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Meyer EA, Äänismaa P, Ertel EA, Hühn E, Strasser DS, Rey M, Murphy MJ, Martinic MM, Pouzol L, Froidevaux S, Keller MP, Caroff E. Discovery of Clinical Candidate ACT-777991, a Potent CXCR3 Antagonist for Antigen-Driven and Inflammatory Pathologies. J Med Chem 2023; 66:4179-4196. [PMID: 36883854 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The CXCR3 chemokine receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor mainly expressed on immune cells from the lymphoid lineage, including activated T cells. Binding of its inducible chemokine ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 leads to downstream signaling events and the migration of activated T cells to sites of inflammation. Herein, we report the third part of our CXCR3 antagonist program in the field of autoimmunity, culminating in the discovery of the clinical compound ACT-777991 (8a). A previously disclosed advanced molecule was exclusively metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme, and options to address the issue are described. ACT-777991 is a highly potent, insurmountable, and selective CXCR3 antagonist that showed dose-dependent efficacy and target engagement in a mouse model of acute lung inflammation. The excellent properties and safety profile warranted progress in the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Meyer
- Chemistry Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Päivi Äänismaa
- DMPK, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Eric A Ertel
- Electrophysiology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Eva Hühn
- DMPK, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Daniel S Strasser
- Translational Biomarkers, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rey
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Mark J Murphy
- Biology Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Marianne M Martinic
- Pharmacology Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Laetitia Pouzol
- Pharmacology Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | | | - Marcel P Keller
- Biology Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Eva Caroff
- Chemistry Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
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2
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Meyer EA, Äänismaa P, Froidevaux S, Keller M, Piali L, Caroff E. Discovery and In Vivo Evaluation of ACT-660602: A Potent and Selective Antagonist of the Chemokine Receptor CXCR3 for Autoimmune Diseases. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11513-11532. [PMID: 35947786 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is a seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in various pathologies, in particular autoimmune diseases. It is activated by the three chemokine ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 and enables the recruitment of immune cell subsets leading to damage of inflamed tissues. Starting from a high-throughput screening hit, we describe the iterative optimization of a chemical series culminating in the discovery of the selective CXCR3 antagonist ACT-660602 (9j). The careful structural modifications during the lead optimization phase led to a compound with high biological potency in inhibiting cell migration together with improvements of the metabolic stability and hERG issue. In a LPS-induced lung inflammation model in mice, ACT-660602 led to significantly reduced recruitment of the CXCR3+ CD8+ T cell in the bronchoalveolar lavage compartment when administered orally at a dose of 30 mg/kg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Meyer
- Drug Discovery Chemistry Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Päivi Äänismaa
- DMPK, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | | | - Marcel Keller
- Drug Discovery Biology Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
| | - Luca Piali
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology, pRED Roche, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Eva Caroff
- Drug Discovery Chemistry Immunology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
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Brian W, Tremaine LM, Arefayene M, de Kanter R, Evers R, Guo Y, Kalabus J, Lin W, Loi CM, Xiao G. Assessment of drug metabolism enzyme and transporter pharmacogenetics in drug discovery and early development: perspectives of the I-PWG. Pharmacogenomics 2016; 17:615-31. [PMID: 27045656 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.16.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variants of drug metabolism enzymes and transporters can result in high pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability, unwanted characteristics of efficacious and safe drugs. Ideally, the contributions of these enzymes and transporters to drug disposition can be predicted from in vitro experiments and in silico modeling in discovery or early development, and then be utilized during clinical development. Recently, regulatory agencies have provided guidance on the preclinical investigation of pharmacogenetics, for application to clinical drug development. This white paper summarizes the results of an industry survey conducted by the Industry Pharmacogenomics Working Group on current practice and challenges with using in vitro systems and in silico models to understand pharmacogenetic causes of variability in drug disposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Brian
- Sanofi, Translational Medicine and Early Development, 55 Corporate Drive, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA
| | - Larry M Tremaine
- Pfizer Inc., Worldwide Research and Development, Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Million Arefayene
- Biogen, Early Development Sciences, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ruben de Kanter
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Gewerbestrasse 16, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Raymond Evers
- Merck & Co, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ07033, USA
| | - Yingying Guo
- Eli Lilly and Company, Drug Disposition, LillyCorporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - James Kalabus
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals, 1 Health Plaza, EastHanover, NJ 07936, USA
| | - Wen Lin
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, NJ07936-1080, USA
| | - Cho-Ming Loi
- Pfizer Inc., Worldwide Research and Development, Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism,10646 Science Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Guangqing Xiao
- Biogen, Preclinical PK and In vitro ADME, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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4
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Owens PK, Raddad E, Miller JW, Stille JR, Olovich KG, Smith NV, Jones RS, Scherer JC. A decade of innovation in pharmaceutical R&D: the Chorus model. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2014; 14:17-28. [PMID: 25503514 DOI: 10.1038/nrd4497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chorus is a small, operationally independent clinical development organization within Eli Lilly and Company that specializes in drug development from candidate selection to clinical proof of concept. The mission of Chorus is to achieve proof of concept rapidly and at a low cost while positioning successful projects for 'pharma-quality' late-stage development. Chorus uses a small internal staff of experienced drug developers and a network of external vendors to design and implement chemistry, manufacturing and control processes, preclinical toxicology and biology, and Phase I/II clinical trials. In the decade since it was established, Chorus has demonstrated substantial productivity improvements in both time and cost compared to traditional pharmaceutical research and development. Here, we describe its development philosophy, organizational structure, operational model and results to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul K Owens
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Eyas Raddad
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Jeffrey W Miller
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - John R Stille
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Kenneth G Olovich
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Neil V Smith
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Rosie S Jones
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
| | - Joel C Scherer
- The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA
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