Thiophen urea derivatives as a new class of hepatitis C virus entry inhibitors.

To develop unique small-molecule inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV), thiophen urea (TU) derivatives were synthesised and screened for HCV entry inhibitory activities. Among them, seven TU compounds exhibited portent anti-viral activities against genotypes 1/2 (EC50 < 30 nM) and subsequently, they were further investigated; based on the pharmacological, metabolic, pharmacokinetic, and safety profiles, J2H-1701 was selected as the optimised lead compound as an HCV entry inhibitor. J2H-1701 possesses effective multi-genotypic antiviral activity. The docking results suggested the potential interaction of J2H-1701 with the HCV E2 glycoprotein. These results suggest that J2H-1701 can be a potential candidate drug for the development of HCV entry inhibitors.

Crystal Structure Analysis of the First Discovered Stability-Enhanced Solid State of Tenofovir Disoproxil Free Base Using Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction.

Tenofovir disoproxil (TD), an anti-virus drug, is currently marketed under its most stable form, Form-I of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). However, studies regarding the properties of TD free base crystal as a promising drug as well as its crystal structure have not yet been reported. This assumption was made because TD free base is not directly produced in a solid form during the manufacturing process. TD free base is first obtained in an oil form, and is then synthesized into TDF crystal. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate both the potentiality of TD free base to be an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and its crystal structure. Here, TD free base solid was produced by means of drowning-out crystallization. Next, single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXD) was employed to determine the crystal structure. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were performed to evaluate the crystal's properties. Furthermore, experiments were carried out at 15%, 35%, 55%, 75%, and 95% relative humidity (RH) for 12 h using a hygroscopic tester to determine and to compare the hygroscopicity and stability of TD free base with TDF crystal. Additionally, experiments were conducted under accelerated (40 °C, RH 75%) and stress storage (60 °C, RH 75%) conditions for 30 days to investigate the changes in purity and the formation of dimer. In this work, we report that TD free base possesses lower hygroscopicity, and thus does not generate dimer impurity from hydrolysis. Primarily, this is attributed to the fact that TD free base is not an easily ionized salt but comprises neutral hydrophobic molecules. According to the structural properties, the improved hygroscopic property of the TD free base crystal was due to the decrease of crystal polarity owing to the intermolecular H-bonds present in TD free base rings. In addition, the solubility investigation study carried out in aqueous solution and at gastrointestinal pH revealed a similarity in TDF and TD free base solubility under the mentioned conditions. Accordingly, we could confirm the potentiality of TD free base as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Inhibition of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 relieves fibrosis through depolarizing of hepatic stellate cell in NASH.

11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ßHSD1) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the intracellular conversion of cortisone to physiologically active cortisol. Although 11ßHSD1 has been implicated in numerous metabolic syndromes, such as obesity and diabetes, the functional roles of 11ßHSD1 during progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and consequent fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. We found that pharmacological and genetic inhibition of 11ßHSD1 resulted in reprogramming of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation via inhibition of p-SMAD3, α-SMA, Snail, and Col1A1 in a fibrotic environment and in multicellular hepatic spheroids (MCHSs). We also determined that 11ßHSD1 contributes to the maintenance of NF-κB signaling through modulation of TNF, TLR7, ITGB3, and TWIST, as well as regulating PPARα signaling and extracellular matrix accumulation in activated HSCs during advanced fibrogenesis in MCHSs. Of great interest, the 11ßHSD1 inhibitor J2H-1702 significantly attenuated hepatic lipid accumulation and ameliorated liver fibrosis in diet- and toxicity-induced NASH mouse models. Together, our data indicate that J2H-1702 is a promising new clinical candidate for the treatment of NASH.

The reversible fourth-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor OBX02-011 overcomes C797S-mediated resistance in lung cancer.

Osimertinib is an irreversible third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that was initially developed to overcome the EGFR T790M mutation and is used as a standard therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR-activating mutations. Despite the remarkable initial efficacy, osimertinib, like other EGFR-TKIs, is limited by the emergence of acquired resistance. As the EGFR mutation C797S has been identified as a key driver of acquired resistance to osimertinib, development of a drug that targets this clinically relevant mutation could help improve patient outcomes. Here, we report the discovery and preclinical efficacy of OBX02-011, a reversible fourth-generation EGFR TKI that overcomes the EGFR C797S mutation. Compared to approved EGFR TKIs, OBX02-011 showed potent anticancer effects and inhibited EGFR-related signaling in various models, including those harboring the EGFR C797S mutation. Additionally, in transgenic mouse models (EGFRL858R/T790M/C797S), OBX02-011 treatment effectively inhibited tumor growth and EGFR activity, leading to enhanced survival. Collectively, these results suggest that OBX02-011 may be a promising new EGFR TKI to overcome C797S-mediated resistance in NSCLC.

