Novel drugs approved by the EMA, the FDA, and the MHRA in 2023: A year in review.

In 2023, seventy novel drugs received market authorization for the first time in either Europe (by the EMA and the MHRA) or in the United States (by the FDA). Confirming a steady recent trend, more than half of these drugs target rare diseases or intractable forms of cancer. Thirty drugs are categorized as "first-in-class" (FIC), illustrating the quality of research and innovation that drives new chemical entity discovery and development. We succinctly describe the mechanism of action of most of these FIC drugs and discuss the therapeutic areas covered, as well as the chemical category to which these drugs belong. The 2023 novel drug list also demonstrates an unabated emphasis on polypeptides (recombinant proteins and antibodies), Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (gene and cell therapies) and RNA therapeutics, including the first-ever approval of a CRISPR-Cas9-based gene-editing cell therapy.

Rules and mechanisms governing G protein coupling selectivity of GPCRs.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) convert extracellular stimuli into intracellular signaling by coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins of four classes: Gi/o, Gq, Gs, and G12/13. However, our understanding of the G protein selectivity of GPCRs is incomplete. Here, we quantitatively measure the enzymatic activity of GPCRs in living cells and reveal the G protein selectivity of 124 GPCRs with the exact rank order of their G protein preference. Using this information, we establish a classification of GPCRs by functional selectivity, discover the existence of a G12/13-coupled receptor, G15-coupled receptors, and a variety of subclasses for Gi/o-, Gq-, and Gs-coupled receptors, culminating in development of the predictive algorithm of G protein selectivity. We further identify the structural determinants of G protein selectivity, allowing us to synthesize non-existent GPCRs with de novo G protein selectivity and efficiently identify putative pathogenic variants.

Severity of GNAO1-Related Disorder Correlates with Changes in G-Protein Function.

OBJECTIVE: GNAO1-related disorders (OMIM #615473 and #617493), caused by variants in the GNAO1 gene, are characterized by developmental delay or intellectual disability, hypotonia, movement disorders, and epilepsy. Neither a genotype-phenotype correlation nor a clear severity score have been established for this disorder. The objective of this prospective and retrospective observational study was to develop a severity score for GNAO1-related disorders, and to delineate the correlation between the underlying molecular mechanisms and clinical severity. METHODS: A total of 16 individuals with GNAO1-related disorders harboring 12 distinct missense variants, including four novel variants (p.K46R, p.T48I, p.R209P, and p.L235P), were examined with repeated clinical assessments, video-electroencephalogram monitoring, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. The molecular pathology of each variant was delineated using a molecular deconvoluting platform. RESULTS: The patients displayed a wide variability in the severity of their symptoms. This heterogeneity was well represented in the GNAO1-related disorders severity score, with a broad range of results. Patients with the same variant had comparable severity scores, indicating that differences in disease profiles are not due to interpatient variability, but rather, to unique disease mechanisms. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between clinical severity scores and molecular mechanisms. INTERPRETATION: The clinical score proposed here provides further insight into the correlation between pathophysiology and phenotypic severity in GNAO1-related disorders. We found that each variant has a unique profile of clinical phenotypes and pathological molecular mechanisms. These findings will contribute to better understanding GNAO1-related disorders. Additionally, the severity score will facilitate standardization of patients categorization and assessment of response to therapies in development. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:987-1004.

Structure of the photoreceptor synaptic assembly of the extracellular matrix protein pikachurin with the orphan receptor GPR179.

Precise synapse formation is essential for normal functioning of the nervous system. Retinal photoreceptors establish selective contacts with bipolar cells, aligning the neurotransmitter release apparatus with postsynaptic signaling cascades. This involves transsynaptic assembly between the dystroglycan-dystrophin complex on the photoreceptor and the orphan receptor GPR179 on the bipolar cell, which is mediated by the extracellular matrix protein pikachurin (also known as EGFLAM). This complex plays a critical role in the synaptic organization of photoreceptors and signal transmission, and mutations affecting its components cause blinding disorders in humans. Here, we investigated the structural organization and molecular mechanisms by which pikachurin orchestrates transsynaptic assembly and solved structures of the human pikachurin domains by x-ray crystallography and of the GPR179-pikachurin complex by single-particle, cryo-electron microscopy. The structures reveal molecular recognition principles of pikachurin by the Cache domains of GPR179 and show how the interaction is involved in the transsynaptic alignment of the signaling machinery. Together, these data provide a structural basis for understanding the synaptic organization of photoreceptors and ocular pathology.

