Achyutharao Sidduri

Discovery of Highly Selective and Orally Active Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor-1 Antagonists with Potent Activity on Human Lung Fibroblasts

Lysophosphatidic acid is a class of bioactive phospholipid that mediates most of its biological effects through LPA receptors, of which six isoforms have been identified. The recent results from LPA1 knockout mice suggested that blocking LPA1 signaling could provide a potential novel approach for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we report the design and synthesis of pyrazole- and triazole-derived carbamates as LPA1-selective and LPA1/3 dual antagonists. In particular, compound 2, the most selective LPA1 antagonist reported, inhibited proliferation and contraction of normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) following LPA stimulation. Oral dosing of compound 2 to mice resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of plasma histamine levels in a murine LPA challenge model. Furthermore, we applied our novel antagonists as chemistry probes and investigated the contribution of LPA1/2/3 in mediating the pro-fibrotic responses. Our results suggest LPA1 as the major receptor subtype mediating LPA-induced proliferation and contraction of NHLF.

N-Aroyl-L-phenylalanine derivatives as VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists.

A series of N-benzoyl-4-[(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine derivatives was prepared in order to optimize the substitution on the N-benzoyl moiety for VCAM/VLA-4 antagonist activity. Disubstitution in the 2- and 6-positions is favored and a range of small alkyl and halogen are tolerated. A model of the bioactive conformation of these compounds is proposed.

Effects of LTB4 receptor antagonism on pulmonary inflammation in rodents and non-human primates

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) are characterized by neutrophilic inflammation and elevated levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4). However, the exact role of LTB4 pathways in mediating pulmonary neutrophilia and the potential therapeutic application of LTB4 receptor antagonists in these diseases remains controversial. Here we show that a novel dual BLT1 and BLT2 receptor antagonist, RO5101576, potently inhibited LTB4-evoked calcium mobilization in HL-60 cells and chemotaxis of human neutrophils. RO5101576 significantly attenuated LTB4-evoked pulmonary eosinophilia in guinea pigs. In non-human primates, RO5101576 inhibited allergen and ozone-evoked pulmonary neutrophilia, with comparable efficacy to budesonide (allergic responses). RO5101576 had no effects on LPS-evoked neutrophilia in guinea pigs and cigarette smoke-evoked neutrophilia in mice and rats. In toxicology studies RO5101576 was well-tolerated. Theses studies show differential effects of LTB4 receptor antagonism on neutrophil responses in vivo and suggest RO5101576 may represent a potential new treatment for pulmonary neutrophilia in asthma.

The Discovery of VLA-4 Antagonists

Starting with a cyclic peptide of moderate potency as a VLA-4 antagonist, highly potent and conformationally defined cyclic peptides were developed incorporating a constrained tyrosine and an achiral Asp-Pro spacer. N-Acyl phenylalanine derivatives were also discovered to have VLA-4 antagonist activity. During the course of development of this series, we found that the active acylphenylalanines mimic the pharmacophores present in the cyclic peptides and hypothesized that they bind to the same site on VLA-4. This insight guided our optimization strategy. Based on the emerging SAR, as well as insights from the recent X-ray crystal structure of the integrin alphavbeta3 bound to a RGD containing cyclic peptide, we propose a binding model for these compounds.

2,3-Disubstituted acrylamides as potent glucokinase activators

The phenylacetamide 1 represents the archtypical glucokinase activator (GKA) in which only the R-isomer is active. In order to probe whether the chiral center could be replaced, we prepared a series of olefins 2 and show in the present work that these compounds represent a new class of GKAs. Surprisingly, the SAR of the new series paralleled that of the saturated derivatives with the exception that there was greater tolerance for larger alkyl and cycloalkyl groups at R(2) region in comparison to the phenylacetamides. In normal Wistar rats, the 2,3-disubstituted acrylamide analog 10 was well absorbed and demonstrated robust glucose lowering effects.

Discovery of novel and potent leukotriene B4 receptor antagonists. Part 1.

The inhibition of LTB(4) binding to and activation of G-protein-coupled receptors BLT1 and BLT2 is the premise of a treatment for several inflammatory diseases. In a lead optimization effort starting with the leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor antagonist (2), members of a series of 3,5-diarylphenyl ethers were found to be highly potent inhibitors of LTB(4) binding to BLT1 and BLT2 receptors, with varying levels of selectivity depending on the substitution. In addition, compounds 33 and 38 from this series have good in vitro ADME properties, good oral bioavailability, and efficacy after oral delivery in guinea pig LTB(4) and nonhuman primate allergen challenge models. Further profiling in a rat non-GLP toxicity experiment provided the rationale for differentiation and selection of one compound (33) for clinical development.

N-Cycloalkanoyl-L-phenylalanine derivatives as VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists.

A systematic structure-activity relationship investigation of the lead compound 1 resulted the identification of several N-[(substituted alkyl)cycloalkanoyl]-4-[((2,6-dichlorophenyl)carbonyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine derivatives as potent VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists. The data are consistent with a model of these compounds in which these alkanoylphenylalanines reside in a compact gauche (-) bioactive conformation.

Discovery of novel non-carboxylic acid 5-amino-4-cyanopyrazole derivatives as potent and highly selective LPA1R antagonists

High throughput screening (HTS) of our chemical library identified 3-alkylamino-2-aryl-5H-imidazo[1,2,b]pyrazol-7-carbonitrile 1 as a potent antagonist of the LPA1 receptor (LPA1R). Further evaluation of this class of compounds indicated that LPA1R antagonist activity originated from the degradation of the parent molecule in DMSO during the assay conditions. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the degradation products and their LPA1R antagonist activity. We further profiled these novel non-carboxylic acid LPA1R antagonists and demonstrated their inhibition of LPA-induced proliferation and contraction of normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF).

Efficient Synthesis of Aryl Methyl Sulfide Derivatives Using (Methylthio)trimethylsilane as Methylthiolation Reagent

The synthesis of various aryl methyl sulfides has been achieved by treatment of nitroarenes with a combination of (methylthio)trimethylsilane and cesium carbonate in dimethylsulfoxide. This reaction gives access to aryl methyl sulfide derivatives in high yields.

Synthesis of constrained l-phenylalanine derivatives incorporating a benzazepinone or an azepinone ring as VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists

Novel constrained l-phenylalanine derivatives incorporating a benzazepinone or an azepinone ring were synthesized in 13 and 8 steps, respectively, employing a key base-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction. The product, 2, was comparable in potency in a VCAM/VLA-4 ELISA assay to the corresponding unconstrained analog 1 suggesting that cyclization favored the bioactive conformation. However, compound 4 was 100-fold less potent than the unconstrained analog 3.