Discovery of Clinical Candidate GLPG3970: A Potent and Selective Dual SIK2/SIK3 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases.

The salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) SIK1, SIK2, and SIK3 belong to the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family of serine/threonine kinases. SIK inhibition represents a new therapeutic approach modulating pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory pathways that holds potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we describe the identification of GLPG3970 (32), a first-in-class dual SIK2/SIK3 inhibitor with selectivity against SIK1 (IC50 of 282.8 nM on SIK1, 7.8 nM on SIK2 and 3.8 nM on SIK3). We outline efforts made to increase selectivity against SIK1 and improve CYP time-dependent inhibition properties through the structure-activity relationship. The dual activity of 32 in modulating the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα and the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10 is demonstrated in vitro in human primary myeloid cells and human whole blood, and in vivo in mice stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Compound 32 shows dose-dependent activity in disease-relevant mouse pharmacological models.

Early detection of osteoarthritis in the rat with an antibody specific to type II collagen modified by reactive oxygen species.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the whole joint, with articular cartilage breakdown as a major characteristic. Inflammatory mediators, proteases, and oxidants produced by chondrocytes are known to be responsible for driving cartilage degradation. Nevertheless, the early pathogenic events are still unclear. To investigate this, we employed an antibody that is specific to oxidative post-translationally modified collagen type II (anti-oxPTM-CII) to detect early cartilage pathogenic changes in two rat models of OA. METHODS: The animals underwent surgery for destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) and were sacrificed after 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 days. Alternatively, anterior cruciate ligament transection with partial meniscectomy (ACLT+pMx) was performed and animals were sacrificed after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days. Joints were stained with toluidine blue and saffron du Gatinais for histological scoring, anti-oxPTM-CII, and anti-collagen type X antibodies (anti-CX). RESULTS: We observed positive oxPTM-CII staining as early as 1 or 3 days after ACLT+pMx or DMM surgeries, respectively, before overt cartilage lesions were visible. oxPTM-CII was located mostly in the deep zone of the medial tibial cartilage, in the pericellular and territorial matrix of hypertrophic chondrocytes, and co-localized with CX staining. Staining was weak or absent for the lateral compartment or the contralateral knees except at later time points. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that oxidant production and chondrocyte hypertrophy occur very early in the onset of OA, possibly initiating the pathogenic events of OA. We propose to use anti-oxPTM-CII as an early biomarker for OA ahead of radiographic changes.

Discovery of 9-Cyclopropylethynyl-2-((S)-1-[1,4]dioxan-2-ylmethoxy)-6,7-dihydropyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one (GLPG1205), a Unique GPR84 Negative Allosteric Modulator Undergoing Evaluation in a Phase II Clinical Trial.

GPR84 is a medium chain free fatty acid-binding G-protein-coupled receptor associated with inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. As the only reported antagonist of GPR84 (PBI-4050) that displays relatively low potency and selectivity, a clear need exists for an improved modulator. Structural optimization of GPR84 antagonist hit 1, identified through high-throughput screening, led to the identification of potent and selective GPR84 inhibitor GLPG1205 (36). Compared with the initial hit, 36 showed improved potency in a guanosine 5'-O-[γ-thio]triphosphate assay, exhibited metabolic stability, and lacked activity against phosphodiesterase-4. This novel pharmacological tool allowed investigation of the therapeutic potential of GPR84 inhibition. At once-daily doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg, GLPG1205 reduced disease activity index score and neutrophil infiltration in a mouse dextran sodium sulfate-induced chronic inflammatory bowel disease model, with efficacy similar to positive-control compound sulfasalazine. The drug discovery steps leading to GLPG1205 identification, currently under phase II clinical investigation, are described herein.

Characterization of GLPG0492, a selective androgen receptor modulator, in a mouse model of hindlimb immobilization.

BACKGROUND: Muscle wasting is a hallmark of many chronic conditions but also of aging and results in a progressive functional decline leading ultimately to disability. Androgens, such as testosterone were proposed as therapy to counteract muscle atrophy. However, this treatment is associated with potential cardiovascular and prostate cancer risks and therefore not acceptable for long-term treatment. Selective Androgen receptor modulators (SARM) are androgen receptor ligands that induce muscle anabolism while having reduced effects in reproductive tissues. Therefore, they represent an alternative to testosterone therapy. Our objective was to demonstrate the activity of SARM molecule (GLPG0492) on a immobilization muscle atrophy mouse model as compared to testosterone propionate (TP) and to identify putative biomarkers in the plasma compartment that might be related to muscle function and potentially translated into the clinical space. METHODS: GLPG0492, a non-steroidal SARM, was evaluated and compared to TP in a mouse model of hindlimb immobilization. RESULTS: GLPG0492 treatment partially prevents immobilization-induced muscle atrophy with a trend to promote muscle fiber hypertrophy in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, GLPG0492 was found as efficacious as TP at reducing muscle loss while sparing reproductive tissues. Furthermore, gene expression studies performed on tibialis samples revealed that both GLPG0492 and TP were slowing down muscle loss by negatively interfering with major signaling pathways controlling muscle mass homeostasis. Finally, metabolomic profiling experiments using 1H-NMR led to the identification of a plasma GLPG0492 signature linked to the modulation of cellular bioenergetic processes. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results unveil the potential of GLPG0492, a non-steroidal SARM, as treatment for, at least, musculo-skeletal atrophy consecutive to coma, paralysis, or limb immobilization.

