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Agoulnik IU, Kaftanovskaya EM, Myhr C, Bathgate RAD, Kocan M, Peng Y, Lindsay RM, DiStefano PS, Agoulnik AI. Engineering a long acting, non-biased relaxin agonist using Protein-in-Protein technology. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 227:116401. [PMID: 38945278 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin plays a critical role in tissue remodeling in a variety of tissues through activation of its cognate receptor, RXFP1. Relaxin's ability to modify extracellular matrices has provided a strong rationale for treating fibrosis in a variety of tissues. Treatment with recombinant relaxin peptides in clinical studies of heart failure has not yet proven useful, likely due to the short half-life of infused peptide. To circumvent this particular pharmacokinetic pitfall we have used a Protein-in-Protein (PiP) antibody technology described previously, to insert a single-chain human relaxin construct into the complementarity-determining region (CDR) of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) backbone, creating a relaxin molecule with a half-life of ∼4-5 days in mice. Relaxin-PiP biologics displaced Europium-labeled human relaxin in RXFP1-expressing cells and demonstrated full agonist activity on both human and mouse RXFP1 receptors. Relaxin-PiPs did not show signal transduction bias, as they activated cAMP in THP-1 cells, and cGMP and pERK signaling in primary human cardiac fibroblasts. In an induced carbon tetrachloride mouse model of liver fibrosis one relaxin-PiP, R2-PiP, caused reduction of liver lesions, ameliorated collagen accumulation in the liver with the corresponding reduction of Collagen1a1 gene expression, and increased cell proliferation in hepatic parenchyma. These relaxin biologics represent a novel approach to the design of a long-acting RXFP1 agonist to probe the clinical utility of relaxin/RXFP1 signaling to treat a variety of human fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina U Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Elena M Kaftanovskaya
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Courtney Myhr
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Martina Kocan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yingjie Peng
- Scripps Research, 10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - Ronald M Lindsay
- Zebra Biologics, Inc., 1041 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA 01742 USA
| | - Peter S DiStefano
- Zebra Biologics, Inc., 1041 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA 01742 USA.
| | - Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Kaushal N, Attarwala H, Iqbal MJ, Saini R, Van L, Liang M. Translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model for mRNA-0184, an investigational therapeutic for the treatment of heart failure. Clin Transl Sci 2024; 17:e13894. [PMID: 39072952 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a complex, progressive disorder that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality on a global scale. Relaxin-2 is a naturally occurring hormone that may have potential therapeutic benefit for patients with HF. To investigate the therapeutic potential of relaxin in the treatment of patients with HF, mRNA-0184, a novel, investigational, lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA therapy that encodes for human relaxin-2 fused to variable light chain kappa (Rel2-vlk) was developed. A translational semi-mechanistic population pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) model was developed using data from non-human primates at dose levels ranging from 0.15 to 1 mg/kg. The PK/PD model was able to describe the PK of Rel2-vlk mRNA and translated Rel2-vlk protein in non-human primates adequately with relatively precise estimates. The preclinical PK/PD model was then scaled allometrically to determine the human mRNA-0184 dose that would achieve therapeutic levels of Rel2-vlk protein expression in patients with stable HF with reduced ejection fraction. Model-based simulations derived from the scaled PK/PD model support the selection of 0.025 mg/kg as an appropriate starting human dose of mRNA-0184 to achieve average trough relaxin levels between 1 and 2.5 ng/mL, which is the potential exposure for cardioprotective action of relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Linh Van
- Moderna, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Min Liang
- Moderna, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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3
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Satoh Y, Ono Y, Takahashi R, Katayama H, Iwaoka M, Yoshino O, Arai K. Seleno-relaxin analogues: effect of internal and external diselenide bonds on the foldability and a fibrosis-related factor of endometriotic stromal cells. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:729-737. [PMID: 39092438 PMCID: PMC11289879 DOI: 10.1039/d4cb00095a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Human relaxin-2 (H2 relaxin) is a peptide hormone of about 6 kDa, first identified as a reproductive hormone involved in vasoregulation during pregnancy. It has recently attracted strong interest because of its diverse functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and vasodilatory, and has been suggested as a potential peptide-based drug candidate for a variety of diseases. Mature H2 relaxin is constituted by the A- and B-chains stabilized by two interchain disulfide (SS) bridges and one intrachain SS linkage. In this study, seleno-relaxins, SeRlx-α and SeRlx-β, which are [C11UA,C11UB] and [C10UA,C15UA] variants of H2 relaxin, respectively, were synthesized via a one-pot oxidative chain assembly (folding) from the component A- and B-chains. The substitution of SS bonds in a protein with their analogue, diselenide (SeSe) bonds, has been shown to alter the physical, chemical, and physiological properties of the protein. The surface SeSe bond (U11A-U11B) enhanced the yield of chain assembly while the internal SeSe bond (U10A-U15A) improved the reaction rate of the folding, indicating that these bridges play a major role in controlling the thermodynamics and kinetics, respectively, of the folding mechanism. Furthermore, SeRlx-α and SeRlx-β effectively reduced the expression of a tissue fibrosis-related factor in human endometriotic stromal cells. Thus, the findings of this study indicate that the S-to-Se substitution strategy not only enhances the foldability of relaxin, but also provides new guidance for the development of novel relaxin formulations for endometriosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Satoh
