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Discovery of a novel cabazitaxel nanoparticle-drug conjugate (CRLX522) with improved pharmacokinetic properties and anticancer effects using a β-cyclodextrin-PEG copolymer based delivery platform
No full textNovel nanoparticle-drug conjugates (NDCs) containing diverse, clinically relevant anticancer drug payloads (docetaxel, cabazitaxel, and gemcitabine) were successfully generated and tested in drug discovery studies. The NDCs utilized structurally varied linkers that attached the drug payloads to a β-cyclodextrin-PEG copolymer to form self-assembled nanoparticles. In vitro release studies revealed a diversity of release rates driven by linker structure-activity relationships (SARs). Improved in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) for the cabazitaxel (CBTX) NDCs with glycinate-containing (1c) and hexanoate-containing linkers (2c) were demonstrated, along with high and sustained tumor levels (>168 h of released drug in tumor tissues). This led to potent efficacy and survival in both taxane- and docetaxel-resistant in vivo anticancer mouse efficacy models. Overall, the CBTX-hexanoate NDC 2c (CRLX522), demonstrated optimal and improved in vivo PK (plasma and tumor) and efficacy profile versus those of the parent drug, and the results support the potential therapeutic use of CRLX522 as a new anticancer agent
CSF-1 antibody Lacnotuzumab in a Phase 1 Healthy Volunteer Study and Mechanistic Investigation of Safety Outcomes
No full textThe colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) receptor pathway has been implicated in a variety of diseases, and CSF-1–dependent mechanisms are involved in bloodborne protein clearance. Lacnotuzumab is a novel, high-affinity, humanized, anti–CSF-1 monoclonal antibody that prevents CSF-1 mediated receptor activation. The presentedThis phase 1, two-part, double-blind study in healthy volunteers assessed the safety and tolerability of lacnotuzumab and its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic properties. Part A (n = 36) was a single, ascending-dose assessment of eight lacnotuzumab doses (0.01 to 20 mg/kg); in part B (n = 16), lacnotuzumab was administered at either 5 or 10 mg/kg. In each study cohort, individuals were randomized 3:1 to lacnotuzumab or placebo. Lacnotuzumab was generally well tolerated. At higher doses (10 and 20 mg/kg), creatine kinase (CK) elevations (>5x the upper limit of normal, but asymptomatic and reversible) and mild transient periorbital swelling were reported. At all doses, theThe majority of adverse events (AEs) were low grade, no unexpected or novel AEs were observed, and there were no discontinuations for AEs. Serum-fFree/unbound lacnotuzumab serum concentration-time profiles showed nonlinear PK s across doses from 0.01–20 mg/kg, with faster apparent elimination at lower doses or concentrations; this was consistent with apparent target-mediated drug disposition. Lacnotuzumab also showed dose-dependent, on-target effects on multiple downstream biomarkers. Preclinical investigations of the CK elevation and periorbital swelling observed after lacnotuzumab administration suggest that these are reversible, non-pathological events linked to inhibition of the CSF-1 pathway. These data support further evaluation of lacnotuzumab in clinical studies
Lysine-specific demethylase-2 is distinctively involved in brown and beige adipogenic differentiation
No full textTranscriptional and epigenetic regulation is fundamentally involved in initiating and maintaining progression of cellular differentiation. The 2 types of thermogenic adipocytes, brown and beige, are thought to be of different origins but share functionally similar phenotypes. Here, we report that lysine-specific demethylase 2 (LSD2) regulates the expression of genes associated with lineage identity during the differentiation of brown and beige adipogenic progenitors in mice. In HB2 mouse brown preadipocytes, short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of LSD2 impaired formation of lipid droplet-containing adipocytes and down-regulated brown adipogenesis-associated genes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that myogenesis-associated genes were up-regulated in LSD2-KD cells under adipogenic induction. In addition, loss of LSD2 during later phases of differentiation had no obvious influence on adipogenic traits, suggesting that LSD2 functions during earlier phases of brown adipocyte differentiation. Using adipogenic cells from the brown adipose tissues of LSD2-knockout (KO) mice, we found reduced expression of brown adipogenesis genes, whereas myogenesis genes were not affected. In contrast, when LSD2-KO cells from inguinal white adipose tissues were subjected to beige induction, these cells showed a dramatic rise in myogenic gene expression. Collectively, these results suggest that LSD2 regulates distinct sets of genes during brown and beige adipocyte formation.-Takase, R., Hino, S., Nagaoka, K., Anan, K., Kohrogi, K., Araki, H., Hino, Y., Sakamoto, A., Nicholson, T. B., Chen, T., Nakao, M. Lysine-specific demethylase-2 is distinctively involved in brown and beige adipogenic differentiation
