ATM inhibitors, such as 7, have demonstrated the antitumor potential of ATM inhibition when combined with DNA double-strand break-inducing agents in mouse xenograft models. However, the properties of 7 result in a relatively high predicted clinically efficacious dose. In an attempt to minimize attrition during clinical development, we sought to identify ATM inhibitors with a low predicted clinical dose (<50 mg) and focused on strategies to increase both ATM potency and predicted human pharmacokinetic half-life (predominantly through the increase of volume of distribution). These efforts resulted in the discovery of 64 (AZD0156), an exceptionally potent and selective inhibitor of ATM based on an imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-2-one core. 64 has good preclinical phamacokinetics, a low predicted clinical dose, and a high maximum absorbable dose. 64 has been shown to potentiate the efficacy of the approved drugs irinotecan and olaparib in disease relevant mouse models and is currently undergoing clinical evaluation with these agents.

Optimization of cellular lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE) in a series of 2-anilino-pyrimidine IGF-1R kinase inhibitors led to the identification of novel 2-(pyrazol-4-ylamino)-pyrimidines with improved physicochemical properties. Replacement of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine group of the previously reported inhibitor 3 with the related pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine improved IGF-1R cellular potency. Substitution of the amino-pyrazole group was key to obtaining excellent kinase selectivity and pharmacokinetic parameters suitable for oral dosing, which led to the discovery of (2R)-1-[4-(4-{[5-chloro-4-(pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino}-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1-piperidinyl]-2-hydroxy-1-propanone (AZD9362, 28), a novel, efficacious inhibitor of IGF-1R.

A novel series of 3-quinoline carboxamides has been discovered and optimized as selective inhibitors of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. From a modestly potent HTS hit (4), we identified molecules such as 6-[6-(methoxymethyl)-3-pyridinyl]-4-{[(1R)-1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)ethyl]amino}-3-quinolinecarboxamide (72) and 7-fluoro-6-[6-(methoxymethyl)pyridin-3-yl]-4-{[(1S)-1-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)ethyl]amino}quinoline-3-carboxamide (74) as potent and highly selective ATM inhibitors with overall ADME properties suitable for oral administration. 72 and 74 constitute excellent oral tools to probe ATM inhibition in vivo. Efficacy in combination with the DSB-inducing agent irinotecan was observed in a disease relevant model.

A novel estrogen receptor down-regulator, 7-hydroxycoumarin (5, SS5020), has been reported with antitumor effects against chemically induced mammary tumors. Here, we report on our own investigation of 7-hydroxycoumarins as potential selective estrogen receptor down-regulators, which led us to the discovery of potent down-regulating antagonists, such as 33. Subsequent optimization and removal of the 7-hydroxy group led to coumarin 59, which had increased potency and improved rat bioavailability relative to SS5020.

A novel estrogen receptor down-regulator, 7-hydroxycoumarin (5, SS5020), has been reported with antitumor effects against chemically induced mammary tumors. Here, we report on our own investigation of 7-hydroxycoumarins as potential selective estrogen receptor down-regulators, which led us to the discovery of potent down-regulating antagonists, such as 33. Subsequent optimization and removal of the 7-hydroxy group led to coumarin 59, which had increased potency and improved rat bioavailability relative to SS5020.

Following the discovery of imidazopyridine 1 as a potent IGF-1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor, the aniline part has been modified with the aim to optimize the properties of this series. The structure-activity relationships against IGF-1R kinase activity as well as inhibition of the hERG ion channel are discussed.

We disclose a novel series of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor kinase inhibitors based on the 3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffold. The influence on the inhibitory activity of substitution on the imidazopyridine and at the C5 position of the pyrimidine is discussed. In the course of this optimization, we discovered a potent and selective inhibitor with suitable pharmacokinetics for oral administration.

The Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-1R) is a receptor tyrosine kinase which plays an important role in cancer by promoting proliferation and survival through activation of the Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Deregulation of the IGF-1R axis has been reported in a variety of solid cancers and occurs by overexpression of either the receptor or its ligands (IGF-1 and IGF-2) or by down-regulation of IGF binding proteins (in particular IGFBP3). Therapeutic approaches to inhibit IGF-1R signaling include antibodies targeting the receptor and small molecule inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase. The latter strategy offers a potential advantage by simultaneously inhibiting the closely related Insulin Receptor A (IR-A) tyrosine kinase. Indeed, IR-A can drive tumor growth in some cancer cell lines and has been suggested has a potential escape mechanism for IGF-1R inhibition. Following a cell based high throughput screening, we have identified a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines inhibiting the IGF-1R kinase. Although hit compounds carried a significant activity against CDK2, modifications of the aniline part has led to more potent and selective inhibitors. We selected 1-[4-[4-[(5-chloro-4-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-yl)amino]-3-methoxy-phenyl]piperazin-1-yl]ethanone (5) as a lead compound having good pharmacokinetics in pre-clinical species. Compound (5) displays a dual inhibition of IGF-1R and the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase as measured in biochemical assays as well as in cellular auto-phosphorylation assays. Structure-activity relationship around (5) is described for IGF-1R inhibition as well as for the hERG ion channel. Compound (5) has been assessed in an in vivo efficacy model based on the NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell line transfected to express human IGF-1R and IGF1 ligand. In contrast to the non-transfected parent line, this cell line rapidly grows as a sub-cutaneous xenograft in nude mouse, thus providing a suitable model to measure anti-IGF-1R pharmacology by tumor growth inhibition. The high expression of IGF-1R also enables the generation of good quality PD data using receptor phosphorylation as an endpoint. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B238.

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.

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.

AbstractA two‐step synthesis of imidazopyridines (V) involves formation of vinyl ethers via phosphine‐free Heck reaction and subsequent cyclocondensation with aminopyridines.

A two-step synthesis of 3-(2-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is presented. The late stage elaboration of the imidazopyridine through a cyclocondensation allows a rapid access to a variety of substitution patterns. The intermediate enol ethers were obtained from inexpensive reagents in a ligand-free Heck coupling. This methodology has been extended to the formation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines via a formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.