Atsuo Baba

Discovery of the investigational drug TAK-441, a pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivative, as a highly potent and orally active hedgehog signaling inhibitor: modification of the core skeleton for improved solubility.

We recently reported the discovery of the novel pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline-4-one derivative 1 as a potent inhibitor of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway signaling. However, the PK evaluation of 1 at high dosage (100 mg/kg) revealed the C(max) value 3.63 μg/mL, likely due to poor solubility of this compound. Efforts to improve solubility by reducing the aromatic ring count of the core system led to N-methylpyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivative 11. Further optimization of the 3-alkoxy group led to compound 11d with acceptable solubility and potent Hh inhibitory activity. Compound 11d suppressed transcription factor Gli1 mRNA expression in tumor-associated stromal tissue and inhibited tumor growth (treatment/control ratio, 3%) in a mouse medulloblastoma allograft model owing to the improved PK profile based on increased solubility. Compound 11d (TAK-441) is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

Discovery of pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline-4-one derivatives as novel hedgehog signaling inhibitors.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a significant role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation during embryonic development. Since activation of the Hh signaling pathway is implicated in several types of human cancers, inhibitors of this pathway could be promising anticancer agents. Using high throughput screening, thieno[3,2-c]quinoline-4-one derivative 9a was identified as a compound of interest with potent in vitro activity but poor metabolic stability. Our efforts focused on enhancement of in vitro inhibitory activity and metabolic stability, including core ring conversion and side chain optimization. This led to the discovery of pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline-4-one derivative 12b, which has a structure distinct from previously reported Hh signaling inhibitors. Compound 12b suppressed stromal Gli1 mRNA expression in a murine model and demonstrated antitumor activity in a murine medulloblastoma allograft model.

Structure-based discovery of cellular-active allosteric inhibitors of FAK.

In order to develop potent and selective focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors, synthetic studies on pyrazolo[4,3-c][2,1]benzothiazines targeted for the FAK allosteric site were carried out. Based on the X-ray structural analysis of the co-crystal of the lead compound, 8-(4-ethylphenyl)-5-methyl-1,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c][2,1]benzothiazine 4,4-dioxide 1 with FAK, we designed and prepared 1,5-dimethyl-1,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c][2,1]benzothiazin derivatives which selectively inhibited kinase activity of FAK without affecting seven other kinases. The optimized compound, N-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,5-dimethyl-1,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c][2,1]benzothiazin-8-amine 4,4-dioxide 30 possessed significant FAK kinase inhibitory activities both in cell-free (IC50=0.64μM) and in cellular assays (IC50=7.1μM). These results clearly demonstrated a potential of FAK allosteric inhibitors as antitumor agents.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 2-acylamino-4,6-diphenylpyridine derivatives as novel antagonists of GPR54.

GPR54 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which was formerly an orphan receptor. Recent functional study of GPR54 revealed that the receptor has an essential role to modulate sex-hormones including GnRH. Though antagonists of GPR54 are expected to be novel drugs for sex-hormone dependent diseases such as prostate cancer or endometriosis, small molecule GPR54 antagonists have not been reported. We have synthesized a series of 2-acylamino-4,6-diphenylpyridines to identify potent GPR54 antagonists. Detailed structure-activity relationship studies led to compound 9l with an IC(50) value of 3.7nM in a GPR54 binding assay, and apparent antagonistic activity in a cellular functional assay.

Discovery and characterization of novel allosteric FAK inhibitors

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates cell survival and proliferation pathways. Here we report the discovery of a highly selective series of 1,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c][2,1]benzothiazines that demonstrate a novel mode of allosteric inhibition of FAK. These compounds showed slow dissociation from unphosphorylated FAK and were noncompetitive with ATP after long preincubation. Co-crystal structural analysis revealed that the compounds target a novel allosteric site within the C-lobe of the kinase domain, which induces disruption of ATP pocket formation leading to the inhibition of kinase activity. The potency of allosteric inhibition was reduced by phosphorylation of FAK. Coupled SAR analysis revealed that N-substitution of the fused pyrazole is critical to achieve allosteric binding and high selectivity among kinases.

2-acylamino-4,6-diphenylpyridine derivatives as novel GPR54 antagonists with good brain exposure and in vivo efficacy for plasma LH level in male rats.

