AZD0284, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Inverse Agonist of Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor C2.

Inverse agonists of the nuclear receptor RORC2 have been widely pursued as a potential treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases. We have discovered a novel series of isoindoline-based inverse agonists of the nuclear receptor RORC2, derived from our recently disclosed RORC2 inverse agonist 2. Extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies resulted in AZD0284 (20), which combined potent inhibition of IL-17A secretion from primary human TH17 cells with excellent metabolic stability and good PK in preclinical species. In two preclinical in vivo studies, compound 20 reduced thymocyte numbers in mice and showed dose-dependent reduction of IL-17A containing γδ-T cells and of IL-17A and IL-22 RNA in the imiquimod induced inflammation model. Based on these data and a favorable safety profile, 20 was progressed to phase 1 clinical studies.

Discovery of AZD8154, a Dual PI3Kγδ Inhibitor for the Treatment of Asthma.

Starting from our previously described PI3Kγ inhibitors, we describe the exploration of structure-activity relationships that led to the discovery of highly potent dual PI3Kγδ inhibitors. We explored changes in two positions of the molecules, including macrocyclization, but ultimately identified a simpler series with the desired potency profile that had suitable physicochemical properties for inhalation. We were able to demonstrate efficacy in a rat ovalbumin challenge model of allergic asthma and in cells derived from asthmatic patients. The optimized compound, AZD8154, has a long duration of action in the lung and low systemic exposure coupled with high selectivity against off-targets.

An Angle on MK2 Inhibition-Optimization and Evaluation of Prevention of Activation Inhibitors.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase p38α pathway has been an attractive target for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. While a number of p38α inhibitors have been taken to the clinic, they have been limited by their efficacy and toxicological profile. A lead identification program was initiated to selectively target prevention of activation (PoA) of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) rather than mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), both immediate downstream substrates of p38α, to improve the efficacy/safety profile over direct p38α inhibition. Starting with a series of pyrazole amide PoA MK2 inhibitor leads, and guided by structural chemistry and rational design, a highly selective imidazole 9 (2-(3'-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-N-(5-(N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-1-propyl-1H-imidazole-5-carboxamide) and the orally bioavailable imidazole 18 (3-methyl-N-(2-methyl-5-sulfamoylphenyl)-2-(o-tolyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide) were discovered. The PoA concept was further evaluated by protein immunoblotting, which showed that the optimized PoA MK2 compounds, despite their biochemical selectivity against MSK1 phosphorylation, behaved similarly to p38 inhibitors in cellular signaling. This study highlights the importance of selective tool compounds in untangling complex signaling pathways, and although 9 and 18 were not differentiated from p38α inhibitors in a cellular context, they are still useful tools for further research directed to understand the role of MK2 in the p38α signaling pathway.

Discovery of Highly Isoform Selective Orally Bioavailable Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K)-γ Inhibitors.

In this paper, we describe the discovery and optimization of a new chemotype of isoform selective PI3Kγ inhibitors. Starting from an HTS hit, potency and physicochemical properties could be improved to give compounds such as 15, which is a potent and remarkably selective PI3Kγ inhibitor with ADME properties suitable for oral administration. Compound 15 was advanced into in vivo studies showing dose-dependent inhibition of LPS-induced airway neutrophilia in rats when administered orally.

Fertility-sparing Surgery for Presumed Early-stage Invasive Cervical Cancer: A Survey of Practice in the United Kingdom.

AIM: To explore current practice in fertility-sparing surgery for cervical cancer in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based structured questionnaire was designed and circulated to all members of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society. RESULTS: From 111 recipients, a total of 49 responses were collected. The majority of centres treated between 20-29 cases of invasive cervical cancer surgically (21/49, 42.9%) and performed between 0-5 cases of radical trachelectomy annually (29/49, 59.2%). The vaginal approach was the one most commonly used and was offered by almost half of the centres (21/49, 42.9%); laparoscopic techniques were offered in 13 (13/49, 26.6%). The responses were divided as to whether these cases should have been referred to supra-regional centres (25/49, 51.0%). CONCLUSION: With the use of Human Papillomavirus vaccination leading to a projected decrease in the number of cervical cancer incidence, patients may need to be referred to supraregional centres in the future.

Lead optimisation of pyrazoles as novel FPR1 antagonists.

Optimisation of a series of pyrazole inhibitors of the human FPR1 receptor has been achieved. The use of an in vitro media loss assay was utilised to identify sub-series with more robust DMPK profiles. These were subsequently improved to generate analogues with attractive overall profiles.

Discovery of pyrazoles as novel FPR1 antagonists.

A series of pyrazole inhibitors of the human FPR1 receptor have been identified from high throughput screening. The compounds demonstrate potent inhibition in human neutrophils and attractive physicochemical and in vitro DMPK profiles to be of further interest.

Effects of heating rate, temperature and iron catalysis on the thermal behaviour and decomposition of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride.

Runaway reactions arising from the decomposition of thermally unstable materials are a concern in industry due to the potentially devastating effects that they yield. Studies into the occurrence of thermal runaway incidents have shown the most likely cause to be a result of an inadequate investigation of the process prior to its operation on a large-scale. The chlorination of ortho-nitrated carboxylic acids is an industrially important reaction in the fine and agrochemical industries. The products of these reactions, ortho-nitrated acid chlorides, have been involved in runaway incidents that have resulted in violent explosions; hence, their thermal stability must be studied. Previous studies [S.D. Lever, M. Papadaki, Study of condition-dependent decomposition reactions: the thermal behaviour and decomposition of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride, Part I, J. Hazard. Mater. 115 (2004) 91-100] showed that the decomposition of the parent molecule, 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride, is highly condition-dependent with the sample heating rate and temperature of decomposition playing a preponderant role in the course of the decomposition. Here, we present the results of studies of the decomposition of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride, when the sample is subjected to various heating treatments, temperatures and in the presence of iron. As the temperature of decomposition was increased from 150 to 162 degrees C, the heat of decomposition was reduced from -215 to -90 kJ/mol. As the heat up rate applied in bringing the sample to the decomposition temperature increased, the heat of decomposition also increased. An increase in the heat up rate from 2 to 7.5 degrees C/min resulted in an increase in the heat of decomposition from -90 to -215 kJ/mol. The presence of iron and silver was observed to lower the heat of decomposition from -185 to -160 and -110 kJ/mol, respectively. Under most conditions investigated, the temperature at which gas flow was initiated was 147-150 degrees C. The presence of iron reduced this temperature to 140 degrees C. Decomposition was observed to take place over two stages, where the sample was heated directly from 40 degrees C at the required heat up rate. Where the sample was heated in stages and where calibrations had been carried out preceding decomposition, the decomposition took place in one stage alone.

Study of condition-dependent decomposition reactions; Part I. The thermal behaviour and decomposition of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride.

The risks associated with batch processing in the manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals via highly exothermic reactions are of special interest due to the possibility of runaway reactions. o-Nitrated benzoyl chlorides are intermediates in the production of agrochemicals and are produced via the reaction of o-nitrated carboxylic acids with thionyl chloride in a solvent mixture. ortho-Nitrated acyl chlorides have exploded violently on attempted distillation on numerous occasions. An inadequate investigation of the process prior to large-scale operation is the most likely cause. Here we present preliminary results of studies on the decomposition of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride. This study has revealed that the decomposition reaction is strongly condition dependent. The heating rate of the sample plays a preponderant role in the course of the decomposition reaction. That renders the interpretation of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or adiabatic calorimetry measurements, which are routinely used to assess the thermochemistry and safety of the large-scale reactions, problematic. Following this on-going study, we report here key features of the system that have been identified.