Category Archives: ChemMedChem

Transition Metal Complexes as Antimalarial Agents: A Review

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Transition Metal Complexes as Antimalarial Agents: A Review

Herein we highlight recent progress in the field of metal-based antimalarial drug development. Based on transition metal series (3d, 4d, or 5d), the antimalarial metal complexes have been divided into three broad categories (3d, 4d, or 5d metal-based), and their activities have been compared with the similar control complexes as well as the parent drugs.


Abstract

In antimalarial drug development research, overcoming drug resistance has been a major challenge for researchers. Nowadays, several drugs like chloroquine, mefloquine, sulfadoxine, and artemisinin are used to treat malaria. But increment in drug resistance has pushed researchers to find novel drugs to tackle drug resistance problems. The idea of using transition metal complexes with pharmacophores as ligands/ligand pendants to show enhanced antimalarial activity with a novel mechanism of action has gained significant attention recently. The advantages of metal complexes include tunable chemical/physical properties, redox activity, avoiding resistance factors, etc. Several recent reports have successfully demonstrated that the metal complexation of known organic antimalarial drugs can overcome drug resistance by showing enhanced activities than the parent drugs. This review has discussed the fruitful research works done in the past few years falling into this criterion. Based on transition metal series (3d, 4d, or 5d), the antimalarial metal complexes have been divided into three broad categories (3d, 4d, or 5d metal-based), and their activities have been compared with the similar control complexes as well as the parent drugs. Furthermore, we have also commented on the potential issues and their possible solution for translating these metal-based antimalarial complexes into the clinic.

H2O2‐Inducible DNA Cross‐linking Agents Capable of Releasing Multiple DNA Alkylators as Anticancer Prodrugs

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H2O2-Inducible DNA Cross-linking Agents Capable of Releasing Multiple DNA Alkylators as Anticancer Prodrugs

Three novel arylboronate analogues have been developed and characterized as H2O2-activated anticancer prodrugs. These nontoxic molecules selectively react with H2O2 to release multiple DNA cross-linkers leading to highly efficient DNA interstrand cross-link (ICL) formation. They showed potent cytotoxicity towards a few cancer cell lines.


Abstract

Three compounds with arylboronate esters conjugated with two equivalent nitrogen mustards [bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine, HN2] have been synthesized and characterized. These inactive small molecules selectively react with H2O2 to produce multiple DNA cross-linkers, such as two HN2 molecules alongside a bisquinone methide (bisQM), leading to efficient DNA ICL formation. In comparison to other amine functional groups, using HN2 as a leaving group greatly improves the DNA cross-linking efficiency of these arylboronate esters as well as cellular activity. The introduction of HN2 in these arylboronate ester analogues favored the generation of bisQM that can directly cross-link DNA. Two equivalents of HN2 are also generated from these compounds upon treatment with H2O2, which directly produces DNA ICL products. The cumulative effects of HN2 and bisQM on DNA cross-linking makes these molecules highly effective H2O2-inducible DNA ICL agents. The three compounds with HN2 as a leaving group showed greatly enhanced cytotoxicity towards cancer cells in comparison to those containing trimethyl amine as a leaving group. This provides an effective strategy for further design of novel potential ROS-activated anticancer prodrugs.

Structure‐Activity Relationships, Tolerability and Efficacy of Microtubule‐Active 1,2,4‐Triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines as Potential Candidates to Treat Human African Trypanosomiasis

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Structure-Activity Relationships, Tolerability and Efficacy of Microtubule-Active 1,2,4-Triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as Potential Candidates to Treat Human African Trypanosomiasis**

We describe the structure-activity relationships, tolerability, and efficacy of microtubule-targeting 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (TPDs) against the neglected pathogen, Trypanosoma brucei – the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). We identified viable candidates that reduce blood parasitemia within 24 h and extend the survival of T. brucei-infected mice compared to control animals. This evidence suggests that TPDs may be potential alternative treatments for HAT.


Abstract

Tubulin and microtubules (MTs) are potential protein targets to treat parasitic infections and our previous studies have shown that the triazolopyrimidine (TPD) class of MT-active compounds hold promise as antitrypanosomal agents. MT-targeting TPDs include structurally related but functionally diverse congeners that interact with mammalian tubulin at either one or two distinct interfacial binding sites; namely, the seventh and vinca sites, which are found within or between α,β-tubulin heterodimers, respectively. Evaluation of the activity of 123 TPD congeners against cultured Trypanosoma brucei enabled a robust quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model and the prioritization of two congeners for in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerability and efficacy studies. Treatment of T. brucei-infected mice with tolerable doses of TPDs significantly decreased blood parasitemia within 24 h. Further, two once-weekly doses at 10 mg/kg of a candidate TPD significantly extended the survival of infected mice relative to infected animals treated with vehicle. Further optimization of dosing and/or the dosing schedule of these CNS-active TPDs may provide alternative treatments for human African trypanosomiasis.

