Discovery of LYC-55716: A Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor-γ (RORγ) Agonist for Use in Treating Cancer.

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ (RORc, RORγ, or NR1F3) is the nuclear receptor master transcription factor that drives the function and development of IL-17-producing T helper cells (Th17), cytotoxic T cells (Tc17), and subsets of innate lymphoid cells. Activation of RORγ T cells in the tumor microenvironment is hypothesized to render immune infiltrates more effective at countering tumor growth. To test this hypothesis, a family of benzoxazines was optimized to provide LYC-55716 (), a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable small-molecule RORγ agonist.

Discovery of potent selective bioavailable phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) inhibitors active in an osteoarthritis pain model. Part II: optimization studies and demonstration of in vivo efficacy.

Selective phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) inhibitors are shown to have efficacy in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA) pain. We identified potent, selective PDE2 inhibitors by optimizing residual PDE2 activity in a series of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, while minimizing PDE4 inhibitory activity. These newly designed PDE2 inhibitors bind to the PDE2 enzyme in a cGMP-like binding mode orthogonal to the cAMP-like binding mode found in PDE4.

Discovery of potent, selective, bioavailable phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) inhibitors active in an osteoarthritis pain model, part I: transformation of selective pyrazolodiazepinone phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors into selective PDE2 inhibitors.

We identified potent, selective PDE2 inhibitors by optimizing residual PDE2 activity in a series of PDE4 inhibitors, while simultaneously minimizing PDE4 activity. These newly designed PDE2 inhibitors bind to the PDE2 enzyme in a cGMP-like mode in contrast to the cAMP-like binding mode found in PDE4. Structure activity relationship studies coupled with an inhibitor bound crystal structure in the active site of the catalytic domain of PDE2 identified structural features required to minimize PDE4 inhibition while simultaneously maximizing PDE2 inhibition.

Preclinical selection of a novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor for clinical trial.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 (EC 2.4.2.

Pyridine-3-propanoic acids: Discovery of dual PPARalpha/gamma agonists as antidiabetic agents.

A series of novel pyridine-3-propanoic acids was synthesized. A structure-activity relationship study of these compounds led to the identification of potent dual PPARalpha/gamma agonists with varied isoform selectivity. Based on the results of efficacy studies in diabetic (db/db) mice, and the desired pharmacokinetic parameters, compounds (S)-14 and (S)-19 were selected for further profiling.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel human 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) substrates.

The structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel MTAP substrates are described. These compounds incorporate various C5'-moieties and are shown to have different k(cat)/K(m) values compared with the natural MTAP substrate (MTA).

Potentiation of cytotoxic drug activity in human tumour cell lines, by amine-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazole-4-carboxamide PARP-1 inhibitors.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of amine-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazole-4-carboxamide inhibitors of the DNA-repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is reported. The introduction of an amine substituent at the 2-aryl position is not detrimental to activity, with most inhibitors exhibiting K(i) values for PARP-1 inhibition in the low nanomolar range. Two compounds in this series were found to potentiate the cytotoxicity of the DNA-methylating agent temozolomide by 4-5-fold in a human colorectal cancer cell line.

Anticancer chemosensitization and radiosensitization by the novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor AG14361.

Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) facilitates the repair of DNA strand breaks. Inhibiting PARP-1 increases the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging chemotherapy and radiation therapy in vitro. Because classical PARP-1 inhibitors have limited clinical utility, we investigated whether AG14361, a novel potent PARP-1 inhibitor (inhibition constant <5 nM), enhances the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in human cancer cell cultures and xenografts.

Identification of potent nontoxic poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitors: chemopotentiation and pharmacological studies.

The nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) facilitates DNA repair, and is, therefore, an attractive target for anticancer chemo- and radio-potentiation. Novel benzimidazole-4-carboxamides (BZ1-6) and tricyclic lactam indoles (TI1-5) with PARP-1 K(i) values of <10 nM have been identified. Whole cell PARP-1 inhibition, intrinsic cell growth inhibition, and chemopotentiation of the cytotoxic agents temozolomide (TM) and topotecan (TP) were evaluated in LoVo human colon carcinoma cells.

Tricyclic benzimidazoles as potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitors.

Novel tricyclic benzimidazole carboxamide poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors have been synthesized. Several compounds were found to be powerful chemopotentiators of temozolomide and topotecan in both A549 and LoVo cell lines. In vitro inhibition of PARP-1 was confirmed by direct measurement of NAD+ depletion and ADP-ribose polymer formation caused by chemically induced DNA damage.

Structure-based design of a parallel synthetic array directed toward the discovery of irreversible inhibitors of human rhinovirus 3C protease.

Utilizing the tools of parallel synthesis and structure-based design, a new class of Michael acceptor-containing, irreversible inhibitors of human rhinovirus 3C protease (HRV 3CP) was discovered. These inhibitors are shown to inhibit HRV-14 3CP with rates of inactivation ranging from 886 to 31 400 M(-1) sec(-1). These inhibitors exhibit antiviral activity when tested against HRV-14 infected H1-HeLa cells, with EC(50) values ranging from 1.

Synthesis, Equilibration, and Coupling of 4-Lithio-1,3-dioxanes: Synthons for syn- and anti-1,3-Diols.

Configurationally defined alpha-alkoxylithium reagents were prepared by reductive lithiation of 4-(phenylthio)-1,3-dioxanes. A new and more general synthesis of 4-(phenylthio)-1,3-dioxanes has been developed on the basis of the reduction and in situ acetylation of 1,3-dioxan-4-ones. For each of the substitution patterns examined (23a-d), reductive lithiation gave the axial alkyllithium (24a-d) with 99:1 stereoselectivity.