Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), regulatory T (Treg) cells promote an immunosuppressive state with limited tumor antigen presentation and antitumor effector T (Teff) cell responses, which can drive resistance to cancer immunotherapies. IKZF2 (Helios) is a transcription factor essential for stabilizing the immunosuppressive Treg cell phenotype in tumors. Herein, we present the discovery of BMS-986449, a selective Cereblon E3 Ligase Modulatory Drug (CELMoD) degrader of IKZF2 and IKZF4 (Eos) that spares the closely related transcription factors IKZF1 (Ikaros) and IKZF3 (Aiolos). BMS-986449 is an orally available degrader that demonstrates single-agent growth inhibition of syngeneic MC38 tumors implanted in humanized Cereblon (CRBN) knock-in mice. Tumor growth inhibition was more robust when BMS-986449 was administered in combination with anti-PD-1. Nonhuman primates administered daily with BMS-986449 show sustained IKZF2 degradation in Treg cells providing confidence in human clinical doses. Collectively, these findings establish BMS-986449 as a promising clinical candidate for cancer immunotherapy.

An efficient, scalable and stereoselective synthesis of optically pure (3R,4R)-1-benzyl- and (3R,4R)-1-Boc-3-methyl-4-aminopiperidines has been developed starting from commercially available N-benzyl-3-methyl-4-piperidone. The synthesis employed chiral resolution of N-benzyl-3-methyl-4-piperidone, cis-selective reduction of a keto group, and subsequent Mitsunobu inversion of the resulting hydroxy group to install an amine with the desired trans-stereochemistry as the key steps. The method described herein demonstrated a competent route to the title compounds in a cost-effective, and scalable manner.

The toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key roles in activation of the innate immune system. Aberrant activation of TLR7 and TLR8 pathways can occur in the context of autoimmune disorders due to the elevated presence and recognition of self-RNA as activating ligands. Control of this unintended activation via inhibition of TLR7/8 signaling holds promise for the treatment of diseases such as psoriasis, arthritis, and lupus. Optimization of a 2-pyridinylindole series of compounds led to the identification of potent dual inhibitors of TLR7 and TLR8, which demonstrated good selectivity against TLR9 and other family members. The in vitro characterization and in vivo evaluation in rodent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and efficacy studies of BMS-905 is detailed, along with structural information obtained through X-ray cocrystallographic studies.

Inhibition of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family of adaptor proteins is an attractive strategy for targeting transcriptional regulation of key oncogenes, such as c-MYC. Starting with the screening hit 1, a combination of structure-activity relationship and protein structure-guided drug design led to the discovery of a differently oriented carbazole 9 with favorable binding to the tryptophan, proline, and phenylalanine (WPF) shelf conserved in the BET family. Identification of an additional lipophilic pocket and functional group optimization to optimize pharmacokinetic (PK) properties culminated in the discovery of 18 (BMS-986158) with excellent potency in binding and functional assays. On the basis of its favorable PK profile and robust in vivo activity in a panel of hematologic and solid tumor models, BMS-986158 was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation.

We describe a stereodefined synthesis of the newly identified non-natural phosphorothioate cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) STING agonist, BMT-390025. The new route avoids the low-yielding racemic approach using P(III)-based reagents, and the stereospecific assembly of the phosphorothioate linkages are forged via the recently invented P(V)-based platform of the so-called PSI (Ψ) reagent system. This P(V) approach allows for the complete control of chirality of the P-based linkages and enabled conclusive evidence of the absolute configuration. The new approach offers robust procedures for preparing the stereodefined CDN in eight steps starting from advanced nucelosides, with late-stage direct drop isolations and telescoped steps enabling an efficient scale-up that proceeded in an overall 15% yield to produce multigram amounts of the CDN.

The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune system, responsible for the early detection of foreign or endogenous threat signals. In the context of autoimmunity, the unintended recognition of self-motifs as foreign promotes initiation or propagation of disease. Overactivation of TLR7 and TLR9 have been implicated as factors contributing to autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis, arthritis, and lupus. In our search for small molecule antagonists of TLR7/9, 7f was identified as possessing excellent on-target potency for human TLR7/9 as well as for TLR8, with selectivity against other representative TLR family members. Good pharmacokinetic properties and a relatively balanced potency against TLR7 and TLR9 in mouse systems (systems which lack functional TLR8) made this an excellent in vivo tool compound, and efficacy from oral dosing in preclinical models of autoimmune disease was demonstrated.

