GDC-9545 (Giredestrant): A Potent and Orally Bioavailable Selective Estrogen Receptor Antagonist and Degrader with an Exceptional Preclinical Profile for ER+ Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in women, representing a significant unmet medical need. Here, we disclose our discovery efforts culminating in a clinical candidate, 35 (GDC-9545 or giredestrant). 35 is an efficient and potent selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and a full antagonist, which translates into better antiproliferation activity than known SERDs (1, 6, 7, and 9) across multiple cell lines. Fine-tuning the physiochemical properties enabled once daily oral dosing of 35 in preclinical species and humans. 35 exhibits low drug-drug interaction liability and demonstrates excellent in vitro and in vivo safety profiles. At low doses, 35 induces tumor regressions either as a single agent or in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor in an ESR1Y537S mutant PDX or a wild-type ERα tumor model. Currently, 35 is being evaluated in Phase III clinical trials.

Targeting KRAS Mutant Cancers via Combination Treatment: Discovery of a 5-Fluoro-4-(3H)-quinazolinone Aryl Urea pan-RAF Kinase Inhibitor.

Optimization of a series of aryl urea RAF inhibitors led to the identification of type II pan-RAF inhibitor GNE-0749 (7), which features a fluoroquinazolinone hinge-binding motif. By minimizing reliance on common polar hinge contacts, this hinge binder allows for a greater contribution of RAF-specific residue interactions, resulting in exquisite kinase selectivity. Strategic substitution of fluorine at the C5 position efficiently masked the adjacent polar NH functionality and increased solubility by impeding a solid-state conformation associated with stronger crystal packing of the molecule. The resulting improvements in permeability and solubility enabled oral dosing of 7. In vivo evaluation of 7 in combination with the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib demonstrated synergistic pathway inhibition and significant tumor growth inhibition in a KRAS mutant xenograft mouse model.

Cell Active Hydroxylactam Inhibitors of Human Lactate Dehydrogenase with Oral Bioavailability in Mice.

A series of trisubstituted hydroxylactams was identified as potent enzymatic and cellular inhibitors of human lactate dehydrogenase A. Utilizing structure-based design and physical property optimization, multiple inhibitors were discovered with <10 µM lactate IC50 in a MiaPaca2 cell line. Optimization of the series led to 29, a potent cell active molecule (MiaPaca2 IC50 = 0.67 µM) that also possessed good exposure when dosed orally to mice.

Efficient and stereocontrolled synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxolanes useful for ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery.

Ferrous iron-promoted reduction of a hindered peroxide bond underlies the antimalarial action of the 1,2,4-trioxane artemisinin and the 1,2,4-trioxolane arterolane. In appropriately designed systems, a 1,2,4-trioxolane ring can serve as a trigger to realize ferrous iron-dependent and parasite-selective drug delivery, both in vitro and in vivo. A stereocontrolled, expeditious (three steps), and efficient (67-71% overall yield) synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxolanes possessing the requisite 3″ substitution pattern that enables ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery is reported. The key synthetic step involves a diastereoselective Griesbaum co-ozonolysis reaction to afford primarily products with a trans relationship between the 3″ substituent and the peroxide bridge, as confirmed by X-ray structural analysis of a 3″-substituted 4-nitrobenzoate analogue.

Back pocket flexibility provides group II p21-activated kinase (PAK) selectivity for type I 1/2 kinase inhibitors.

Structure-based methods were used to design a potent and highly selective group II p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor with a novel binding mode, compound 17. Hydrophobic interactions within a lipophilic pocket past the methionine gatekeeper of group II PAKs approached by these type I 1/2 binders were found to be important for improving potency. A structure-based hypothesis and strategy for achieving selectivity over group I PAKs, and the broad kinome, based on unique flexibility of this lipophilic pocket, is presented. A concentration-dependent decrease in tumor cell migration and invasion in two triple-negative breast cancer cell lines was observed with compound 17.

Napyradiomycin derivatives, produced by a marine-derived actinomycete, illustrate cytotoxicity by induction of apoptosis.

The microbial production, isolation, and structure elucidation of four new napyradiomycin congeners (1-4) is reported. The structures of these compounds, which are new additions to the marine-derived meroterpenoids, were defined by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and by X-ray crystallography. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, napyradiomycins 1-4 were observed to induce apoptosis in the colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT-116, indicating the possibility of a specific biochemical target for this class of cytotoxins.

Potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase based on a quaternary substituted dihydrofuropyrimidine.

