Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of I-BET567, a Pan-Bromodomain and Extra Terminal (BET) Bromodomain Oral Candidate.

Through regulation of the epigenome, the bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) family of proteins represent important therapeutic targets for the treatment of human disease. Through mimicking the endogenous N-acetyl-lysine group and disrupting the protein-protein interaction between histone tails and the bromodomain, several small molecule pan-BET inhibitors have progressed to oncology clinical trials. This work describes the medicinal chemistry strategy and execution to deliver an orally bioavailable tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) pan-BET candidate. Critical to the success of this endeavor was a potency agnostic analysis of a data set of 1999 THQ BET inhibitors within the GSK collection which enabled identification of appropriate lipophilicity space to deliver compounds with a higher probability of desired oral candidate quality properties. SAR knowledge was leveraged via Free-Wilson analysis within this design space to identify a small group of targets which ultimately delivered I-BET567 (27), a pan-BET candidate inhibitor that demonstrated efficacy in mouse models of oncology and inflammation.

Design and synthesis of 4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butane-1,3-diamines as dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes has spurred numerous studies on the development of new antidiabetic medicines. As a result, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) has been recognized as a validated target. In our efforts to discover new DPP4 inhibitors, we analyzed the complexed structures of DPP4 available in Protein Data Bank and designed a series of triazole compounds. After enzyme activity assays and crystallographic verification of the binding interaction patterns, we found that the triazole compounds can inhibit DPP4 with micromolar IC50 values. Liver microsome stability and cytochrome P450 metabolic tests were performed on this series, revealing undesirable pharmacokinetic profiles for the triazole compounds. To overcome this liability, we substituted the triazole ring with an amide or urea group to produce a new series of DPP4 inhibitors. Based on its enzyme activity, metabolic stability, and selectivity over DPP8 and DPP9, we selected compound 21 r for further study of its in vivo effects in mice using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The results show that 21 r has efficacy similar to that of sitagliptin at a dose of 3 mg kg(-1) . The crystal structure of 21 r bound to DPP4 also reveals that the trifluoromethyl group is directed toward a subpocket different from the subsite bound by sitagliptin, providing clues for the design of new DPP4 inhibitors.