A covalent fragment-based strategy targeting a novel cysteine to inhibit activity of mutant EGFR kinase.

Several generations of ATP-competitive anti-cancer drugs that inhibit the activity of the intracellular kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been developed over the past twenty years. The first-generation of drugs such as gefitinib bind reversibly and were followed by a second-generation such as dacomitinib that harbor an acrylamide moiety that forms a covalent bond with C797 in the ATP binding pocket. Resistance emerges through mutation of the T790 gatekeeper residue to methionine, which introduces steric hindrance to drug binding and increases the Km for ATP. A third generation of drugs, such as osimertinib were developed which were effective against T790M EGFR in which an acrylamide moiety forms a covalent bond with C797, although resistance has emerged by mutation to S797. A fragment-based screen to identify new starting points for an EGFR inhibitor serendipitously identified a fragment that reacted with C775, a previously unexploited residue in the ATP binding pocket for a covalent inhibitor to target. A number of acrylamide containing fragments were identified that selectively reacted with C775. One of these acrylamides was optimized to a highly selective inhibitor with sub-1 µM activity, that is active against T790M, C797S mutant EGFR independent of ATP concentration, providing a potential new strategy for pan-EGFR mutant inhibition.

A novel Menin-MLL1 inhibitor, DS-1594a, prevents the progression of acute leukemia with rearranged MLL1 or mutated NPM1.

BACKGROUND: Mixed lineage leukemia 1-rearranged (MLL1-r) acute leukemia patients respond poorly to currently available treatments and there is a need to develop more effective therapies directly disrupting the Menin‒MLL1 complex. Small-molecule-mediated inhibition of the protein‒protein interaction between Menin and MLL1 fusion proteins is a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with MLL1-r or mutated-nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1c) acute leukemia. In this study, we preclinically evaluated the new compound DS-1594a and its salts. METHODS: We evaluated the preclinical efficacy of DS-1594a as well as DS-1594a·HCl (the HCl salt of DS-1594a) and DS-1594a·succinate (the succinic acid salt of DS-1594a, DS-1594b) in vitro and in vivo using acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) models. RESULTS: Our results showed that MLL1-r or NPM1c human leukemic cell lines were selectively and highly sensitive to DS-1594a·HCl, with 50% growth inhibition values < 30 nM. Compared with cytrabine, the standard chemotherapy drug as AML therapy, both DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate mediated the eradication of potential leukemia-initiating cells by enhancing differentiation and reducing serial colony-forming potential in MLL1-r AML cells in vitro. The results were confirmed by flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, RT‒qPCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses. DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate exhibited significant antitumor efficacy and survival benefit in MOLM-13 cell and patient-derived xenograft models of MLL1-r or NPM1c acute leukemia in vivo. CONCLUSION: We have generated a novel, potent, orally available small-molecule inhibitor of the Menin-MLL1 interaction, DS-1594a. Our results suggest that DS-1594a has medicinal properties distinct from those of cytarabine and that DS-1594a has the potential to be a new anticancer therapy and support oral dosing regimen for clinical studies (NCT04752163).

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines as IKKß inhibitors. Part 3: exploration of effective compounds in arthritis models.

We have discovered imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives that show suppressive activity of inflammation in arthritis models. We optimized the substructures of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives to combine potent IKKß inhibitory activity, TNFα inhibitory activity in vivo and excellent pharmacokinetics. The compound we have acquired, which had both potent activities and good pharmacokinetic profiles based on improved physicochemical properties, demonstrated efficacy on collagen-induced arthritis models in mice and rats.

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines as IKKß inhibitors. Part 2: improvement of potency in vitro and in vivo.

We have increased the potency of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as IKKß inhibitors with two strategies. One is to enhance the activity in cell-based assay by adjusting the polarity of molecules to improve permeability. Another is to increase the affinity for IKKß by the introduction of additional substituents based on the hypothesis derived from an interaction model study. These improved compounds showed inhibitory activity of TNFα production in mice.

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates using an aqueous solution of formaldehyde with a chiral scandium complex.

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates has been achieved. In this reaction, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde can be used to realize an easy and safe procedure, and high enantioselectivities have been obtained. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric reactions in aqueous media with a chiral scandium complex.