Optimization of Selectivity and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Salt-Inducible Kinase Inhibitors that Led to the Discovery of Pan-SIK Inhibitor GLPG3312.

Salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) SIK1, SIK2, and SIK3 are serine/threonine kinases and form a subfamily of the protein kinase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family. Inhibition of SIKs in stimulated innate immune cells and mouse models has been associated with a dual mechanism of action consisting of a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase of immunoregulatory cytokine production, suggesting a therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases. Following a high-throughput screening campaign, subsequent hit to lead optimization through synthesis, structure-activity relationship, kinome selectivity, and pharmacokinetic investigations led to the discovery of clinical candidate GLPG3312 (compound 28), a potent and selective pan-SIK inhibitor (IC50: 2.0 nM for SIK1, 0.7 nM for SIK2, and 0.6 nM for SIK3). Characterization of the first human SIK3 crystal structure provided an understanding of the binding mode and kinome selectivity of the chemical series. GLPG3312 demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities in vitro in human primary myeloid cells and in vivo in mouse models.

Discovery and structural diversity of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease inhibitor series leading to clinical candidate IDX320.

Exploration of the P2 region by mimicking the proline motif found in BILN2061 resulted in the discovery of two series of potent HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors. X-ray crystal structure of the ligand in contact with the NS3/4A protein and modulation of the quinoline heterocyclic region by structure based design and modeling allowed for the optimization of enzyme potency and cellular activity. This research led to the selection of clinical candidate IDX320 having good genotype coverage and pharmacokinetic properties in various species.

Synthesis of dihydrophenanthridines by a sequence of Ugi-4CR and palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H functionalization.

BACKGROUND: Small polyfunctionalized heterocyclic compounds play important roles in the drug discovery process and in the isolation and structural identification of biological macromolecules. It is expected that ready access to diverse sets of heterocycles can not only help improving the known biological and pharmacokinetic properties of drugs, but also assist the discovery of molecules that exhibit biological effects beyond those associated with previously known macromolecules. By virtue of their inherent convergence, high productivity, their exploratory and complexity-generating power, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are undoubtedly well suited for creating molecular diversity. The combination of MCRs with an efficient post-functionalization reaction has proven to be an efficient strategy to increase the skeleton diversity. RESULTS: The Ugi reaction of an o-iodobenzaldehyde (2), an aniline (3), an isocyanide (4), and a carboxylic acid (5) afforded alpha-acetamido-alpha-phenylacetamide (6) in good to excellent yields. The palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H functionalization of these adducts under ligandless conditions provided the functionalized dihydrophenanthridines (1). CONCLUSION: Highly functionalized dihydrophenanthridines are synthesized in only two steps from readily accessible starting materials in good to excellent overall yields.

Rapid access to oxindoles by the combined use of an Ugi four-component reaction and a microwave-assisted intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig amidation reaction.

A two-step sequence involving an Ugi four-component reaction (Ugi-4CR) and a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular amidation of aryl iodide has been developed for rapid access to functionalized oxindole (1). Microwave heating was used to accelerate and to improve the efficiency of the intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig reaction.