Discovery of novel aminoquinazolin-7-yl 6,7-dihydro-indol-4-ones as potent, selective inhibitors of heat shock protein 90.

A novel class of Hsp90 inhibitors, structurally distinct from previously reported scaffolds, was developed from rational design and optimization of a compound library screen hit. These aminoquinazoline derivatives, represented by compound 15 (SNX-6833) or 1-(2-amino-4-methylquinazolin-7-yl)-3,6,6-trimethyl-6,7-dihydro-1H-indol-4(5H)-one, selectively bind to Hsp90 and inhibit its cellular activities at concentrations as low as single digit nanomolar.

Brain-permeable small-molecule inhibitors of Hsp90 prevent alpha-synuclein oligomer formation and rescue alpha-synuclein-induced toxicity.

Aggregation of alpha-synuclein (alphasyn) is a hallmark of sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies contain alphasyn and several heat shock proteins (Hsp), a family of molecular chaperones up-regulated by the cell under stress. We have previously shown that direct expression of Hsp70 and pharmacological up-regulation of Hsp70 by geldanamycin, an Hsp90 inhibitor, are protective against alphasyn-induced toxicity and prevent aggregation in culture. Here, we use a novel protein complementation assay to screen a series of small-molecule Hsp90 inhibitors for their ability to prevent alphasyn oligomerization and rescue toxicity. By use of this assay, we found that several compounds prevented alphasyn oligomerization as measured by decreased luciferase activity, led to a reduction in high-molecular-mass oligomeric alphasyn, and protected against alphasyn cytotoxicity. A lead compound, SNX-0723 (2-fluoro-6-[(3S)-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylamino]-4-(3,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indol-1-yl)benzamide) was determined to have an EC(50) for inhibition of alphasyn oligomerization of approximately 48 nM and was able to rescue alphasyn-induced toxicity. In vivo assessment of SNX-0723 showed significant brain concentrations along with induction of brain Hsp70. With a low EC(50), brain permeability, and oral availability, these novel inhibitors represent an exciting new therapeutic strategy for PD.

Discovery of highly selective inhibitors of p38alpha.

The p38 MAP kinases are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that play a key role in cellular pathways leading to pro-inflammatory responses. We have developed and implemented a method for rapidly identifying and optimizing potent and selective p38alpha inhibitors, which is amenable to other targets and target classes. A diverse library of druggable, purified and quantitated molecules was assembled and standardized enzymatic assays were performed in a microfluidic format that provided very accurate and precise inhibition data allowing for development of SAR directly from the primary HTS. All compounds were screened against a collection of more than 60 enzymes (kinases, proteases and phosphatases), allowing for removal of promiscuous and non-selective inhibitors very early in the discovery process. Follow-up enzymological studies included measurement of concentration of compound in buffer, yielding accurate determination of K(i) and IC50 values, as well as mechanism of action. In addition, active compounds were screened against less desirable properties such as inhibition of the enzyme activity by aggregation, irreversible binding, and time-dependence. Screening of an 88,634-compound library through the above-described process led to the rapid identification of multiple scaffolds (>5 active compounds per scaffold) of potential drug leads for p38alpha that are highly selective against all other enzymes tested, including the three other p38 isoforms. Potency and selectivity data allowed prioritization of the identified scaffolds for optimization. Herein we present results around our 3-thio-1,2,4-triazole lead series of p38- selective inhibitors, including identification, SAR, synthesis, selectivity profile, enzymatic and cellular data in their progression towards drug candidates.

The TNF superfamily is on the TRAIL to BlyS.

Highlights of the 9th (Biennial) International Congress on TNF-Related Cytokines (30 October-2 November 2002; The Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA, USA.

Application of chemoproteomics to drug discovery: identification of a clinical candidate targeting hsp90.

A chemoproteomics-based drug discovery strategy is presented that utilizes a highly parallel screening platform, encompassing more than 1000 targets, with a focused chemical library prior to target selection. This chemoproteomics-based process enables a data-driven selection of both the biological target and chemical hit after the screen is complete. The methodology has been exemplified for the purine binding proteome (proteins utilizing ATP, NAD, FAD). Screening of an 8000 member library yielded over 1500 unique protein-ligand interactions, which included novel hits for the oncology target Hsp90. The approach, which also provides broad target selectivity information, was used to drive the identification of a potent and orally active Hsp90 inhibitor, SNX-5422, which is currently in phase 1 clinical studies.

Discovery of novel 2-aminobenzamide inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 as potent, selective and orally active antitumor agents.

A novel class of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors was developed from an unbiased screen to identify protein targets for a diverse compound library. These indol-4-one and indazol-4-one derived 2-aminobenzamides showed strong binding affinity to Hsp90, and optimized analogues exhibited nanomolar antiproliferative activity across multiple cancer cell lines. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) induction and specific client protein degradation in cells on treatment with the inhibitors supported Hsp90 inhibition as the mechanism of action. Computational chemistry and X-ray crystallographic analysis of selected member compounds clearly defined the protein-inhibitor interaction and assisted the design of analogues. 4-[6,6-Dimethyl-4-oxo-3-(trifluoromethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl]-2-[(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino]benzamide (SNX-2112, 9) was identified as highly selective and potent (IC(50) Her2 = 11 nM, HT-29 = 3 nM); its prodrug amino-acetic acid 4-[2-carbamoyl-5-(6,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-3-trifluoromethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-phenylamino]-cyclohexyl ester methanesulfonate (SNX-5422, 10) was orally bioavailable and efficacious in a broad range of xenograft tumor models (e.g. 67% growth delay in a HT-29 model) and is now in multiple phase I clinical trials.

