N-substituted azaindoles as potent inhibitors of Cdc7 kinase.

Cdc7 kinase is responsible for the initiation and regulation of DNA replication and has been proposed as a target for cancer therapy. We have identified a class of Cdc7 inhibitors based on a substituted indole core. Synthesis of focused indole and azaindole analogs yielded potent and selective 5-azaindole Cdc7 inhibitors with improved intrinsic metabolic stability (ie 36). In parallel, quantum mechanical conformational analysis helped to rationalize SAR observations, led to a proposal of the preferred binding conformation in the absence of co-crystallography data, and allowed the design of 7-azaindole 37 as a second lead in this series.

Novel 5- and 6-subtituted benzothiazoles with improved physicochemical properties: potent S1P1 agonists with in vivo lymphocyte-depleting activity.

An SAR campaign designed to increase polarity in the 'tail' region of benzothiazole 1 resulted in two series of structurally novel 5-and 6-substituted S1P(1) agonists. Structural optimization for potency ultimately delivered carboxamide (+)-11f, which in addition to possessing improved physicochemical properties relative to starting benzothiazole 1, also displayed good S1P(3) selectivity and acceptable in vivo lymphocyte-depleting activity.

Isoform-selective thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine S1P1 agonists possessing acyclic amino carboxylate head-groups.

Replacement of the azetidine carboxylate of an S1P(1) agonist development candidate, AMG 369, with a range of acyclic head-groups led to the identification of a novel, S1P(3)-sparing S1P(1) agonist, (-)-2-amino-4-(3-fluoro-4-(5-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-2-methylbutanoic acid (8c), which possessed good in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties. A 0.3mg/kg oral dose of 8c produced a statistically significant reduction in blood lymphocyte counts 24h post-dosing in female Lewis rats.

Structure-guided design of substituted aza-benzimidazoles as potent hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha prolyl hydroxylase-2 inhibitors.

We report the structure-based design and synthesis of a novel series of aza-benzimidazoles as PHD2 inhibitors. These efforts resulted in compound 22, which displayed highly potent inhibition of PHD2 function in vitro.

New 'chemical probes' to examine the role of the hFPRL1 (or ALXR) receptor in inflammation.

We report the development of the novel N-substituted benzimidazole 11 as a potent and selective human formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (hFPRL1) agonist. This compound and its less active enantiomer 12 were identified as useful tools for studying receptor function in vitro.

Impact of glycation on antibody clearance.

Glycation of therapeutic proteins occurs during mammalian cell culture expression and upon administration to patients. Since the chemical attachment of mannose or other sugars via a chemical linker has been shown to increase a protein's clearance rate in mice through the mannose receptor, we explored the effect of mannose glycation on the clearance of an IgG in mice. An IgG decorated with high levels of mannose (~18 mol/mol protein) through glycation did not clear faster in mice than the underivatized protein, whereas the same IgG decorated with mannose attached in a way to maintain the normal glycosidic bond (2-imino-2-methoxyethyl-1-thiomannoside, or IMT-mannose) at similar derivatization levels cleared significantly faster. Surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that the IgG derivatized with IMT-mannose bound tightly to the mannose receptor (KD = 20 nM) but the IgG glycated with mannose did not bind. These results indicate that glycation, even at unnaturally elevated levels, does not appear to be a clearance concern for therapeutic proteins.

Optimization of a Potent, Orally Active S1P1 Agonist Containing a Quinolinone Core.

The optimization of a series of S1P1 agonists with limited activity against S1P3 is reported. A polar headgroup was used to improve the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of lead quinolinone 6. When dosed orally at 1 and 3 mg/kg, the azahydroxymethyl analogue 22 achieved statistically significant lowering of circulating blood lymphocytes 24 h postdose. In rats, a dose-proportional increase in exposure was measured when 22 was dosed orally at 2 and 100 mg/kg.

Discovery of a Potent, S1P3-Sparing Benzothiazole Agonist of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 (S1P1).

Optimization of a benzofuranyl S1P1 agonist lead compound (3) led to the discovery of 1-(3-fluoro-4-(5-(2-fluorobenzyl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)benzyl)azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (14), a potent S1P1 agonist with minimal activity at S1P3. Dosed orally at 0.3 mg/kg, 14 significantly reduced blood lymphocyte counts 24 h postdose and attenuated a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to antigen challenge.

Discovery of AMG 369, a Thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine Agonist of S1P1 and S1P5.

The optimization of a series of thiazolopyridine S1P1 agonists with limited activity at the S1P3 receptor is reported. These efforts resulted in the discovery of 1-(3-fluoro-4-(5-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)thiazolo-[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)benzyl)azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (5d, AMG 369), a potent dual S1P1/S1P5 agonist with limited activity at S1P3 and no activity at S1P2/S1P4. Dosed orally at 0.1 mg/kg, 5d is shown to reduce blood lymphocyte counts 24 h postdose and delay the onset and reduce the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rat.

Potent hFPRL1 (ALXR) agonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

We report the discovery of potent agonists for the human formyl-peptide-like 1 receptor (hFPRL1). These compounds did not act at a closely related receptor denoted human formyl peptide receptor (hFPR) up to 10 microM concentration. Recent studies have indicated that agonizing this receptor may promote resolution of inflammation. In an exploratory study, a novel hFPRL1 agonist showed efficacy in a mouse ear inflammation model following oral administration.

A soluble base for the copper-catalyzed imidazole N-arylations with aryl halides.

[reaction: see text] CuI-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl bromides has been achieved in a near-homogeneous system that utilizes tetraethylammonium carbonate as base, 8-hydroxyquinoline as ligand, and H2O as cosolvent. Preliminary results with aryl chlorides are also reported.