Andy Jennings

Exploration of the HDAC2 foot pocket: Synthesis and SAR of substituted N-(2-aminophenyl)benzamides.

A series of N-(2-amino-5-substituted phenyl)benzamides (3-21) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their inhibition of HDAC2 and their cytotoxicity in HCT116 cancer cells. Multiple compounds from this series demonstrated time-dependent binding kinetics that is rationalized using a co-complex crystal structure of HDAC2 and N-(4-aminobiphenyl-3-yl)benzamide (6).

Structural Analysis of the Mechanism of Inhibition and Allosteric Activation of the Kinase Domain of HER2 Protein.

Aberrant signaling of ErbB family members human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is implicated in many human cancers, and HER2 expression is predictive of human disease recurrence and prognosis. Small molecule kinase inhibitors of EGFR and of both HER2 and EGFR have received approval for the treatment of cancer. We present the first high resolution crystal structure of the kinase domain of HER2 in complex with a selective inhibitor to understand protein activation, inhibition, and function at the molecular level. HER2 kinase domain crystallizes as a dimer and suggests evidence for an allosteric mechanism of activation comparable with previously reported activation mechanisms for EGFR and HER4. A unique Gly-rich region in HER2 following the α-helix C is responsible for increased conformational flexibility within the active site and could explain the low intrinsic catalytic activity previously reported for HER2. In addition, we solved the crystal structure of the kinase domain of EGFR in complex with a HER2/EGFR dual inhibitor (TAK-285). Comparison with previously reported inactive and active EGFR kinase domain structures gave insight into the mechanism of HER2 and EGFR inhibition and may help guide the design and development of new cancer drugs with improved potency and selectivity.

Design and Synthesis of Pyrimidinone and Pyrimidinedione Inhibitors of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV.

The discovery of two classes of heterocyclic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitors, pyrimidinones and pyrimidinediones, is described. After a single oral dose, these potent, selective, and noncovalent inhibitors provide sustained reduction of plasma DPP-4 activity and lowering of blood glucose in animal models of diabetes. Compounds 13a, 27b, and 27j were selected for development.

Benzimidazole and imidazole inhibitors of histone deacetylases: Synthesis and biological activity.

A series of N-hydroxy-3-[3-(1-substituted-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-phenyl]-acrylamides (5a-5ab) and N-hydroxy-3-[3-(1,4,5-trisubstituted-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-phenyl]-acrylamides (12a-s) were designed, synthesized, and found to be nanomolar inhibitors of human histone deacetylases. Multiple compounds bearing an N1-piperidine demonstrate EC(50)s of 20-100 nM in human A549, HL60, and PC3 cells, in vitro and in vivo hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4, and induction of p21(waf). Compound 5x displays efficacy in human tumor xenograft models.

Discovery of novel benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-ones as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase inhibitors.

Structure based drug design of a series of novel 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one derived PARP-1 inhibitors are described. The synthesis, enzymatic & cellular activities and pharmacodynamic effects are described. Optimized analogs demonstrated inhibition of poly-ADP-ribosylation in SW620 tumor bearing nude mice through 24h following a single dose.

Design, synthesis and SAR of novel glucokinase activators.

Guided by co-crystal structures of compounds 15, 22 and 30, an SBDD approach led to the discovery of the 6-methyl pyridone series as a novel class of GKAs that potently activate GK in enzyme and cell assays. Anti-diabetic OGTT efficacy was demonstrated with 54 in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.

Trelagliptin (SYR-472, Zafatek), Novel Once-Weekly Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes, Inhibits Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) via a Non-Covalent Mechanism

Trelagliptin (SYR-472), a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, shows sustained efficacy by once-weekly dosing in type 2 diabetes patients. In this study, we characterized in vitro properties of trelagliptin, which exhibited approximately 4- and 12-fold more potent inhibition against human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 than alogliptin and sitagliptin, respectively, and >10,000-fold selectivity over related proteases including dipeptidyl peptidase-8 and dipeptidyl peptidase-9. Kinetic analysis revealed reversible, competitive and slow-binding inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 by trelagliptin (t1/2 for dissociation ≈ 30 minutes). X-ray diffraction data indicated a non-covalent interaction between dipeptidyl peptidase and trelagliptin. Taken together, potent dipeptidyl peptidase inhibition may partially contribute to sustained efficacy of trelagliptin.

Discovery of TAK-659 an orally available investigational inhibitor of Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK).

Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK) is a non-receptor cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells. SYK is a key mediator for a variety of inflammatory cells, including B cells, mast cells, macrophages and neutrophils and therefore, an attractive approach for treatment of both inflammatory diseases and oncology indications. Using in house co-crystal structure information, and structure-based drug design, we designed and optimized a novel series of heteroaromatic pyrrolidinone SYK inhibitors resulting in the selection of the development candidate TAK-659. TAK-659 is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumor and lymphoma malignancies, a Phase Ib study in advanced solid tumors in combination with nivolumab, and PhIb/II trials for relapsed/refractory AML.

Discovery strategies in a pharmaceutical setting: the application of computational techniques

This review explores some of the techniques available to the computational chemist to maximise the success rate when attempting to identify pharmaceutically relevant ligands in a discovery environment. The authors introduce and discuss methods of constructing various types of compound collections and consider an alternative approach to measuring compound similarity. The discussion is illustrated with an example of a kinase collection constructed using these methods and the results obtained from it. As an example of predicting absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicology liabilities, this review focuses on the CYP450 isozyme family. The field of high-throughput docking is touched on with further examples and discussion.

Discovery strategies in a BioPharmaceutical startup: maximising your chances of success using computational filters.

Small research-based pharmaceutical start-ups often lack the budget and do not have the infrastructure available to apply all possible techniques for compound selection. This review details our use of a range of techniques such as high-throughput docking and similarity searching to maximize the success rate when attempting to identify pharmaceutically relevant ligands in a resource-constrained environment.