In vitro pharmacological profile of PHA-022121, a small molecule bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist in clinical development.

PHA-022121 is a novel small molecule bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, in clinical development for the treatment and prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks. The present study describes the in vitro pharmacological characteristics of PHA-022121 and its active metabolite, PHA-022484 (M2-D). In mammalian cell lines, PHA-022121 and PHA-022484 show high affinity for the recombinant human bradykinin B2 receptor with Ki values of 0.47 and 0.70 nM, respectively, and potent antagonism of the human bradykinin B2 receptor with Kb values of 0.15 and 0.26 nM, respectively (calcium mobilization assay). Antagonist potency at the recombinant cynomolgus monkey bradykinin B2 receptor is similarly high (Kb values of 1.42 and 1.12 nM for PHA-022121 and PHA-022484, respectively), however, potency at rat, mouse, rabbit and dog bradykinin B2 receptors is at least 100-fold lower than the potency at the human receptor for both compounds. In the human umbilical vein contractility assay, both PHA-022121 and PHA-022484 show a potent, surmountable and reversible B2 antagonist activity with pA2 values of 0.35 and 0.47 nM, respectively. The in vitro off-target profile of PHA-022121 and PHA-022484 demonstrates a high degree of selectivity over a wide range of molecular targets, including the bradykinin B1 receptor. It is concluded that PHA-022121 is a novel, low-molecular weight, competitive antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor with high affinity, high antagonist potency, and high selectivity. It is about 20-fold more potent than icatibant at the human bradykinin B2 receptor as assessed using recombinant or endogenously expressed receptors.

An ADH toolbox for raspberry ketone production from natural resources via a biocatalytic cascade.

Raspberry ketone is a widely used flavor compound in food and cosmetic industry. Several processes for its biocatalytic production have already been described, but either with the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or incomplete conversion of the variety of precursors that are available in nature. Such natural precursors are rhododendrol glycosides with different proportions of (R)- and (S)-rhododendrol depending on the origin. After hydrolysis of these rhododendrol glycosides, the formed rhododendrol enantiomers have to be oxidized to obtain the final product raspberry ketone. To be able to achieve a high conversion with different starting material, we assembled an alcohol dehydrogenase toolbox that can be accessed depending on the optical purity of the intermediate rhododendrol. This is demonstrated by converting racemic rhododendrol using a combination of (R)- and (S)-selective alcohol dehydrogenases together with a universal cofactor recycling system. Furthermore, we conducted a biocatalytic cascade reaction starting from naturally derived rhododendrol glycosides by the use of a glucosidase and an alcohol dehydrogenase to produce raspberry ketone in high yield. KEY POINTS: • LB-ADH, LK-ADH and LS-ADH oxidize (R)-rhododendrol • RR-ADH and ADH1E oxidize (S)-rhododendrol • Raspberry ketone production via glucosidase and alcohol dehydrogenases from a toolbox.

In Vitro Pharmacological Profile of a New Small Molecule Bradykinin B2 Receptor Antagonist.

We here report the discovery and early characterization of Compound 3, a representative of a novel class of small molecule bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor antagonists, and its superior profile to the prior art B2 receptor antagonists Compound 1 and Compound 2. Compound 3, Compound 2, and Compound 1 are highly potent antagonists of the human recombinant B2 receptor (Kb values 0.24, 0.95, and 1.24 nM, respectively, calcium mobilization assay). Compound 3 is more potent than the prior art compounds and icatibant in this assay (Kb icatibant 2.81 nM). The compounds also potently inhibit BK-induced contraction of endogenous B2 receptors in a human isolated umbilical vein bioassay. The potencies of Compound 3, Compound 2, Compound 1, and icatibant are (pA2 values) 9.67, 9.02, 8.58, and 8.06 (i.e. 0.21, 0.95, 2.63, and 8.71 nM), respectively. Compound 3 and Compound 2 were further characterized. They inhibit BK-induced c-Fos signaling and internalization of recombinant human B2 receptors in HEK293 cells, and do not antagonize the venous effects mediated by other G protein-coupled receptors in the umbilical vein model, including the bradykinin B1 receptor. Antagonist potency of Compound 3 at cloned cynomolgus monkey, dog, rat, and mouse B2 receptors revealed species selectivity, with a high antagonist potency for human and monkey B2 receptors, but several hundred-fold lower potency for the other B2 receptors. The in vitro off-target profile of Compound 3 demonstrates a high degree of selectivity over a wide range of molecular targets, including the bradykinin B1 receptor. Compound 3 showed a lower intrinsic clearance in the microsomal stability assay than the prior art compounds. With an efflux ratio of 1.0 in the Caco-2 permeability assay Compound 3 is predicted to be not a substrate of efflux pumps. In conclusion, we discovered a novel chemical class of highly selective and very potent B2 receptor antagonists, as exemplified by Compound 3. The compound showed excellent absorption in the Caco-2 assay, predictive of good oral bioavailability, and favourable metabolic stability in liver microsomes. Compound 3 has provided a significant stepping stone towards the discovery of the orally bioavailable B2 antagonist PHA-022121, currently in phase 1 clinical development.