Bone loss induced by Runx2 over-expression in mice is blunted by osteoblastic over-expression of TIMP-1.

The Runx2 gene is essential for osteoblast differentiation and function. In vivo over-expression of Runx2 in osteoblasts increases bone resorption, and blocks terminal osteoblast differentiation. Several lines of evidence suggest that osteoblastic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) could contribute to the increased bone resorption observed in mice over-expressing Runx2 (Runx2 mice). The goal of our study was to use a transgenic approach to find out whether the inhibition of osteoblastic MMPs can reduce the bone loss induced by the over-expression of Runx2. We analyzed the effect of the in vivo over-expression of the TIMP-1 in osteoblasts on the severe osteopenic phenotype in Runx2 mice. Females with the different genotypes (WT, Runx2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/Runx2) were analyzed for bone density, architecture, osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity and gene expression using qPCR. TIMP-1 over-expression reduces the bone loss in adult Runx2 mice. The prevention of the bone loss in TIMP-1/Runx2 mice was due to a combination of reduced bone resorption and sustained bone formation. We present evidence that the ability of osteoblastic cells to induce osteoclastic differentiation is lower in TIMP-1/Runx2 mice than in Runx2 mice, probably due to a reduction in the expression of RANK-L and of the Runx2 transgene. Osteoblast primary cells from TIMP-1/Runx2 mice, but not from Runx2 mice, were able to differentiate into fully mature osteoblasts producing high osteocalcin levels. In conclusion, our findings suggest that osteoblastic MMPs can affect osteoblast differentiation. Our work also indicates that osteoblastic MMPs are partly responsible for the bone loss observed in Runx2 transgenic mice.

Overexpression of the transcriptional factor Runx2 in osteoblasts abolishes the anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone in vivo.

There is convincing evidence that Runx2 could be a regulator of the anabolic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in bone. We therefore decided to determine how Runx2 overexpression in osteoblasts affects the anabolic response to PTH. Transgenic osteoporotic female mice overexpressing Runx2 (TG) and their wild-type littermates (WT) were treated with PTH (100 microg/kg/day, 7 days a week) or with the vehicle for 6 weeks. Unexpectedly, Runx2 overexpression blunted the increase in the mineral density and volume of bone induced by intermittent PTH in WT mice. Our findings also indicate that PTH failed to increase bone formation in TG mice overexpressing Runx2. This abolition of the effect of PTH by Runx2 overexpression was attributable to a decrease in the differentiation of osteoblastic cells both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we showed that less cAMP was induced by PTH and that there were fewer PTH binding sites in TG than WT osteoblasts. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that in vivo a high level of Runx2 abolishes the anabolic effect of PTH, probably via a decrease in the sensitivity of TG osteoblasts to PTH, and that the level of expression of Runx2 is critical if PTH is to produce its anabolic effect on bone in vivo.

Heparin-like dextran derivatives as well as glycosaminoglycans inhibit the enzymatic activity of human cathepsin G.

Some synthetic dextran derivatives that mimic the action of heparin/heparan sulfate were previously shown to inhibit neutrophil elastase and plasmin. Here we report that these derivatized dextrans also inhibit cathepsin G (CatG). Dextran containing carboxymethyl and benzylamide groups (RG1150) as well as those containing carboxymethyl, sulfate and benzylamide groups (RG1192), were the most efficient inhibitors of CatG activity. RG1192 and RG1150 bind CatG with a K(i) of 0.11 and 0.17 nM, respectively, while carboxymethylated sulfated dextran (RG1503) as well as heparin, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate bind CatG with a 7- to 30-fold lower affinity. Variation of K(i) with ionic strength indicates that ionic interactions account for 26% of the RG1503-CatG binding energy, while binding of RG1192 or RG1150 to CatG is mainly governed by non-electrostatic interactions. This, together with the fact that these compounds both protect fibronectin and laminin against CatG-mediated degradation, suggest that specific dextran derivatives can contribute to the regulation of CatG activity.