Discovery of potent and selective HER2 inhibitors with efficacy against HER2 exon 20 insertion-driven tumors, which preserve wild-type EGFR signaling.

Oncogenic alterations in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) occur in approximately 2% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and predominantly affect the tyrosine kinase domain and cluster in exon 20 of the ERBB2 gene. Most clinical-grade tyrosine kinase inhibitors are limited by either insufficient selectivity against wild-type (WT) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is a major cause of dose-limiting toxicity or by potency against HER2 exon 20 mutant variants. Here we report the discovery of covalent tyrosine kinase inhibitors that potently inhibit HER2 exon 20 mutants while sparing WT EGFR, which reduce tumor cell survival and proliferation in vitro and result in regressions in preclinical xenograft models of HER2 exon 20 mutant non-small cell lung cancer, concomitant with inhibition of downstream HER2 signaling. Our results suggest that HER2 exon 20 insertion-driven tumors can be effectively treated by a potent and highly selective HER2 inhibitor while sparing WT EGFR, paving the way for clinical translation.

Large-Scale Assessment of Binding Free Energy Calculations in Active Drug Discovery Projects.

Accurate ranking of compounds with regards to their binding affinity to a protein using computational methods is of great interest to pharmaceutical research. Physics-based free energy calculations are regarded as the most rigorous way to estimate binding affinity. In recent years, many retrospective studies carried out both in academia and industry have demonstrated its potential. Here, we present the results of large-scale prospective application of the FEP+ method in active drug discovery projects in an industry setting at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. We compare these prospective data to results obtained on a new diverse, public benchmark of eight pharmaceutically relevant targets. Our results offer insights into the challenges faced when using free energy calculations in real-life drug discovery projects and identify limitations that could be tackled by future method development. The new public data set we provide to the community can support further method development and comparative benchmarking of free energy calculations.

Start Selective and Rigidify: The Discovery Path toward a Next Generation of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), when carrying an activating mutation like del19 or L858R, acts as an oncogenic driver in a subset of lung tumors. While tumor responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are accompanied by marked tumor shrinkage, the response is usually not durable. Most patients relapse within two years of therapy often due to acquisition of an additional mutation in EGFR kinase domain that confers resistance to TKIs. Crucially, oncogenic EGFR harboring both resistance mutations, T790M and C797S, can no longer be inhibited by currently approved EGFR TKIs. Here, we describe the discovery of BI-4020, which is a noncovalent, wild-type EGFR sparing, macrocyclic TKI. BI-4020 potently inhibits the above-described EGFR variants and induces tumor regressions in a cross-resistant EGFRdel19 T790M C797S xenograft model. Key was the identification of a highly selective but moderately potent benzimidazole followed by complete rigidification of the molecule through macrocyclization.

Fragment-based discovery of a chemical probe for the PWWP1 domain of NSD3.

Here, we report the fragment-based discovery of BI-9321, a potent, selective and cellular active antagonist of the NSD3-PWWP1 domain. The human NSD3 protein is encoded by the WHSC1L1 gene located in the 8p11-p12 amplicon, frequently amplified in breast and squamous lung cancer. Recently, it was demonstrated that the PWWP1 domain of NSD3 is required for the viability of acute myeloid leukemia cells. To further elucidate the relevance of NSD3 in cancer biology, we developed a chemical probe, BI-9321, targeting the methyl-lysine binding site of the PWWP1 domain with sub-micromolar in vitro activity and cellular target engagement at 1 µM. As a single agent, BI-9321 downregulates Myc messenger RNA expression and reduces proliferation in MOLM-13 cells. This first-in-class chemical probe BI-9321, together with the negative control BI-9466, will greatly facilitate the elucidation of the underexplored biological function of PWWP domains.

Enantioselective total synthesis of altersolanol A and N.

The development of the first enantioselective total synthesis of altersolanol N is reported. The decisive step of the synthesis is the enantioselective formation of the tetrahydroanthraquinone nucleus by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition in high yield and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity (>95:5 dr and 95:5 er). In addition, a demanding selective monoacetylation of the OH group at the C-2 position was achieved: an epoxide ring opening with the participation of a neighbouring acetyl group could be established. The route proved to be an efficient alternative to also access enantiomerically pure altersolanol A.

Investigating the Enantiodetermining Step of a Chiral Lewis Base Catalyzed Bromocycloetherification of Privileged Alkenes.