GPR54 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which was formerly an orphan receptor. Recent functional study of GPR54 revealed that the receptor plays an essential role to modulate sex-hormones including GnRH. Thus, antagonists of GPR54 are expected to be novel drugs for sex-hormone dependent diseases such as prostate cancer or endometriosis. We recently reported 2-acylamino-4,6-diphenylpyridines as the first small molecule GPR54 antagonists with high potency. However, the representative compound 1 showed low brain exposure, where GPR54 acts as a modulator of gonadotropins by binding with its endogenous ligand, metastin. In order to discover compounds that have not only potent GPR54 antagonistic activity but also good brain permeability, we focused on converting the primary amine on the side chain to a secondary or tertiary amine, and finally we identified 15a containing a piperazine group. This compound exhibited high affinity to human and rat GPR54, apparent antagonistic activity, and high brain exposure. In addition, intravenous administration of 15a to castrated male rat suppressed plasma LH level, which indicates the possibility of a small molecule GPR54 antagonist as a novel drug for sex-hormone dependent diseases.

Immunomodulating and articular protecting activities of a new anti-rheumatic drug, TAK-603

We investigated the pharmacological activities of a newly synthesized anti-rheumatic drug, TAK-603. (1) In vivo: In adjuvant arthritic (AA) rats, TAK-603 inhibited the hind paw swelling and the body weight loss. The minimum effective dose was 3.13 mg/kg/day (p.o.). Histological and radiographic studies showed that TAK-603 suppressed the development of synovial lesions and joint and bone destruction. TAK-603 was also effective in AA rats when administered for the first 7 days after the adjuvant injection. It suppressed type IV allergy (25 mg/kg/day, p.o.) but had no effect on type III allergy. It had little effect in acute inflammation, analgesic and antipyretic models. These data suggest that TAK-603 acts on the immune system, especially on cellular immunity. (2) In vitro: TAK-603 suppressed the mitogen-induced proliferation of mouse lymphocytes and the ConA-induced IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by rat lymphocytes at 10(-7) to 10(-5) M. It also significantly inhibited the IL-1 induced extracellular matrix reduction in rabbit chondrocytes. It had no effects on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in rat peritoneal cells. These data show that TAK-603 has the ability to suppress the immune system and protect cartilage from destruction. TAK-603 is expected to be a promising drug for rheumatoid arthritis.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine derivatives--a novel structural class of potent calcium-sensing receptor antagonists.

A series of novel tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine derivatives containing an adamantyl group were synthesized and evaluated as potential calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonists. After chemical modification of 9a, which was identified as a hit compound in a random screening of CaSR antagonist assay, 7,7-dimethyl derivative 16c was found to be the most active compound of this new series (IC(50)=10nM). We report the synthesis of this series and their biological activities and structure-activity relationship.

Discovery of novel and potent orally active calcium-sensing receptor antagonists that stimulate pulselike parathyroid hormone secretion: synthesis and structure-activity relationships of tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine derivatives.

As part of our research for novel calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonists that can function as oral bone anabolic agents, we recently reported the discovery of a tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine derivative featuring adamantyl group 1b with potent CaSR antagonistic activity. To explore the potential of this calcilytic congener, we introduced the gem-dialkyl benzyl group at the 3-position of the tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine ring, forming a bioisostere of the adamantyl group by mimicking the adamantyl groups lipophilicity and bulkiness. Optimization directed toward the improvement of solubility and metabolic stability led to the discovery of compound 9e, which stimulated transient PTH secretion when orally administered to normal rats. Further, compound 9e proved to be fully effective in an osteopenic ovariectomized rat model.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-1-phenylpyrrolidine derivatives as novel androgen receptor antagonists.

We designed and synthesized a series of 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-1-phenylpyrrolidine derivatives D and evaluated their potential as novel androgen receptor (AR) antagonists therapeutically effective against castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Introduction of a methyl group at the 2-position (R(2)) of the pyrrolidine ring increased the AR binding affinity. The (2S,3R) configuration of the pyrrolidine ring was favorable for the AR antagonistic activity. It was found that introduction of an amide substituent (R(1)) and a pyridin-3-yl group (Q) was effective for reducing the AR agonistic activity which appeared during the optimization of lead compound 6. Compound 54 showed potent antitumor effects against a CRPC model of LNCaP-hr cell line in a mouse xenograft, in which bicalutamide exhibited only partial suppression of tumor growth. Thus, the pyrrolidine derivatives such as 54 are novel AR antagonists, and their properties having efficacy against CRPC are distinct from those of a representative first-generation antagonist, bicalutamide.