In our efforts to identify novel small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), we conducted a high-throughput radiometric screen for inhibitors of elongation of very long chain fatty acid 1 (ELOVL1) enzyme. We developed a series of highly potent, central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant pyrimidine ether-based compounds with favorable pharmacokinetics culminating in compound 22. Compound 22 is a selective inhibitor of ELOVL1, reducing C26:0 VLCFA synthesis in ALD patient fibroblasts and lymphocytes in vitro. Compound 22 reduced C26:0 lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC), a subtype of VLCFA, in the blood of ATP binding cassette transporter D1 (ABCD1) KO mice, a murine model of ALD to near wild-type levels. Compound 22 is a low-molecular-weight, potent ELOVL1 inhibitor that may serve as a useful tool for exploring therapeutic approaches to the treatment of ALD.
Drug Discovery , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Fatty Acid Elongases/antagonists & inhibitors , Pyrimidines/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Adrenoleukodystrophy/drug therapy , Animals , Biological Availability , Dogs , Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Ethers/chemistry , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Macaca fascicularis , Mice , Pyrimidines/administration & dosage , Pyrimidines/pharmacokinetics , Rats
JNJ-63623872 (2) is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable compound that offers significant potential for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza. Early lead optimization efforts in our 7-azaindole series focused on 1,3-diaminocyclohexyl amide and urea substitutions on the pyrimidine-7-azaindole motif. In this work, we explored two strategies to eliminate observed aldehyde oxidase (AO)-mediated metabolism at the 2-position of these 7-azaindole analogues. Substitution at the 2-position of the azaindole ring generated somewhat less potent analogues, but reduced AO-mediated metabolism. Incorporation of a ring nitrogen generated 7-azaindazole analogues that were equipotent to the parent 2-H-7-azaindole, but surprisingly, did not appear to improve AO-mediated metabolism. Overall, we identified multiple 2-substituted 7-azaindole analogues with enhanced AO stability and we present data for one such compound (12) that demonstrate a favorable oral pharmacokinetic profile in rodents. These analogues have the potential to be further developed as anti-influenza agents for the treatment of influenza.
VX-787 is a first in class, orally bioavailable compound that offers unparalleled potential for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza. As a part of our routine SAR exploration, carboxylic acid isosteres of VX-787 were prepared and tested against influenza A. It was found that the negative charge is important for maintaining potency and selectivity relative to kinase targets. Neutral carboxylic acid replacements generally resulted in compounds that were significantly less potent and less selective relative to the charged species.
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Aza Compounds/pharmacology , Indoles/pharmacology , Influenza A virus/drug effects , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Viral Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Antiviral Agents/chemical synthesis , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Aza Compounds/chemistry , Carboxylic Acids/chemistry , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Indoles/chemical synthesis , Indoles/chemistry , Influenza A virus/enzymology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Molecular Structure , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Pyridines , Pyrimidines , Pyrroles , Structure-Activity Relationship , Viral Proteins/metabolism
In our effort to develop agents for the treatment of influenza, a phenotypic screening approach utilizing a cell protection assay identified a series of azaindole based inhibitors of the cap-snatching function of the PB2 subunit of the influenza A viral polymerase complex. Using a bDNA viral replication assay (Wagaman, P. C., Leong, M. A., and Simmen, K. A. Development of a novel influenza A antiviral assay. J. Virol. Methods 2002, 105, 105-114) in cells as a direct measure of antiviral activity, we discovered a set of cyclohexyl carboxylic acid analogues, highlighted by VX-787 (2). Compound 2 shows strong potency versus multiple influenza A strains, including pandemic 2009 H1N1 and avian H5N1 flu strains, and shows an efficacy profile in a mouse influenza model even when treatment was administered 48 h after infection. Compound 2 represents a first-in-class, orally bioavailable, novel compound that offers potential for the treatment of both pandemic and seasonal influenza and has a distinct advantage over the current standard of care treatments including potency, efficacy, and extended treatment window.
Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Aza Compounds/chemistry , Indoles/chemistry , RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/antagonists & inhibitors , Viral Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Administration, Oral , Animals , Antiviral Agents/chemical synthesis , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Aza Compounds/chemical synthesis , Aza Compounds/pharmacology , Biological Availability , Dogs , Drug Resistance, Viral , Indoles/chemical synthesis , Indoles/pharmacology , Influenza A virus/drug effects , Influenza A virus/physiology , Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells , Male , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Models, Molecular , Molecular Structure , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/drug therapy , Rats , Species Specificity , Stereoisomerism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Virus Replication/drug effects
