Ashwani Kumar Verma

Pharmacological profile of AW-814141, a novel, potent, selective and orally active inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase

The p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a key signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in the progression of various inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of a p38 MAPK inhibitor, AW-814141. AW-814141 inhibited enzymatic activity of recombinant p38-alpha and beta isoforms with IC(50) value of 100nM and 158nM, respectively. AW-814141 also inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with an IC(50) value of 212nM and demonstrated selectivity against a panel of few kinases. Oral administration of AW-814141 (10mpk) in LPS-injected mice resulted in a significant reduction in TNF-alpha production in the circulation. In a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA), AW-814141 dose dependently inhibited paw swelling. In different in vivo efficacy models, efficacy of AW-814141 was found to be better as compared to the reference compounds (Vx-745 and BIRB-796). This study demonstrated that AW-814141 is a novel p38 MAPK inhibitor and it displays promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities and can be used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Identification and synthesis of novel inhibitors of mycobacterium ATP synthase

A non-diaryl quinoline scaffold 6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4-one was identified by screening of diverse set of compounds against M. smegmatis ATP synthase. Herein, we disclose our efforts to develop the structure activity relationship against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb.H37Rv strain) around the identified hit 1. A scaffold hopping approach was used to identify compounds 14a, 14b and 24a with improved activity against MTb.H37Rv.

Peptoids as endothelin receptor antagonists

A series of new peptoids as endothelin receptor antagonists has been synthesized. Screening them for their ability to bind with endothelin receptors (ET(A) and ET(B)) competitively in the presence of (125I) endothelin led to the discovery of compounds as possible leads with IC50s in the low micromolar concentrations.