 20. In contrast, blockade of CCR7-dependent chemotaxis in human T cells and CXCR2-dependent chemotaxis in human neutrophils by PF-07054894 were surmountable by CCL19 and C-X-C motif ligand 1, respectively. [3H]-PF-07054894 showed a slower dissociation rate for CCR6 than for CCR7 and CXCR2 suggesting that differences in chemotaxis patterns of inhibition could be attributable to offset kinetics. Consistent with this notion, an analog of PF-07054894 with fast dissociation rate showed surmountable inhibition of CCL20/CCR6 chemotaxis. Furthermore, pre-equilibration of T cells with PF-07054894 increased its inhibitory potency in CCL20/CCR6 chemotaxis by 10-fold. The functional selectivity of PF-07054894 for inhibition of CCR6 relative to CCR7 and CXCR2 is estimated to be at least 50- and 150-fold, respectively. When administered orally to naïve cynomolgus monkeys, PF-07054894 increased the frequency of CCR6+ peripheral blood T cells, suggesting that blockade of CCR6 inhibited homeostatic migration of T cells from blood to tissues. PF-07054894 inhibited interleukin-23-induced mouse skin ear swelling to a similar extent as genetic ablation of CCR6. PF-07054894 caused an increase in cell surface CCR6 in mouse and monkey B cells, which was recapitulated in mouse splenocytes in vitro. In conclusion, PF-07054894 is a potent and functionally selective CCR6 antagonist that blocks CCR6-mediated chemotaxis in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The chemokine receptor, C-C chemoattractant cytokine (chemokine) receptor 6 (CCR6) plays a key role in the migration of pathogenic lymphocytes and dendritic cells into sites of inflammation. (R)-4-((2-(((1,4-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)(1-methylcyclopentyl)methyl)amino)-3,4-dioxocyclobut-1-en-1-yl)amino)-3-hydroxy-N,N-dimethylpicolinamide (PF-07054894) is a novel CCR6 small molecule antagonist that illustrates the importance of binding kinetics in achieving pharmacological potency and selectivity. Orally administered PF-07054894 blocks homeostatic and pathogenic functions of CCR6, suggesting that it is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

RORγt inhibition ameliorates IL-23 driven experimental psoriatic arthritis by predominantly modulating γδ-T cells.

OBJECTIVE: Divergent therapeutic outcomes on different disease domains have been noted with IL-23 and IL-17A-blockade in PsA. Therefore, elucidating the role of RORγt, the master regulator of type 17 immune responses, is of potential therapeutic interest. To this end, RORγt inhibition was assessed in combined skin, joint and gut inflammation in vivo, using a PsA model. METHODS: We tested the efficacy of a RORγt antagonist in B10.RIII mice challenged with systemic overexpression of IL-23 by hydrodynamic injection of IL-23 enhanced episomal vector (IL-23 EEV). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by histopathology. Bone density and surface erosions were examined using micro-computed tomography. Cytokine production was measured in serum and by intracellular flow cytometry. Gene expression in PsA-related tissues was analysed by qPCR. RESULTS: RORγt-blockade significantly ameliorated psoriasis, peripheral arthritis and colitis development in IL-23 EEV mice (improvement of clinical scores and weight loss respectively by 91.8%, 58.2% and 7.0%, P < 0.001), in line with profound suppression of an enhanced type IL-17 immune signature in PsA-affected tissues. Moreover, inflammation-induced bone loss and bone erosions were reduced (P < 0.05 in calcaneus, P < 0.01 in tibia). Sustained IL-23 overexpression resulted in only mild signs of sacroiliitis. Gamma-delta (γδ)-T cells, the dominant source of T cell-derived IL-17A and IL-22, were expanded during IL-23 overexpression, and together with Th17 cells, clearly countered by RORγt inhibition (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RORγt-blockade shows therapeutic efficacy in a preclinical PsA model with protection towards extra-musculoskeletal manifestations, reflected by a clear attenuation of type 17 cytokine responses by γδ-T cells and Th17 cells.

