Discovery of novel indazole derivatives as dual angiotensin II antagonists and partial PPARγ agonists

Identification of indazole derivatives acting as dual angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists and partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonists is described. Starting from Telmisartan, we previously described that indole derivatives were very potent partial PPARγ agonists with loss of AT1 receptor antagonist activity. Design, synthesis and evaluation of new central scaffolds led us to the discovery of pyrrazolopyridine then indazole derivatives provided novel series possessing the desired dual activity. Among the new compounds, 38 was identified as a potent AT1 receptor antagonist (IC50=0.006 μM) and partial PPARγ agonist (EC50=0.25 μM, 40% max) with good oral bioavailability in rat. The dual pharmacology of compound 38 was demonstrated in two preclinical models of hypertension (SHR) and insulin resistance (Zucker fa/fa rat).

Design and evaluation of a novel series of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors with low systemic exposure, relationship between pharmacokinetic properties and ocular toxicity

We describe the discovery of novel potent inhibitors of 2,3-oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase inhibitors (OSCi) from a focused pharmacophore-based screen. Optimization of the most tractable hits gave a series of compounds showing inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis at 2mg/kg in the rat with distinct pharmacokinetic profiles. Two compounds were selected for toxicological study in the rat for 21 days in order to test the hypothesis that low systemic exposure could be used as a strategy to avoid the ocular side effects previously described with OSCi. We demonstrate that for this series of inhibitors, a reduction of systemic exposure is not sufficient to circumvent cataract liabilities.

Substituted 2-[(4-Aminomethyl)phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic Acid PPARα Agonists. 1. Discovery of a Novel Series of Potent HDLc Raising Agents

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and PPARdelta are ligand-activated transcription factors that play a key role in lipid homeostasis. The fibrates raise circulating levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower levels of triglycerides in part through their activity as PPARalpha agonists; however, the low potency and restricted selectivity of the fibrates may limit their efficacy, and it would be desirable to develop more potent and selective PPARalpha agonists. Modification of the selective PPARdelta agonist 1 (GW501516) so as to incorporate the 2-aryl-2-methylpropionic acid group of the fibrates led to a marked shift in potency and selectivity toward PPARalpha agonism. Optimization of the series gave 25a, which shows EC50 = 4 nM on PPARalpha and at least 500-fold selectivity versus PPARdelta and PPARgamma. Compound 25a (GW590735) has been progressed to clinical trials for the treatment of diseases of lipid imbalance.

Identification of 1,5-Naphthyridine Derivatives as a Novel Series of Potent and Selective TGF-β Type I Receptor Inhibitors

Optimization of the screening hit 1 led to the identification of novel 1,5-naphthyridine aminothiazole and pyrazole derivatives, which are potent and selective inhibitors of the transforming growth factor-beta type I receptor, ALK5. Compounds 15 and 19, which inhibited ALK5 autophosphorylation with IC50 = 6 and 4 nM, respectively, showed potent activities in both binding and cellular assays and exhibited selectivity over p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. The X-ray crystal structure of 19 in complex with human ALK5 is described, confirming the binding mode proposed from docking studies.

Model of the Second Most Abundant Cisplatin-DNA Cross-Link: X-ray Crystal Structure and Conformational Analysis of cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(9-MeA-N7)(9-EtGH-N7)](NO(3)).2H(2)O (9-MeA = 9-Methyladenine; 9-EtGH = 9-Ethylguanine)

A model compound of the second most abundant DNA adduct of the antitumor agent cisplatin has been synthesized and structurally and spectroscopically characterized and its conformational behavior examined: cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(9-MeA-N7)(9-EtGH-N7)](NO(3))(2).2H(2)O (9-MeA = 9-methyladenine; 9-EtGH = 9-ethylguanine) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n (No. 14) with a = 7.931(2), b = 11.035(3), c = 26.757(6) Å, beta = 94.94(2) degrees, and Z = 4. The two purine bases adopt a head-to-head orientation, with NH(2) of 9-MeA and CO of 9-EtGH being at the same side of the Pt coordination plane. A theoretical conformational analysis of the complex cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(Ade)(Gua)](2+) (Ade = adenine; Gua = guanine) based on molecular mechanics calculations of the nonbonded energy has revealed four minimum-energy zones similar to those derived previously for cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(Gua)(2)](2+) (Kozelka; et al. Eur. J. Biochem. 1992, 205, 895). This conformational analysis has allowed, together with the calculation of chemical shifts due to ring effects, the attribution of the two conformers observed for cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt{d(ApG)}](+) by Dijt et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 1989, 179, 344) to the two head-to-head conformational zones. The orientation of the two nucleobases in the crystal structure of cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(9-MeA)(9-EtGH)](2+) corresponds, according to our analysis, roughly to that preferentially assumed by the minor rotamer of cis-[(NH(3))(2)Pt{d(ApG)}](+).