A series of inhibitors of mTOR kinase based on a quaternary-substituted dihydrofuropyrimidine was designed and synthesized. The most potent compounds in this series inhibited mTOR kinase with K(i) < 1.0 nM and were highly (>100×) selective for mTOR over the closely related PI3 kinases. Compounds in this series showed inhibition of the pathway and antiproliferative activity in cell-based assays. Furthermore, these compounds had excellent mouse PK, and showed a robust PK-PD relationship in a mouse model of cancer.

Isolation, structure elucidation, and antitumor activity of spirohexenolides A and B.

In this report, we describe the discovery of a pair of bioactive spirotetronates, spirohexenolides A (1) and B (2), that arose from the application of mutagenesis, clonal selection techniques, and media optimization to strains of Streptomyces platensis. The structures of spirohexenolides A (1) and B (2) were elucidated through X-ray crystallography and confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR studies. Under all examined culture conditions, spirohexenolide A (1) was the major metabolite with traces of spirohexenolide B (2) arising in cultures containing increased loads of adsorbent resins. Spirohexenolide A (1) inhibited tumor cell growth with GI(50) values spanning from 0.1 to 17 microM across the NCI 60 cell line panel. An increased activity was observed in leukemia (GI(50) value of 254 nM in RPMI-8226 cells), lung cancer (GI(50) value of 191 nM in HOP-92 cells), and colon cancer (GI(50) value of 565 nM in SW-620 cells) tumor cells. Metabolite 1 was fluorescent and could be examined on a confocal fluorescent microscope with conventional laser excitation and filter sets. Time lapse imaging studies indicated that spirohexenolide A (1) was readily taken up by tumor cells, appearing through the cell immediately after dosing and subcellularly localizing in the lysosomes. This activity, combined with a unique selectivity in NCI 60 cancer cell line screening, indicates that 1 warrants further chemotherapeutic evaluation.

Lodopyridone, a structurally unprecedented alkaloid from a marine actinomycete.

Chemical examination of the secondary metabolites of a marine Saccharomonospora sp., isolated from marine sediments collected at the mouth of the La Jolla Submarine Canyon, yielded the unprecedented alkaloid lodopyridone (1). The low proton-to-carbon ratio of 1 precluded structure elucidation by NMR spectroscopic methods, thus the structure was defined by X-ray crystallography. Lodopyridone is cytotoxic to HCT-116 human colon cancer cells with IC(50) = 3.6 microM.

Laetirobin from the parasitic growth of Laetiporus sulphureus on Robinia pseudoacacia.

(+/-)-Laetirobin (1) was isolated as a cytostatic lead from Laetiporus sulphureus growing parasitically on the black locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, by virtue of a reverse-immunoaffinity system. Using an LC/MS procedure, milligram quantities of (+/-)-laetirobin (1) were obtained, and the structure of 1 was elucidated by X-ray crystallography and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Preliminary cellular studies indicated that (+/-)-laetirobin (1) rapidly enters in tumor cells, blocks cell division at a late stage of mitosis, and invokes apoptosis.

Observation of redox-induced electron transfer and spin crossover for dinuclear cobalt and iron complexes with the 2,5-di-tert-butyl-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonate bridging ligand.