Fine-tuning GPCR-mediated neuromodulation by biasing signaling through different G protein subunits.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate neuromodulation through the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαßγ). Classical models depict that G protein activation leads to a one-to-one formation of Gα-GTP and Gßγ species. Each of these species propagates signaling by independently acting on effectors, but the mechanisms by which response fidelity is ensured by coordinating Gα and Gßγ responses remain unknown. Here, we reveal a paradigm of G protein regulation whereby the neuronal protein GINIP (Gα inhibitory interacting protein) biases inhibitory GPCR responses to favor Gßγ over Gα signaling. Tight binding of GINIP to Gαi-GTP precludes its association with effectors (adenylyl cyclase) and, simultaneously, with regulator-of-G-protein-signaling (RGS) proteins that accelerate deactivation. As a consequence, Gαi-GTP signaling is dampened, whereas Gßγ signaling is enhanced. We show that this mechanism is essential to prevent the imbalances of neurotransmission that underlie increased seizure susceptibility in mice. Our findings reveal an additional layer of regulation within a quintessential mechanism of signal transduction that sets the tone of neurotransmission.

Orphan receptor GPR158 serves as a metabotropic glycine receptor: mGlyR.

Glycine is a major neurotransmitter involved in several fundamental neuronal processes. The identity of the metabotropic receptor mediating slow neuromodulatory effects of glycine is unknown. We identified an orphan G protein-coupled receptor, GPR158, as a metabotropic glycine receptor (mGlyR). Glycine and a related modulator, taurine, directly bind to a Cache domain of GPR158, and this event inhibits the activity of the intracellular signaling complex regulator of G protein signaling 7-G protein ß5 (RGS7-Gß5), which is associated with the receptor. Glycine signals through mGlyR to inhibit production of the second messenger adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. We further show that glycine, but not taurine, acts through mGlyR to regulate neuronal excitability in cortical neurons. These results identify a major neuromodulatory system involved in mediating metabotropic effects of glycine, with implications for understanding cognition and affective states.

Middle-Down Mass Spectrometry Reveals Activity-Modifying Phosphorylation Barcode in a Class C G Protein-Coupled Receptor.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane receptors in humans. They mediate nearly all aspects of human physiology and thus are of high therapeutic interest. GPCR signaling is regulated in space and time by receptor phosphorylation. It is believed that different phosphorylation states are possible for a single receptor, and each encodes for unique signaling outcomes. Methods to determine the phosphorylation status of GPCRs are critical for understanding receptor physiology and signaling properties of GPCR ligands and therapeutics. However, common proteomic techniques have provided limited quantitative information regarding total receptor phosphorylation stoichiometry, relative abundances of isomeric modification states, and temporal dynamics of these parameters. Here, we report a novel middle-down proteomic strategy and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) to quantify the phosphorylation states of the C-terminal tail of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2). By this approach, we found that mGluR2 is subject to both basal and agonist-induced phosphorylation at up to four simultaneous sites with varying probability. Using a PRM tandem mass spectrometry methodology, we localized the positions and quantified the relative abundance of phosphorylations following treatment with an agonist. Our analysis showed that phosphorylation within specific regions of the C-terminal tail of mGluR2 is sensitive to receptor activation, and subsequent site-directed mutagenesis of these sites identified key regions which tune receptor sensitivity. This study demonstrates that middle-down purification followed by label-free quantification is a powerful, quantitative, and accessible tool for characterizing phosphorylation states of GPCRs and other challenging proteins.

Post-developmental plasticity of the primary rod pathway allows restoration of visually guided behaviors.

The formation of neural circuits occurs in a programmed fashion, but proper activity in the circuit is essential for refining the organization necessary for driving complex behavioral tasks. In the retina, sensory deprivation during the critical period of development is well known to perturb the organization of the visual circuit making the animals unable to use vision for behavior. However, the extent of plasticity, molecular factors involved, and malleability of individual channels in the circuit to manipulations outside of the critical period are not well understood. In this study, we selectively disconnected and reconnected rod photoreceptors in mature animals after completion of the retina circuit development. We found that introducing synaptic rod photoreceptor input post-developmentally allowed their integration into the circuit both anatomically and functionally. Remarkably, adult mice with newly integrated rod photoreceptors gained high-sensitivity vision, even when it was absent from birth. These observations reveal plasticity of the retina circuit organization after closure of the critical period and encourage the development of vision restoration strategies for congenital blinding disorders.

