ABSTRACT
A novel series of highly potent and selective p38 MAP kinase inhibitors was developed originating from a substituted N-aryl-6-pyrimidinone scaffold. SAR studies coupled with in vivo evaluations in rat arthritis model culminated in the identification of 10 with excellent oral efficacy. Compound 10 exhibited a significantly enhanced dissolution rate compared to 1, translating to a high oral bioavailability (>90%) in rat. In animal studies 10 inhibited LPS-stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor-α in a dose-dependent manner and demonstrated robust efficacy comparable to dexamethasone in a rat streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model.
Subject(s)
Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Pyrimidinones/therapeutic use , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Administration, Oral , Animals , Arthritis/drug therapy , Arthritis, Experimental , Caco-2 Cells , Crystallography, X-Ray , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Male , Models, Molecular , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Pyrimidinones/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Inbred Lew , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
A series of N-aryl pyridinone inhibitors of p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase were designed and prepared based on the screening hit SC-25028 (1) and structural comparisons to VX-745 (5). The focus of the investigation targeted the dependence of potency and metabolic stability on the benzyloxy connectivity, the role of the C-6 position and the substitution pattern on the N-phenyl ring. Further optimization produced the highly selective and potent pyridinones 2 and 3. These inhibitors exhibited activity in both acute and chronic models of inflammation.
Subject(s)
Drug Design , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Pyridones/chemical synthesis , Pyridones/pharmacology , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Male , Microsomes, Liver/enzymology , Molecular Structure , Pyridazines/chemistry , Pyridazines/pharmacology , Pyridones/chemistry , Pyrimidines/chemistry , Pyrimidines/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
The synthesis and SAR studies of a novel N-aryl pyridinone class of p38 kinase inhibitors are described. Systematic structural modifications to the HTS lead, 5, led to the identification of (-)-4a as a clinical candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Additionally, the chiral synthesis and properties of (-)-4a are described.
Subject(s)
Benzamides/chemical synthesis , Benzamides/pharmacology , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Pyrones/chemical synthesis , Pyrones/pharmacology , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Benzamides/chemistry , Disease Models, Animal , Dogs , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Macaca fascicularis , Male , Molecular Structure , Pyridones , Pyrones/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Structure-Activity Relationship , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/chemistry , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The identification and evolution of a series of potent and selective p38 inhibitors is described. p38 inhibitors based on a N-benzyl pyridinone high-throughput screening hit were prepared and their SAR explored. Their design was guided by ligand bound co-crystals of p38alpha. These efforts resulted in the identification of 12r and 19 as orally active inhibitors of p38 with significant efficacy in both acute and chronic models of inflammation.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Pyridones/chemistry , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Administration, Oral , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacokinetics , Binding Sites , Catalytic Domain , Crystallography, X-Ray , Drug Discovery , Humans , JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Male , Microsomes, Liver/metabolism , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Pyridones/chemical synthesis , Pyridones/pharmacokinetics , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Structure-Activity Relationship , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolismABSTRACT
The integrin alpha(v)beta(3), vitronectin receptor, is expressed in a number of cell types and has been shown to mediate adhesion of osteoclasts to bone matrix, vascular smooth muscle cell migration, and angiogenesis. We recently disclosed the discovery of a tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) mimic, which has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of the integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and has excellent anti-angiogenic properties including its suppression of tumor growth in animal models. In other investigations involving RGD mimics, only compounds containing the S-isomers of the beta-amino acids have been shown to be potent. We were surprised to find the potencies of analogs containing enantiomerically pure S-isomers of beta-amino acids which were only marginally better than the corresponding racemic mixtures. We therefore synthesized RGD mimics containing R-isomers of beta-amino acids and found them to be relatively potent inhibitors of alpha(v)beta(3). One of the compounds was examined in tumor models in mice and has been shown to significantly reduce the rate of growth and the size of tumors.