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan +81-463-50-2094 +81-463-58-1211
| | - Yosuke Ono
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Yamanashi 1110 Shimokato Chuo-shi Yamanashi 409-3898 Japan
| | - Rikana Takahashi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan +81-463-50-2094 +81-463-58-1211
| | - Hidekazu Katayama
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan
| | - Michio Iwaoka
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan +81-463-50-2094 +81-463-58-1211
- Institute of Advanced Biosciences, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan
| | - Osamu Yoshino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Yamanashi 1110 Shimokato Chuo-shi Yamanashi 409-3898 Japan
| | - Kenta Arai
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan +81-463-50-2094 +81-463-58-1211
- Institute of Advanced Biosciences, Tokai University Kitakaname Hiratsuka-shi Kanagawa 259-1292 Japan
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4
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Poirier B, Pasquier O, Chenede X, Corbier A, Prigent P, Azam A, Bernard C, Guillotel M, Gillot F, Riva L, Briand V, Ingenito R, Gauzy-Lazo L, Duclos O, Philippo C, Maillere B, Bianchi E, Mallart S, Janiak P, Illiano S. R2R01: A long-acting single-chain peptide agonist of RXFP1 for renal and cardiovascular diseases. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1993-2011. [PMID: 38450758 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic potential of relaxin for heart failure and renal disease in clinical trials is hampered by the short half-life of serelaxin. Optimization of fatty acid-acetylated single-chain peptide analogues of relaxin culminated in the design and synthesis of R2R01, a potent and selective RXFP1 agonist with subcutaneous bioavailability and extended half-life. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Cellular assays and pharmacological models of RXFP1 activation were used to validate the potency and selectivity of R2R01. Increased renal blood flow was used as a translational marker of R2R01 activity. Human mastocytes (LAD2 cells) were used to study potential pseudo-allergic reactions and CD4+ T-cells to study immunogenicity. The pharmacokinetics of R2R01 were characterized in rats and minipigs. KEY RESULTS In vitro, R2R01 had comparable potency and efficacy to relaxin as an agonist for human RXFP1. In vivo, subcutaneous administration of R2R01 increased heart rate and renal blood flow in normotensive and hypertensive rat and did not show evidence of tachyphylaxis. R2R01 also increased nipple length in rats, used as a chronic model of RXFP1 engagement. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that R2R01 has a significantly extended terminal half-life. The in vitro assays with LAD2 cells and CD4+ T-cells showed that R2R01 had low potential for pseudo-allergic and immunogenic reactions, respectively. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS R2R01 is a potent RXFP1 agonist with an extended half-life that increases renal blood flow in various settings including normotensive and hypertensive conditions. The preclinical efficacy and safety data supported clinical development of R2R01 as a potential new therapy for renal and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Poirier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | | | - Xavier Chenede
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Alain Corbier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Philippe Prigent
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | | | - Carine Bernard
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Michel Guillotel
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Florence Gillot
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Laurence Riva
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Veronique Briand
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laurence Gauzy-Lazo
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Duclos
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Mallart
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philip Janiak
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Stephane Illiano
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
- Investigative Toxicology, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
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5
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Granberg KL, Sakamaki S, Fuchigami R, Niwa Y, Fujio M, Kato H, Bergström F, Larsson N, Persson M, Villar IC, Fujita T, Sugikawa E, Althage M, Yano N, Yokoyama Y, Kimura J, Lal M, Mochida H. Identification of Novel Series of Potent and Selective Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1) Agonists. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38502780 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Relaxin H2 is a clinically relevant peptide agonist for relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), but a combination of this hormone's short plasma half-life and the need for injectable delivery limits its therapeutic potential. We sought to overcome these limitations through the development of a potent small molecule (SM) RXFP1 agonist. Although two large SM HTS campaigns failed in identifying suitable hit series, we uncovered novel chemical space starting from the only known SM RXFP1 agonist series, represented by ML290. Following a design-make-test-analyze strategy based on improving early dose to man ranking, we discovered compound 42 (AZ7976), a highly selective RXFP1 agonist with sub-nanomolar potency. We used AZ7976, its 10 000-fold less potent enantiomer 43 and recombinant relaxin H2 to evaluate in vivo pharmacology and demonstrate that AZ7976-mediated heart rate increase in rats was a result of RXFP1 agonism. As a result, AZ7976 was selected as lead for continued optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth L Granberg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 43183, Sweden
| | - Shigeki Sakamaki
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Fuchigami
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Yasuki Niwa
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Masakazu Fujio
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Harutoshi Kato
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Fredrik Bergström
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Cardiovascular, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Niklas Larsson
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Mikael Persson
