Julien Papillon

Structure–Activity Relationships, Pharmacokinetics, and in Vivo Activity of CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 Inhibitors

CYP11B2, the aldosterone synthase, and CYP11B1, the cortisol synthase, are two highly homologous enzymes implicated in a range of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We have previously reported the discovery of LCI699, a dual CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 inhibitor that has provided clinical validation for the lowering of plasma aldosterone as a viable approach to modulate blood pressure in humans, as well normalization of urinary cortisol in Cushings disease patients. We now report novel series of aldosterone synthase inhibitors with single-digit nanomolar cellular potency and excellent physicochemical properties. Structure-activity relationships and optimization of their oral bioavailability are presented. An illustration of the impact of the age of preclinical models on pharmacokinetic properties is also highlighted. Similar biochemical potency was generally observed against CYP11B2 and CYP11B1, although emerging structure-selectivity relationships were noted leading to more CYP11B1-selective analogs.

Discovery and in Vivo Evaluation of Potent Dual CYP11B2 (Aldosterone Synthase) and CYP11B1 Inhibitors.

Aldosterone is a key signaling component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and as such has been shown to contribute to cardiovascular pathology such as hypertension and heart failure. Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is responsible for the final three steps of aldosterone synthesis and thus is a viable therapeutic target. A series of imidazole derived inhibitors, including clinical candidate 7n, have been identified through design and structure-activity relationship studies both in vitro and in vivo. Compound 7n was also found to be a potent inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), which is responsible for cortisol production. Inhibition of CYP11B1 is being evaluated in the clinic for potential treatment of hypercortisol diseases such as Cushings syndrome.

Discovery of N-[5-(6-Chloro-3-cyano-1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)-pyridin-3-ylmethyl]-ethanesulfonamide, a Cortisol-Sparing CYP11B2 Inhibitor that Lowers Aldosterone in Human Subjects.

Human clinical studies conducted with LCI699 established aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibition as a promising novel mechanism to lower arterial blood pressure. However, LCI699s low CYP11B1/CYP11B2 selectivity resulted in blunting of adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated cortisol secretion. This property of LCI699 prompted its development in Cushings disease, but limited more extensive clinical studies in hypertensive populations, and provided an impetus for the search for cortisol-sparing CYP11B2 inhibitors. This paper summarizes the discovery, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic data in preclinical species and human subjects of the selective CYP11B2 inhibitor 8.

Synthetic phospholipids as specific substrates for plasma endothelial lipase

We designed and prepared synthetic phospholipids that generate lyso-phosphatidylcholine products with a unique mass for convenient detection by LC-MS in complex biological matrices. We demonstrated that compound 4, formulated either as a Triton X-100 emulsion or incorporated in synthetic HDL particles can serve as a substrate for plasma EL with useful specificity.

Discovery of 1-((6-Aminopyridin-3-yl)Methyl)-3-(4-Bromophenyl)Urea as a Potent, Irreversible Myeloperoxidase Inhibitor

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a leukocyte-derived redox enzyme that has been linked to oxidative stress and damage in many inflammatory states, including cardiovascular disease. We have discovered aminopyridines that are potent mechanism-based inhibitors of MPO, with significant selectivity over the closely related thyroid peroxidase. 1-((6-Aminopyridin-3-yl)methyl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)urea (Aminopyridine 2) inhibited MPO in human plasma and blocked MPO-dependent vasomotor dysfunction ex vivo in rat aortic rings. Aminopyridine 2 also showed high oral bioavailability and inhibited MPO activity in vivo in a mouse model of peritonitis. Aminopyridine 2 could effectively be administered as a food admixture, making it an important tool for assessing the relative importance of MPO in preclinical models of chronic inflammatory disease.

Discovery of Orally Active Inhibitors of Brahma Homolog (BRM)/ SWI/SNF Related Matrix Associated Actin Dependent Regulator Of Chromatin Subfamily A Member 2 (SMARCA2) ATPase Activity for the Treatment of Brahma Related Gene 1 (BRG1)/ SMARCA4-Mutant Cancers

SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 2 (SMARCA2), also known as Brahma homologue (BRM), is a Snf2-family DNA-dependent ATPase. BRM and its close homologue Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), also known as SMARCA4, are mutually exclusive ATPases of the large ATP-dependent SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes involved in transcriptional regulation of gene expression. No small molecules have been reported that modulate SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling activity via inhibition of its ATPase activity, an important goal given the well-established dependence of BRG1-deficient cancers on BRM. Here, we describe allosteric dual BRM and BRG1 inhibitors that downregulate BRM-dependent gene expression and show antiproliferative activity in a BRG1-mutant-lung-tumor xenograft model upon oral administration. These compounds represent useful tools for understanding the functions of BRM in BRG1-loss-of-function settings and should enable probing the role of SWI/SNF functions more broadly in different cancer contexts and those of other diseases.