LRRK2 inhibitors induce reversible changes in nonhuman primate lungs without measurable pulmonary deficits.

The kinase-activating mutation G2019S in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is one of the most common genetic causes of Parkinson's disease (PD) and has spurred development of LRRK2 inhibitors. Preclinical studies have raised concerns about the safety of LRRK2 inhibitors due to histopathological changes in the lungs of nonhuman primates treated with two of these compounds. Here, we investigated whether these lung effects represented on-target pharmacology and whether they were reversible after drug withdrawal in macaques. We also examined whether treatment was associated with pulmonary function deficits. We conducted a 2-week repeat-dose toxicology study in macaques comparing three different LRRK2 inhibitors: GNE-7915 (30 mg/kg, twice daily as a positive control), MLi-2 (15 and 50 mg/kg, once daily), and PFE-360 (3 and 6 mg/kg, once daily). Subsets of animals dosed with GNE-7915 or MLi-2 were evaluated 2 weeks after drug withdrawal for lung function. All compounds induced mild cytoplasmic vacuolation of type II lung pneumocytes without signs of lung degeneration, implicating on-target pharmacology. At low doses of PFE-360 or MLi-2, there was ~50 or 100% LRRK2 inhibition in brain tissue, respectively, but histopathological lung changes were either absent or minimal. The lung effect was reversible after dosing ceased. Lung function tests demonstrated that the histological changes in lung tissue induced by MLi-2 and GNE-7915 did not result in pulmonary deficits. Our results suggest that the observed lung effects in nonhuman primates in response to LRRK2 inhibitors should not preclude clinical testing of these compounds for PD.

Projecting ADME Behavior and Drug-Drug Interactions in Early Discovery and Development: Application of the Extended Clearance Classification System.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of Extended Clearance Classification System (ECCS) in understanding absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) attributes and enabling victim drug-drug interaction (DDI) predictions. METHODS: A database of 368 drugs with relevant ADME parameters, main metabolizing enzymes, uptake transporters, efflux transporters, and highest change in exposure (%AUC) in presence of inhibitors was developed using published literature. Drugs were characterized according to ECCS using ionization, molecular weight and estimated permeability. RESULTS: Analyses suggested that ECCS class 1A drugs are well absorbed and systemic clearance is determined by metabolism mediated by CYP2C, esterases, and UGTs. For class 1B drugs, oral absorption is high and the predominant clearance mechanism is hepatic uptake mediated by OATP transporters. High permeability neutral/basic drugs (class 2) showed high oral absorption, with metabolism mediated generally by CYP3A, CYP2D6 and UGTs as the predominant clearance mechanism. Class 3A/4 drugs showed moderate absorption with dominant renal clearance involving OAT/OCT2 transporters. Class 3B drugs showed low to moderate absorption with hepatic uptake (OATPs) and/or renal clearance as primary clearance mechanisms. The highest DDI risk is typically seen with class 2/1B/3B compounds manifested by inhibition of either CYP metabolism or active hepatic uptake. Class 2 showed a wider range in AUC change likely due to a variety of enzymes involved. DDI risk for class 3A/4 is small and associated with inhibition of renal transporters. CONCLUSIONS: ECCS provides a framework to project ADME profiles and further enables prediction of victim DDI liabilities in drug discovery and development.

Insights From an Integrated Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Brain Penetration.

Central-nervous-system, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models predict exposure profiles in the brain, that is, the rate and extent of distribution. The current work develops one such model and presents improved methods for determining key input parameters. A simple linear regression statistical model estimates the passive permeability at the blood-brain barrier from brain uptake index data and descriptors, and a novel analysis extracts the relative active transport parameter from in vitro assays taking into consideration both paracellular transport and unstirred water layers. The integrated PBPK model captures the concentration profiles of both rate-restricted and effluxed compounds with high passive permeability. In many cases, compounds distribute rapidly into the brain and are, therefore, not rate limited. The PBPK model is then simplified to a straightforward equation to describe brain-to-plasma ratios at steady state. The equation can estimate brain penetration either from in vitro efflux data or from in vivo results from another species and, therefore, is a valuable tool in the discovery setting.

