Synthesis of glutamic acid analogs as potent inhibitors of leukotriene A4 hydrolase.

Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and asthma. As a method to decrease the level of LTB(4) and possibly identify novel treatments, inhibitors of the LTB(4) biosynthetic enzyme, leukotriene A(4) hydrolase (LTA(4)-h), have been explored. Here we describe the discovery of a potent inhibitor of LTA(4)-h, arylamide of glutamic acid 4f, starting from the corresponding glycinamide 2. Analogs of 4f are then described, focusing on compounds that are both active and stable in whole blood. This effort culminated in the identification of amino alcohol 12a and amino ester 6b which meet these criteria.

Thiophene-anthranilamides as highly potent and orally available factor Xa inhibitors.

There remains a high unmet medical need for a safe oral therapy for thrombotic disorders. The serine protease factor Xa (fXa), with its central role in the coagulation cascade, is among the more promising targets for anticoagulant therapy and has been the subject of intensive drug discovery efforts. Investigation of a hit from high-throughput screening identified a series of thiophene-substituted anthranilamides as potent nonamidine fXa inhibitors. Lead optimization by incorporation of hydrophilic groups led to the discovery of compounds with picomolar inhibitory potency and micromolar in vitro anticoagulant activity. Based on their high potency, selectivity, oral pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in a rat venous stasis model of thrombosis, compounds ZK 814048 (10b), ZK 810388 (13a), and ZK 813039 (17m) were advanced into development.

Indolinone based phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) inhibitors. Part 2: optimization of BX-517.

Based on the lead compound BX-517, a series of C-4' substituted indolinones have been synthesized and evaluated for PDK1 inhibition. Modification at C-4' of the pyrrole afforded potent compounds (7b and 7d) with improved solubility and ADME properties. In this letter, we describe the synthesis, selectivity profile, and pharmacokinetic data of selected compounds.

Indolinone based phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) inhibitors. Part 1: design, synthesis and biological activity.

HTS screening identified 1 with micromolar inhibitory activity against PDK1. Optimization of 1 afforded 4i (BX-517) which has single-digit nanomolar activity against PDK1 and excellent selectivity against PKA.

Substituted thiophene-anthranilamides as potent inhibitors of human factor Xa.

A series of thiophene-containing non-amidine factor Xa inhibitors is described. Simple methyl-substituted thiophene analogs were relatively weak inhibitors. However, introduction of hydrophilic substituents at C-4 or C-5 of the thiophene afforded inhibitors with low nanomolar potency. Optimization of the thiophene substituent at C-4 afforded subnanomolar inhibitors with improved in vitro anticoagulant activity. Incorporating basic amine substituents on the thiophene increased hydrophilicity and improved anticoagulant activity. The pharmacokinetic profile of one inhibitor was evaluated in dogs, and the X-ray crystal structure of this compound bound to factor Xa provides insight into the observed SAR for binding to factor Xa.

Novel small molecule inhibitors of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1)/Akt signaling pathway plays a key role in cancer cell growth, survival, and tumor angiogenesis and represents a promising target for anticancer drugs. Here, we describe three potent PDK1 inhibitors, BX-795, BX-912, and BX-320 (IC(50) = 11-30 nm) and their initial biological characterization. The inhibitors blocked PDK1/Akt signaling in tumor cells and inhibited the anchorage-dependent growth of a variety of tumor cell lines in culture or induced apoptosis. A number of cancer cell lines with elevated Akt activity were >30-fold more sensitive to growth inhibition by PDK1 inhibitors in soft agar than on tissue culture plastic, consistent with the cell survival function of the PDK1/Akt signaling pathway, which is particularly important for unattached cells. BX-320 inhibited the growth of LOX melanoma tumors in the lungs of nude mice after injection of tumor cells into the tail vein. The effect of BX-320 on cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo indicates that PDK1 inhibitors may have clinical utility as anticancer agents.

Structure-activity relationships of substituted benzothiophene-anthranilamide factor Xa inhibitors.

Compound 1 was identified by high throughput screening as a novel, potent, non-amidine factor Xa inhibitor with good selectivity against thrombin and trypsin. A series of modifications of the three aromatic groups of 1 was investigated. Substitution of chlorine or bromine for fluorine on the aniline ring led to the discovery of subnanomolar factor Xa inhibitors. Positions on the anthranilic acid ring that can accommodate further substitution were also identified.

Crystal structures of two potent nonamidine inhibitors bound to factor Xa.

There has been intense interest in the development of factor Xa inhibitors for the treatment of thrombotic diseases. Our laboratory has developed a series of novel non-amidine inhibitors of factor Xa. This paper presents two crystal structures of compounds from this series bound to factor Xa. The first structure is derived from the complex formed between factor Xa and compound 1. Compound 1 was the first non-amidine factor Xa inhibitor from our lab that had measurable potency in an in vitro assay of anticoagulant activity. The second compound, 2, has a molar affinity for factor Xa (K(iapp)) of 7 pM and good bioavailability. The two inhibitors bind in an L-shaped conformation with a chloroaromatic ring buried deeply in the S1 pocket. The opposite end of these compounds contains a basic substituent that extends into the S4 binding site. A chlorinated phenyl ring bridges the substituents in the S1 and S4 pockets via amide linkers. The overall conformation is similar to the previously published structures for amidine-based inhibitors complexed with factor Xa. However, there are significant differences in the interactions between the inhibitor and the protein at the atomic level. Most notably, there is no group that forms a salt bridge with the carboxylic acid at the base of the S1 pocket (Asp189). Each inhibitor forms only one well-defined hydrogen bond to the protein. There are no direct charge-charge interactions. The results indicate that electrostatic interactions play a secondary role in the binding of these potent inhibitors.

Design, synthesis, and biological activity of novel factor Xa inhibitors: 4-aryloxy substituents of 2,6-diphenoxypyridines.

A novel series of triaryloxypyridines have been designed to inhibit factor Xa, a serine protease strategically located in the coagulation cascade. Inhibitor 5e has a K(I) against factor Xa of 0.12nM and is greater than 8000- and 2000-fold selective over two related serine proteases, thrombin and trypsin, respectively. The 4-position of the central pyridine has been identified as a site that tolerates various substitutions without deleterious effects on potency and selectivity. This suggests that the 4-position of the pyridine ring is an ideal site for chemical modifications to identify inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic characteristics. This investigation has resulted in inhibitor 5d, which has an oral availability of 6% in dogs. The synthesis, in vitro activity, and in vivo profile of this class of inhibitors is outlined.