The development of catalytic, enantioselective halofunctionalizations of unactivated alkenes has made significant progress in recent years. However, the identification of generally applicable catalysts for wide range of substrates has yet to be realized. A detailed understanding of the reaction mechanism is essential to guide the formulation of a truly general catalyst. Herein, we present our investigations on the enantiodetermining step of a Lewis base catalyzed bromocycloetherification that provides important insights and design criteria.

Chemoenzymatic Total Synthesis of the Proposed Structures of Putaminoxins B and D.

Different enzymatic and nonenzymatic approaches were tested and compared to afford enantiopure homoallylic and allylic alcohols as building blocks in a total synthesis showcase. Thereby, highly enantioselective alcohol dehydrogenases and the P450 BM3 monooxygenase variant A74G L188Q were compared to classical asymmetric reagent-controlled allyl additions. Thus, the first total syntheses of the proposed structures for putaminoxins B/D and their respective enantiomers were accomplished. Detailed spectroscopic analysis of the newly synthesized compounds unraveled a discrepancy with respect to the reported structures of putaminoxins B/D. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that total synthesis is generally required for unequivocal assignment of configuration, because purely comparative NMR studies and judgment by analogy can lead to false predictions.

Enantioselective Catalysts for the Synthesis of α-Substituted Allylboronates--An Accelerated Approach towards Isomerically Pure Homoallylic Alcohols.

The use of a convenient protecting group for boronates allows a selective, catalyzed S(N)2' reaction to generate allylboronates which are applied for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure homoallylic alcohols. Depending on the configuration of both catalyst and the protecting group any of the four possible stereoisomers can be formed. The rationale behind the selective addition is supported by density functional theory calculations.

Latex clearing protein-an oxygenase cleaving poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) rubber at the cis double bonds.

Gordonia polyisoprenivorans strain VH2, a potent rubber-degrading actinomycete, harbors two latex clearing proteins (Lcps), which are known to be essential for the microbial degradation of rubber. However, biochemical information on the exact role of this protein in the degradation of polyisoprene was lacking. In this study, the gene encoding Lcp1VH2 was heterologously expressed in strains of Escherichia coli, the corresponding protein was purified, and its role in rubber degradation was examined by measurement of oxygen consumption as well as by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. It turned out that active Lcp1VH2 is a monomer and is responsible for the oxidative cleavage of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) in synthetic as well as in natural rubber by the addition of oxygen (O2) to the cis double bonds. The resulting oligomers possess repetitive isoprene units with aldehyde (CHO-CH2-) and ketone (-CH2-CO-CH3) functional groups at the termini. Two fractions with average isoprene contents of 18 and 10, respectively, were isolated, thus indicating an endocleavage mechanism. The activity of Lcp1VH2 was determined by applying a polarographic assay. Alkenes, acyclic terpenes, or other rubber-like polymers, such as poly(cis-1,4-butadiene) or poly(trans-1,4-isoprene), are not oxidatively cleaved by Lcp1VH2. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme are at pH 7 and 30°C, respectively. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that active Lcp1VH2 is a Cu(II)-containing oxygenase that exhibits a conserved domain of unknown function which cannot be detected in any other hitherto-characterized enzyme. The results presented here indicate that this domain might represent a new protein family of oxygenases.

A diastereoselective one-pot, three-step cascade toward α-substituted allylboronic esters.

A new highly diastereoselective synthesis of chiral α-substituted allylboronic esters, based on a one-pot, three-step cascade, is presented. The palladium- and acid-cocatalyzed reaction cascade involves a desilylation of a TBS-protected allylic alcohol, borylation, and addition of an allyl group to an aldehyde. Herein we present the first application of a TBS-protected allylic alcohol in a palladium-catalyzed borylation/allylation reaction.

Stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone.

The stereoselective total synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone 1 has been completed by applying enantioselective allyl additions as key steps. Two different strategies based on highly stable and enantiomerically pure α-substituted allylboronic esters 2 and 3 were performed starting from boronic ester 4.

Catalytic allylic C-H acetoxylation and benzoyloxylation via suggested (eta(3)-allyl)palladium(IV) intermediates.

Palladium-catalyzed allylic acetoxylations and benzoyloxylations were carried out using iodonium salts. The reactions proceed under mild conditions with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The catalysis can be performed under both acidic and nonacidic conditions without use of BQ or other external oxidants and activator ligands. Deuterium labeling experiments clearly show that the catalytic reaction proceeds through (eta(3)-allyl)palladium intermediates. A stoichiometric study with one of the catalysts provided evidence for the formation of a Pd(IV) species.