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Abstract
Positional analogue scanning (PAS) is an accepted strategy for multiparameter lead optimization (MPO) in drug discovery. Small structural changes as introduced by PAS can lead to 10-fold changes in binding potency in ∼10-20% of cases, a significant parameter shift irrespective of other MPO objectives. Sometimes performing a complete PAS is challenging due to resource and time constraints, building block availability, or difficulty in synthesis. Calculating relative binding free energies (RBFEs) for all positions can contribute to prioritizing the most promising analogues for synthesis. We tested a well-established RBFE calculation method, Amber GPU-TI, for 20 positional analogue scans in 14 test systems (cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 5B (HCV NS5B), tankyrase, RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt), phosphodiesterase 1B (PDE1B), orexin/hypocretin receptor type 1 (OX1R), orexin/hypocretin receptor type 2 (OX2R), histone acetyltransferase K (lysine) acetyltransferase 6A (KAT6A), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT4), αvβ6, bromodomain 1 (BD1), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) entry) involving nitrogen, methyl, halogen, methoxy, and hydroxyl scans with at least four analogues per set. Among the 66 analogue positions explored, we found that in 18 cases Amber GPU-TI calculations predicted a more than 10-fold change in potency. In all of these cases, the experimentally observed direction of potency changes agreed with the predictions. In 16 cases, more than 10-fold changes in experimental potency were observed. Again, in all of these cases, Amber GPU-TI predicted the direction of the potency changes correctly. In none of these cases would a decision made for or against synthesis based on a 10-fold change in potency have resulted in missing an important analogue. Therefore, in silico RBFE calculations using Amber GPU-TI can meaningfully contribute to the prioritization of positional analogues before synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Hu
- Alkermes, Inc., 852 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451-1420, United States
| | - Ingo Muegge
- Alkermes, Inc., 852 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451-1420, United States
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Small molecules targeting γ-secretase and their potential biological applications. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 232:114169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Miranda A, Montiel E, Ulrich H, Paz C. Selective Secretase Targeting for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:1-17. [PMID: 33749645 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with marked atrophy of the cerebral cortex and accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are formed by oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain, with a length of 42 and 40 amino acids. α-secretase cleaves amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) producing the membrane-bound fragment CTFα and the soluble fragment sAβPPα with neuroprotective activity; β-secretase produces membrane-bound fragment CTFβ and a soluble fragment sAβPPβ. After α-secretase cleavage of AβPP, γ-secretase cleaves CTFα to produce the cytoplasmic fragment AICD and P3 in the non-amyloidogenic pathway. CTFβ is cleaved by γ-secretase producing AICD as well as Aβ in amyloidogenic pathways. In the last years, the study of natural products and synthetic compounds, such as α-secretase activity enhancers, β-secretase inhibitors (BACE-1), and γ-secretase activity modulators, have been the focus of pharmaceuticals and researchers. Drugs were improved regarding solubility, blood-brain barrier penetration, selectivity, and potency decreasing Aβ42. In this regard, BACE-1 inhibitors, such as Atabecestat, NB-360, Umibecestat, PF-06751979 Verubecestat, LY2886721, Lanabecestat, LY2811376 and Elenbecestat, were submitted to phase I-III clinical trials. However, inhibition of Aβ production did not recover cognitive functions or reverse disease progress. Novel strategies are being developed, aiming at a partial reduction of Aβ production, such as the development of γ-secretase modulators or α-secretase activity enhancers. Such therapeutic tools shall focus on slowing down or minimizing the progression of neuronal damage. Here, we summarize structures and activities of the latest compounds designed for AD treatment, with remarkable in vitro, in vivo, and clinical phase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Miranda
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Enrique Montiel
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristian Paz
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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Santiago Á, Guzmán-Ocampo DC, Aguayo-Ortiz R, Dominguez L. Characterizing the Chemical Space of γ-Secretase Inhibitors and Modulators. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2765-2775. [PMID: 34291906 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase (GS) is one of the most attractive molecular targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Its key role in the final step of amyloid-β peptides generation and its relationship in the cascade of events for disease development have caught the attention of many pharmaceutical groups. Over the past years, different inhibitors and modulators have been evaluated as promising therapeutics against AD. However, despite the great chemical diversity of the reported compounds, a global classification and visual representation of the chemical space for GS inhibitors and modulators remain unavailable. In the present work, we carried out a two-dimensional (2D) chemical space analysis from different classes and subclasses of GS inhibitors and modulators based on their structural similarity. Along with the novel structural information available for GS complexes, our analysis opens the possibility to identify compounds with high molecular similarity, critical to finding new chemical structures through the optimization of existing compounds and relating them with a potential binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Santiago
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Dulce C. Guzmán-Ocampo