Principles and procedures for handling out-of-domain and indeterminate results as part of ICH M7 recommended (Q)SAR analyses
No full textThe International Council for Harmonization (ICH) M7 guideline describes a hazard assessment process for impurities that have the potential to be present in a drug substance or drug product. In the absence of adequate experimental bacterial mutagenicity data, (Q)SAR analysis may be used as a test to predict impurities’ DNA reactive (mutagenic) potential. However, in certain situations, (Q)SAR software is unable to generate a positive or negative prediction either because of conflicting information or because the impurity is outside the applicability domain of the model. Such results present challenges in generating an overall mutagenicity prediction and highlight the importance of performing a thorough expert review. The following paper reviews pharmaceutical and regulatory experiences handling such situations. The paper also presents an analysis of proprietary data to help understand the likelihood of misclassifying a mutagenic impurity as non-mutagenic based on different combinations of (Q)SAR results. This information may be taken into consideration when supporting the (Q)SAR results with an expert review, especially when out-of-domain results are generated during a (Q)SAR evaluation
Using healthcare databases to explore associations between drugs and progression of open angle glaucoma
No full textWe sought to refine understanding about associations identified in prior studies between angiotensin-II receptor blockers, metformin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fibric-acid derivatives, or calcium channel blockers and progression to glaucoma filtration surgery for open-angle glaucoma (OAG). We used new-initiator, active-comparator cohort designs to investigate these drugs in two data sources. We adjusted for confounders using stabilized inverse-probability-of-treatment weights and evaluated results using "intention-to-treat" and "as-treated" follow-up approaches. In both data sources, Kaplan-Meier curves showed trends for more rapid progression to glaucoma filtration surgery in patients taking calcium channel blockers compared with thiazides with as-treated (MarketScan P = 0.15; Medicare P = 0.03) and intention-to-treat follow-up (MarketScan P < 0.01; Medicare P = 0.10). There was suggestion of delayed progression for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor compared with tricyclic antidepressants in Medicare, which was not observed in MarketScan. Our study provided support for a relationship between calcium channel blockers and OAG progression but not for other investigated drugs
Structure of lipoprotein lipase in complex with GPIHBP1
No full textLipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in triglyceride (TG) metabolism. By catalyzing the hydrolysis of TGs present in TG-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), LPL facilitates TG utilization and regulates circulating TG and TRL concentrations. Until very recently, structural information for LPL was limited to homology models, presumably due to the propensity of LPL to unfold and aggregate. By coexpressing LPL with a soluble variant of its accessory protein glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high-density lipoprotein binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1) and with its chaperone protein lipase maturation factor 1 (LMF1), we obtained a stable and homogenous LPL/GPIHBP1 complex that was suitable for structure determination. We report here X-ray crystal structures of human LPL in complex with human GPIHBP1 at 2.5-3.0 Å resolution, including a structure with a novel inhibitor bound to LPL. Binding of the inhibitor resulted in ordering of the LPL lid and lipid-binding regions and thus enabled determination of the first crystal structure of LPL that includes these important regions of the protein. It was assumed for many years that LPL was only active as a homodimer. The structures and additional biochemical data reported here are consistent with a new report that LPL, in complex with GPIHBP1, can be active as a monomeric 1:1 complex. The crystal structures illuminate the structural basis for LPL-mediated TRL lipolysis as well as LPL stabilization and transport by GPIHBP1
