EPD1504: a novel µ-opioid receptor partial agonist attenuates obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-like behaviors.

Low doses of µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists rapidly ameliorate symptoms in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients (10-50% of OCD patients). However, the utility of MOR agonists is limited by their safety liabilities. We developed a novel MOR partial agonist (EPD1540) that has an improved respiratory safety profile when compared to buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a MOR partial agonist primarily used in the treatment of opiate-use disorder, which in investigator-led trials, has been shown to rapidly ameliorate symptoms in treatment-resistant OCD patients. In this study, we show that doses of EPD1504 and buprenorphine that occupy small fractions of MORs in the CNS (approximately 20%) are as effective as fluoxetine at ameliorating OCD-like behaviors in two different rat models (an operant probabilistic reversal task and marble burying). Importantly, effective doses of EPD1504 did not impair either locomotor activity, or respiration under normoxic or hypercapnic conditions. Additionally, EPD1504 had effects comparable to buprenorphine in the conditioned place preference assay. These results indicate that EPD1504 may provide a safer alternative to buprenorphine for the treatment of OCD patients.

Novel series of tunable µOR modulators with enhanced brain penetration for the treatment of opioid use disorder, pain and neuropsychiatric indications.

Structural optimization of a previously reported agonist of µOR, PZM21 is described resulting in the discovery of a novel series of amides with at least 4-folds enhanced CNS penetration in rat. Furthermore, these efforts yielded compounds with varying levels of efficacy on the receptor ranging from high efficacy agonists such as compound 20 to antagonists, such as 24. The correlation between in vitro activation of µOR and relative activity in models of analgesia for these compounds is discussed. The compelling results obtained in these studies demonstrate the potential utility of these newly discovered compounds in the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder.

Endogenous µ-opioid receptor activity in the lateral and capsular subdivisions of the right central nucleus of the amygdala prevents chronic postoperative pain.

Tissue injury induces a long-lasting latent sensitization (LS) of spinal nociceptive signaling that is kept in remission by an opposing µ-opioid receptor (MOR) constitutive activity. To test the hypothesis that supraspinal sites become engaged, we induced hindpaw inflammation, waited 3 weeks for mechanical hypersensitivity to resolve, and then injected the opioid receptor inhibitors naltrexone, CTOP or ß-funaltrexamine subcutaneously, and/or into the cerebral ventricles. Intracerebroventricular injection of each inhibitor reinstated hypersensitivity and produced somatic signs of withdrawal, indicative of LS and endogenous opioid dependence, respectively. In naïve or sham controls, systemic naloxone (3 mg/kg) produced conditioned place aversion, and systemic naltrexone (3 mg/kg) increased Fos expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). In LS animals tested 3 weeks after plantar incision, systemic naltrexone reinstated mechanical hypersensitivity and produced an even greater increase in Fos than in sham controls, particularly in the capsular subdivision of the right CeA. One third of Fos+ profiles co-expressed protein kinase C delta (PKCδ), and 35% of PKCδ neurons co-expressed tdTomato+ in Oprm1Cre ::tdTomato transgenic mice. CeA microinjection of naltrexone (1 µg) reinstated mechanical hypersensitivity only in male mice and did not produce signs of somatic withdrawal. Intra-CeA injection of the MOR-selective inhibitor CTAP (300 ng) reinstated hypersensitivity in both male and female mice. We conclude that MORs in the capsular subdivision of the right CeA prevent the transition from acute to chronic postoperative pain.

