Lead optimisation of OXS007417: PK profile and hERG liability modulation to optimise a small molecule differentiation agent for the potential treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia

• Published in: RSC medicinal chemistry 2024-10, Vol.15 (1), p.3495-356
• Main Authors: Cogswell, Thomas J, Josa-Culleré, Laia, Zimmer, David, Galan, Sébastien R. G, Jay-Smith, Morgan, Harris, Kate S, Bataille, Carole J. R, Jackson, Thomas R, Zhang, Douzi, Davies, Stephen G, Vyas, Paresh, Milne, Thomas A, Wynne, Graham M, Russell, Angela J
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2632-8682
• DOI: 10.1039/d4md00275j

The development of a safe, efficacious, and widely effective differentiation therapy for AML would dramatically improve the outlook for many patients worldwide. To this aim, our laboratory has discovered a class of differentiation agents that demonstrate tumour regression in murine models in vivo . Herein, we report a lead optimisation process around compound OXS007417, which led to improved potency, solubility, metabolic stability, and off-target toxicity of this compound class. A hERG liability was investigated and successfully alleviated through addition of nitrogen atoms into key positions of the compound. OXS008255 and OXS008474 demonstrated an improved murine PK profile in respect to OXS007417 and a delay in tumour growth in a subcutaneous in vivo model using HL-60 cells. The optimisation of a class of AML differentiation agents is described to show improved potency, solubility and stability, reduced off target toxicity, and tumour regression in a murine model in vivo .