Induction of Lysosome Membrane Permeabilization as a Therapeutic Strategy to Target Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells.

Despite significant efforts to improve pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) clinical outcomes, overall survival remains dismal. The poor response to current therapies is partly due to the existence of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs), which are efficient drivers of PDAC tumorigenesis, metastasis and relapse. To find new therapeutic agents that could efficiently kill PaCSCs, we screened a chemical library of 680 compounds for candidate small molecules with anti-CSC activity, and identified two compounds of a specific chemical series with potent activity in vitro and in vivo against patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cultures.

Discovery of (7R)-14-cyclohexyl-7-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl](methyl) amino}-7,8-dihydro-6H-indolo[1,2-e][1,5]benzoxazocine-11-carboxylic acid (MK-3281), a potent and orally bioavailable finger-loop inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase.

Infections caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a significant world health problem for which novel therapies are in urgent demand. The polymerase of HCV is responsible for the replication of viral genome and has been a prime target for drug discovery efforts. Here, we report on the further development of tetracyclic indole inhibitors, binding to an allosteric site on the thumb domain.

Optimization of thienopyrrole-based finger-loop inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase.

Infections caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a significant world health problem for which novel therapies are in urgent demand. The NS5B polymerase of HCV is responsible for the replication of viral RNA and has been a prime target in the search for novel treatment options. We had discovered allosteric finger-loop inhibitors based on a thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole scaffold as an alternative to the related indole inhibitors.

Discovery of pentacyclic compounds as potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA polymerase.

We report a new series of inhibitors for hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA polymerase containing a constrained pentacyclic scaffold. Our SAR studies led to the identification of hexahydroindolo[2,1-a]pyrrolo[3,2-d][2]benzazepines exposing basic groups. The compounds displayed a high activity in the enzyme assay and displayed good activity in the cell-based (replicon) assay in the presence of serum proteins.

Discovery and synthesis of HIV integrase inhibitors: development of potent and orally bioavailable N-methyl pyrimidones.

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) encodes three enzymes essential for viral replication: a reverse transcriptase, a protease, and an integrase. The latter is responsible for the integration of the viral genome into the human genome and, therefore, represents an attractive target for chemotherapeutic intervention against AIDS. A drug based on this mechanism has not yet been approved.

An enantioselective total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-saudin. Determination of the absolute configuration.

A short efficient enantioselective synthesis of both (+)- and (-)-saudin, a naturally occurring hypoglycemic diterpene, is described. This synthesis establishes the absolute configuration of natural (-)-saudin for the first time. The key steps include the enantioselective construction of a dimethyl Hagemann's ester by an asymmetric Michael reaction and establishment of the key 1,3 disposed quaternary centers by means of a novel Ti(IV) promoted Claisen rearrangement.