Dinuclear [(TPyA)M(II)(DBQ(2-))M(II)(TPyA)](BF(4))(2) [TPyA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; DBQ(2-) = 2,5-di-tert-butyl-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonate; M = Co (1(2+)), Fe (2(2+)), Ni (3(2+))] complexes have been prepared by the reaction of M(2+), TPyA, H(2)DBQ, and triethylamine in MeOH solution. Their monooxidized form [(TPyA)M(III)(DBQ(*3-))M(III)(TPyA)](3+) [Co = (1(3+)), Fe (2(3+))] has been synthesized by using ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate, and the dioxidized form of 1(2+), [(TPyA)Co(III)(DBQ(2-))Co(III)(TPyA)](4+) (1(4+)), has been obtained by using thianthrinium tetrafluoroborate. These dinuclear compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, magnetism, and EPR spectroscopy. Valence ambiguous 1(3+) forms via redox-induced electron transfer, whereby the one-electron oxidation of the [Co(II)(DBQ(2-))Co(II)](2+) core forms [Co(III)(DBQ(*3-))Co(III)](3+), and it also exhibits spin crossover behavior to the core [Co(III)(DBQ(2-))Co(II)](3+) above room temperature. The M ions in 1 and 2 have a distorted octahedral geometry by coordination with four nitrogens of a TPyA, two oxygens of a DBQ(2-/*3-). Due to the interdimer offset face-to-face pi-pi and/or herringbone interactions, 1(2+), 1(3+), and 2(2+) show extended 1-D and/or 2-D supramolecular structures. The existence of DBQ(*3-) in 1(3+) is confirmed from both solid-state magnetic and solution EPR data. Co- and Ni-based 1(2+) and 3(2+) show weak antiferromagnetic interactions [1(2+): g = 2.44, J/k(B) = -3.20 K (-2.22 cm(-1)); 3(2+): g = 2.13, J/k(B) = -3.22 K (-2.24 cm(-1)), H = -2JS(1)*S(2) for 1(2+) and 3(2+)], while Fe-based 2(2+) exhibits strong spin crossover behavior above room temperature. 1(2+) has three reversible one-electron transfer waves at E(1/2) (vs SCE in MeCN) = -1.121, 0.007, and 0.329 V, and a fourth wave at -1.741 V that exhibits a slight chemical irreversibility. The first three correspond to [Co(II)DBQ(2-)Co(II)](2+) reduction to [Co(II)DBQ(*3-)Co(II)](+), and oxidation to [Co(III)DBQ(*3-)Co(III)](3+) and [Co(III)DBQ(2-)Co(III)](4+), respectively. The mechanism of the multielectron transfer oxidation from [Co(II)DBQ(2-)Co(II)](2+) to [Co(III)DBQ(*3-)Co(III)](3+) is unknown; the energy of stabilization for oxidizing the Co(II) centers in the presence of DBQ(*3-), relative to oxidizing the Co(II) centers in the presence of DBQ(2-) is computed to be 1.45 eV. 2(2+) also has three reversible one-electron transfer waves at 0.802, 0.281, and -1.007 V that correspond to two successive one-electron oxidations (2(2+)/2(3+) and 2(3+)/2(4+)), and a one-electron reduction (2(2+)/2(+)). 2(2+) has the [Fe(hs)(II)(DBQ(2-))Fe(hs)(II)](2+) electronic structure that becomes [Fe(hs)(III)(DBQ(*3-))Fe(hs)(III)](3+) upon oxidation. The latter undergoes spin crossover above room temperature to populate the [Fe(hs)(III)(DBQ(2-))Fe(hs)(II)](3+) excited state.

Thallium(I) as a coordination site protection agent: preparation of an isolable zero-valent nickel tris-isocyanide.

Blocking the pass: Low-valent Ni centers readily bind Tl(I) ions in a synthetically reversible fashion. The Tl units, in turn, serve as coordination site protection agents for Ni with respect to incoming Lewis basic ligands. This synthetic sequence allows for the isolation of a reactive zero-valent Ni tris-isocyanide complex.

A dinuclear iron(II) complex, [(TPyA)FeII(THBQ(2-))FeII(TPyA)](BF4)2 [TPyA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; THBQ(2-) = 2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonate] exhibiting both spin crossover with hysteresis and ferromagnetic exchange.

Dinuclear [(TPyA)FeII(THBQ(2-))FeII(TPyA)](BF4)2 (1) possesses hydrogen bonding interactions that form a 1-D chain, and pi-pi interactions between the 1-D chains that give rise to a 2-D supramolecular-layered structure, inducing hysteresis in the spin crossover behavior; 1 has shown spin crossover behavior around 250 K with thermal hysteresis and ferromagnetic interactions at low temperature.

Cytokine and IDO metabolite changes effected by calcium pterin during inhibition of MDA-MB-231 xenograph tumors in nude mice.

UNLABELLED: In vivo studies of the effectiveness of various forms of calcium pterin reveal significant antitumor activity associated with (1:4, mol/mol) calcium pterin (CaPterin), (1:2, mol/mol) calcium pterin, dipterinyl calcium pentahydrate (DCP), as well as unexpectedly for a calcium chloride dihydrate solution in nude mice with MDA-MB-231 xenographs. Stepwise regression analysis of nine plasma cytokine and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) metabolite levels identified four effects correlated to (1:4, mol/mol) calcium pterin administration: (1) decreased IL-6, (2) increased IL-10, (3) decreased IFN-gamma, and (4) increased kynurenine. CONCLUSION: (1:4, mol/mol) CaPterin exerts significant (by Spearman rank order correlation) dose-response antitumor activity in nude mice with MDA-MB-231 xenographs, and sustains both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory changes in the levels of certain plasma factors.

