Discovery of AZD3147: a potent, selective dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2.

High throughput screening followed by a lead generation campaign uncovered a novel series of urea containing morpholinopyrimidine compounds which act as potent and selective dual inhibitors of mTORC1 and mTORC2. We describe the continued compound optimization campaign for this series, in particular focused on identifying compounds with improved cellular potency, improved aqueous solubility, and good stability in human hepatocyte incubations. Knowledge from empirical SAR investigations was combined with an understanding of the molecular interactions in the crystal lattice to improve both cellular potency and solubility, and the composite parameters of LLE and pIC50-pSolubility were used to assess compound quality and progress. Predictive models were employed to efficiently mine the attractive chemical space identified resulting in the discovery of 42 (AZD3147), an extremely potent and selective dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2 with physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties suitable for development as a potential clinical candidate.

SAR and inhibitor complex structure determination of a novel class of potent and specific Aurora kinase inhibitors.

A novel series of 5-aminopyrimidinyl quinazolines has been developed from anilino-quinazoline 1, which was identified in a high throughput screen for Aurora A. Introduction of the pyrimidine ring and optimisation of the substituents both on this ring and at the C7 position of the quinazoline led to the discovery of compounds that are highly specific Aurora kinase inhibitors. Co-crystallisation of one of these inhibitors with a fragment of Aurora A shows the importance of the benzamido group in achieving selectivity.