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Safety, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Inmaculada C Villar
- Regulatory Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB2 0AA, U.K
| | - Takuya Fujita
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Emiko Sugikawa
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Magnus Althage
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Naoko Yano
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshito Yokoyama
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Junpei Kimura
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
| | - Mark Lal
- Bioscience Renal, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Hideki Mochida
- Sohyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
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6
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Verdino P, Lee SL, Cooper FN, Cottle SR, Grealish PF, Hu CC, Meyer CM, Lin J, Copeland V, Porter G, Schroeder RL, Thompson TD, Porras LL, Dey A, Zhang HY, Beebe EC, Matkovich SJ, Coskun T, Balciunas AM, Ferrante A, Siegel R, Malherbe L, Bivi N, Paavola CD, Hansen RJ, Abernathy MM, Nwosu SO, Carr MC, Heuer JG, Wang X. Development of a long-acting relaxin analogue, LY3540378, for treatment of chronic heart failure. Br J Pharmacol 2023. [PMID: 36780899 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic heart failure, a progressive disease with limited treatment options currently available, especially in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), represents an unmet medical need as well as an economic burden. The development of a novel therapeutic to slow or reverse disease progression would be highly impactful to patients and society. Relaxin-2 (relaxin) is a human hormone regulating cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary adaptations during pregnancy. A short-acting recombinant relaxin, Serelaxin, demonstrated short-term heart failure symptom relief and biomarker improvement in acute heart failure trials. Here, we present the development of a long-acting relaxin analogue to be tested in the treatment of chronic heart failure. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH LY3540378 is a long-acting protein therapeutic composed of a human relaxin analogue and a serum albumin-binding VHH domain. KEY RESULTS LY3540378 is a potent agonist of the relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) and maintains selectivity against RXFP2/3/4 comparable to native relaxin. The half-life of LY3540378 in preclinical species is extended through high affinity binding of the albumin-binding VHH domain to serum albumin. When tested in a single dose administration, LY3540378 elicited relaxin-mediated pharmacodynamic responses, such as reduced serum osmolality and increased renal blood flow in rats. In an isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy mouse model, treatment with LY3540378 significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy and improved isovolumetric relaxation time. In a monkey cardiovascular safety study, there were no adverse observations from administration of LY3540378. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS LY3540378 demonstrated to be a suitable clinical development candidate, and is progressing in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Verdino
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Stacey L Lee
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Fariba N Cooper
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Steven R Cottle
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Patrick F Grealish
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Charlie C Hu
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Catalina M Meyer
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Joanne Lin
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Victoria Copeland
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Gina Porter
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Richard L Schroeder
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Tyran D Thompson
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Leah L Porras
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Asim Dey
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Hong Y Zhang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emily C Beebe
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Scot J Matkovich
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Tamer Coskun
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Aldona M Balciunas
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Andrea Ferrante
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Robert Siegel
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Laurent Malherbe
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nicoletta Bivi
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Chad D Paavola
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ryan J Hansen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Matthew M Abernathy
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sylvia O Nwosu
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Molly C Carr
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Josef G Heuer
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Xiaojun Wang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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7
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Kurtzhals P, Østergaard S, Nishimura E, Kjeldsen T. Derivatization with fatty acids in peptide and protein drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:59-80. [PMID: 36002588 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and proteins are widely used to treat a range of medical conditions; however, they often have to be injected and their effects are short-lived. These shortcomings of the native structure can be addressed by molecular engineering, but this is a complex undertaking. A molecular engineering technology initially applied to insulin - and which has now been successfully applied to several biopharmaceuticals - entails the derivatization of peptides and proteins with fatty acids. Various protraction mechanisms are enabled by the specific characteristics and positions of the attached fatty acid. Furthermore, the technology can ensure a long half-life following oral administration of peptide drugs, can alter the distribution of peptides and may hold potential for tissue targeting. Due to the inherent safety and well-defined chemical nature of the fatty acids, this technology provides a versatile approach to peptide and protein drug discovery.
