Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazolo-pyrimidin-amines as potent and selective BTK inhibitors.

To discover the best-in-class Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors, for th treatment of autoimmune disorders like cancer (B-Cell Lymphoma (BCL)) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in the present investigation, novel structural optimizations were carried out. Introduction of novel bicyclic amine linkers and aromatic backbone led to series of compounds 9a-h and 14a-u. Compound 14b was found to be potent, orally bioavailable, selective and irreversible BTK inhibitor. In vitro, 14b showed IC50 of 1.0 nM and 0.8 nM, in BTK and TMD8 assays, respectively. In vivo,14b displayed robust efficacy in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and TMD8 xenograft models, which could be correlated with its improved oral bioavailability. In the repeated dose acute toxicity study, 14b showed no adverse changes, indicating that the BTK inhibitor 14b could be viable therapeutic option for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

ZY15557, a novel, long acting inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4, for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors increase levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and provide clinical benefit in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. As longer acting inhibitors have therapeutic advantages, we developed a novel DPP-4 inhibitor, ZY15557, that has a sustained action and long half-life. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We studied the potency, selectivity, efficacy and duration of action of ZY15557, in vitro, with assays of DPP-4 activity. In vivo, the pharmacodymamics and pharmacokinetics of ZY15557 were studied, using db/db mice and Zucker fatty rats, along with normal mice, rats, dogs and non-human primates. KEY RESULTS: ZY15557 is a potent, competitive and long acting inhibitor of DPP-4 (Ki 5.53 nM; Koff 3.2 × 10-4 ·s-1 , half-life 35.8 min). ZY15557 treatment inhibited DPP-4 activity, and enhanced active GLP-1 and insulin in mice and rats, providing dose-dependent anti-hyperglycaemic effects. Anti-hyperglycaemic effects were also observed in db/db mice and Zucker fatty rats. Following oral dosing, ZY15557 significantly inhibited plasma DPP-4 activity, determined ex vivo, in mice and rats for more than 48 h, and for up to 168 h in dogs and non-human primates. Allometric scaling predicts a half-life for ZY15557 in humans of up to 60 h. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: ZY15557 is a potent, competitive and long acting DPP-4 inhibitor. ZY15557 showed similar DPP-4 inhibition across different species. ZY15557 showed excellent oral bioavailability in preclinical species. It showed a low plasma clearance (CL) and large volume of distribution (Vss ) across species, resulting in an extended half-life.

Pharmacological characterization of ZYDPLA1, a novel long-acting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is responsible for degradation of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), the endogenous incretins that stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The objective was to evaluate preclinical profile of a novel DPP-4 inhibitor ZYDPLA1. METHODS: In vitro inhibition potency and selectivity were assessed using recombinant enzymes and/or plasma. In vivo efficacy was determined in oral glucose tolerance test or mixed meal tolerance test in C57BL/6J mice, db/db mice and Zucker fatty rats. Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics was studied in mice, rats, dogs, and non-human primates. RESULTS: ZYDPLA1 is a potent, competitive and long acting inhibitor of DPP-4 (Ki 0.0027 µM; Koff 2.3 × 10(-4 ) s(-1) ). ZYDPLA1 was more than 7000-fold selective for recombinant DPP-4 relative to DPP-8 and DPP-9, and more than 60 000-fold selective relative to fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in vitro. DPP-4 inhibition was comparable across species. In vivo, oral ZYDPLA1 elevated circulating GLP-1 and insulin levels in mice and rats and showed dose-dependent anti-hyperglycemic effect. Anti-hyperglycemic effect was also observed in db/db mice and Zucker fatty rats. ZYDPLA1 showed low clearance, large volume of distribution, and a long half-life with excellent oral bioavailability in all species. It significantly inhibited plasma DPP-4 activity in mice and rats for more than 48 h, and for up to 168 h in dogs and non-human primates. Allometric scaling predicted a half-life in humans of 53 to 166 h. CONCLUSION: ZYDPLA1 is a potent, selective, long-acting oral DPP-4 inhibitor with potential to become once-a-week therapy for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel aminomethyl-piperidones based DPP-IV inhibitors.

A series of novel aminomethyl-piperidones were designed and evaluated as potential DPP-IV inhibitors. Optimized analogue 12v ((4S,5S)-5-(aminomethyl)-1-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethyl)-4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one) showed excellent in vitro potency and selectivity for DPP-IV over other serine proteases. The lead compound 12v showed potent and long acting antihyperglycemic effects (in vivo), along with improved pharmacokinetic profile.

Peptidomimetics as potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors.

A series of peptidomimetic containing bidentate pTyr mimetics (9a-w) are reported as potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors. Compounds (9p and 9q) showed excellent selectivity towards PTP1B over various PTPs, including TCPTP (in vitro), which confirms discovery of highly potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors.

Discovery of liver selective non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor antagonist as novel antidiabetic agents.