Ptchd1 mediates opioid tolerance via cholesterol-dependent effects on µ-opioid receptor trafficking.

Repeated exposure to opioids causes tolerance, which limits their analgesic utility and contributes to overdose and abuse liability. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning tolerance are not well understood. Here, we used a forward genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans for unbiased identification of genes regulating opioid tolerance which revealed a role for PTR-25/Ptchd1. We found that PTR-25/Ptchd1 controls µ-opioid receptor trafficking and that these effects were mediated by the ability of PTR-25/Ptchd1 to control membrane cholesterol content. Electrophysiological studies showed that loss of Ptchd1 in mice reduced opioid-induced desensitization of neurons in several brain regions and the peripheral nervous system. Mice and C. elegans lacking Ptchd1/PTR-25 display similarly augmented responses to opioids. Ptchd1 knockout mice fail to develop analgesic tolerance and have greatly diminished somatic withdrawal. Thus, we propose that Ptchd1 plays an evolutionarily conserved role in protecting the µ-opioid receptor against overstimulation.

Exploring pharmacological inhibition of Gq/11 as an analgesic strategy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Misuse of opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop analgesics that act at targets other than opioid receptors. These can be used either as stand-alone therapeutics or to improve the safety profile of opioid drugs. Previous research showed that activation of Gq/11 proteins by G-protein coupled receptors has pro-nociceptive properties, suggesting that blockade of Gq/11 signalling could be beneficial for pain control. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis pharmacologically by using potent and selective Gq/11 inhibitor YM-254890. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We used a series of behavioural assays to evaluate the acute responses of mice to painful thermal stimulation while administering YM-254890 alone and in combination with morphine. We then used electrophysiological recordings to evaluate the effects of YM-254890 on the excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nociceptor neurons. KEY RESULTS: We found that systemic administration of YM-254890 produced anti-nociceptive effects and also augmented morphine analgesia in both hotplate and tail flick paradigms. However, it also caused substantial inhibition of locomotion, which may limit its therapeutic utility. To circumvent these issues, we explored the local administration of YM-254890. Intrathecal injections of YM-254890 produced lasting analgesia in a tail flick test and greatly augmented the anti-nociceptive effects of morphine without any significant effects on locomotor behaviour. Electrophysiological studies showed that YM-254890 reduced the excitability of DRG nociceptors and augmented their opioid-induced inhibition. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of Gq/11 could be explored as an analgesic strategy.

Effects of Small Molecule Ligands on ACKR3 Receptors.

Chemokines such as stromal derived factor 1 and their G protein coupled receptors are well-known regulators of the development and functions of numerous tissues. C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) has two receptors: C-X-C chemokine motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) and atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3). ACKR3 has been described as an atypical "biased" receptor because it does not appear to signal through G proteins and, instead, signals solely through the ß-arrestin pathway. In support of this conclusion, we have shown that ACKR3 is unable to signal through any of the known mammalian G α isoforms and have generated a comprehensive map of the G α activation by CXCL12/CXCR4. We also synthesized a series of small molecule ligands which acted as selective agonists for ACKR3 as assessed by their ability to recruit ß-arrestin to the receptor. Using select point mutations, we studied the molecular characteristics that determine the ability of small molecules to activate ACKR3 receptors, revealing a key role for the deeper binding pocket composed of residues in the transmembrane domains of ACKR3. The development of more selective ACKR3 ligands should allow us to better appreciate the unique roles of ACKR3 in the CXCL12/CXCR4/ACKR3-signaling axis and better understand the structural determinants for ACKR3 activation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We are interested in the signaling produced by the G protein coupled receptor atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), which signals atypically. In this study, novel selective ligands for ACKR3 were discovered and the site of interactions between these small molecules and ACKR3 was defined. This work will help to better understand the unique signaling roles of ACKR3.

Community guidelines for GPCR ligand bias: IUPHAR review 32.