Chromenopyrimidinone Controls Stemness and Malignancy by suppressing CD133 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant human cancer that has increasing mortality rates worldwide. Because CD133+ cells control tumor maintenance and progression, compounds that target CD133+ cancer cells could be effective in combating HCC. We found that the administration of chromenopyrimidinone (CPO) significantly decreased spheroid formation and the number of CD133+ cells in mixed HCC cell populations. CPO not only significantly inhibited cell proliferation in HCC cells exhibiting different CD133 expression levels, but also effectively induced apoptosis and increased the expression of LC3-II in HCC cells. CPO also exhibits in vivo therapeutic efficiency in HCC. Specifically, CPO suppressed the expression of CD133 by altering the subcellular localization of CD133 from the membrane to lysosomes in CD133+ HCC cells. Moreover, CPO treatment induced point mutations in the ADRB1, APOB, EGR2, and UBE2C genes and inhibited the expression of these proteins in HCC and the expression of UBE2C is particularly controlled by CD133 expression among those four proteins in HCC. Our results suggested that CPO may suppress stemness and malignancies in vivo and in vitro by decreasing CD133 and UBE2C expression in CD133+ HCC. Our study provides evidence that CPO could act as a novel therapeutic agent for the effective treatment of CD133+ HCC.

Kinetics of the Solution-Mediated Polymorphic Transformation of the Novel l-Carnitine Orotate Polymorph, Form-II.

Research studies related to the polymorphs of l-Carnitine orotate (CO), a medication used for the treatment and prevention of liver diseases, are insignificant or almost nonexistent. Accordingly, in the present study, l-Carnitine orotate (CO) was prepared for investigating CO polymorphs. Here, a reactive crystallization was induced by reacting 1g of l-Carn (1 equivalent) and 0.97 g of OA (1 equivalent) in methanol (MeOH); as a result, CO form-I and CO form-II polymorphs were obtained after 1 h and 16 h of stirring, respectively. The characterization of CO polymorphs was carried out utilizing Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (solid-state CP/MAS 13C-NMR). The solution-mediated polymorphic transformation (SMPT) of CO polymorphs was investigated in MeOH at controlled temperature and fixed rotational speed. The results revealed that CO form-I is a metastable polymorph while CO form-II is a stable polymorph. From the same results, it was confirmed that CO form-I was converted to CO form-II during the polymorphic phase transformation process. Moreover, it was assessed that the increase in temperature and supersaturation level significantly promotes the rate of nucleation, as well as the rate of mass transfer of CO form-II. In addition, nucleation and mass transfer equations were employed for the quantitative determination of SMPT experimental results. Lastly, it was suggested that CO form-II was more thermodynamically stable than CO form-I and that both polymorphs belong to the monotropic system.

Discovery of a Potent and Mutant-Selective EGFR Inhibitor that Overcomes T790M-Mediated Resistance in Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite remarkable activity in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancer patients, the clinical efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is limited by the emergence of acquired resistance, which is mostly caused by a secondary T790M mutation. Fortunately, newly developed, mutant-selective EGFR-TKIs against T790M have been proven as an effective therapeutic approach although only osimertinib has received the FDA approval until now. OBJECTIVE: To determine the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of a new EGFR TKI, OBX1-012 in cells with mutant EGFR. METHODS: Effects of OBX1-012 on cellular viability and EGFR-related signaling were determined in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, including cells harboring T790M mutations. In addition, in vivo efficacy of OBX1-012 was evaluated in xenograft models. RESULTS: We report the discovery and preclinical assessment of another novel, mutant-selective EGFR-TKI, OBX1-012. Compared with other mutant-selective EGFR-TKIs such as olumitinib and osimertinib, it showed similar potency and selectivity for mutant EGFR. OBX1-012 treatment was highly effective against human EGFR-mutant lung cancer models with or without EGFR T790M, not only in vitro but also in vivo. However, OBX1-012 like other EGFR-TKIs failed to exhibit efficacy for the exon 20 insertion mutation or C797S mutation, which was generated by site-directed mutagenesis and stable transfection of Ba/F3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify OBX1-012 as a highly effective, mutant-selective EGFR-TKI for the treatment of T790M-mediated resistance in NSCLC.

Application of ionic liquid to polymorphic transformation of anti-viral/HIV drug adefovir dipivoxil.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are defined as salts with a melting point below 100 °C. ILs have received increasing attention as new alternative to organic solvents because of their unique physicochemical properties. Therefore, this study was conducted in the purpose to present the efficacy of ILs as new solvents capable to control the Polymorphic transformation phenomenon. Here, the polymorphic transformation phenomenon of adefovir dipivoxil, an efficient antiviral active pharmaceutical ingredient on human immunodeficiency virus, was investigated. The phase transformation phenomenon from the metastable polymorph, new form (NF) to the stable polymorph, Form-X in 1-allyl-3-ethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (AEImBF4) and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BDMImBF4) ILs solutions was observed utilizing the solvent-mediated phase transformation method The thermodynamic factors, AEImBF4/BDMImBF4 solvent composition ratio of 3:7-6:4 and the temperature in range of 25-100 °C, as well as the dynamic factor, the rational speed in range of 300-1000 rpm were parameters studied in this experiment. The thermodynamic and dynamic equations involving nucleation and mass transfer were applied for the quantitative analysis. The result of the present study confirmed the use of ILs as substitute solvent for volatile organic solvents, and demonstrated the efficacy of ILs as potential solvent-media to control the polymorphic transformation.