Back in Person: Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2023

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Back in Person: Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2023

The Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry (FiMC) is the largest international Medicinal Chemistry conference in the German speaking area and took place from April 3rd to 5th 2023 in Vienna (Austria). In this conference report, we review the highlights of the 38 lectures and more than 100 posters that were presented during this outstanding meeting.


Abstract

The Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry (FiMC) is the largest international Medicinal Chemistry conference in the German speaking area and took place from April 3rd to 5th 2023 in Vienna (Austria). Fortunately, after being cancelled in 2020 and two years (2021–2022) of entirely virtual meetings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FiMC could be held in a face-to-face format again. Organized by the Division of Medicinal Chemistry of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Division of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry of the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG), together with the Division of Medicinal Chemistry of the Austrian Chemical Society (GÖCH), the Austrian Pharmaceutical Society (ÖPhG), and a local organization committee from the University of Vienna headed by Thierry Langer, the meeting brought together 260 participants from 21 countries. The program included 38 lectures by leading scientists from industry and academia as well as early career investigators. Moreover, 102 posters were presented in two highly interactive poster sessions.

Expansion of a Synthesized Library of N‐Benzyl Sulfonamides Derived from an Indole Core to Target Pancreatic Cancer

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Expansion of a Synthesized Library of N-Benzyl Sulfonamides Derived from an Indole Core to Target Pancreatic Cancer

A library of 43 indolyl sulfonamide analogs has been synthesized. In vitro compound cytotoxicity and metabolic inhibitory activity was determined using a pancreatic cancer cell line panel (AsPC-1, BxPC-3, CFPAC-1, MiaPaCa-2, PANC-1, Panc10.05, and SW-1990) and 9 additional cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. Several of the synthesized compounds displayed sub-micromolar IC50 values against PANC-1 cell line.


Abstract

In an effort to further investigate previously observed activity of indolyl sulfonamides towards pancreatic cancer cell lines, a library of 44 compounds has been synthesized. The biological activity of the compounds has been determined using two different screening assay techniques against 7 pancreatic cancer cell lines and 9 non-pancreatic cancer cell lines. In the first assay, the cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated using a traditional (48 hour compound exposure) method. An in silico investigation was conducted to determine if the compounds might be inducing cell death by inhibiting the S100A2-p53 protein-protein interaction. In the second assay, the potential role of the compounds as metabolic inhibitors of ATP production was evaluated using a rapid screening (1–2 hour compound exposure) method. IC50 values of the hit compounds were obtained and four compounds displayed sub-micromolar potency against PANC-1 cells. The investigation has provided several compounds that display selective in vitro activity toward pancreatic cancer that warrant further development.

Design and Synthesis of Highly Potent and Specific ABHD6 Inhibitors

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Design and Synthesis of Highly Potent and Specific ABHD6 Inhibitors

ABHD6 signature templates: We report tetrahydroisoquinoline and isoindoline “signature templates” for ABHD6 with single-digit nanomolar inhibitory and specificity for the target, and >1000-fold selectivity against serine hydrolase MGL and FAAH. One ABHD6 inhibitor attenuated AMPA-induced glia activation and produced retinal neuroprotection in rats. These new ABHD6 inhibitors provide early leads to develop therapeutics for neuroprotection and the treatment of inflammation and diabetes.


Abstract

Fine-tuning than complete disruption of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) metabolism in the brain represents a promising pharmacological approach to limit potential untoward effects associated with complete blockade of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), the primary hydrolase of 2-AG. This could be achieved through a/b-hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6) inhibition, which will provide a smaller and safer contribution to 2-AG regulation in the brain. Pharmacological studies with ABHD6 inhibitors have recently been reported, where modulation of ABHD6 activity either through CB1R-dependent or CB1R-independent processes showed promise in preclinical models of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and inflammation. Furthermore in the periphery, ABHD6 modulates 2-AG and other fatty acid monoacylglycerols (MAGs) and is implicated in Type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and potentially other diseases. Herein, we report the discovery of single-digit nanomolar potent and highly specific ABHD6 inhibitors with >1000-fold selectivity against MGL and FAAH. The new ABHD6 inhibitors provide early leads to develop therapeutics for neuroprotection and the treatment of inflammation and diabetes.