Small molecule inhibitors of Hsp90 potently affect inflammatory disease pathways and exhibit activity in models of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of SNX-7081, a novel small molecule inhibitor of Hsp90, to block components of inflammation, including cytokine production, protein kinase activity, and angiogenic signaling. A close analog was evaluated in preclinical in vivo models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: SNX-7081 binding to Hsp90 was characterized in Jurkat cells and RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Inhibition of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was evaluated in cellular systems, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha, or interleukin-1beta stimulation. Suppression of cytokine production in THP-1 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and RASFs was studied. Disruption of MAPK signaling cascades by SNX-7081 following growth factor stimulation was assessed. SNX-7081 was tested in 2 relevant angiogenesis assays: platelet-derived growth factor activation of fibroblasts and LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) release in J774 macrophages. A close analog, SNX-4414, was evaluated in rat collagen-induced arthritis and adjuvant-induced arthritis, following oral treatment. RESULTS: SNX-7081 showed strong binding affinity to Hsp90 and expected induction of Hsp70. NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was blocked by SNX-7081 at nanomolar concentrations, and cytokine production was potently inhibited. Growth factor activation of ERK and JNK signaling was significantly reduced by SNX-7081. NO production was also sharply inhibited. In animal models, SNX-4414 fully inhibited paw swelling and improved body weight. Scores for inflammation, pannus formation, cartilage damage, and bone resorption returned to normal. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that a small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor can impact inflammatory disease processes. The strong in vivo efficacy observed with SNX-4414 provides preclinical validation for consideration of Hsp90 inhibitors in the treatment of RA.

Dominant-negative inhibitors of soluble TNF attenuate experimental arthritis without suppressing innate immunity to infection.

TNF is a pleiotropic cytokine required for normal development and function of the immune system; however, TNF overexpression also induces inflammation and is associated with autoimmune diseases. TNF exists as both a soluble and a transmembrane protein. Genetic studies in mice have suggested that inflammation in disease models involves soluble TNF (solTNF) and that maintenance of innate immune function involves transmembrane TNF (tmTNF). These findings imply that selective pharmacologic inhibition of solTNF may be anti-inflammatory and yet preserve innate immunity to infection. To address this hypothesis, we now describe dominant-negative inhibitors of TNF (DN-TNFs) as a new class of biologics that selectively inhibits solTNF. DN-TNFs blocked solTNF activity in human and mouse cells, a human blood cytokine release assay, and two mouse arthritis models. In contrast, DN-TNFs neither inhibited the activity of human or mouse tmTNF nor suppressed innate immunity to Listeria infection in mice. These results establish DN-TNFs as the first selective inhibitors of solTNF, demonstrate that inflammation in mouse arthritis models is primarily driven by solTNF, and suggest that the maintenance of tmTNF activity may improve the therapeutic index of future anti-inflammatory agents.

Presence of cathepsin B in the human pancreatic secretory pathway and its role in trypsinogen activation during hereditary pancreatitis.

The lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B is thought to play a central role in intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation and the onset of experimental pancreatitis. Recent in vitro studies have suggested that this mechanism might be of pathophysiological relevance in hereditary pancreatitis, a human inborn disorder associated with mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene. In the present study evidence is presented that cathepsin B is abundantly present in the secretory compartment of the human exocrine pancreas, as judged by immunogold electron microscopy. Moreover, pro-cathepsin B and mature cathepsin B are both secreted together with trypsinogen and active trypsin into the pancreatic juice of patients with sporadic pancreatitis or hereditary pancreatitis. Finally, cathepsin B- catalyzed activation of recombinant human cationic trypsinogen with hereditary pancreatitis-associated mutations N29I, N29T, or R122H were characterized. In contrast to a previous report, cathepsin B-mediated activation of wild type and all three mutant trypsinogen forms was essentially identical under a wide range of experimental conditions. These observations confirm the presence of active cathepsin B in the human pancreatic secretory pathway and are consistent with the notion that cathepsin B-mediated trypsinogen activation might play a pathogenic role in human pancreatitis. On the other hand, the results clearly demonstrate that hereditary pancreatitis-associated mutations do not lead to increased or decreased trypsinogen activation by cathepsin B. Therefore, mutation-dependent alterations in cathepsin B-induced trypsinogen activation are not the cause of hereditary pancreatitis.

Inactivation of TNF signaling by rationally designed dominant-negative TNF variants.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key regulator of inflammatory responses and has been implicated in many pathological conditions. We used structure-based design to engineer variant TNF proteins that rapidly form heterotrimers with native TNF to give complexes that neither bind to nor stimulate signaling through TNF receptors. Thus, TNF is inactivated by sequestration. Dominant-negative TNFs represent a possible approach to anti-inflammatory biotherapeutics, and experiments in animal models show that the strategy can attenuate TNF-mediated pathology. Similar rational design could be used to engineer inhibitors of additional TNF superfamily cytokines as well as other multimeric ligands.