Novel ATP competitive MK2 inhibitors with potent biochemical and cell-based activity throughout the series.

Optimization of our previously described pyrrolopiperidone series led to the identification of a new benzamide sub-series, which exhibits consistently high potency in biochemical and cell-based assays throughout the series. Strong inhibition of LPS-induced production of the cytokine TNFα is coupled to the regulation of HSP27 phosphorylation, indicating that the observed cellular effects result from the inhibition of MK2. X-ray crystallographic and computational analyses provide a rationale for the high potency of the series.

Discovery and optimization of 1-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)benzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives as a novel class of selective cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonists.

Here, we report the identification and optimization of 1-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)benzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives as a novel chemotype with selective cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist activity. 1 is a potent and selective cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist (hCB2 pEC(50) = 8.6).

Discovery of selective and orally available spiro-3-piperidyl ATP-competitive MK2 inhibitors.

The identification of a potent, selective, and orally available MK2 inhibitor series is described. The initial absence of oral bioavailability was successfully tackled by moving the basic nitrogen of the spiro-4-piperidyl moiety towards the electron-deficient pyrrolepyridinedione core, thereby reducing the pK(a) and improving Caco-2 permeability. The resulting racemic spiro-3-piperidyl analogues were separated by chiral preparative HPLC, and the activity towards MK2 inhibition was shown to reside mostly in the first eluting stereoisomer.