Discovery of N-[Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-4-hydroxy-2-(pyridazin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide (MK-8617), an Orally Active Pan-Inhibitor of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl Hydroxylase 1-3 (HIF PHD1-3) for the Treatment of Anemia.

The discovery of novel 4-hydroxy-2-(heterocyclic)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylases (PHD) is described. These are potent, selective, orally bioavailable across several species, and active in stimulating erythropoiesis. Mouse and rat studies showed hematological changes with elevations of plasma EPO and circulating reticulocytes following single oral dose administration, while 4-week q.

Utilizing Low-Volume Aqueous Acoustic Transfer with the Echo 525 to Enable Miniaturization of qRT-PCR Assay.

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a valuable tool for characterizing the effects of inhibitors on viral replication. The amplification of target viral genes through the use of specifically designed fluorescent probes and primers provides a reliable method for quantifying RNA. Due to reagent costs, use of these assays for compound evaluation is limited.

1,3,8-Triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-diones as efficacious pan-inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase 1-3 (HIF PHD1-3) for the treatment of anemia.

The discovery of 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-diones (spirohydantoins) as a structural class of pan-inhibitors of the prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) family of enzymes for the treatment of anemia is described. The initial hit class, spirooxindoles, was identified through affinity selection mass spectrometry (AS-MS) and optimized for PHD2 inhibition and optimal PK/PD profile (short-acting PHDi inhibitors).

SAR studies of 3-arylpropionic acids as potent and selective agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties.

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 3-arylpropionic acids-a class of novel S1P(1) selective agonists-by introducing substitution to the propionic acid chain and replacing the adjacent phenyl ring with pyridine led to a series of modified 3-arylpropionic acids with enhanced half-life in rat. These analogs (e.g.

Discovery of 3-arylpropionic acids as potent agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) with high selectivity against all other known S1P receptor subtypes.

A series of 3-arylpropionic acids were synthesized as S1P1 receptor agonists. Structure-activity relationship studies on the pendant phenyl ring revealed several structural features offering selectivity of S1P1 binding against S1P2-5. These highly selective S1P1 agonists induced peripheral blood lymphocyte lowering in mice and one of them was found to be efficacious in a rat skin transplantation model, supporting that S1P1 agonism is primarily responsible for the immunosuppressive efficacy observed in preclinical animal models.

Highly selective and potent agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate 1 (S1P1) receptor.

Novel series of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonists were developed through a systematic SAR aimed to achieve high selectivity for a single member of the S1P family of receptors, S1P1. The optimized structure represents a highly S1P1-selective and efficacious agonist: S1P1/S1P2, S1P1/S1P3, S1P1/S1P4>10,000-fold, S1P1/S1P5>600-fold, while EC50 (S1P1) <0.2 nM.

2-Aryl(pyrrolidin-4-yl)acetic acids are potent agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors.

A series of 2-aryl(pyrrolidin-4-yl)acetic acids were synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated as agonists of S1P receptors. These analogs were able to induce lowering of lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood of mice and were found to have good overall pharmacokinetic properties in rat.

2,5-Disubstituted pyrrolidine carboxylates as potent, orally active sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonists.

A series of 2,5-cis-disubstituted pyrrolidines were synthesized and evaluated as S1P receptor agonists. Compounds 15-21 were identified with good selectivity over S1P3 which lowered circulating lymphocytes after oral administration in mice.

Discovery of potent 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole sphingosine-1-phosphate-1 (S1P1) receptor agonists with exceptional selectivity against S1P2 and S1P3.

A class of 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole based compounds have been identified as potent sphingosine-1-phosphate-1 (S1P1) receptor agonists with minimal affinity for the S1P2 and S1P3 receptor subtypes. Analogue 26 (S1P1 IC50 = 0.6 nM) has an excellent pharmacokinetics profile in the rat and dog and is efficacious in a rat skin transplant model, indicating that S1P3 receptor agonism is not a component of immunosuppressive efficacy.

A rational utilization of high-throughput screening affords selective, orally bioavailable 1-benzyl-3-carboxyazetidine sphingosine-1-phosphate-1 receptor agonists.

Moderately potent, selective S1P(1) receptor agonists identified from high-throughput screening have been adapted into lipophilic tails for a class of orally bioavailable amino acid-based S1P(1) agonists represented by 7. Many of the new compounds are potent S1P(1) agonists that select against the S1P(2), S1P(3), and S1P(4) (although not S1P(5)) receptor subtypes. Analogues 18 and 24 are highly orally bioavailable and possess excellent pharmacokinetic profiles in the rat, dog, and rhesus monkey.

Design and synthesis of conformationally constrained 3-(N-alkylamino)propylphosphonic acids as potent agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors.

A series of conformationally constrained 3-(N-alkylamino)propylphosphonic acids were systematically synthesized and their activities as S1P receptor agonists were evaluated. Several pyrrolidine and cyclohexane analogs had S1P receptor profiles comparable to the acyclic lead compound, 3-(N-tetradecylamino)propylphosphonic acid (3), lowered circulating lymphocytes in mice after iv administration and were thus identified as being suitable for further investigations.

Synthesis, stereochemical determination and biochemical characterization of the enantiomeric phosphate esters of the novel immunosuppressive agent FTY720.

The novel immunosuppressive agent FTY720 (1) is phosphorylated in vivo in a variety of species yielding an active metabolite that is an agonist of four of the five known G-protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. A synthesis amenable to producing gram quantities of the stereoisomeric phosphate esters, a determination of their absolute stereochemistry via an enantioselective synthesis and their characterization as S1P receptor agonists and antagonists is reported.