A Novel Maintenance Therapeutic for Opioid Use Disorder.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major socioeconomic burden. An ideal OUD pharmacotherapy will mitigate the suffering associated with opioid-withdrawal, inhibit the effects of high efficacy opioids, and minimize opioid-cravings while being safe and accessible to a diverse patient population. Although current OUD pharmacotherapies inhibit the euphoric effects of opioids of abuse, the extent to which they safely alleviate withdrawal and opioid-cravings corresponds with their intrinsic µ opioid receptor (MOR) efficacy. In addition to inhibiting the euphoric effects of opioids of abuse, the medium efficacy MOR agonist buprenorphine alleviates withdrawal and opioid-cravings, but its intrinsic MOR efficacy is sufficient such that its utility is limited by abuse and safety liabilities. Although the MOR antagonist naltrexone minimizes euphoria and has no abuse liability, it exacerbates suffering associated with withdrawal and opioid cravings. Therefore, a therapeutic with intrinsic MOR activity between the partial agonist (buprenorphine) and the antagonist (naltrexone) would strike a balance between the benefits and liabilities of these two therapeutics. To address this need, we derived RM1490, an MOR agonist based on a nonmorphinan scaffold that exhibits approximately half the intrinsic MOR efficacy of buprenorphine. In a series of preclinical assays, we compared RM1490 with buprenorphine and naltrexone at doses that achieve therapeutic levels of central nervous system MOR occupancy. RM1490 exhibited a behavioral profile consistent with reduced reward, dependence, and precipitated withdrawal liabilities. RM1490 was also more effective than buprenorphine at reversing the respiratory depressant effects of fentanyl and did not suppress respiration when combined with diazepam. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In preclinical studies, RM1490 has a physiological and behavioral profile suitable for opioid use disorder maintenance therapy.

Discovery and in Vivo Evaluation of Macrocyclic Mcl-1 Inhibitors Featuring an α-Hydroxy Phenylacetic Acid Pharmacophore or Bioisostere.

Overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 provides a survival advantage to some cancer cells, making inhibition of this protein an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of certain types of tumors. Herein, we report our efforts toward the identification of a novel series of macrocyclic Mcl-1 inhibitors featuring an α-hydroxy phenylacetic acid pharmacophore or bioisostere. This work led to the discovery of 1, a potent Mcl-1 inhibitor (IC50 = 19 nM in an OPM-2 cell viability assay) with good pharmacokinetic properties and excellent in vivo efficacy in an OPM-2 multiple myeloma xenograft model.

Discovery of a Potent Steroidal Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist with Enhanced Selectivity against the Progesterone and Androgen Receptors (OP-3633).

Structure-based modification of mifepristone (1) led to the discovery of novel mifepristone derivatives with improved selectivity profile. Addition of a methyl group at the C10 position of the steroid has a significant impact on progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) activity. Within this series, OP-3633 (15) emerged as a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist with increased selectivity against PR and AR, improved cytochrome P450 inhibition profile, and significantly improved pharmacokinetic properties compared to 1. Furthermore, 15 demonstrated substantial inhibition of GR transcriptional activity in the GR positive HCC1806 triple negative breast cancer xenograft model. Overall, compound 15 is a promising GR antagonist candidate to clinically evaluate the impact of GR inhibition in reversal or prevention of therapy resistance.

Cerebrolysin improves peripheral inflammatory pain: Sex differences in two models of acute and chronic mechanical hypersensitivity.

Chronic inflammatory pain is a major health problem worldwide with high prevalence in women. Cerebrolysin is a multimodal neuropeptide preparation that crosses the blood brain barrier and displays neuroprotective properties in aging and disease. Previously, we showed that cerebrolysin reduced mechanical allodynia in a model of persistent inflammation and pain. We aim to build upon the findings of our previous study by investigating the response to acute administration of cerebrolysin in two models of peripheral inflammation and assessing sex differences. We utilized the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) that produces maximal oedema and mechanical allodynia within days and carrageenan that produces similar effects within hours. Cerebrolysin reversed the mechanical allodynia in both sexes in CFA-treated rats. On the other hand, in rats treated with carrageenan, cerebrolysin was only effective in reducing mechanical allodynia in female rats. In conclusion, the present study shows that cerebrolysin effects may be sex-specific depending on different mechanisms that are at play in these two models of peripheral inflammatory pain. Further investigations are required to determine the factors contributing to sex differences.

Discovery of a Potent and Selective Steroidal Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (ORIC-101).

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been linked to therapy resistance across a wide range of cancer types. Preclinical data suggest that antagonists of this nuclear receptor may enhance the activity of anticancer therapy. The first-generation GR antagonist mifepristone is currently undergoing clinical evaluation in various oncology settings. Structure-based modification of mifepristone led to the discovery of ORIC-101 (28), a highly potent steroidal GR antagonist with reduced androgen receptor (AR) agonistic activity amenable for dosing in androgen receptor positive tumors and with improved CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 inhibition profile to minimize drug-drug interaction potential. Unlike mifepristone, 28 could be codosed with chemotherapeutic agents readily metabolized by CYP2C8 such as paclitaxel. Furthermore, 28 demonstrated in vivo antitumor activity by enhancing response to chemotherapy in the GR+ OVCAR5 ovarian cancer xenograft model. Clinical evaluation of safety and therapeutic potential of 28 is underway.

Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the Intensive Care Unit of Uruguay's University Hospital Identifies the First rmtC Gene in the Species.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections are an increasing concern in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. The combination of carbapenemases and 16S rRNA-methyltransferases (16S-RMTases) further reduces the therapeutic options. OXA-carbapenemase/A. baumannii clone tandems in Latin America have already been described; however, no information exists in this region regarding the occurrence of 16S-RMTases in this microorganism. In addition, the epidemiology of A. baumannii in ICUs and its associated resistance profiles are poorly understood. Our objectives were as follows: to study the clonal relationship and antibiotic resistance profiles of clinical and digestive colonizing A. baumannii isolates in an ICU, to characterize the circulating carbapenemases, and to detect 16S-RMTases. Patients admitted between August 2010 and July 2011 with a clinically predicted hospital stay > 48 hr were included. Pharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained during the first fortnight after hospitalization. Resistance profiles were determined with MicroScan® and VITEK2 system. Carbapenemases and 16S-RMTases were identified by PCR and sequencing, and clonality was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing. Sixty-nine patients were studied and 63 were diagnosed with bacterial infections. Among these, 29 were CRAB isolates; 49 A. baumannii were isolated as digestive colonizers. These 78 isolates were clustered in 7 pulsetypes, mostly belonging to ST79. The only carbapenemase genes detected were blaOXA-51 (n = 78), blaOXA-23 (n = 62), and blaOXA-58 (n = 3). Interestingly, two clinical isolates harbored the rmtC 16S-RMTase gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the presence of rmtC in A. baumannii.

Discovery and in Vivo Evaluation of the Potent and Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitors 2-((1S)-1-((6-Amino-5-cyano-4-pyrimidinyl)amino)ethyl)-6-fluoro-N-methyl-3-(2-pyridinyl)-4-quinolinecarboxamide (AM-0687) and 2-((1S)-1-((6-Amino-5-cyano-4-pyrimidinyl)amino)ethyl)-5-fluoro-N-methyl-3-(2-pyridinyl)-4-quinolinecarboxamide (AM-1430).

Optimization of the potency and pharmacokinetic profile of 2,3,4-trisubstituted quinoline, 4, led to the discovery of two potent, selective, and orally bioavailable PI3Kδ inhibitors, 6a (AM-0687) and 7 (AM-1430). On the basis of their improved profile, these analogs were selected for in vivo pharmacodynamic (PD) and efficacy experiments in animal models of inflammation. The in vivo PD studies, which were carried out in a mouse pAKT inhibition animal model, confirmed the observed potency of 6a and 7 in biochemical and cellular assays. Efficacy experiments in a keyhole limpet hemocyanin model in rats demonstrated that administration of either 6a or 7 resulted in a strong dose-dependent reduction of IgG and IgM specific antibodies. The excellent in vitro and in vivo profiles of these analogs make them suitable for further development.

5-Alkyl-2-urea-Substituted Pyridines: Identification of Efficacious Glucokinase Activators with Improved Properties.

Two 1-(4-aryl-5-alkyl-pyridin-2-yl)-3-methylurea glucokinase activators were identified with robust in vivo efficacy. These two compounds possessed higher solubilities than the previously identified triaryl compounds (i.e., AM-2394). Structure-activity relationship studies are presented along with relevant pharmacokinetic and in vivo data.

Novel Series of Potent Glucokinase Activators Leading to the Discovery of AM-2394.

Glucokinase (GK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. We present the structure-activity relationships leading to the discovery of AM-2394, a structurally distinct GKA. AM-2394 activates GK with an EC50 of 60 nM, increases the affinity of GK for glucose by approximately 10-fold, exhibits moderate clearance and good oral bioavailability in multiple animal models, and lowers glucose excursion following an oral glucose tolerance test in an ob/ob mouse model of diabetes.

Discovery of the imidazole-derived GPR40 agonist AM-3189.

As a follow-up to the GPR40 agonist AMG 837, which was evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of type II diabetes, further optimization led to the discovery of AM-3189 (13k). AM-3189 is representative of a new class of compounds with minimal CNS penetration, superior pharmacokinetic properties and in vivo efficacy comparable to AMG 837.

