A novel Menin-MLL1 inhibitor, DS-1594a, prevents the progression of acute leukemia with rearranged MLL1 or mutated NPM1.

BACKGROUND: Mixed lineage leukemia 1-rearranged (MLL1-r) acute leukemia patients respond poorly to currently available treatments and there is a need to develop more effective therapies directly disrupting the Menin‒MLL1 complex. Small-molecule-mediated inhibition of the protein‒protein interaction between Menin and MLL1 fusion proteins is a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with MLL1-r or mutated-nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1c) acute leukemia. In this study, we preclinically evaluated the new compound DS-1594a and its salts. METHODS: We evaluated the preclinical efficacy of DS-1594a as well as DS-1594a·HCl (the HCl salt of DS-1594a) and DS-1594a·succinate (the succinic acid salt of DS-1594a, DS-1594b) in vitro and in vivo using acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) models. RESULTS: Our results showed that MLL1-r or NPM1c human leukemic cell lines were selectively and highly sensitive to DS-1594a·HCl, with 50% growth inhibition values < 30 nM. Compared with cytrabine, the standard chemotherapy drug as AML therapy, both DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate mediated the eradication of potential leukemia-initiating cells by enhancing differentiation and reducing serial colony-forming potential in MLL1-r AML cells in vitro. The results were confirmed by flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, RT‒qPCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses. DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate exhibited significant antitumor efficacy and survival benefit in MOLM-13 cell and patient-derived xenograft models of MLL1-r or NPM1c acute leukemia in vivo. CONCLUSION: We have generated a novel, potent, orally available small-molecule inhibitor of the Menin-MLL1 interaction, DS-1594a. Our results suggest that DS-1594a has medicinal properties distinct from those of cytarabine and that DS-1594a has the potential to be a new anticancer therapy and support oral dosing regimen for clinical studies (NCT04752163).

Discovery of EP300/CBP histone acetyltransferase inhibitors through scaffold hopping of 1,4-oxazepane ring.

EP300 and its paralog CBP play an important role in post-translational modification as histone acetyltransferases (HATs). EP300/CBP inhibition has been gaining attention as an anticancer treatment target in recent years. Herein, we describe the identification of a novel, highly selective EP300/CBP inhibitor, compound 11 (DS17701585), by scaffold hopping and structure-based optimization of a high-throughput screening hit 1. Compound 11 (DS17701585) shows dose-dependent inhibition of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) mRNA expression in a human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line LK2-xenografted mouse model.

Discovery of DS-9300: A Highly Potent, Selective, and Once-Daily Oral EP300/CBP Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor.

Histone acetylation is a post-translational modification of histones that is catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and plays an essential role in cellular processes. The HAT domain of EP300/CBP has recently emerged as a potential drug target for cancer therapy. Here, we describe the identification of the novel, highly potent, and selective EP300/CBP HAT inhibitor DS-9300. Our optimization efforts using a structure-based drug design approach based on the cocrystal structures of the EP300 HAT domain in complex with compounds 2 and 3 led to the identification of compounds possessing low-nanomolar EP300 HAT inhibitory potency and the ability to inhibit cellular acetylation of histone H3K27. Optimization of the pharmacokinetic properties in this series resulted in compounds with excellent oral systemic exposure, and once-daily oral administration of 16 (DS-9300) demonstrated potent antitumor effects in a castrated VCaP xenograft mouse model without significant body weight loss.

Design, synthesis and antifungal activity of the novel water-soluble prodrug of antifungal triazole CS-758.

CS-758 was selected as a candidate for clinical trials, but since its water-solubility was insufficient for an injectable formulation, phosphoryl ester prodrugs were designed. In this study, the synthesis and evaluation of these injectable prodrugs are described. Phosphoryl ester 17 h was soluble in water, and was stable in both water and in a solid state. 17 h was converted to CS-758 in human liver microsome and was also converted to CS-758 in rats after intravenous (i.v.) administration with good conversion speed and efficiency. 17 h (i.v.) reduced the viable cell counts in kidneys in a murine hematogenous Candida albicans infection model and in lungs in a murine pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection model, wherein the effects were comparable to or slightly superior to that of CS-758 (per os).

Amide analogs of antifungal dioxane-triazole derivatives: synthesis and in vitro activities.

A new series of triazole compounds possessing an amide-part were efficiently synthesized and their in vitro antifungal activities were investigated. The amide analogs showed excellent in vitro activity against Candida, Cryptococcus and Aspergillus species. The MICs of compound 23d against C. albicans ATCC24433, C. neoformans TIMM1855 and A. fumigatus ATCC26430 were 0.008, 0.031 and 0.031 microg/mL, respectively, (MICs of fluconazole: 0.5, >4 and >4 microg/mL; MICs of itraconazole: 0.125, 0.25, 0.25 microg/mL). Furthermore, compound 23d was stable under acidic conditions.