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8
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Rosenwasser Y, Berger I, Loewy ZG. Therapeutic Approaches for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121513. [PMID: 36558847 PMCID: PMC9784349 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive pulmonary disorder underpinned by poorly reversible airflow resulting from chronic bronchitis or emphysema. The prevalence and mortality of COPD continue to increase. Pharmacotherapy for patients with COPD has included antibiotics, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids (but with little success). Oral diseases have long been established as clinical risk factors for developing respiratory diseases. The establishment of a very similar microbiome in the mouth and the lung confirms the oral-lung connection. The aspiration of pathogenic microbes from the oral cavity has been implicated in several respiratory diseases, including pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review focuses on current and future pharmacotherapeutic approaches for COPD exacerbation including antimicrobials, mucoregulators, the use of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, modifying epigenetic marks, and modulating dysbiosis of the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehudis Rosenwasser
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Irene Berger
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zvi G. Loewy
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-646-981-4718
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9
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Characterization of a new potent and long-lasting single chain peptide agonist of RXFP1 in cells and in vivo translational models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20435. [PMID: 36443381 PMCID: PMC9705314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24716-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite beneficial effects in acute heart failure, the full therapeutic potential of recombinant relaxin-2 has been hampered by its short half-life and the need for intravenous administration limiting its use to intensive care units. A multiparametric optimization of the relaxin B-chain led to the identification of single chain lipidated peptide agonists of RXFP1 like SA10SC-RLX with subcutaneous bioavailability and extended half-life. SA10SC-RLX has sub nanomolar activity on cells expressing human RXFP1 and molecular modeling associated with the study of different RXFP1 mutants was used to decipher the mechanism of SA10SC-RLX interaction with RXFP1. Telemetry was performed in rat where SA10SC-RLX was able to engage RXFP1 after subcutaneous administration without tachyphylaxis after repeated dosing. Renal blood flow was then used as a translational model to evaluate RXFP1 activation. SA10SC-RLX increased renal blood flow and decreased renal vascular resistance in rats as reported for relaxin in humans. In conclusion, SA10SC-RLX mimics relaxin activity in in vitro and in vivo models of acute RXFP1 engagement. SA10SC-RLX represents a new class of long-lasting RXFP1 agonist, suitable for once daily subcutaneous administration in patients and potentially paving the way to new treatments for chronic fibrotic and cardiovascular diseases.
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D'Ercole A, Nistri S, Pacini L, Carotenuto A, Santoro F, Papini AM, Bathgate RAD, Bani D, Rovero P. Synthetic short-chain peptide analogues of H1 relaxin lack affinity for the RXFP1 receptor and relaxin-like bioactivity. Clues to a better understanding of relaxin agonist design. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:942178. [PMID: 36034864 PMCID: PMC9402926 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.942178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin (RLX), also available as clinical-grade recombinant protein (serelaxin), holds great promise as a cardiovascular and anti-fibrotic agent but is limited by the pharmacokinetic issues common to all peptide drugs. In this study, by a computational modelling chemistry approach, we have synthesized and tested a set of low molecular weight peptides based on the putative receptor-binding domain of the B chain of human H1 RLX isoform, with the objective to obtain RLX analogues with improved pharmacokinetic features. Some of them were stabilized to induce the appropriate 3-D conformation by intra-chain tri-azolic staples, which should theoretically enhance their resistance to digestive enzymes making them suited for oral administration. Despite these favourable premises, none of these H1 peptides, either linear or stapled, revealed a sufficient affinity to the specific RLX receptor RXFP1. Moreover, none of them was endowed with any RLX-like biological effects in RXFP1-expressing THP-1 human monocytic cells and mouse NIH-3T3-derived myofibroblasts in in vitro culture, in terms of significantly relevant cAMP elevation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which represent two major signal transduction events downstream RXFP1 activation. This was at variance with authentic serelaxin, which induced a clear-cut, significant activation of both these classical RLX signaling pathways. Albeit negative, the results of this study offer additional information about the structural requirements that new peptide therapeutics shall possess to effectively behave as RXFP1 agonists and RLX analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata D'Ercole
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Nistri
- Research Unit of Histology & Embryology, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pacini
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Federica Santoro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Papini
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Unviversity of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniele Bani
- Research Unit of Histology & Embryology, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniele Bani, ; Paolo Rovero,
| | - Paolo Rovero
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of NeuroFarBa, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniele Bani, ; Paolo Rovero,
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11
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Chunduri P, Patel SA, Levick SP. Relaxin/serelaxin for cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in hypertension. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2022; 94:183-211. [PMID: 35659372 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The pregnancy related hormone relaxin is produced throughout the reproductive system. However, relaxin also has important cardiovascular effects as part of the adaptation that the cardiovascular system undergoes in response to the extra demands of pregnancy. These effects are primarily mediated by the relaxin family peptide receptor 1, which is one of four known relaxin receptors. The effects of relaxin on the cardiovascular system during pregnancy, as well as its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties, have led to extensive studies into the potential of relaxin therapy as an approach to treat heart failure. Cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells all possess relaxin family peptide receptor 1, allowing for direct effects of therapeutic relaxin on the heart. Many pre-clinical animal studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of exogenous relaxin on adverse cardiac remodeling including inflammation, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, as well as effects on cardiac contractile function. Despite this, clinical studies have yielded disappointing results for the synthetic seralaxin, even though seralaxin was well tolerated. This article will provide background on relaxin in the context of normal physiology, as well as the role of relaxin in pregnancy-related adaptations of the cardiovascular system. We will also present evidence from pre-clinical animal studies that demonstrate the potential benefits of relaxin therapy, as well as discussing the results from clinical trials. Finally, we will discuss possible reasons for the failure of these clinical trials as well as steps being taken to potentially improve relaxin therapy for heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Chunduri
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shrey A Patel
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott P Levick
- Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States.