Selective ortho -Metalation of a Fluoroarene with Knochel-Hauser Base and Reactions with Various Electrophiles
No full textSelective ortho -metalation of 1-bromo-2-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-4-fluorobenzene was achieved with the Knochel-Hauser base (TMPMgCl·LiCl) in position 5 of the aromatic ring. The magnesiated intermediate was reacted with a variety of electrophiles to obtain the products in good yields. The work was successfully extended to a Negishi coupling, after transmetalation with ZnCl 2 and Pd-catalyzed reaction with 4-iodotoluene
Prediction of the impact of CYP2C9 genotypes on the drug-drug interaction potential of siponimod with PBPK modeling: a comprehensive approach for drug label recommendations
No full textWe predicted the drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential of siponimod in presence of cytochrome-P450 (CYP)2C9/CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers in subjects with different CYP2C9 genotypes by physiologically-based-pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. The model was established using in vitro and clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) data and verified by adequately predicting siponimod PK when co-administered with rifampin. With strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, an increased DDI risk for siponimod was predicted for CYP2C9*3/*3 genotype versus other genotypes (AUC ratio [AUCR]: 3.25–4.42 vs. ≤1.51 for strong; 2.46 vs. 1.14–1.32 for moderate). AUCRs increased with moderate (2.15–2.52) and weak (1.12–1.41) CYP3A4/CYP2C9 inhibitors to the same extent for all genotypes. With strong CYP3A4/moderate CYP2C9 inducers and moderate CYP3A4 inducers, predicted AUCRs were 0.21–0.32 and 0.35–0.71, respectively. This complementary analysis to the clinical PK-DDI studies confirmed the relevant influence of CYP2C9 polymorphism on the DDI behavior of siponimod and represented the basis for the DDI labeling recommendations
Encoded Library Technologies as Integrated Lead Finding Platforms for Drug Discovery
No full textThe scope of targets investigated in pharmaceutical research is continuously moving into uncharted territory. Consequently, finding suitable chemical matter with current compound collections is proving increasingly difficult. Encoded library technologies enable the rapid exploration of large chemical space for the identification of ligands for such targets. These binders facilitate drug discovery projects both as tools for target validation, structural elucidation and assay development as well as starting points for medicinal chemistry. Novartis internalized two complementing encoded library platforms to accelerate the initiation of its drug discovery programs. For the identification of low-molecular weight ligands, we apply DNA-encoded libraries. In addition, encoded peptide libraries are employed to identify cyclic peptides. This review discusses how we apply these two platforms in our research and why we consider it beneficial to run both pipelines in-house
Rationalization of the Membrane Permeability Differences in a Series of Analogue Cyclic Decapeptides
No full textCyclization and selected backbone N-methylations are found to be often necessary but not sufficient conditions for peptidic drugs to have a good bioavailability. Thus, the design of cyclic peptides with good passive membrane permeability and good solubility remains a challenge. The backbone scaffold of a recently published series of cyclic decapeptides with six selected backbone N-methylations was designed to favor the adoption of a closed conformation with β-turns and four transannular hydrogen bonds. Although this conformation was indeed adopted by the peptides as determined by NMR measurements, substantial differences in the membrane permeability were observed. In this work, we aim to rationalize the impact of discrete side chain modifications on membrane permeability for six of these cyclic decapeptides. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations and Markov state modeling in water and chloroform. The study highlights the influence that side-chain modifications can have on the backbone conformation. Peptides with a d-proline in the β-turns were more likely to adopt, even in water, the closed conformation with transannular hydrogen bonds, which facilitates transition through the membrane. The population of the closed conformation in water was found to correlate positively with PAMPA log Pe