Identification of GDC-1971 (RLY-1971), a SHP2 Inhibitor Designed for the Treatment of Solid Tumors.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 mediates RAS-driven MAPK signaling and has emerged in recent years as a target of interest in oncology, both for treating with a single agent and in combination with a KRAS inhibitor. We were drawn to the pharmacological potential of SHP2 inhibition, especially following the initial observation that drug-like compounds could bind an allosteric site and enforce a closed, inactive state of the enzyme. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of GDC-1971 (formerly RLY-1971), a SHP2 inhibitor currently in clinical trials in combination with KRAS G12C inhibitor divarasib (GDC-6036) for the treatment of solid tumors driven by a KRAS G12C mutation.

Integrating the Impact of Lipophilicity on Potency and Pharmacokinetic Parameters Enables the Use of Diverse Chemical Space during Small Molecule Drug Optimization.

Lipophilicity has a dominant effect on many parameters that determine unbound drug exposure as well as drug potency. Despite this, analysis of a large body of drug data indicates lipophilicity has no consistent directional impact on dose. This can be rationalized based on the interplay of the effects of lipophilicity on individual parameter values in pharmacokinetic equations. We believe this undermines the effectiveness of strategies that target specific ranges for drug parameters for which lipophilicity plays such a dominant role. As a result, our research organization no longer leverages the common approach of screening for low intrinsic clearance in vitro to target high unbound exposure in vivo. Instead, we advocate for approaches less biased to lipophilicity through optimization of key parameter ratios controlling dose. We believe this improves efficiency in drug discovery by enabling exploration of broad physicochemical space.

Microbial biotransformation - an important tool for the study of drug metabolism.

Metabolite identification is an integral part of both preclinical and clinical drug discovery and development. Synthesis of drug metabolites is often required to support definitive identification, preclinical safety studies and clinical trials. Here we describe the use of microbial biotransformation as a tool to produce drug metabolites, complementing traditional chemical synthesis and other biosynthetic methods such as hepatocytes, liver microsomes and recombinant human drug metabolizing enzymes. A workflow is discussed whereby microbial strains are initially screened for their ability to form the putative metabolites of interest, followed by a scale-up to afford quantities sufficient to perform definitive identification and further studies. Examples of the microbial synthesis of several difficult-to-synthesize hydroxylated metabolites and three difficult-to-synthesize glucuronidated metabolites are described, and the use of microbial biotransformation in drug discovery and development is discussed.

Interpretation of in Vitro Metabolic Stability Studies for Racemic Mixtures.

In early drug discovery, where chiral syntheses may not yet have been elucidated or enantiomeric separation is not feasible, screening of racemates in metabolic stability assays may offer a pragmatic approach. To assess the risk of incorrectly deprioritizing enantiomers due to misclassification of apparent in vitro intrinsic clearance (CLintapp), we evaluated (1) theoretical simulations; (2) literature on enantiomeric CLintapp differences; (3) historic MSD data; and (4) new data on enantiomers with high eudysmic ratios and low predicted three-dimensional similarity. Overall, the results suggested minimal risk of not progressing an enantiomer due to an appreciably different (>3-fold) racemate CLintapp.

A Pharmacokinetic Modeling Approach to Predict the Contribution of Active Metabolites to Human Efficacious Dose.

A preclinical drug candidate, MRK-1 (Merck candidate drug parent compound), was found to elicit tumor regression in a mouse xenograft model. Analysis of samples from these studies revealed significant levels of two circulating metabolites, whose identities were confirmed by comparison with authentic standards using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. These metabolites were found to have an in vitro potency similar to that of MRK-1 against the pharmacological target and were therefore thought to contribute to the observed efficacy. To predict this contribution in humans, a pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling approach was developed. At the mouse efficacious dose, the areas under the plasma concentration time curves (AUCs) of the active metabolites were normalized by their in vitro potency compared with MRK-1. These normalized metabolite AUCs were added to that of MRK-1 to yield a composite efficacious unbound AUC, expressed as "parent drug equivalents," which was used as the target AUC for predictions of the human efficacious dose. In vitro and preclinical PK studies afforded predictions of the PK of MRK-1 and the two active metabolites in human as well as the relative pathway flux to each metabolite. These were used to construct a PK model (Berkeley Madonna, version 8.3.18; Berkeley Madonna Inc., University of California, Berkeley, CA) and to predict the human dose required to achieve the target parent equivalent exposure. These predictions were used to inform on the feasibility of the human dose in terms of size, frequency, formulation, and likely safety margins, as well as to aid in the design of preclinical safety studies.

Control and measurement of plasma pH in equilibrium dialysis: influence on drug plasma protein binding.

