Discovery of the Potent and Selective ATR Inhibitor Camonsertib (RP-3500).

ATR is a key kinase in the DNA-damage response (DDR) that is synthetic lethal with several other DDR proteins, making it an attractive target for the treatment of genetically selected solid tumors. Herein we describe the discovery of a novel ATR inhibitor guided by a pharmacophore model to position a key hydrogen bond. Optimization was driven by potency and selectivity over the related kinase mTOR, resulting in the identification of camonsertib (RP-3500) with high potency and excellent ADME properties. Preclinical evaluation focused on the impact of camonsertib on myelosuppression, and an exploration of intermittent dosing schedules to allow recovery of the erythroid compartment and mitigate anemia. Camonsertib is currently undergoing clinical evaluation both as a single agent and in combination with talazoparib, olaparib, niraparib, lunresertib, or gemcitabine (NCT04497116, NCT04972110, NCT04855656). A preliminary recommended phase 2 dose for monotherapy was identified as 160 mg QD given 3 days/week.

Discovery of NXT-10796, an orally active, intestinally restricted EP4 agonist prodrug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

A property-focused optimization strategy was employed to modify the carboxylic acid head group of a class of EP4 agonists in order to minimize its absorption upon oral administration. The resulting oxalic acid monohydrazide-derived carboxylate isostere demonstrated utility as a class of prodrug showing colon-targeted delivery of parent agonist 2, with minimal exposure observed in the plasma. Oral administration of NXT-10796 demonstrated tissue specific activation of the EP4 receptor through modulation of immune genes in the colon, without modulation of EP4 driven biomarkers in the plasma compartment. Although further in depth understanding of the conversion of NXT-10796 is required for further assessment of the developability of this series of prodrugs, using NXT-10796 as a tool molecule has allowed us to confirm that tissue-specific modulation of an EP4-modulated gene signature is possible, which allows for further evaluation of this therapeutic modality in rodent models of human disease.

Identification of RP-6685, an Orally Bioavailable Compound that Inhibits the DNA Polymerase Activity of Polθ.

DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) is an attractive synthetic lethal target for drug discovery, predicted to be efficacious against breast and ovarian cancers harboring BRCA-mutant alleles. Here, we describe our hit-to-lead efforts in search of a selective inhibitor of human Polθ (encoded by POLQ). A high-throughput screening campaign of 350,000 compounds identified an 11 micromolar hit, giving rise to the N2-substituted fused pyrazolo series, which was validated by biophysical methods. Structure-based drug design efforts along with optimization of cellular potency and ADME ultimately led to the identification of RP-6685: a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable Polθ inhibitor that showed in vivo efficacy in an HCT116 BRCA2-/- mouse tumor xenograft model.

Novel pyridone EP4 agonists featuring allylic alcohol ω-chains.

Novel prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) agonists featuring a pyridone core and an allylic alcohol ω-chain were discovered. These agonists were shown to be selective over EP1, EP2 and EP3. Analogs harboring a 4-carboxylic acid phenethyl α-chain displayed improved potency over those containing an n-heptanoic acid chain. Key SAR relationships were also identified.

Discovery of a 4-aryloxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine and a 1-aryloxyisoquinoline series of TRPA1 antagonists.

A series of TRPA1 antagonists is described having a 4-aryloxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine or a 1-aryloxyisoquinoline scaffold. These compounds have high ligand efficiency and favorable physical properties and may thus serve as scaffolds for further optimization.

Discovery of MK-1439, an orally bioavailable non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor potent against a wide range of resistant mutant HIV viruses.

The optimization of a novel series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) led to the identification of pyridone 36. In cell cultures, this new NNRTI shows a superior potency profile against a range of wild type and clinically relevant, resistant mutant HIV viruses. The overall favorable preclinical pharmacokinetic profile of 36 led to the prediction of a once daily low dose regimen in human. NNRTI 36, now known as MK-1439, is currently in clinical development for the treatment of HIV infection.

Silver ion-induced Grob fragmentation of gamma-amino iodides: highly stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted piperidines.

A new concerted silver ion-mediated Grob fragmentation process is described in which a 1,2-dihydropyridinium ion is formed and trapped in situ with Grignard reagents in a highly regio- and diastereoselective fashion. Using this methodology, 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines were synthesized in good yields and further derivatized to polysubstituted indolizidine.

Unexpected intermolecular pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction employing heteroaromatic carboxylic acids as coupling partners.

Aryl-substituted five-membered heteroaromatics have attracted great interest over the past years due to their presence in a large number of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Recently, an advance in the preparation of these scaffolds was achieved by employing a C-H functionalization strategy. This method allows easy access to these biaryl motifs by precluding the necessity of preparing specific coupling partners, although poor regioselectivity is sometimes observed when more than one reactive C-H is present on the substrate. In an effort to circumvent this liability, we envisioned the use of a carboxylic acid moiety as a blocking group that could be later functionalized or removed. Remarkably, the coupling was found to occur exclusively at the position previously occupied by the acid, even in the presence of a reactive C-H group. This selective transformation was also found to proceed with other heteroaromatic carboxylic acids, allowing for the preparation of a variety of aryl-substituted heteroaromatics that would be difficult to obtain via other methods.

Practical and efficient multigram preparation of a camphor-derived diol for the enantioselective Lewis acid catalyzed allylboration of aldehydes.

[reaction: see text] Chiral diols are important molecules with widespread use as chiral auxiliaries and ligands in enantioselective synthesis. Therefore, efficient and practical syntheses of highly dissymmetrical nonracemic diols are still a meaningful pursuit. Two new routes to access camphor-derived chiral diol 1 have been developed. One route employs camphorquinone (3) as the starting material, affording in only two steps the desired diol in 55% overall yield. The second route, from camphor (2), leads to the desired diol in an efficient four-step synthesis, with an overall yield of 55%.