Ro 63-9141 is a new member of the pyrrolidinone-3-ylidenemethyl cephem series of cephalosporins. Its antibacterial spectrum was evaluated against significant gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens in comparison with those of reference drugs, including cefotaxime, cefepime, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin. Ro 63-9141 showed high antibacterial in vitro activity against gram-positive bacteria except ampicillin-resistant enterococci, particularly vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium. Its MIC at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC 90 ) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 4 g/ml. Ro 63-9141 was bactericidal against MRSA. Development of resistance to the new compound in MRSA was not observed. Ro 63-9141 was more potent than cefotaxime against penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC 90 ‫؍‬ 2 g/ml). It was active against ceftazidime-susceptible strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and against Enterobacteriaceae except Proteus vulgaris and some isolates producing extended-spectrum ␤-lactamases. The basis for the antibacterial spectrum of Ro 63-9141 lies in its affinity to essential penicillin-binding proteins, including PBP 2 of MRSA, and its stability towards ␤-lactamases. The in vivo findings were in accordance with the in vitro susceptibilities of the pathogens. These data suggest the potential utility of Ro 63-9141 for the therapy of infections caused by susceptible pathogens, including MRSA. Since insufficient solubility of Ro 63-9141 itself precludes parenteral administration in humans, a water-soluble prodrug, Ro 65-5788, is considered for development.Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) have become a serious problem in many parts of the world. Although the incidence of strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), and other MRS varies from country to country and from hospital to hospital (3, 5), it has been steadily increasing worldwide in the last decade (10,18,19). MRS are resistant not only to the available ␤-lactam antibiotics, but also, in most instances, to structurally unrelated classes of antibacterials (for mainly unknown reasons) and thus represent a prime target in the current search for new antimicrobials.MRS are characterized by the expression of a special penicillin-binding protein (PBP), PBP 2Ј, that is not present in methicillin-susceptible staphylococci. This PBP is causally connected with methicillin resistance, as it functions as a transpeptidase and is not efficiently inhibited by commercially available ␤-lactams, in contrast to the other transpeptidases in staphylococci, PBP 1, PBP 2, and PBP 3. However, the poor affinity of PBP 2Ј for ␤-lactam antibiotics does not seem to be inherent in the ␤-lactam structure since new carbapenems and cephalosporins that are good inhibitors of PBP 2Ј have recently been described (1,6,11,12,14,20).Ro 63-9141, the active principle of the water-soluble prodrug Ro 65-5788, is a novel parenteral cephalosporin with broad-spe...

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is deregulated in a wide variety of human tumors and triggers activation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Here we describe the preclinical characterization of compound 1 (PQR309, bimiralisib), a potent 4,6-dimorpholino-1,3,5-triazine-based pan-class I PI3K inhibitor, which targets mTOR kinase in a balanced fashion at higher concentrations. No off-target interactions were detected for 1 in a wide panel of protein kinase, enzyme, and receptor ligand assays. Moreover, 1 did not bind tubulin, which was observed for the structurally related 4 (BKM120, buparlisib). Compound 1 is orally available, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and displayed favorable pharmacokinetic parameters in mice, rats, and dogs. Compound 1 demonstrated efficiency in inhibiting proliferation in tumor cell lines and a rat xenograft model. This, together with the compound's safety profile, identifies 1 as a clinical candidate with a broad application range in oncology, including treatment of brain tumors or CNS metastasis. Compound 1 is currently in phase II clinical trials for advanced solid tumors and refractory lymphoma.

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) promotes cell proliferation, growth, and survival and is overactivated in many tumors and central nervous system disorders. PQR620 (3) is a novel, potent, selective, and brain penetrable inhibitor of mTORC1/2 kinase. PQR620 (3) showed excellent selectivity for mTOR over PI3K and protein kinases and efficiently prevented cancer cell growth in a 66 cancer cell line panel. In C57BL/6J and Sprague−Dawley mice, maximum concentration (C max ) in plasma and brain was reached after 30 min, with a half-life (t 1/2 ) > 5 h. In an ovarian carcinoma mouse xenograft model (OVCAR-3), daily dosing of PQR620 (3) inhibited tumor growth significantly. Moreover, PQR620 (3) attenuated epileptic seizures in a tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) mouse model. In conclusion, PQR620 (3) inhibits mTOR kinase potently and selectively, shows antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo, and promises advantages in CNS indications due to its brain/plasma distribution ratio.

Cyclothialidine (1, Ro 09-1437) is a potent DNA gyrase inhibitor that was isolated from Streptomyces filipinensis NR0484 and is a member of a new family of natural products. It acts by competitively inhibiting the ATPase activity exerted by the B subunit of DNA gyrase but barely exhibits any growth inhibitory activity against intact bacterial cells, presumably due to insufficient permeation of the cytoplasmic membrane. To explore the antibacterial potential of 1, we developed a flexible synthetic route allowing for the systematic modification of its structure. From a first set of analogues, structure-activity relationships (SAR) were established for different substitution patterns, and the 14-hydroxylated, bicyclic core (X) of 1 seemed to be the structural prerequisite for DNA gyrase inhibitory activity. The variation of the lactone ring size, however, revealed that activity can be found among 11- to 16-membered lactones, and even seco-analogues were shown to maintain some enzyme inhibitory properties, thereby reducing the minimal structural requirements to a rather simple, hydroxylated benzyl sulfide (XI). On the basis of these "minimal structures" a modification program afforded a number of inhibitors that showed in vitro activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The best activities were displayed by 14-membered lactones, and representatives of this subclass exhibit excellent and broad in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis, and overcome resistance against clinically used drugs. By improving the pharmacokinetic properties of the most active compounds (94, 97), in particular by lowering their lipophilic properties, we were able to identify congeners of cyclothialidine (1) that showed efficacy in vivo.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is frequently overactivated in cancer, and drives cell growth, proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Here, we report a structure–activity relationship study, which led to the discovery of a drug-like adenosine 5′-triphosphate-site PI3K/mTOR kinase inhibitor: (S)-4-(difluoromethyl)-5-(4-(3-methylmorpholino)-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)­pyridin-2-amine (PQR530, compound 6), which qualifies as a clinical candidate due to its potency and specificity for PI3K and mTOR kinases, and its pharmacokinetic properties, including brain penetration. Compound 6 showed excellent selectivity over a wide panel of kinases and an excellent selectivity against unrelated receptor enzymes and ion channels. Moreover, compound 6 prevented cell growth in a cancer cell line panel. The preclinical in vivo characterization of compound 6 in an OVCAR-3 xenograft model demonstrated good oral bioavailability, excellent brain penetration, and efficacy. Initial toxicity studies in rats and dogs qualify 6 for further development as a therapeutic agent in oncology.