Novel non-fluoroquinolone inhibitors of bacterial type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) are of interest for the development of new antibacterial agents that are not impacted by target-mediated cross-resistance with fluoroquinolones. Aminopiperidines that have a bicyclic aromatic moiety linked through a carbon to an ethyl bridge, such as 1, generally show potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, including quinolone-resistant isolates, but suffer from potent hERG inhibition (IC(50)= 3 μM for 1). We now disclose the finding that new analogues of 1 with an N-linked cyclic amide moiety attached to the ethyl bridge, such as 24m, retain the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of 1 but show significantly less hERG inhibition (IC(50)= 31 μM for 24m) and higher free fraction than 1. One optimized analogue, compound 24l, showed moderate clearance in the dog and promising efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus in a mouse thigh infection model.

Novel non-fluoroquinolone inhibitors of bacterial type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) are of interest for the development of new antibacterial agents that are not impacted by target-mediated cross-resistance with fluoroquinolones. N-Linked amino piperidines, such as 7a, generally show potent antibacterial activity, including against quinolone-resistant isolates, but suffer from hERG inhibition (IC(50) = 44 μM for 7a) and QT prolongation in vivo. We now disclose the finding that new analogues of 7a with reduced pK(a) due to substitution with an electron-withdrawing substituent in the piperidine moiety, such as R,S-7c, retained the Gram-positive activity of 7a but showed significantly less hERG inhibition (IC(50) = 233 μM for R,S-7c). This compound exhibited moderate clearance in dog, promising efficacy against a MRSA strain in a mouse infection model, and an improved in vivo QT profile as measured in a guinea pig in vivo model. As a result of its promising activity, R,S-7c was advanced into phase I clinical studies.

, submitted for publication). In the present work, NBTI 5463 demonstrated promising activity against a broad range of Gram-negative pathogens. In contrast to fluoroquinolones, the compound did not form a double-strand DNA cleavable complex with Escherichia coli DNA gyrase and DNA, but it was a potent inhibitor of both DNA gyrase and E. coli topoisomerase IV catalytic activities. In studies with P. aeruginosa, NBTI 5463 was bactericidal. Resistant mutants arose at a low rate, and the mutations were found exclusively in the nfxB gene, a regulator of the MexCD-OprJ efflux system. Levofloxacin-selected resistance mutations in GyrA did not result in decreased susceptibility to NBTI 5463. Animal infection studies demonstrated that NBTI 5463 was efficacious in mouse models of lung, thigh, and ascending urinary tract infections. Gram-negative pathogens have become an increased focus for antibiotic development with the continued erosion of the efficacy of current therapies (1). Current options to treat Gramnegative infections are becoming alarmingly limited due to the organisms' abilities to evade existing antibiotic classes by employing a broad array of resistance mechanisms (2). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria represent important nosocomial pathogens and are responsible for a significant proportion of infections in patients in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) settings (3). It is clear that additional agents effective against Gram-negative organisms, in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are needed (4).The bacterial topoisomerases have proven to be very effective targets for the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics (5, 6). Bacterial type II topoisomerases are enzymes that mediate transient double-strand DNA breaks and participate in DNA replication and decatenation reactions (7). DNA gyrase can introduce negative supercoils and controls the level of supercoiling in the bacterial chromosomal DNA (8, 9). Topoisomerase IV is most efficient in decatenating activity, and participates in daughter chromosome separation (10, 11). DNA gyrase is a heterotetramer composed of two copies of each of two protein subunits, GyrA and GyrB (12). Topoisomerase IV is similarly a tetramer of two homodimeric subunits, designated ParC and ParE (13). The fluoroquinolone antibiotics inhibit DNA replication by forming complexes of the drug with DNA bound to the topoisomerase enzyme. This complex acts as a poison for DNA replication, blocking the progression of the replication fork and subsequently inducing the formation of double-strand breaks in the chromosome (14). Despite clinical success, the utility of the fluoroquinolones has eroded over time with use, due primarily to point mutations in the two target enzymes, bacterial gyrase and topoisomerase IV, as well as drug efflux pump mechanisms (15).In this report, we describe the properties of a novel bacterial type II topoisomerase inhibitor (NBTI), NBTI 5463. Mechanistic studies with NBTIs have revealed that members of this class are similar to the fluoroquinolones in tha...

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) developed and applied in the prediction of ecotoxic potencies far out number those in other areas, such as health effects. There are yet to be any formal guidelines for the development of ecotoxicological QSARs. Despite this, the depth and breadth of our knowledge of QSARs as they apply to ecotoxicology, especially short-term aquatic toxicity, allow for the formulation of characteristics that appear to be essential and/or desirable for high-quality QSARs. The three components of a QSAR are the biological activity, the property/structural descriptors, and the statistical methodology. Problems may arise from all three components and may be compounded by interactions between them. In an effort to minimize any tribulations associated with development and application of ecotoxic QSARs, a number of essential or desirable characteristics have been identified. Ecotoxicological data used in formulating the QSAR must be reliable, of high quality, and reflect a well-defined and continuous endpoint; this dataset should be diverse both in terms of potency and chemical structure (i.e., property). Descriptors used in formulating the QSAR should be of high quality, reproducible, of a number and type consistent with the endpoint being modeled, and when possible allow for a mechanistic interpretation of the QSAR. The statistical process used in formulating a QSAR should be as rigorous as possible, appropriate for the endpoint being modeled, and allow for the development of as easily interpretable (i.e., transparent) QSARs as possible. The resultant QSAR should be validated, only used within the descriptor space and chemical domain of the model, and relied on in relation to the total weight of evidence; precision of the QSAR and expectations from its application need to be related to the error in the original ecotoxicological and descriptor measurements. Finally, development of QSARs should be through the interaction of a group of multidisciplinary experts.

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