Stabilization of the hydrophilic sphere of iobitridol, an iodinated contrast agent, as revealed by experimental and computational investigations

PURPOSE

The regular distribution in space and the stability in time of the hydrophilic sphere surrounding iobitridol were investigated. This is a novel yet important concept in the design of polyiodinated contrast agents since such a sphere is meant to hide their hydrophobic core and thus prevent hydrophobic interactions with biomacromolecules and hence chemotoxicity.

METHODS

The methods used were experimental (HPLC, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy) and computational (calculation of conformational behavior and molecular electrostatic potentials).

RESULTS

Iobitridol exists as a mixture of stereoisomers due to hindered rotation around several bonds. High-temperature molecular dynamics established the existence between 0 and 15 kcal/mol of 238 conformers belonging to 14 classes. Most of these conformers have an inaccessible hydrophobic core, and variable temperature molecular dynamics confirmed that the hydrophilic sphere around iobitridol is stable against external disruption.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that iobitridol fulfils the physicochemical and structural criteria believed to render a polyiodinated contrast agent inert toward interacting with biomacromolecules.

H8 chemical shifts in oligonucleotide cross-linked at a GpG sequence by cis-Pt(NH3)2(2+): a clue to the adduct structure

The origin of the anomalous H8 chemical shifts observed in 1H-NMR spectra of oligonucleotides cross-linked at a GpG sequence with cis-[Pt(NH3)2]2+ has been investigated and clarified. The main contributions that distinguish the H8 resonances of the two platinum-ligating guanines from other GH8 signals and from each other are: (a) the inductive effect of platinum binding which we have recently quantified as a downfield shift of 0.48 +/- 0.07 ppm (M. H. Fouchet, D. Lemaire, J. Kozelka and J.-C. Chottard, unpublished results); (b) the ring-current effect of one GpG guanine on the H8 resonance of the other guanine, which is negative (shielding) for the 5'-H8 and positive (deshielding) for the 3'-H8 in single-stranded adducts, but has the opposite sign in double-stranded adducts; (c) a deshielding polarization effect of the phosphate 5' to the GpG unit. The different signs of the ring-current effects in single-stranded and double-stranded oligonucleotides originate from the orientation of the guanines in the cis-[Pt(NH3)2(Gua)2]2+ moiety (Gua, guanine), which is left-handed helicoidal in single strands and right-handed helicoidal in double strands. In the platinated dinucleotides (cis-[Pt(NH3)2(GpG)]+, cis-[Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG))]+ and cis-[Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG))]), the guanines assume either the left-handed or the right-handed arrangement, depending on the sugar moiety (ribose or deoxyribose), protonation state at N1 and, in the solid state, on crystal forces. This work shows that chemical shifts contain valuable structural information which is complementary to that extracted from correlated spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy data.

Synthesis and characterization of a d(ApG) platinated nonanucleotide duplex

The nonamer 5'd(CTCAGCCTC) 3' 1 has been reacted with cis-diamminediaquaplatinum(II) in water at pH 4.2. The major reaction product was shown by enzymatic digestion and 1H NMR to be the d(ApG)cis-Pt(NH3)2 chelate [cis-Pt(NH3)2[d(CTCAGCCTC)-N7(4),N7(5)]] 1-Pt. When mixed with its complementary strand 2, 1-Pt forms a B DNA type duplex 3-Pt with a Tm of 35 degrees C (versus 58 degrees C for the unplatinated duplex). The NMR study of the exchangeable protons of 3-Pt revealed that the helix distortion is localized on the CA*G*-CTG moiety (the asterisks indicating the platinum chelation sites) with a strong perturbation of the A*(4)T(15) base pair related to a large tilt of A*(4).

Direct enantiomeric separation of betaxolol with applications to analysis of bulk drug and biological samples

A direct method is described for the resolution of the enantiomers of betaxolol, a novel cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent, using a tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)cellulose chiral column. An excellent resolution of the two antipodes is obtained (Rs greater than 2) with high peak symmetries. The method is simple and ideally suited to the routine control of the enantiomeric excess in the bulk drug and the analysis of the enantiomers of betaxolol in hepatocyte suspensions. With modification of the polar modifier in a hexane-based mobile phase, most commercially available beta-blockers can be baseline resolved.