Series of benzyl-phenoxybenzyl amino-phenyl acid derivatives (8a-q) are reported as non-steroidal GR antagonist. Compound 8g showed excellent h-GR binding and potent antagonistic activity (in vitro). The lead compound 8g exhibited significant oral antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects (in vivo), along with liver selectivity. These preliminary results confirm discovery of potent and liver selective passive GR antagonist for the treatment of T2DM.

Long-acting peptidomimetics based DPP-IV inhibitors.

Pyrrolidine based peptidomimetics are reported as potent and selective DPP-IV inhibitors for the treatment of T2DM. Compounds 16c and 16d showed excellent in vitro potency and selectivity towards DPP-IV and the lead compound 16c showed sustained antihyperglycemic effects, along with improved pharmacokinetic profile.

Discovery of potent, selective and orally bioavailable triaryl-sulfonamide based PTP1B inhibitors.

A novel series of pTyr mimetics containing triaryl-sulfonamide derivatives (5a-r) are reported as potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors. Some of the test compounds (5o and 5p) showed excellent selectivity towards PTP1B over various PTPs, including TCPTP (in vitro). The lead compound 5o showed potent antidiabetic activity (in vivo), along with improved pharmacokinetic profile. These preliminary results confirm discovery of highly potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors for the treatment of T2DM.

Synthesis and antidiabetic activity of 2,5-disubstituted-3-imidazol-2-yl-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and thieno[2,3-b]pyridines.

In the present investigation, two series of 2,5-disubstituted-3-imidazol-2-yl-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines (2a-l) and thieno[2,3-b]pyridines (3a-l) were designed as analogs of BL 11282 (1). The in vitro glucose dependent insulinotropic activity of all the test compounds was evaluated using RIN5F cell based assay and all the test compounds showed glucose and concentration dependent insulin secretion. The in vivo antidiabetic activities of most potent compounds from each series (2c and 3c) were assessed in C57BL/6J mice. Compounds 2c and 3c showed dose dependent insulin secretion and significant glucose reduction in vivo. In general, compounds 2c and 3c were found to be equipotent at all the three different doses selected and with respect to BL 11282, both the test compounds were found to be more potent, at all the time points.

Synthesis of 3,8,9-trisubstituted-1,7,9-triaza-fluorene-6-carboxylic acid derivatives as a new class of insulin secretagogues.

beta-Carbolines stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, probably by acting on I(3)-binding site. Knowing the in vitro glucose-dependent insulinotropic potential of beta-carbolines, in this project, three series of substituted-triaza-fluorene-6-carboxylic acids (5a-v, 6a-t, and 7a-t) were designed (analogs of beta-carboline) as a new class of insulinotropic agents. The in vitro glucose-dependent insulinotropic activities of test compounds were evaluated using RIN5F assay. Interestingly, with respect to the control, test compounds showed concentration-dependent insulin release, only in presence of glucose load (16.7 mmol). Some of the test compounds from each series were found to be equipotent to standard compound (Harmane), indicating that the pyridine ring systems of substituted-triaza-fluorenes act as bioisosteres of benzene ring in beta-carbolines.

Synthesis and antidiabetic activity of 3,6,7-trisubstituted-2-(1H-imidazol-2-ylsulfanyl)quinoxalines and quinoxalin-2-yl isothioureas.

Two series of 3,6,7-trisubstituted-2-(1H-imidazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-quinoxalines 2a-l and 2-(quinoxalin-2-yl)-isothioureas 3a-l were prepared. All the test compounds 2a-l and 3a-l were screened in vitro, in a RIN5F cell-based assay for glucose-dependent insulinotropic activity. A significant concentration and glucose-dependent insulin secretion effect was seen with compounds 2a-l and the insulinotropic activity of compound 2l was found to be identical to that of the standard compound (6,7-dichloro-2-trifluromethyl-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazo-2-ylsulfanyl)-quinoxaline (1)).

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of substituted-N-(thieno[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-guanidines, N-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-guanidines, and N-(1H-indol-3-yl)-guanidines.

Sulfonylureas stimulate insulin secretion independent of the blood glucose concentration and therefore cause hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients. Over the last years, a number of aryl-imidazoline derivatives have been identified that stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. In the present study, we have developed three series of substituted N-(thieno[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-guanidine (2a-l), N-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-guanidine (3a-l), and N-(1H-indol-3-yl)-guanidine (4a-l) as new class of antidiabetic agents. In vitro glucose-dependent insulinotropic activity of test compounds 2a-l, 3a-l, and 4a-l was evaluated using RIN5F (Rat Insulinoma cell) based assay. All the test compounds showed concentration-dependent insulin secretion, only in presence of glucose load (16.7mmol). Some of the test compounds (2c, 3c, and 4c) from each series were found to be equipotent to BL 11282 (standard aryl-imidazoline), which indicated that the guanidine group acts as a bioisostere of imidazoline ring system.