Jon Read

Discovery of 5-Chloro-N2-[(1S)-1-(5-Fluoropyrimidin-2-Yl) Ethyl]-N4-(5-Methyl-1H-Pyrazol-3-Yl)Pyrimidine-2,4-Diamine (Azd1480) as a Novel Inhibitor of the Jak/Stat Pathway

The myeloproliferative neoplasms, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and idiopathic myelofibrosis are a heterogeneous but related group of hematological malignancies characterized by clonal expansion of one or more myeloid lineages. The discovery of the Jak2 V617F gain of function mutation highlighted Jak2 as a potential therapeutic target in the MPNs. Herein, we disclose the discovery of a series of pyrazol-3-yl pyrimidin-4-amines and the identification of 9e (AZD1480) as a potent Jak2 inhibitor. 9e inhibits signaling and proliferation of Jak2 V617F cell lines in vitro, demonstrates in vivo efficacy in a TEL-Jak2 model, has excellent physical properties and preclinical pharmacokinetics, and is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical trials.

Pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors: optimization of antibacterial activity and efficacy.

The pyrrolamides are a new class of antibacterial agents targeting DNA gyrase, an essential enzyme across bacterial species and inhibition results in the disruption of DNA synthesis and subsequently, cell death. The optimization of biochemical activity and other drug-like properties through substitutions to the pyrrole, piperidine, and heterocycle portions of the molecule resulted in pyrrolamides with improved cellular activity and in vivo efficacy.

Mechanism and in vitro pharmacology of TAK1 inhibition by (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol.

Transforming growth factor-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that regulates several signaling pathways including NF-κB signal transduction and p38 activation. TAK1 deregulation has been implicated in human diseases including cancer and inflammation. Here, we show that, in addition to its kinase activity, TAK1 has intrinsic ATPase activity, that (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol irreversibly inhibits TAK1, and that sensitivity to (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol inhibition in hematological cancer cell lines is NRAS mutation status and TAK1 pathway dependent. X-ray crystallographic and mass spectrometric studies showed that (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol forms a covalent complex with TAK1. Detailed biochemical characterization revealed that (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol inhibited both the kinase and the ATPase activity of TAK1 following a bi-phase kinetics, consistent with the irreversible inhibition mechanism. In DoHH2 cells, (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol potently inhibited the p38 phosphorylation driven by TAK1, and the inhibition lasted over 6 h after withdrawal of (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol. Profiling (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol in a panel of hematological cancer cells showed that sensitive cell lines tended to carry NRAS mutations and that genes in TAK1 regulated pathways were enriched in sensitive cell lines. Taken together, we have elucidated the molecular mechanism of a TAK1 irreversible inhibitor and laid the foundation for designing next generation TAK1 irreversible inhibitors. The NRAS-TAK1-Wnt signaling network discerned in our study may prove to be useful in patient selection for TAK1 targeted agents in hematological cancers.

Discovery of novel benzylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones as potent and selective inhibitors of the PIM-1, PIM-2, and PIM-3 protein kinases.

Novel substituted benzylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones (TZDs) have been identified as potent and highly selective inhibitors of the PIM kinases. The synthesis and SAR of these compounds are described, along with X-ray crystallographic, anti-proliferative, and selectivity data.

Inhibitors of the Tyrosine Kinase Ephb4. Part 1: Structure-Based Design and Optimization of a Series of 2,4-Bis-Anilinopyrimidines

A series of bis-anilinopyrimidines have been identified as potent inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase EphB4. Structural information from two alternative series identified from screening efforts was combined to identify the initial leads.

Inhibitors of the Tyrosine Kinase Ephb4. Part 2: Structure-Based Discovery and Optimisation of 3,5-Bis Substituted Anilinopyrimidines.

Crystallographic studies of a range of 3-substituted anilinopyrimidine inhibitors of EphB4 have highlighted two alternative C-2 aniline conformations and this discovery has been exploited in the design of a highly potent series of 3,5-disubstituted anilinopyrimidines. The observed range of cellular activities has been rationalised on the basis of physicochemical and structural characteristics.

Discovery of Checkpoint Kinase Inhibitor (S)-5-(3-Fluorophenyl)-N-(piperidin-3-yl)-3-ureidothiophene-2-carboxamide (AZD7762) by Structure-Based Design and Optimization of Thiophenecarboxamide Ureas.

Checkpoint kinases CHK1 and CHK2 are activated in response to DNA damage that results in cell cycle arrest, allowing sufficient time for DNA repair. Agents that lead to abrogation of such checkpoints have potential to increase the efficacy of such compounds as chemo- and radiotherapies. Thiophenecarboxamide ureas (TCUs) were identified as inhibitors of CHK1 by high throughput screening. A structure-based approach is described using crystal structures of JNK1 and CHK1 in complex with 1 and 2 and of the CHK1-3b complex. The ribose binding pocket of CHK1 was targeted to generate inhibitors with excellent cellular potency and selectivity over CDK1and IKKβ, key features lacking from the initial compounds. Optimization of 3b resulted in the identification of a regioisomeric 3-TCU lead 12a. Optimization of 12a led to the discovery of the clinical candidate 4 (AZD7762), which strongly potentiates the efficacy of a variety of DNA-damaging agents in preclinical models.

Discovery of 1-methyl-1H-imidazole derivatives as potent Jak2 inhibitors.

Structure based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel series of 1-methyl-1H-imidazole, as potent Jak2 inhibitors to modulate the Jak/STAT pathway, are described. Using the C-ring fragment from our first clinical candidate AZD1480 (24), optimization of the series led to the discovery of compound 19a, a potent, orally bioavailable Jak2 inhibitor. Compound 19a displayed a high level of cellular activity in hematopoietic cell lines harboring the V617F mutation and in murine BaF3 TEL-Jak2 cells. Compound 19a demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in a UKE-1 xenograft model within a well-tolerated dose range.

Inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase EphB4. Part 3: identification of non-benzodioxole-based kinase inhibitors.

Starting from the initial bis-anilinopyrimidine 1, good potency against EphB4 was retained when benzodioxole at C-4 was replaced by an indazole. The key interactions of the indazole with the protein were characterised by crystallographic studies. Further optimisation led to compound 20, a potent inhibitor of the EphB4 and Src kinases with good pharmacokinetics in various preclinical species and high fraction unbound in plasma. Compound 20 may be used as a tool for evaluating the potential of EphB4 kinase inhibitors in vivo.

Inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase EphB4. Part 4: Discovery and optimization of a benzylic alcohol series

Optimization of our bis-anilino-pyrimidine series of EphB4 kinase inhibitors led to the discovery of compound 12 which incorporates a key m-hydroxymethylene group on the C4 aniline. 12 displays a good kinase selectivity profile, good physical properties and pharmacokinetic parameters, suggesting it is a suitable candidate to investigate the therapeutic potential of EphB4 kinase inhibitors.