2,8-Disubstituted-1,5-naphthyridines as Dual Inhibitors of Phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase and Hemozoin Formation with Efficacy.

Structure-activity relationship studies of 2,8-disubstituted-1,5-naphthyridines, previously reported as potent inhibitors of () phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase β (PI4K), identified 1,5-naphthyridines with basic groups at 8-position, which retained PI4K inhibitory activity but switched primary mode of action to the host hemoglobin degradation pathway through inhibition of hemozoin formation. These compounds showed minimal off-target inhibitory activity against the human phosphoinositide kinases and MINK1 and MAP4K kinases, which were associated with the teratogenicity and testicular toxicity observed in rats for the PI4K inhibitor clinical candidate MMV390048. A representative compound from the series retained activity against field isolates and lab-raised drug-resistant strains of .