Discovery, Optimization, and in Vivo Evaluation of Benzimidazole Derivatives AM-8508 and AM-9635 as Potent and Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitors.

Lead optimization efforts resulted in the discovery of two potent, selective, and orally bioavailable PI3Kδ inhibitors, 1 (AM-8508) and 2 (AM-9635), with good pharmacokinetic properties. The compounds inhibit B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated AKT phosphorylation (pAKT) in PI3Kδ-dependent in vitro cell based assays. These compounds which share a benzimidazole bicycle are effective when administered in vivo at unbound concentrations consistent with their in vitro cell potency as a consequence of improved unbound drug concentration with lower unbound clearance. Furthermore, the compounds demonstrated efficacy in a Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) study in rats, where the blockade of PI3Kδ activity by inhibitors 1 and 2 led to effective inhibition of antigen-specific IgG and IgM formation after immunization with KLH.

Synthesis and SAR study of potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors.

2,3,4-Substituted quinolines such as (10a) were found to be potent inhibitors of PI3Kδ in both biochemical and cellular assays with good selectivity over three other class I PI3K isoforms. Some of those analogs showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties.

Discovery and in vivo evaluation of (S)-N-(1-(7-fluoro-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinolin-3-yl)ethyl)-9H-purin-6-amine (AMG319) and related PI3Kδ inhibitors for inflammation and autoimmune disease.

The development and optimization of a series of quinolinylpurines as potent and selective PI3Kδ kinase inhibitors with excellent physicochemical properties are described. This medicinal chemistry effort led to the identification of 1 (AMG319), a compound with an IC50 of 16 nM in a human whole blood assay (HWB), excellent selectivity over a large panel of protein kinases, and a high level of in vivo efficacy as measured by two rodent disease models of inflammation.

C5-Alkyl-2-methylurea-Substituted Pyridines as a New Class of Glucokinase Activators.

Glucokinase (GK) activators represent a class of type 2 diabetes therapeutics actively pursued due to the central role that GK plays in regulating glucose homeostasis. Herein we report a novel C5-alkyl-2-methylurea-substituted pyridine series of GK activators derived from our previously reported thiazolylamino pyridine series. Our efforts in optimizing potency, enzyme kinetic properties, and metabolic stability led to the identification of compound 26 (AM-9514). This analogue showed a favorable combination of in vitro potency, enzyme kinetic properties, acceptable pharmacokinetic profiles in preclinical species, and robust efficacy in a rodent PD model.

Discovery of AM-7209, a potent and selective 4-amidobenzoic acid inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 interaction.

Structure-based rational design and extensive structure-activity relationship studies led to the discovery of AMG 232 (1), a potent piperidinone inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 association, which is currently being evaluated in human clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Further modifications of 1, including replacing the carboxylic acid with a 4-amidobenzoic acid, afforded AM-7209 (25), featuring improved potency (KD from ITC competition was 38 pM, SJSA-1 EdU IC50 = 1.6 nM), remarkable pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo antitumor activity in both the SJSA-1 osteosarcoma xenograft model (ED50 = 2.6 mg/kg QD) and the HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma xenograft model (ED50 = 10 mg/kg QD). In addition, 25 possesses distinct mechanisms of elimination compared to 1.

Discovery of Potent and Simplified Piperidinone-Based Inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 Interaction.

Continued optimization of the N-substituent in the piperidinone series provided potent piperidinone-pyridine inhibitors 6, 7, 14, and 15 with improved pharmacokinetic properties in rats. Reducing structure complexity of the N-alkyl substituent led to the discovery of 23, a potent and simplified inhibitor of MDM2. Compound 23 exhibits excellent pharmacokinetic properties and substantial in vivo antitumor activity in the SJSA-1 osteosarcoma xenograft mouse model.

Optimization beyond AMG 232: discovery and SAR of sulfonamides on a piperidinone scaffold as potent inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction.

We recently reported on the discovery of AMG 232, a potent and selective piperidinone inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 interaction. AMG 232 is being evaluated in human clinical trials for cancer. Continued exploration of the N-alkyl substituent of this series, in an effort to optimize interactions with the MDM2 glycine-58 shelf region, led to the discovery of sulfonamides such as compounds 31 and 38 that have similar potency, hepatocyte stability and rat pharmacokinetic properties to AMG 232.