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12
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Samuel CS, Bennett RG. Relaxin as an anti-fibrotic treatment: Perspectives, challenges and future directions. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 197:114884. [PMID: 34968489 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis refers to the scarring and hardening of tissues, which results from a failed immune system-coordinated wound healing response to chronic organ injury and which manifests from the aberrant accumulation of various extracellular matrix components (ECM), primarily collagen. Despite being a hallmark of prolonged tissue damage and related dysfunction, and commonly associated with high morbidity and mortality, there are currently no effective cures for its regression. An emerging therapy that meets several criteria of an effective anti-fibrotic treatment, is the recombinant drug-based form of the human hormone, relaxin (also referred to as serelaxin, which is bioactive in several other species). This review outlines the broad anti-fibrotic and related organ-protective roles of relaxin, mainly from studies conducted in preclinical models of ageing and fibrotic disease, including its ability to ameliorate several aspects of fibrosis progression and maturation, from immune cell infiltration, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine secretion, oxidative stress, organ hypertrophy, cell apoptosis, myofibroblast differentiation and ECM production, to its ability to facilitate established ECM degradation. Studies that have compared and/or combined these therapeutic effects of relaxin with current standard of care medication have also been discussed, along with the main challenges that have hindered the translation of the anti-fibrotic efficacy of relaxin to the clinic. The review then outlines the future directions as to where scientists and several pharmaceutical companies that have recognized the therapeutic potential of relaxin are working towards, to progress its development as a treatment for human patients suffering from various fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4130, USA.
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13
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Ruan S, Yang G, Dong Y, Shangguan W, Lu W. Discovery of a Long-Acting Parathyroid Hormone 1-34 Analogue to Treat Hypoparathyroidism. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:3260-3271. [PMID: 34482698 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00149] [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: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare disease with clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, resulting from deficient or absent parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Conventional treatment for patients with HP involves extensive calcium and vitamin D supplementation. In 2015, PTH1-84 was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as an adjunct for HP patients who cannot be well-controlled on conventional treatment. However, PTH1-84 therapy requires a daily injection, leading to poor patient compliance. The purpose of this study was to develop a long-acting PTH1-34 analogue by increasing its affinity to albumin. Three PTH1-34 variants were generated by substituting two of the three lysine (Lys) residues with arginine, reserving a single Lys as the modification site in each sequence. A series of side chains, containing fatty acid, deoxycholic acid, or biotin groups, were synthesized to modify these PTH1-34 variants by using a solid-liquid phase synthesis approach. In vitro bioactivity and albumin affinity tests were used to screen these new PTH1-34 analogues. Finally, Lys27-AAPC was selected from 69 synthesized analogues as a candidate therapeutic compound because it retained potency and exhibited a high albumin-binding capacity. In pharmacodynamic experiments, Lys27-AAPC demonstrated enhanced and prolonged efficacy in serum calcium elevating relative to PTH1-84. Moreover, a lyophilized powder for injection containing Lys27-AAPC was developed for further testing and represented a potential long-acting HP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sida Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Guiying Yang
- Shanghai Duomirui Biotechnology Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuanzhen Dong
- Shanghai Duomirui Biotechnology Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenwen Shangguan
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Weigen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
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14
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Qian M, Zhang Q, Lu J, Zhang J, Wang Y, Shangguan W, Feng M, Feng J. Long-Acting Human Interleukin 2 Bioconjugate Modified with Fatty Acids by Sortase A. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:615-625. [PMID: 33656323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human Interleukin 2 (IL-2) has already achieved impressive results as a therapeutic agent for cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, one of the limitations associated with the clinical application of IL-2 is its short half-life owing to rapid clearance by the kidneys. Modification with fatty acids, as an albumin noncovalent ligand with the advantage of deep penetration into tissues and high activity-to-mass ratio, is a commonly used approach to improve the half-life of native peptides and proteins. In this investigation, we attempted to extend the half-life of IL-2 through conjugation with a fatty acid using sortase A (srtA). We initially designed and optimized three IL-2 analogues with different peptide linkers between the C-terminus of IL-2 and srtA recognition sequence (LPETG). Among these, analogue A3 was validated as the optimal IL-2 analogue for further modification. Next, six fatty acid moieties with the same fatty acid and different hydrophilic spacers were conjugated to A3 through srtA. The six bioconjugates generated were screened for in vitro biological activity, among which bioconjugate B6 was identified as near-optimal to IL-2. Additionally, B6 could effectively bind albumin through the conjugated fatty acid, which contributed to a significant improvement in its pharmacokinetic properties in vivo. In summary, we have developed a novel IL-2 bioconjugate, B6, modified with fatty acids using srtA, which may effectively serve as a new-generation long-acting IL-2 immunotherapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Qian
- Department of Microbiological & Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 201203 Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Qingbin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Jianguang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Duomirui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Jinhua Zhang
- Department of Microbiological & Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 201203 Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Yapeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Wenwen Shangguan
- Department of Microbiological & Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 201203 Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Meiqing Feng
- Department of Microbiological & Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 201203 Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 201203 Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Duomirui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 201203 Shanghai, China
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15
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Mallart S, Ingenito R, Bianchi E, Bresciani A, Esposito S, Gallo M, Magotti P, Monteagudo E, Orsatti L, Roversi D, Santoprete A, Tucci F, Veneziano M, Bartsch R, Boehm C, Brasseur D, Bruneau P, Corbier A, Froissant J, Gauzy-Lazo L, Gervat V, Marguet F, Menguy I, Minoletti C, Nicolas MF, Pasquier O, Poirier B, Raux A, Riva L, Janiak P, Strobel H, Duclos O, Illiano S. Identification of Potent and Long-Acting Single-Chain Peptide Mimetics of Human Relaxin-2 for Cardiovascular Diseases. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2139-2150. [PMID: 33555858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The insulin-like peptide human relaxin-2 was identified as a hormone that, among other biological functions, mediates the hemodynamic changes occurring during pregnancy. Recombinant relaxin-2 (serelaxin) has shown beneficial effects in acute heart failure, but its full therapeutic potential has been hampered by its short half-life and the need for intravenous administration limiting its use to intensive care units. In this study, we report the development of long-acting potent single-chain relaxin peptide mimetics. Modifications in the B-chain of relaxin, such as the introduction of specific mutations and the trimming of the sequence to an optimal size, resulted in potent, structurally simplified peptide agonists of the relaxin receptor Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1) (e.g., 54). Introduction of suitable spacers and fatty acids led to the identification of single-chain lipidated peptide agonists of RXFP1, with sub-nanomolar activity, high subcutaneous bioavailability, extended half-lives, and in vivo efficacy (e.g., 64).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Mallart
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Alberto Bresciani
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Simone Esposito
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Mariana Gallo
- Structural Biology, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Paola Magotti
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Edith Monteagudo
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Laura Orsatti
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Daniela Roversi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Alessia Santoprete
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Federica Tucci
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Maria Veneziano
- DMPK, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Régine Bartsch
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Claudius Boehm
- Industrial Affairs, iCMC, Sanofi-Aventis R&D, Industriepark Höchst, Frankfurt 65926, Germany
| | - Denis Brasseur
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Patricia Bruneau
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Alain Corbier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Jacques Froissant
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Laurence Gauzy-Lazo
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Vincent Gervat
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Frank Marguet
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Isabelle Menguy
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Claire Minoletti
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Marie-Françoise Nicolas
- Preclinical Development Sciences, Sanofi R&D, 13 quai Jules Guesde, Vitry sur Seine 94400, France
| | - Olivier Pasquier
- DMPK France, Sanofi R&D, 3 digue d'Alfortville, Alfortville 94140, France