GPCRs modulate a plethora of physiological processes and mediate the effects of one-third of FDA-approved drugs. Depending on which ligand activates a receptor, it can engage different intracellular transducers. This 'biased signalling' paradigm requires that we now characterize physiological signalling not just by receptors but by ligand-receptor pairs. Ligands eliciting biased signalling may constitute better drugs with higher efficacy and fewer adverse effects. However, ligand bias is very complex, making reproducibility and description challenging. Here, we provide guidelines and terminology for any scientists to design and report ligand bias experiments. The guidelines will aid consistency and clarity, as the basic receptor research and drug discovery communities continue to advance our understanding and exploitation of ligand bias. Scientific insight, biosensors, and analytical methods are still evolving and should benefit from and contribute to the implementation of the guidelines, together improving translation from in vitro to disease-relevant in vivo models.

Ligand-directed bias of G protein signaling at the dopamine D2 receptor.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of drug targets. Upon activation, GPCRs signal primarily via a diverse set of heterotrimeric G proteins. Most GPCRs can couple to several different G protein subtypes. However, how drugs act at GPCRs contributing to the selectivity of G protein recognition is poorly understood. Here, we examined the G protein selectivity profile of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2), a GPCR targeted by antipsychotic drugs. We show that D2 discriminates between six individual members of the Gi/o family, and its profile of functional selectivity is remarkably different across its ligands, which all engaged D2 with a distinct G protein coupling pattern. Using structural modeling, receptor mutagenesis, and pharmacological evaluation, we identified residues in the D2 binding pocket that shape these ligand-directed biases. We further provide pharmacogenomic evidence that natural variants in D2 differentially affect its G protein biases in response to different ligands.

Genetic modeling of GNAO1 disorder delineates mechanisms of Gαo dysfunction.

GNAO1 encephalopathy is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a spectrum of symptoms that include dystonic movements, seizures and developmental delay. While numerous GNAO1 mutations are associated with this disorder, the functional consequences of pathological variants are not completely understood. Here, we deployed the invertebrate C. elegans as a whole-animal behavioral model to study the functional effects of GNAO1 disorder-associated mutations. We tested several pathological GNAO1 mutations for effects on locomotor behaviors using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and transgenic overexpression in vivo. We report that all three mutations tested (G42R, G203R and R209C) result in strong loss of function defects when evaluated as homozygous CRISPR alleles. In addition, mutations produced dominant negative effects assessed using both heterozygous CRISPR alleles and transgenic overexpression. Experiments in mice confirmed dominant negative effects of GNAO1 G42R, which impaired numerous motor behaviors. Thus, GNAO1 pathological mutations result in conserved functional outcomes across animal models. Our study further establishes the molecular genetic basis of GNAO1 encephalopathy, and develops a CRISPR-based pipeline for functionally evaluating mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

The role of orphan receptor GPR139 in neuropsychiatric behavior.

Orphan G protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) present attractive targets both for understanding neuropsychiatric diseases and for development of novel therapeutics. GPR139 is an orphan GPCR expressed in select brain circuits involved in controlling movement, motivation and reward. It has been linked to the opioid and dopamine neuromodulatory systems; however, its role in animal behavior and neuropsychiatric processes is poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive behavioral characterization of a mouse model with a GPR139 null mutation. We show that loss of GPR139 in mice results in delayed onset hyperactivity and prominent neuropsychiatric manifestations including elevated stereotypy, increased anxiety-related traits, delayed acquisition of operant responsiveness, disruption of cued fear conditioning and social interaction deficits. Furthermore, mice lacking GPR139 exhibited complete loss of pre-pulse inhibition and developed spontaneous 'hallucinogenic' head-twitches, altogether suggesting schizophrenia-like symptomatology. Remarkably, a number of these behavioral deficits could be rescued by the administration of µ-opioid and D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) antagonists: naltrexone and haloperidol, respectively, suggesting that loss of neuropsychiatric manifestations in mice lacking GPR139 are driven by opioidergic and dopaminergic hyper-functionality. The inhibitory influence of GPR139 on D2R signaling was confirmed in cell-based functional assays. These observations define the role of GPR139 in controlling behavior and implicate in vivo actions of this receptor in the neuropsychiatric process with schizophrenia-like pathology.