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of human c-Met neutralizing monoclonal antibody CE-355621.

The c-Met proto-oncogene is a multifunctional receptor tyrosine kinase that is stimulated by its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), to induce cell growth, motility and morphogenesis. Dysregulation of c-Met function, through mutational activation or overexpression, has been observed in many types of cancer and is thought to contribute to tumor growth and metastasis by affecting mitogenesis, invasion, and angiogenesis. We identified human monoclonal antibodies that bind to the extracellular domain of c-Met and inhibit tumor growth by interfering with ligand-dependent c-Met activation. We identified antibodies representing four independent epitope classes that inhibited both ligand binding and ligand-dependent activation of c-Met in A549 cells. In cells, the antibodies antagonized c-Met function by blocking receptor activation and by subsequently inducing downregulation of the receptor, translating to phenotypic effects in soft agar growth and tubular morphogenesis assays. Further characterization of the antibodies in vivo revealed significant inhibition of c-Met activity (≥ 80% lasting for 72-96 h) in excised tumors corresponded to tumor growth inhibition in multiple xenograft tumor models. Several of the antibodies identified inhibited the growth of tumors engineered to overexpress human HGF and human c-Met (S114 NIH 3T3) when grown subcutaneously in athymic mice. Furthermore, lead candidate antibody CE-355621 inhibited the growth of U87MG human glioblastoma and GTL-16 gastric xenografts by up to 98%. The findings support published pre-clinical and clinical data indicating that targeting c-Met with human monoclonal antibodies is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer.

PF-03814735, an orally bioavailable small molecule aurora kinase inhibitor for cancer therapy.

The Aurora family of highly related serine/threonine kinases plays a key role in the regulation of mitosis. Aurora1 and Aurora2 play important but distinct roles in the G(2) and M phases of the cell cycle and are essential for proper chromosome segregation and cell division. Overexpression and amplification of Aurora2 have been reported in different tumor types, including breast, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, and gastric cancer. PF-03814735 is a novel, potent, orally bioavailable, reversible inhibitor of both Aurora1 and Aurora2 kinases that is currently in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. In intact cells, the inhibitory activity of PF-03814735 on the Aurora1 and Aurora2 kinases reduces levels of phospho-Aurora1, phosphohistone H3, and phospho-Aurora2. PF-03814735 produces a block in cytokinesis, resulting in inhibition of cell proliferation and the formation of polyploid multinucleated cells. Although PF-03814735 produces significant inhibition of several other protein kinases, the predominant biochemical effects in cellular assays are consistent with inhibition of Aurora kinases. Once-daily oral administration of PF-03814735 to mice bearing human xenograft tumors produces a reduction in phosphohistone H3 in tumors at doses that are tolerable and that result in significant inhibition of tumor growth. The combination of PF-03814735 and docetaxel in xenograft mouse tumor models shows additive tumor growth inhibition. These results support the clinical evaluation of PF-03814735 in cancer patients. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(4); 883-94. (c)2010 AACR.

High throughput ADME screening: practical considerations, impact on the portfolio and enabler of in silico ADME models.

Evaluation and optimization of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic data plays an important role in drug discovery and development and several reliable in vitro ADME models are available. Recently higher throughput in vitro ADME screening facilities have been established in order to be able to evaluate an appreciable fraction of synthesized compounds. The ADME screening process can be dissected in five distinct steps: (1) plate management of compounds in need of in vitro ADME data, (2) optimization of the MS/MS method for the compounds, (3) in vitro ADME experiments and sample clean up, (4) collection and reduction of the raw LC-MS/MS data and (5) archival of the processed ADME data. All steps will be described in detail and the value of the data on drug discovery projects will be discussed as well. Finally, in vitro ADME screening can generate large quantities of data obtained under identical conditions to allow building of reliable in silico models.