| | - Bruno Poirier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Alexandre Raux
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Laurence Riva
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Philip Janiak
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Hartmut Strobel
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Via Pontina Km 30 600, Pomezia, Rome 00 071, Italy
| | - Olivier Duclos
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
| | - Stephane Illiano
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, 1 rue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly Mazarin 91385, France
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16
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Abstract
Insulin-like 3 peptide (INSL3) is a member of the insulin-like peptide superfamily and is the only known physiological ligand of relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In mammals, INSL3 is primarily produced both in testicular Leydig cells and in ovarian theca cells, but circulating levels of the hormone are much higher in males than in females. The INSL3/RXFP2 system has an essential role in the development of the gubernaculum for the initial transabdominal descent of the testis and in maintaining proper reproductive health in men. Although its function in female physiology has been less well-characterized, it was reported that INSL3 deletion affects antral follicle development during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and uterus function. Since the discovery of its role in the reproductive system, the study of INSL3/RXFP2 has expanded to others organs, such as skeletal muscle, bone, kidney, thyroid, brain, and eye. This review aims to summarize the various advances in understanding the physiological function of this ligand-receptor pair since its first discovery and elucidate its future therapeutic potential in the management of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Esteban-Lopez
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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17
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Matera MG, Page CP, Calzetta L, Rogliani P, Cazzola M. Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Bronchodilators Revisited. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 72:218-252. [PMID: 31848208 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.018150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bronchodilators remain the cornerstone of the treatment of airway disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is therefore considerable interest in understanding how to optimize the use of our existing classes of bronchodilator and in identifying novel classes of bronchodilator drugs. However, new classes of bronchodilator have proved challenging to develop because many of these have no better efficacy than existing classes of bronchodilator and often have unacceptable safety profiles. Recent research has shown that optimization of bronchodilation occurs when both arms of the autonomic nervous system are affected through antagonism of muscarinic receptors to reduce the influence of parasympathetic innervation of the lung and through stimulation of β 2-adrenoceptors (β 2-ARs) on airway smooth muscle with β 2-AR-selective agonists to mimic the sympathetic influence on the lung. This is currently achieved by use of fixed-dose combinations of inhaled long-acting β 2-adrenoceptor agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists (LAMAs). Due to the distinct mechanisms of action of LAMAs and LABAs, the additive/synergistic effects of using these drug classes together has been extensively investigated. More recently, so-called "triple inhalers" containing fixed-dose combinations of both classes of bronchodilator (dual bronchodilation) and an inhaled corticosteroid in the same inhaler have been developed. Furthermore, a number of so-called "bifunctional drugs" having two different primary pharmacological actions in the same molecule are under development. This review discusses recent advancements in knowledge on bronchodilators and bifunctional drugs for the treatment of asthma and COPD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Since our last review in 2012, there has been considerable research to identify novel classes of bronchodilator drugs, to further understand how to optimize the use of the existing classes of bronchodilator, and to better understand the role of bifunctional drugs in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Matera
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy (M.G.M.); Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (C.P.P.); and Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (L.C., P.R., M.C.)
| | - C P Page
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy (M.G.M.); Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (C.P.P.); and Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (L.C., P.R., M.C.)
| | - L Calzetta
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy (M.G.M.); Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (C.P.P.); and Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (L.C., P.R., M.C.)
| | - P Rogliani
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy (M.G.M.); Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (C.P.P.); and Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (L.C., P.R., M.C.)
| | - M Cazzola
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy (M.G.M.); Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (C.P.P.); and Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (L.C., P.R., M.C.)