Abstract Background: The bromodomains and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are a family of 4 adapter proteins, BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT, that bind to specific acetylated lysine residues on the histone tails of chromatin and recruit additional proteins to regulate gene transcription. The c-MYC oncogene, which is amplified and deregulated in 40% to 70% of all cancers, is directly regulated by BET proteins. Preclinical studies provide a strong rationale for pursuing transcriptional regulation via BET inhibition in cancer treatment (Lenhart, et al. Mol Cancer Ther. 2015;14:2167-2174; Filippakopoulos, et al. Nature. 2010;468:1067-1073). Here, we present results of crystal structure-guided structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies that resulted in the identification of BMS-986158, a highly potent BET inhibitor. Methods: Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), we screened a library of compounds and identified a carbazole series of BET inhibitors. Alkylation of the carbazole nitrogen resulted in a 10-fold boost in potency against BET. We then created a differently oriented carbazole series and, subsequently, a carboline series of compounds to improve potency and pharmaceutical properties. A thermal shift assay was used to evaluate selectivity for binding to the BET family of bromodomains. Results: Crystal structure and subsequent SAR studies demonstrated that the isoxazole moiety formed critical interactions with the BET bromodomains. Lead compounds demonstrated potent binding to BRD4 and reduction in c-MYC expression and proliferation in cell lines such as KMS-11. Accessing a second lipophilic pocket in the BRD4 binding site increased potency significantly. Modification of the lead series from a carbazole carboxamide to a carboline resulted in significant improvement in pharmaceutical properties and led to the identification of BMS-986158, which demonstrated in vitro and in vivo potency against a variety of tumor types. In c-MYC-driven cancer cell lines, BMS-986158 caused dose-dependent downregulation of c-MYC expression and induced cancer cell death. BMS-986158 demonstrated > 70% tumor growth inhibition at tolerated doses in patient-derived xenograft models (lung, colorectal, and triple-negative breast cancers). Antitumor activity in mice and pharmacokinetic properties in animal studies support oral dosing in humans. Conclusions: Structure-based drug design led to the discovery of BMS-986158, a highly potent BET inhibitor. With promising antitumor activity in preclinical studies, BMS-986158 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1/2a clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers. Citation Format: Ashvinikumar V. Gavai, Derek Norris, David Tortolani, Daniel O'Malley, Yufen Zhao, Claude Quesnelle, Patrice Gill, Wayne Vaccaro, Tram Huynh, Vijay Ahuja, Dharmpal Dodd, Christopher Mussari, Lalgudi Harikrishnan, Muthoni Kamau, John S. Tokarski, Steven Sheriff, Richard Rampulla, Dauh-Rurng Wu, Jianqing Li, Huiping Zhang, Peng Li, Dawn Sun, Henry Yip, Yingru Zhang, Arvind Mathur, Haiying Zhang, Christine Huang, Zheng Yang, Asoka Ranasinghe, Celia D'Arienzo, Ching Su, Gerry Everlof, Lisa Zhang, Nirmala Raghavan, John T. Hunt, Michael Poss, Gregory D. Vite, Richard A. Westhouse, Susan Wee. Discovery of clinical candidate BMS-986158, an oral BET inhibitor, for the treatment of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5789.

La presente invention concerne des composes de carbazole, des compositions pharmaceutiquement acceptables comprenant les composes de l'invention, ainsi que des methodes d'utilisation de ces compositions dans le traitement de divers troubles.

We have developed a solid phase synthesis route to 1,5-substituted pyrazole-4-carboxamides with three diversity points aimed at the discovery of new compounds as potential G-Protein coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands. The new chemistry involves acylation of a resin bound secondary amine with a β-ketoester via transamidation, conversion of the resulting β-ketoamide to the corresponding vinylogous amide, pyrazole formation upon reaction with a aryl hydrzine, and cleavage of the product from the resin. Using the reported methodology, we describe the syntheses of multiple arrays of pyrazoles that were used collectively to construct a library of more than 1000 analogues. Several members of this library displayed submicromolar antagonist activities at the cannabinoid subtype 1 (CB-1) receptor.

Leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), also known as CD11a/CD18 or alpha(L)beta(2), belongs to the beta(2) integrin subfamily and is constitutively expressed on all leukocytes. The major ligands of LFA-1 include three intercellular adhesion molecules 1, 2, and 3 (ICAM 1, 2, and 3). The interactions between LFA-1 and the ICAMs are critical for cell adhesion, and preclinical animal studies and clinical data from the humanized anti-LFA-1 antibody efalizumab have provided proof-of-concept for LFA-1 as an immunological target. This article will detail the structure activity relationships (SAR) leading to a novel second generation series of highly potent spirocyclic hydantoin antagonists of LFA-1. With significantly enhanced in vitro and ex vivo potency relative to our first clinical compound (1), as well as demonstrated in vivo activity and an acceptable pharmacokinetic and safety profile, 6-((5S,9R)-9-(4-cyanophenyl)-3-(3, 5-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,3,7-triazaspiro-[4.4]nonan-7-yl)nicotinic acid (2e) was selected to advance into clinical trials.

The trisubstituted pyrimidine 1 was identified through high-throughput screening as a novel calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonist. Small molecule CaSR antagonists and/or negative allosteric modulators have the potential to act as an anabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis. The investigation of structure-activity relationships around 1 resulted in the identification of 18c and 18d, which showed efficacy at promoting PTH release in vivo and exhibited improved potency and solubility over the original lead 1.

A new class of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) antagonists is described. Elaboration of the 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizin-5(7aH)-one scaffold resulted in the synthesis of potent inhibitors of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction. Along with the in vitro activity, we present the X-ray crystal structure of the complex of compound 9b, in a novel binding mode to the I-domain of LFA-1.