Past publications have highlighted the influence of postdialysis plasma pH on the measured fraction unbound in plasma (fup). There is disparity in the industry as to which of two main methods is more suitable for controlling postdialysis plasma pH: the use of either a stronger buffer or a CO(2) atmosphere for the incubation. In the current study, it has been found that 10% CO(2) could be too high for the buffering capacities of both 100 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.40 decreased to pH 6.90 after a 6-h incubation) and plasma (decreased below pH 7.40 after a 6-h incubation). To provide appropriate control over the postdialysis plasma pH, for a range of species, it is proposed that a standard phosphate buffer strength (100 mM) and pH (7.40) in combination with a 5% CO(2) atmosphere be used for equilibrium dialysis. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in fup values obtained with a pH difference of less than 0.32 pH unit have been demonstrated. An acceptance range for postdialysis plasma pH in routine in vitro fup screening assays of pH 7.40 ± 0.10 is recommended.

The potential influence of CO2, as an agent for euthanasia, on the pharmacokinetics of basic compounds in rodents.

Rodent tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic studies were performed on basic compounds Org A and Org B in support of central nervous system drug discovery programs. A consistent observation from these studies was that drug concentrations in plasma obtained by cardiac puncture after CO(2) euthanasia were markedly higher compared with those from other sampling methods (serial sampling, isoflurane anesthesia, or cervical dislocation). Further investigations demonstrated that CO(2) euthanasia led to a reduction in blood pH in both rats and mice, which was not observed with the other sampling methods. The use of CO(2) euthanasia resulted in a decrease in the brain/plasma ratio of Org B, largely as a result of increased plasma concentrations. The pharmacokinetics of a basic drug, raloxifene, in rat were also influenced by sampling technique. CO(2) euthanasia before sampling, resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in the area under the drug concentration-time curve, a decrease in plasma clearance, and a decrease in the steady-state volume of distribution compared with isoflurane anesthesia. It is proposed that a decrease in the pH of blood relative to that of other tissues, as a consequence of CO(2) exposure, results in a redistribution of basic compounds out of the tissues, leading to higher concentrations in plasma.

Which hydroxy? Evidence for species differences in the regioselectivity of glucuronidation in rat, dog, and human in vitro systems and dog in vivo.

The glucuronidation of (1S,2R,3R,5R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[7-{[(1R,2S)-2-phenylcyclopropyl]amino}-5-(propylthio)-3H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-3-yl]cyclopentane-1,2-diol (AZ11939714) was studied in UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA)-supplemented hepatic microsomes from rat, dog, and human liver. The major biliary metabolite of this compound after intraduodenal administration to a beagle dog was also studied. The techniques of HPLC, HPLC-MS and HPLC-NMR were used to characterize the glucuronides. An analysis of the proton NMR chemical shift differences between parent and metabolites was sufficient to deduce the sites of glucuronidation, although these were confirmed by 2D ROESY experiments. In dog microsomes, AZ11939714 was O-glucuronidated exclusively at the 1-position of the cyclopentanediol. This glucuronide was also the major metabolite in dog bile. In human microsomes, AZ11939714 was O-glucuronidated almost exclusively at the 3-hydroxymethyl position. Rat microsomes produced a mixture of glucuronides at the 2-position of the cyclopentanediol (major) and at the 3-hydroxymethyl position (minor). A clear qualitative species difference in the glucuronidation of AZ11939714 has been demonstrated in vitro. This may have implications for the choice of laboratory species to study the pharmacokinetics and safety of this compound.

NMR identification of an S-linked glucuronide of a triazole thione formed in vitro.

The metabolism of 3-([3-(2-Chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-thioxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]methyl)benzonitrile (AR-C133611XX) was studied in isolated dog hepatocytes. The major metabolite of AR-C133611XX was characterized by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and NMR and found to be the product of direct glucuronidation. Evidence from 1H and 13C-NMR chemical shifts and a long-range proton carbon correlation experiment was used to deduce that glucuronidation had taken place on the sulfur atom. Full NMR data on this unusual metabolite is presented. Substitution or replacement of the sulfur atom resulted in a significant decrease in the observed rate of glucuronidation.

The influence of DMPK as an integrated partner in modern drug discovery.

In response to the challenge laid down by advances in other drug discovery functions, DMPK has now established an array of automated, miniaturised in vitro screens, rapid bioanalytical methodologies and in silico tools with which to optimise or predict passive absorption, metabolic clearance and minimise drug-drug interaction potential. The awareness of the pivotal role that physicochemical properties play in the control of many of these processes has been key. This review highlights some of these structure-activity relationships with emphasis on drug absorption, clearance, protein binding and distribution. However, some fundamental processes remain to be elucidated fully, including the in vivo impact of non-specific or futile binding in in vitro screens and the functional significance of intestinal and hepatobiliary transporter proteins. Transgenic animals should soon add value to our understanding of the contribution of transporter proteins to drug bioavailability (intestinal and hepatic drug uptake/efflux) and drug interactions and in validating projections for Man. Future studies should also focus on the evaluation of the various in vitro human CYP induction screens available, with particular emphasis on their predictive value for the clinical scenario.