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18
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Lear S, Pflimlin E, Zhou Z, Huang D, Weng S, Nguyen-Tran V, Joseph SB, Roller S, Peterson S, Li J, Tremblay M, Schultz PG, Shen W. Engineering of a Potent, Long-Acting NPY2R Agonist for Combination with a GLP-1R Agonist as a Multi-Hormonal Treatment for Obesity. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9660-9671. [PMID: 32844654 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Bariatric surgery results in increased intestinal secretion of hormones GLP-1 and anorexigenic PYY, which is believed to contribute to the clinical efficacy associated with the procedure. This observation raises the question whether combination treatment with gut hormone analogs might recapitulate the efficacy and mitigate the significant risks associated with surgery. Despite PYY demonstrating excellent efficacy and safety profiles with regard to food intake reduction, weight loss, and glucose control in preclinical animal models, PYY-based therapeutic development remains challenging given a low serum stability and half-life for the native peptide. Here, combined peptide stapling and PEG-fatty acid conjugation affords potent PYY analogs with >14 h rat half-lives, which are expected to translate into a human half-life suitable for once-weekly dosing. Excellent efficacy in glucose control, food intake reduction, and weight loss for lead candidate 22 in combination with our previously reported long-acting GLP-1 analog is demonstrated in a diet-induced obesity mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Lear
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Elsa Pflimlin
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Zhihong Zhou
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - David Huang
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sharon Weng
- Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Research Triangle Park, 6 Davis Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Van Nguyen-Tran
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sean B Joseph
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Shane Roller
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Scott Peterson
- Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Research Triangle Park, 6 Davis Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jing Li
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Matthew Tremblay
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Peter G Schultz
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Weijun Shen
- The Scripps Research Institute, d/b/a Calibr, a division of Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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19
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Cazzola M, Rogliani P, Matera MG. The future of bronchodilation: looking for new classes of bronchodilators. Eur Respir Rev 2019; 28:28/154/190095. [PMID: 31871127 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0095-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Available bronchodilators can satisfy many of the needs of patients suffering from airway disorders, but they often do not relieve symptoms and their long-term use raises safety concerns. Therefore, there is interest in developing new classes that could help to overcome the limits that characterise the existing classes.At least nine potential new classes of bronchodilators have been identified: 1) selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors; 2) bitter-taste receptor agonists; 3) E-prostanoid receptor 4 agonists; 4) Rho kinase inhibitors; 5) calcilytics; 6) agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ; 7) agonists of relaxin receptor 1; 8) soluble guanylyl cyclase activators; and 9) pepducins. They are under consideration, but they are mostly in a preclinical phase and, consequently, we still do not know which classes will actually be developed for clinical use and whether it will be proven that a possible clinical benefit outweighs the impact of any adverse effect.It is likely that if developed, these new classes may be a useful addition to, rather than a substitution of, the bronchodilator therapy currently used, in order to achieve further optimisation of bronchodilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cazzola
- Dept of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rogliani
- Dept of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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20
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Pflimlin E, Zhou Z, Amso Z, Fu Q, Lee C, Muppiddi A, Joseph SB, Nguyen-Tran V, Shen W. Engineering a Potent, Long-Acting, and Periphery-Restricted Oxytocin Receptor Agonist with Anorexigenic and Body Weight Reducing Effects. J Med Chem 2019; 63:382-390. [PMID: 31850759 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The effects of oxytocin on food intake and body weight reduction have been demonstrated in both animal models and human clinical studies. Despite being efficacious, oxytocin is enzymatically unstable and thus considered to be unsuitable for long-term use in patients with obesity. Herein, a series of oxytocin derivatives were engineered through conjugation with fatty acid moieties that are known to exhibit high binding affinities to serum albumin. One analog (OT-12) in particular was shown to be a potent full agonist at the oxytocin receptor (OTR) in vitro with good selectivity and long half-life (24 h) in mice. Furthermore, OT-12 is peripherally restricted, with very limited brain exposure (1/190 of the plasma level). In a diet-induced obesity mouse model, daily subcutaneous administration of OT-12 exhibited more potent anorexigenic and body weight reducing effects than carbetocin. Thus, our results suggest that the long-acting, peripherally restricted OTR agonist may offer potential therapeutic benefits for obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Pflimlin
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Zhihong Zhou
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Zaid Amso
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Qiangwei Fu
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Candy Lee
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Avinash Muppiddi
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Sean B Joseph
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Vân Nguyen-Tran
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Weijun Shen
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
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21
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Pflimlin E, Lear S, Lee C, Yu S, Zou H, To A, Joseph S, Nguyen-Tran V, Tremblay MS, Shen W. Design of a Long-Acting and Selective MEG-Fatty Acid Stapled Prolactin-Releasing Peptide Analog. ACS Med Chem Lett 2019; 10:1166-1172. [PMID: 31413801 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anorexigenic peptides offer promise as potential therapies targeting the escalating global obesity epidemic. Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), a novel member of the RFamide family secreted by the hypothalamus, shows therapeutic potential by decreasing food intake and body weight in rodent models via GPR10 activation. Here we describe the design of a long-acting PrRP using our recently developed novel multiple ethylene glycol-fatty acid (MEG-FA) stapling platform. By incorporating serum albumin binding fatty acids onto a covalent side chain staple, we have generated a series of MEG-FA stapled PrRP analogs with enhanced serum stability and in vivo half-life. Our lead compound 18-S4 exhibits good in vitro potency and selectivity against GPR10, improved serum stability, and extended in vivo half-life (7.8 h) in mouse. Furthermore, 18-S4 demonstrates a potent body weight reduction effect in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model, representing a promising long-acting PrRP analog for further evaluation in the chronic obesity setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Pflimlin
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sam Lear
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Candy Lee
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Shan Yu
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Huafei Zou
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Andrew To
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sean Joseph
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Van Nguyen-Tran
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Matthew S. Tremblay
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Weijun Shen
- Calibr at Scripps Research, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 100, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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