Discovery of Potent and Selective Antibody-Drug Conjugates with Eg5 Inhibitors through Linker and Payload Optimization.

Targeted antimitotic agents are a promising class of anticancer therapies. Herein, we describe the development of a potent and selective antimitotic Eg5 inhibitor based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Preliminary studies were performed using proprietary Eg5 inhibitors which were conjugated onto a HER2-targeting antibody using maleimido caproyl valine-citrulline para-amino benzocarbamate, or MC-VC-PABC cleavable linker. However, the resulting ADCs lacked antigen-specificity in vivo, probably from premature release of the payload. Second-generation ADCs were then developed, using noncleavable linkers, and the resulting conjugates (ADC-4 and ADC-10) led to in vivo efficacy in an HER-2 expressing (SK-OV-3ip) mouse xenograft model while ADC-11 led to in vivo efficacy in an anti-c-KIT (NCI-H526) mouse xenograft model in a target-dependent manner.

Benzimidazolyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridinones, Selective Inhibitors of MOLT-4 Leukemia Cell Growth and Sea Urchin Embryo Spiculogenesis: Target Quest.

1,3-Substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridinones 11-18 were synthesized by a three-component condensation of Meldrum's acid with aryl aldehydes and 1,3-substituted 5-aminopyrazoles. Their biological activity was evaluated using the in vivo phenotypic sea urchin embryo assay and the in vitro cytotoxicity screen against human cancer cell lines. In the sea urchin embryo model, 1-benzimidazolyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridinones 11 caused inhibition of hatching and spiculogenesis at sub-micromolar concentrations. These compounds also selectively and potently inhibited growth of the MOLT-4 leukemia cell line. Subsequent structure-activity relationship studies determined the benzimidazolyl fragment as an essential pharmacophore for both effects. We applied numerous techniques for target identification. A preliminary QSAR target identification search did not result in tangible leads. Attempts to prepare a relevant photoaffinity probe that retained potency in both assays were not successful. Compounds 11 were further characterized for their activity in a wild-type versus Notch-mutant leukemia cell lines, and in in vitro panels of kinases and matrix metalloproteinases. Using a series of diverse modulators of spiculogenesis as standards, we excluded multiple signaling networks including Notch, Wnt/ß-catenin, receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGF/VEGFR, FGF/FGFR), PI3K, and Raf-MEK-ERK as possible targets of 11. On the other hand, matrix metalloproteinase-9/hatching enzyme was identified as one potential target.

Modular synthesis and modification of novel bifunctional dendrons.

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of two novel bifunctional dendrons bearing multiple amine termini at the periphery and an azide at the focal point. Copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition enabled modular dendritic scaffold assembly resulting in a first generation dendron carrying six amines and a second generation dendron carrying eighteen amines. Peripheral amines were labeled with multiple copies of a metal isotope, whereas the azide functionality at the focal point was employed in conjugation to a single anti-human CD4 antibody. We demonstrated that the highly monomeric first generation dendron-antibody conjugate selectively detected CD4+ T cells in the PMBC culture.

Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibitor as a Novel Payload for Antibody-Drug Conjugates.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a novel modality that allows targeted delivery of potent therapeutic agents to the desired site. Herein we report our discovery of NAMPT inhibitors as a novel nonantimitotic payload for ADCs. The resulting anti-c-Kit conjugates (ADC-3 and ADC-4) demonstrated in vivo efficacy in the c-Kit positive gastrointestinal stromal tumor GIST-T1 xenograft model in a target-dependent manner.

Optimization of a Dibenzodiazepine Hit to a Potent and Selective Allosteric PAK1 Inhibitor.

The discovery of inhibitors targeting novel allosteric kinase sites is very challenging. Such compounds, however, once identified could offer exquisite levels of selectivity across the kinome. Herein we report our structure-based optimization strategy of a dibenzodiazepine hit 1, discovered in a fragment-based screen, yielding highly potent and selective inhibitors of PAK1 such as 2 and 3. Compound 2 was cocrystallized with PAK1 to confirm binding to an allosteric site and to reveal novel key interactions. Compound 3 modulated PAK1 at the cellular level and due to its selectivity enabled valuable research to interrogate biological functions of the PAK1 kinase.

A diversity oriented four-component approach to tetrahydro-beta-carbolines initiated by Sonogashira coupling.

A consecutive four-component synthesis of highly-substituted tetrahydro-beta-carbolines can be achieved by a coupling-aminatio-aza-annulation-Pictet-Spengler (CAAPS) sequence creating five new sigma-bonds and four new stereocenters in a one-pot fashion. The structures were unambiguously supported by X-ray structure analyses.

A novel one-pot three-component synthesis of 3-halofurans and sequential Suzuki coupling.

A novel sequence of Sonogashira coupling and electrophilic addition to an ynone, with concomitant deprotection and cyclocondensation, opens a new one-pot synthesis of 3-halofurans; the method can be readily elaborated to a new sequential Sonogashira-addition-cyclocondensation-Suzuki reaction to furnish 2,3,5-trisubstituted furans in a one-pot fashion.

A novel one-pot four-component access to tetrahydro-beta-carbolines by a coupling-amination-aza-annulation-Pictet-Spengler sequence (CAAPS).

The four-component coupling-amination-aza-annulation-Pictet-Spengler (CAAPS) sequence of acid chlorides 1, terminal alkynes 2, tryptamine derivatives 6, and acryloyl chloride derivatives 4 represents a facile and rapid one-pot access to tetrahydro-beta-carbolines 7 in moderate to good yields.

New entry to a three-component pyrimidine synthesis by TMS-Ynones via Sonogashira coupling.

[reaction: see text] TMS-ynones are versatile synthetic equivalents of beta-keto aldehydes and can be readily synthesized in an atom-economical fashion by coupling (het)aroyl chlorides and (TMS)-acetylene with only one equiv (!) of triethylamine under Sonogashira conditions. This mild ynone synthesis is also a suitable entry to 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidines in the sense of a one-pot three-component reaction, i.e., a coupling-addition-cyclocondensation sequence.

Facile one-pot coupling-aminovinylation approach to push-pull chromophores: alkyne activation by sonogashira coupling.

A straightforward coupling-aminovinylation sequence of terminal alkynes 1, electron-deficient heteroaryl halides 2, and secondary amines 4 furnishes highly solvochromic push-pull chromophores 5 in good yields. Semiempirical calculations (PM3) suggest that the aminovinylation proceeds in a stepwise fashion through a zwitterionic intermediate with a final rate-determining intramolecular protonation. Crucial parameters for the success of the amine addition are the relative LUMO energies and the charge distribution at the beta-alkynyl carbon atom.