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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Gernet A, Sevrain N, Volle JN, Ayad T, Pirat JL, Virieux D. Diversity-Oriented Synthesis toward Aryl- and Phosphoryl-Functionalized Imidazo[1,2- a]pyridines. J Org Chem 2020; 85:14730-14743. [PMID: 33166470 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We report herein an efficient synthesis of diversely polysubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, a family of aza-heterocycles endowed with numerous biological properties, through a sequence involving two consecutive palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. First, we demonstrated that a Hirao coupling occurred straightforwardly in high yields at positions 3, 5, and 6 of imidazopyridine derivatives, giving access to a wide variety of substituted phosphonates, phosphinates, and phosphine oxides. In a second step, direct CH-arylation of phosphorylimidazopyridines with aryl halides was found to be effective and fully selective, leading to 3-aryl-substituted imidazopyridines in moderate to high yields depending on steric hindrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Gernet
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34296 Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Sevrain
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34296 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Noël Volle
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34296 Montpellier, France
| | - Tahar Ayad
- PSL University, Chimie ParisTech, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, CSB2D Team, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Luc Pirat
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34296 Montpellier, France
| | - David Virieux
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34296 Montpellier, France
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Mekala S, Nelson G, Li YM. Recent developments of small molecule γ-secretase modulators for Alzheimer's disease. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:1003-1022. [PMID: 33479693 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00196a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of progressive neurodegenerative disorder, marked by memory loss and a decline in cognitive function. The major hallmarks of AD are the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and extracellular plaques composed of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). The amyloid (Aβ) cascade hypothesis proposes that the AD pathogenesis is initiated by the accumulation of Aβ peptides in the parenchyma of the brain. An aspartyl intramembranal protease called γ-secretase is responsible for the production of Aβ by the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Clinical studies of γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) for AD failed due to the lack of substrate specificity. Therefore, γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) have been developed as potential disease modifying agents to modulate the γ-secretase cleavage activity towards the production of toxic Aβ42 peptides. Following the first-generation 'nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug' (NSAID) based GSMs, second-generation GSMs (carboxylic acid based NSAID derivatives and non-NSAID derived heterocyclic analogues), as well as natural product-based GSMs, have been developed. In this review, we focus on the recent developments of small molecule-based GSMs that show potential improvements in terms of drug-like properties as well as their current status in human clinical trials and the future perspectives of GSM research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shekar Mekala
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ;
| | - Grady Nelson
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ;
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue , New York , New York 10065 , USA . ; .,Pharmacology Graduate Program , Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University , New York , New York 10021 , USA
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Sekioka R, Honda S, Honjo E, Suzuki T, Akashiba H, Mitani Y, Yamasaki S. Discovery of N-ethylpyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives as a novel scaffold for orally active γ-secretase modulators. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kounnas MZ, Durakoglugil MS, Herz J, Comer WT. NGP 555, a γ-secretase modulator, shows a beneficial shift in the ratio of amyloid biomarkers in human cerebrospinal fluid at safe doses. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2019; 5:458-467. [PMID: 31921961 PMCID: PMC6944734 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it is widely accepted that AD is a complex disease with multiple approaches necessary to prevent and treat the disease. METHODS Using amyloid biomarkers in human cerebrospinal fluid, pharmacokinetic, safety, and metabolism studies, we investigate the properties of NGP 555, γ-secretase modulator, for the first time in human clinical trials. RESULTS Our preclinical and clinical studies combined show beneficial effects with NGP 555 on synaptic response and amyloid cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers while avoiding negative side effects. Importantly, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters combined with safety outcomes indicate that NGP 555 penetrates the blood-brain barrier and increases the ratio of amyloid-β peptide Aβ37 and Aβ38 compared with that of Aβ42, establishing a proof of target engagement in humans in a 14 day, once-daily oral dosing trial. DISCUSSION In humans, NGP 555 has demonstrated a beneficial shift in the production of Aβ37 and Aβ38 versus Aβ42 biomarker levels in the cerebrospinal fluid while maintaining an adequate safety profile. The overall clinical goal is to achieve an optimal balance of efficacy for altering amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) biomarkers while maintaining a safe profile so that NGP 555 can be given early in AD to prevent production of Aβ42 and accumulation of amyloid plaques, in an effort to prevent aggregation of tau and destruction of neurons and synapses resulting in cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Z. Kounnas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Murat S. Durakoglugil
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Joachim Herz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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Vanda D, Zajdel P, Soural M. Imidazopyridine-based selective and multifunctional ligands of biological targets associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 181:111569. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Design and synthesis of a novel series of cyanoindole derivatives as potent γ-secretase modulators. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2019; 29:1737-1745. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Discovery of tetrahydroindazoles as a novel class of potent and in vivo efficacious gamma secretase modulators. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:3227-3241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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