Investigation of morpholine isosters for the development of a potent, selective and metabolically stable mTOR kinase inhibitor

• Published in: European journal of medicinal chemistry 2023-02, Vol.248, p.115038-115038, Article 115038
• Main Authors: De Pascale, Martina, Bissegger, Lukas, Tarantelli, Chiara, Beaufils, Florent, Prescimone, Alessandro, Mohamed Seid Hedad, Hayget, Kayali, Omar, Orbegozo, Clara, Raguž, Luka, Schaefer, Thorsten, Hebeisen, Paul, Bertoni, Francesco, Wymann, Matthias P., Borsari, Chiara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; ATP-competitive inhibitors; Cancer; Humans; Male; Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR); Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Metabolic stability; Morpholine isosters; Morpholines - chemistry; Morpholines - pharmacology; mTOR kinase inhibitors; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Pyrans - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sirolimus - pharmacology; Sirolimus - therapeutic use; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism
• ISSN: 0223-5234; 1768-3254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115038

Upregulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling drives various types of cancers and neurological diseases. Rapamycin and its analogues (rapalogs) are first generation mTOR inhibitors, and selectively block mTOR complex 1 (TORC1) by an allosteric mechanism. In contrast, second generation ATP-binding site inhibitors of mTOR kinase (TORKi) target both TORC1 and TORC2. Here, we explore 3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran (DHP) and tetrahydro-2H-pyran (THP) as isosteres of the morpholine moiety to unlock a novel chemical space for TORKi generation. A library of DHP- and THP-substituted triazines was prepared, and molecular modelling provided a rational for a structure activity relationship study. Finally, compound 11b [5-(4-(3-oxa-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl)-6-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-(difluoromethyl)pyridin-2-amine] was selected due its potency and selectivity for mTOR kinase over the structurally related class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) isoforms. 11b displayed high metabolic stability towards CYP1A1 degradation, which is of advantage in drug development. After oral administration to male Sprague Dawley rats, 11b reached high concentrations both in plasma and brain, revealing an excellent oral bioavailability. In a metabolic stability assay using human hepatocytes, 11b was more stable than PQR620, the first-in-class brain penetrant TORKi. Compound 11b also displayed dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity in splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) cell lines as single agent and when combined with BCL2 inhibition (venetoclax). Our results identify the THP-substituted triazine core as a novel scaffold for the development of metabolically stable TORKi for the treatment of chronic diseases and cancers driven by mTOR deregulation and requiring drug distribution also to the central nervous system. [Display omitted] •Novel THP- and DHP-substituted TORKi are disclosed.•Molecular modelling elucidates compounds' TORKi-binding modes.•Compound 11b showed improved metabolic stability over morpholino-substituted compounds.•11b displayed good plasma and brain exposure after oral administration.•11b synergizes with venetoclax in lymphoma cell models.