Pharmacological AMPK activation induces transcriptional responses congruent to exercise in skeletal and cardiac muscle, adipose tissues and liver.

Physical activity promotes metabolic and cardiovascular health benefits that derive in part from the transcriptional responses to exercise that occur within skeletal muscle and other organs. There is interest in discovering a pharmacologic exercise mimetic that could imbue wellness and alleviate disease burden. However, the molecular physiology by which exercise signals the transcriptional response is highly complex, making it challenging to identify a single target for pharmacological mimicry. The current studies evaluated the transcriptome responses in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and white and brown adipose to novel small molecule activators of AMPK (pan-activators for all AMPK isoforms) compared to that of exercise. A striking level of congruence between exercise and pharmacological AMPK activation was observed across the induced transcriptome of these five tissues. However, differences in acute metabolic response between exercise and pharmacologic AMPK activation were observed, notably for acute glycogen balances and related to the energy expenditure induced by exercise but not pharmacologic AMPK activation. Nevertheless, intervention with repeated daily administration of short-acting activation of AMPK was found to mitigate hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in four rodent models of metabolic disease and without the cardiac glycogen accretion noted with sustained pharmacologic AMPK activation. These findings affirm that activation of AMPK is a key node governing exercise mediated transcription and is an attractive target as an exercise mimetic.

Discovery and preclinical evaluation of [4-[[1-(3-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1H-indazol-5-ylamino]-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-6-yl]carbamic acid, (3S)-3-morpholinylmethyl ester (BMS-599626), a selective and orally efficacious inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 and 2 kinases.

Structure-activity relationships in a series of 4-[1H-indazol-5-ylamino]pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carbamates identified dual human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)1/HER2 kinase inhibitors with excellent biochemical potency and kinase selectivity. On the basis of its favorable pharmacokinetic profile and robust in vivo activity in HER1 and HER2 driven tumor models, 13 (BMS-599626) was selected as a clinical candidate for treatment of solid tumors.

Identification of 2-amino-5-(thioaryl)thiazoles as inhibitors of nerve growth factor receptor TrkA.

2-Amino-5-(thioaryl)thiazoles are potent inhibitors of TrkA (e.g., 20h, TrkA IC(50)=0.6 nM) that show anti-proliferative effect in cellular assays. A proposed inhibitor binding mode to TrkA active site is consistent with key SAR observations.

Pyrrolopyridazine MEK inhibitors.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of pyrrolopyridazine MEK inhibitors are reported. Optimal activity was achieved by incorporation of a 4-phenoxyaniline substituent at C4 and an acylated amine at C6.

New dual inhibitors of EGFR and HER2 protein tyrosine kinases.

A novel series of dual EGFR and HER2 inhibitors based on the pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine nucleus is described. A general route toward their synthesis, which enables functionalization at multiple sites, has been developed. Biological evaluation in enzymatic and cell-based assays has identified a series of C-6 carbamates with potent biochemical and cellular activities.

Structure-based design of potent and selective inhibitors of collagenase-3 (MMP-13).

Computer aided drug design led to a new class of spiro-barbiturates (e.g., 4a, MMP-13 K(i)=4.7 nM) that are potent inhibitors of MMP-13.