Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) represents a primary degradation enzyme of the endogenous cannabinoid (eCB), 2-arachidonoyglycerol (2-AG). This study reports a potent covalent MAGL inhibitor, SAR127303. The compound behaves as a selective and competitive inhibitor of mouse and human MAGL, which potently elevates hippocampal levels of 2-AG in mice. In vivo, SAR127303 produces antinociceptive effects in assays of inflammatory and visceral pain. In addition, the drug alters learning performance in several assays related to episodic, working and spatial memory. Moreover, long term potentiation (LTP) of CA1 synaptic transmission and acetylcholine release in the hippocampus, two hallmarks of memory function, are both decreased by SAR127303. Although inactive in acute seizure tests, repeated administration of SAR127303 delays the acquisition and decreases kindled seizures in mice, indicating that the drug slows down epileptogenesis, a finding deserving further investigation to evaluate the potential of MAGL inhibitors as antiepileptics. However, the observation that 2-AG hydrolysis blockade alters learning and memory performance, suggests that such drugs may have limited value as therapeutic agents.
The HGF/MET pathway is frequently activated in a variety of cancer types. Several selective small molecule inhibitors of the MET kinase are currently in clinical evaluation, in particular for NSCLC, liver, and gastric cancer patients. We report herein the discovery of a series of triazolopyridazines that are selective inhibitors of wild-type (WT) MET kinase and several clinically relevant mutants. We provide insight into their mode of binding and report unprecedented crystal structures of the Y1230H variant. A multiparametric chemical optimization approach allowed the identification of compound 12 (SAR125844) as a development candidate. In this chemical series, absence of CYP3A4 inhibition was obtained at the expense of satisfactory oral absorption. Compound 12, a promising parenteral agent for the treatment of MET-dependent cancers, promoted sustained target engagement at tolerated doses in a human xenograft tumor model. Preclinical pharmacokinetics conducted in several species were predictive for the observed pharmacokinetic behavior of 12 in cancer patients.
YAP1 and TEAD are transcriptional regulators involved in organ size control and cell proliferation. Aberrant activation of YAP1 has been reported for multiple tumor types and inhibiting the interaction of YAP1 with its partner protein TEAD is thought to be a means of targeting aberrant YAP1 activity. In order to identify small molecule inhibitors of YAP1 interaction with TEAD, we have performed a fragment-based-screening looking for ligands binding to TEAD at its interface with YAP1 (TEAD pocket S3). We have employed three techniques for fragment screening (NMR, SPR, DSF) and have cross tested positive hits identified by one technique with the respective orthogonal method. Using this strategy on Sanofi proprietary fragment libraries, three different fragment series have been identified. X-Ray co-structures with TEAD have been obtained for all three fragment series confirming binding to the S3 pocket of TEAD. Binding mode determination by X-Ray crystallography has set the stage for subsequent fragment optimization.
Citation Format: Laure Delarbre, Olivier Venier, Iris Valtingojer, Jacques Houtmann, Maryse Lowinski, Annick Parent, Françoise Bégassat, Angelique Lasbleiz, Catherine Seys, Philippe Bombart, Laurent Debussche, Alexey Rak. Using a fragment based approach for the identification of TEAD S3 pocket binders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4867.
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