Synthesis, cleavage, and antifungal activity of a number of novel, water-soluble ester prodrugs of antifungal triazole CS-758.

In this study, the synthesis and evaluation of a number of esters of CS-758 as injectable prodrugs are described. Phosphoryl ester 1a was soluble in water (>30mg/mL) and was converted to CS-758 in human liver microsome. It was also converted to CS-758 in rats after iv administration, wherein the bioavailability of CS-758 was 53%. Compound 1a (iv) reduced the viable cell counts in kidneys in a murine systemic Candida albicans infection model, wherein the effect was comparable to or slightly superior to that of CS-758 (po). The prodrug 1a proved to be a promising injectable antifungal agent whose further evaluation is warranted.

Muraminomicins, novel ester derivatives: in vitro and in vivo antistaphylococcal activity.

Novel muraminomicin derivatives with antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were synthesized by esterification of the hydroxy group on the diazepanone ring of muraminomicin Z1. Compound 1b (DS14450354) possessed a diheptoxybenzyl-ß-Alanyl-ß-Alanyl group and exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against MRSA comparable to those against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). The MICs that inhibited 50 and 90% of the strains were 1 and 2 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 1a (DS60182922) possessed an aminoethylbenzoyldodecylglycyl moiety and showed bactericidal activity against MSSA Smith. The bactericidal activity of 1a against MRSA 10925 was comparatively lower, whilst 1b exhibited dose-dependent bactericidal activity against MRSA 10925. The mutation frequency of 1b was lower than that of 1a. An amino acid substitution (F226I) was observed in MraY mutants isolated from culture plates containing 1a or 1b. Subcutaneous 1a and 1b administration showed good therapeutic efficacy in murine systemic infection models with MSSA Smith and MRSA 10925, comparable to that of vancomycin, suggesting that the novel muraminomicin derivatives may be effective therapeutic agents against MRSA that warrant further investigation. A scheme for the formulation of the key ester intermediate, requiring no HPLC preparation, was also established.

The new-generation selective ROS1/NTRK inhibitor DS-6051b overcomes crizotinib resistant ROS1-G2032R mutation in preclinical models.

ROS1 gene rearrangement was observed in around 1-2 % of NSCLC patients and in several other cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma, or colorectal cancer. Crizotinib, an ALK/ROS1/MET inhibitor, is highly effective against ROS1-rearranged lung cancer and is used in clinic. However, crizotinib resistance is an emerging issue, and several resistance mechanisms, such as secondary kinase-domain mutations (e.g., ROS1-G2032R) have been identified in crizotinib-refractory patients. Here we characterize a new selective ROS1/NTRK inhibitor, DS-6051b, in preclinical models of ROS1- or NTRK-rearranged cancers. DS-6051b induces dramatic growth inhibition of both wild type and G2032R mutant ROS1-rearranged cancers or NTRK-rearranged cancers in vitro and in vivo. Here we report that DS-6051b is effective in treating ROS1- or NTRK-rearranged cancer in preclinical models, including crizotinib-resistant ROS1 positive cancer with secondary kinase domain mutations especially G2032R mutation which is highly resistant to crizotinib as well as lorlatinib and entrectinib, next generation ROS1 inhibitors.

Muraminomicins, new lipo-nucleoside antibiotics from Streptosporangium sp. SANK 60501-structure elucidations of muraminomicins and supply of the core component for derivatization.

We screened for bacterial phospho-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide-translocase (MraY: EC 2.7.8.13) inhibitors with the aim of discovering novel antibiotics and observed inhibitory activity in the culture broth of an actinomycete, SANK 60501. The active compounds, muraminomicins A, B, C, D, E1, E2, F, G, H, and I exhibited strong inhibitory activity against MraY with IC50 values of 0.0105, 0.0068, 0.0104, 0.0099, 0.0115, 0.0109, 0.0089, 0.0134, 0.0186, and 0.0094 µg ml-1, respectively. Although muraminomicin F exhibited favorable antibacterial activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, this activity was reduced with the addition of serum. To efficiently supply the core component for chemical modification studies, production was carried out in a controlled trial by adding myristic acid to the medium, and a purification method suitable for large-scale production was successfully developed.

Carbon analogs of antifungal dioxane-triazole derivatives: synthesis and in vitro activities.

A new series of triazole compounds possessing a carbon atom in place of a sulfur atom were efficiently synthesized and their in vitro antifungal activities were investigated. The carbon analogs showed excellent in vitro activity against Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus species. The MICs of compound 1c against C. albicans ATCC24433, C. neoformans TIMM1855, and A. fumigatus ATCC26430 were 0.016, 0.016, and 0.125 microg/mL, respectively (MICs of fluconazole: 0.5, >4, and >4 microg/mL; MICs of itraconazole: 0.125, 0.25, and 0.25 microg/mL).