Metal-dependent reactions of bulky metal(II) amides M[N(SiMe3)2]2 with 3,3'-disubstituted binaphthols (HO)2C20H10(SiR3)2-3,3': selective conversion of one equivalent -OH group to a silyl ether -OSiMe3.

The outcome of the reaction of the bulky metal(II) amides M[N(SiMe3)2]2. nTHF (M = Be, Zn, Ge, Sn, n = 0; M = Mg, Ca, n = 2) with (R)-3,3'-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,1'-bi-2,2'-naphthol ((R)-1) or (S)-3,3'-bis(dimethylphenylsilyl)-1,1'-bi-2,2'-naphthol ((S)-9) depends on the identity of the metal and the nature of the 3,3'-substituents. When M = Be, Zn, or Ge, these amides serve as useful silylation agents that convert only one of the equivalent hydroxyl groups of the binaphthol (R)-1 to a trimethylsilyl ether, whereas the reactions of (R)-1 with the Mg, Ca, or Sn amides generate a polynuclear complex. The reaction pathway for these interconversions was qualitatively monitored using NMR ((1)H and (9)Be) spectroscopy. Treatment of Ge[N(SiMe3)2] 2 with (S)-9 yields both a silyl ether and the chelated germanium(II) binaphthoxide (S)-[Ge{O2C20H10(SiMe2Ph)2-3,3'}{NH3}], which was structurally characterized.

Acetonitrile-facilitated reductive dimerization of TCNE to octacyanobutanediide, [C4(CN)8]2-, by Iron(II) chloride.

The redox properties of MCl2 (M=Mn, Fe, Co) acetonitrile solvates were electrochemically and spectroscopically characterized. The three voltammogram waves at 0.86, 0.48, and 0.21 V versus SCE for FeCl(2) dissolved in MeCN are assigned as one-electron reduction potentials for [Fe(II)Cl(x)(NCMe)4-x]2-x (1

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of valence ambiguous dinuclear antiferromagnetically coupled cobalt and ferromagnetically coupled iron complexes containing the chloranilate(2-) and the significantly stronger coupling chloranilate(*3-) radical trianion.

Dinuclear [(TPyA)MII(CA2-)MII(TPyA)]2+ [TPyA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; CA2-=chloranilate dianion; M=Co (1(2+)), Fe (2(2+))] complexes have been prepared by the reaction of M(BF4)(2).6H2O, TPyA, H2CA, and triethylamine in MeOH solution. Their reduced forms [(TPyA)MII(CA*3-)MII(TPyA)]+ [M=Co(1+), Fe (2+)] have been synthesized by using cobaltocene, and oxidized forms of 1, [(TPyA)CoIII(CAn)CoIII(TPyA)]z+ [z=3, n=3- (1(3+)); z=4, n=2- (1(4+))], have been obtained by using FcBF4 and ThianBF4 (Fc=ferrocenium; Thian=thianthrinium), respectively. The dinuclear compound bridged chloranilates (CA2- or CA*3-) were isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, magnetism, and EPR spectroscopy. Unlike the other redox products, valence ambiguous 13+ forms via a complex redox-induced valence electron rearrangement whereby the one-electron oxidation of the [CoIICA2-CoII]2+ core forms [CoIIICA*3-CoIII]3+, not the expected simple 1-e- transfer mixed-valent [CoIICA2-CoIII]3+ core. The M ions in 1 and 2 have a distorted octahedral geometry by coordination with four nitrogens of a TPyA, two oxygens of a chloranilate. Due to the interdimer offset face-to-face pi-pi and/or herringbone interactions, all complexes show extended 1-D and/or 2-D supramolecular structures. The existence of CA*3- in 1(3+) is confirmed from both solid-state magnetic and solution EPR data. Co-based 1n+ exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions [1(2+): g=2.24, J/kB=-0.65 K (-0.45 cm-1); 1+: g=2.36, J/kB=-75 K (52 cm-1)], while Fe-based 2n+ exhibit ferromagnetic interactions [2(2+): g=2.08, J/kB=1.0 K (0.70 cm-1); 2+: g=2.03, J/kB=28 K (19 cm-1)] [H=-2JS1.S2 for 12+ and 2(2+); H=-2J(S1.S2+S2.S3) for 1+ and 2+]. Thus, due to direct spin exchange CA*3- is a much strong spin coupling linkage than the superexchange spin-coupling pathway provided by CA2-.