Members of the KCTD family are major regulators of cAMP signaling.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a pivotal second messenger with an essential role in neuronal function. cAMP synthesis by adenylyl cyclases (AC) is controlled by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling systems. However, the network of molecular players involved in the process is incompletely defined. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9-based screening to identify that members of the potassium channel tetradimerization domain (KCTD) family are major regulators of cAMP signaling. Focusing on striatal neurons, we show that the dominant isoform KCTD5 exerts its effects through an unusual mechanism that modulates the influx of Zn2+ via the Zip14 transporter to exert unique allosteric effects on AC. We further show that KCTD5 controls the amplitude and sensitivity of stimulatory GPCR inputs to cAMP production by Gßγ-mediated AC regulation. Finally, we report that KCTD5 haploinsufficiency in mice leads to motor deficits that can be reversed by chelating Zn2+ Together, our findings uncover KCTD proteins as major regulators of neuronal cAMP signaling via diverse mechanisms.

Cryo-EM structure of human GPR158 receptor coupled to the RGS7-Gß5 signaling complex.

GPR158 is an orphan G protein­coupled receptor (GPCR) highly expressed in the brain, where it controls synapse formation and function. GPR158 has also been implicated in depression, carcinogenesis, and cognition. However, the structural organization and signaling mechanisms of GPR158 are largely unknown. We used single-particle cryo­electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structures of human GPR158 alone and bound to an RGS signaling complex. The structures reveal a homodimeric organization stabilized by a pair of phospholipids and the presence of an extracellular Cache domain, an unusual ligand-binding domain in GPCRs. We further demonstrate the structural basis of GPR158 coupling to RGS7-Gß5. Together, these results provide insights into the unusual biology of orphan receptors and the formation of GPCR-RGS complexes.

Adhesion GPCR Latrophilin 3 regulates synaptic function of cone photoreceptors in a trans-synaptic manner.

Cone photoreceptors mediate daylight vision in vertebrates. Changes in neurotransmitter release at cone synapses encode visual information and is subject to precise control by negative feedback from enigmatic horizontal cells. However, the mechanisms that orchestrate this modulation are poorly understood due to a virtually unknown landscape of molecular players. Here, we report a molecular player operating selectively at cone synapses that modulates effects of horizontal cells on synaptic release. Using an unbiased proteomic screen, we identified an adhesion GPCR Latrophilin3 (LPHN3) in horizontal cell dendrites that engages in transsynaptic control of cones. We detected and characterized a prominent splice isoform of LPHN3 that excludes a element with inhibitory influence on transsynaptic interactions. A gain-of-function mouse model specifically routing LPHN3 splicing to this isoform but not knockout of LPHN3 diminished CaV1.4 calcium channel activity profoundly disrupted synaptic release by cones and resulted in synaptic transmission deficits. These findings offer molecular insight into horizontal cell modulation on cone synaptic function and more broadly demonstrate the importance of alternative splicing in adhesion GPCRs for their physiological function.

Extended Phenotyping and Functional Validation Facilitate Diagnosis of a Complex Patient Harboring Genetic Variants in MCCC1 and GNB5 Causing Overlapping Phenotypes.

Identifying multiple ultra-rare genetic syndromes with overlapping phenotypes is a diagnostic conundrum in clinical genetics. This study investigated the pathogenicity of a homozygous missense variant in GNB5 (GNB5L; NM_016194.4: c.920T > G (p. Leu307Arg); GNB5S; NM_006578.4: c.794T > G (p. Leu265Arg)) identified through exome sequencing in a female child who also had 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (3-MCC) deficiency (newborn screening positive) and hemoglobin E trait. The proband presented with early-onset intellectual disability, the severity of which was more in keeping with GNB5-related disorder than 3-MCC deficiency. She later developed bradycardia and cardiac arrest, and upon re-phenotyping showed cone photo-transduction recovery deficit, all known only to GNB5-related disorders. Patient-derived fibroblast assays showed preserved GNB5S expression, but bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assay showed abolished function of the variant reconstituted Gß5S containing RGS complexes for deactivation of D2 dopamine receptor activity, confirming variant pathogenicity. This study highlights the need for precise phenotyping and functional assays to facilitate variant classification and clinical diagnosis in patients with complex medical conditions.