ABSTRACT:(R)-3-[1-(2,6-Dichloro-3-fluoro-phenyl)-ethoxy]-5-(1-piperidin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-pyridin-2-ylamine (PF02341066) was identified as an orally available, ATP-competitive small molecule inhibitor of cMet receptor tyrosine kinase. The objectives of the present studies were to characterize 1) the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship of the plasma concentrations of PF02341066 to cMet phosphorylation in tumor (biomarker) and 2) the relationship of cMet phosphorylation to antitumor efficacy (pharmacological response). Athymic mice implanted with GTL16 gastric carcinoma or U87MG glioblastoma xenografts were treated with PF02341066 once daily at doses selected to encompass ED 50 values. Plasma concentrations of PF02341066 were best described by a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. A time-delay (hysteresis) was observed between the plasma concentrations of PF02341066 and the cMet phosphorylation response. A link model was therefore used to account for this hysteresis. The model fitted the time courses of cMet phosphorylation well, suggesting that the main reason for the hysteresis is a rate-limiting distribution from plasma into tumor. The EC 50 and EC 90 values were estimated to be 19 and 167 ng/ml, respectively. For tumor growth inhibition, the exponential tumor growth model fitted the time courses of individual tumor growth inhibition well. The EC 50 for the GTL16 tumor growth inhibition was estimated to be 213 ng/ml. Thus, the EC 90 for the inhibition of cMet phosphorylation corresponded to the EC 50 for the tumor growth inhibition, suggesting that near-complete inhibition of cMet phosphorylation (>90%) is required to significantly inhibit tumor growth (>50%). The present results will be helpful in determining the appropriate dosing regimen and in guiding dose escalation to rapidly achieve efficacious systemic exposure in the clinic.Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling is increasingly being applied in drug discovery and development. Specific applications include 1) the selection of drug candidates with most favorable PKPD properties and 2) the prediction of exposure response in patients with the aim of optimizing the design of early clinical trials. The increased understanding of drug action derived from PKPD-based drug development leads to more information, especially with regard to the identification of drug dosage regimen that results in optimal therapeutic outcome (Derendorf et al., 2000;Lesko et al., 2000;Chien et al., 2005). The use of PKPD modeling in this context relies on prediction of the time course of drug effects in patients, using information from preclinical investigation. Preclinical studies are useful alternatives to investigate PKPD relationships to get insight into the in vivo mechanism of drug action. The integration of PKPD modeling and simulation in drug development has provided opportunities to accelerate the evaluation of new chemical entities in the clinic. Thus, the PKPD investigation could contribute to shortening the overall period of drug development.

The discovery and optimization of potency and metabolic stability of a novel class of dihyroxyphenylisoindoline amides as Hsp90 inhibitors are presented. Optimization of a screening hit using structure-based design and modification of log D and chemical structural features led to the identification of a class of orally bioavailable non-quinone-containing Hsp90 inhibitors. This class is exemplified by 14 and 15, which possess improved cell potency and pharmacokinetic profiles compared with the original screening hit.

ABSTRACT:The objective of this study was to assess the physiologically based error) and PF04217903 (1.3-fold error) compared with the onecompartment PK model (1.8-and 1.9-fold errors, respectively). Of more importance, the simulated plasma concentration-time profiles of PF02341066 and PF04217903 by PBPK modeling seemed to be consistent with the observed profiles showing multiexponential declines, resulting in more accurate prediction of the apparent half-lives (t 1/2 ): the observed and predicted t 1/2 values were, respectively, 10 and 12 h for PF02341066 and 6.6 and 6.3 h for PF04217903. The predicted t 1/2 values by the one-compartment PK model were 17 h for PF02341066 and 1.9 h for PF04217903. Therefore, PBPK modeling has the potential to be more useful and reliable for the PK prediction of PF02341066 and PF04217903 in humans than the traditional one-compartment PK model. In summary, the present study has shown examples to indicate that the PBPK model can be used to predict PK profiles in humans.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine P2X7 antagonists are described. Addressing P2X7 affinity and liver microsomal stability issues encountered with this template afforded methyl substituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines ultimately leading to the identification of 1 (JNJ 54166060). 1 is a potent P2X7 antagonist with an ED50 = 2.3 mg/kg in rats, high oral bioavailability and low-moderate clearance in preclinical species, acceptable safety margins in rats, and a predicted human dose of 120 mg of QD. Additionally, 1 possesses a unique CYP profile and was found to be a regioselective inhibitor of midazolam CYP3A metabolism.

AG-012986 is a multitargeted cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor active against CDK1, CDK2, CDK4/6, CDK5, and CDK9, with selectivity over a diverse panel of non-CDK kinases. Here, we report the potent antitumor efficacies of AG-012986 against multiple tumor lines in vitro and in vivo. AG-012986 showed antiproliferative activities in vitro with IC 50 s of <100 nmol/L in 14 of 18 tumor cell lines. In vivo, significant antitumor efficacy induced by AG-012986 was seen (tumor growth inhibition, >83.1%) in 10 of 11 human xenograft tumor models when administered at or near the maximum tolerated dose for 8 or 12 days. AG-012986 caused dose-dependent hypophosphorylation at Ser 795 of the retinoblastoma protein, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in vitro. Colony-forming assays indicated that the potency of AG-012986 substantially decreased with treatment time of <24 h. In vivo, AG-012986 also showed dose-dependent retinoblastoma Ser 795 hypophosphorylation, cell cycle arrest, decreased Ki-67 tumor staining, and apoptosis in conjunction with antitumor activity. Studies comparing i.p. bolus with s.c. implanted minipump dosing regimens revealed that in vivo efficacy correlated with the duration of minimally effective plasma levels rather than maximal drug plasma levels. Dosing optimization of AG-012986 provided guidance for selecting a treatment schedule to achieve the best antitumor efficacy while minimizing the risk of adverse side effects.