Joerg Bussenius

Novel Carboxamide-Based Allosteric MEK Inhibitors: Discovery and Optimization Efforts toward XL518 (GDC-0973)

The ERK/MAP kinase cascade is a key mechanism subject to dysregulation in cancer and is constitutively activated or highly upregulated in many tumor types. Mutations associated with upstream pathway components RAS and Raf occur frequently and contribute to the oncogenic phenotype through activation of MEK and then ERK. Inhibitors of MEK have been shown to effectively block upregulated ERK/MAPK signaling in a range of cancer cell lines and have further demonstrated early evidence of efficacy in the clinic for the treatment of cancer. Guided by structural insight, a strategy aimed at the identification of an optimal diphenylamine-based MEK inhibitor with an improved metabolism and safety profile versus PD-0325901 led to the discovery of development candidate 1-({3,4-difluoro-2-[(2-fluoro-4-iodophenyl)amino]phenyl}carbonyl)-3-[(2S)-piperidin-2-yl]azetidin-3-ol (XL518, GDC-0973) (1). XL518 exhibits robust in vitro and in vivo potency and efficacy in preclinical models with sustained duration of action and is currently in early stage clinical trials.

Discovery of XL888: A novel tropane-derived small molecule inhibitor of HSP90

With structural guidance, tropane-derived HTS hits were modified to optimize for HSP90 inhibition and a desirable in vivo profile. Through an iterative SAR development process 12i (XL888) was discovered and shown to reduce HSP90 client protein content in PD studies. Furthermore, efficacy experiments performed in a NCI-N87 mouse xenograft model demonstrated tumor regression in some dosing regimens.

Design and evaluation of a series of pyrazolopyrimidines as p70S6K inhibitors.

The 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) is part of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and has been implicated in cancer. High throughput screening versus p70S6K led to the identification of aminopyrimidine 3a as active inhibitor. Lead optimization of 3a resulted in highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable pyrazolopyrimidines. In this manuscript we report the structure-activity relationship of this series and pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and efficacy data of the lead compound 13c.

Raf modulators and methods of use

Exelixis claims a series of RAF kinase inhibitors based on a 3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl core structure. Both the chemical matter and the biochemical target appear to be new for Exelixis, and many examples have IC50 values < 100 nM. These compounds are claimed to have the potential to treat diseases that are associated with uncontrolled, abnormal and/or unwanted cellular activities such as cancer.

Pyrazolopyrimidines as dual Akt/p70S6K inhibitors.

Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR kinase pathway is frequently associated with human cancer. Selective inhibition of p70S6Kinase, which is the last kinase in the PI3K pathway, is not sufficient for strong tumor growth inhibition and can lead to activation of upstream proteins including Akt through relief of a negative feedback loop. Targeting multiple sites in the PI3K pathway might be beneficial for optimal activity. In this manuscript we report the design of dual Akt/p70S6K inhibitors and the evaluation of the lead compound 11b in vivo, which was eventually advanced into clinical development.

Abstract 4475: Discovery and characterization of PI3K isoform-selective inhibitors

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Abnormal PI3K pathway activation plays a major role in cancer, as a result of either RTK activation or somatic mutations of major components of the pathway, including activating point mutations and amplification of the PIK3CA gene as well as loss of negative regulatory proteins such as PTEN. Most of the ATP-competitive PI3K inhibitors currently in clinical development inhibit all class I PI3K isoforms: however, several recent reports support the development of isoform-specific inhibitors. In particular, while PI3Kα specific inhibitors are predicted to inhibit growth of tumors with PIK3CA mutations, PTEN-deficient tumors have been shown to depend on PI3Kβ. In addition, isoform specific PI3K inhibitors may exhibit better safety profiles compared to pan-selective PI3K inhibitors, and thus may be easier to combine with other targeted or cytotoxic therapies. Here we report the discovery of ATP-competitive inhibitors with selectivity for PI3Kα, PI3Kα/mTOR, or PI3Kβ, which were identified and optimized by means of high-throughput screening and medicinal chemistry. These inhibitors exhibit biochemical IC50 values below 100 nM and good selectivity over other PI3K isoforms and a diverse panel of protein kinases. Cellular assays demonstrate that PI3Kα or PI3Kα/mTOR compounds inhibit phosphorylation of targets downstream of PI3K (Akt) and mTOR (S6 and p70S6 kinase) in the PI3Kα-activated MCF7 cell line, and that effects on PI3K pathway readouts are less pronounced in PC3 cells lacking PTEN. In contrast, PI3Kβ compounds potently inhibit phosphorylation of AKT (cellular IC50s < 200 nM) in the PTEN-deficient PC3 tumor cell line, and the most PI3Kβ-selective inhibitors are inactive on AKT phosphorylation in PI3Kα-activated H460 cells. In vivo pharmacodynamic analyses following oral administration of these isoform-selective inhibitors to mice bearing xenografted tumors demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition of phosphorylation of PI3K and mTOR effectors at well-tolerated doses. These results strongly argue for the development of isoform-selective PI3K inhibitors for the treatment of cancer patients harboring tumors with PTEN- deficient or PI3Kα-activated specific genotypes. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4475.