6cn5

Publication Abstract from PubMed

The nuclear hormone receptor RORC2 (also known as RORgammat) is a promising target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. A small molecule, inverse agonist of the receptor is anticipated to reduce production of IL-17, a key pro-inflammatory cytokine. Through a high-throughput screening approach, we identified a molecule displaying promising binding affinity for RORC2, inhibition of IL-17 production in Th17 cells, and selectivity against the related RORA and RORB receptor isoforms. Lead optimization to improve the potency and metabolic stability of this hit focused on two key design strategies, namely, iterative optimization driven by increasing lipophilic efficiency and structure-guided conformational restriction to achieve optimal ground state energetics and maximize receptor residence time. This approach successfully identified 3-cyano-N-(3-(1-isobutyrylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrolo [2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)benzamide as a potent and selective RORC2 inverse agonist demonstrating good metabolic stability, oral bioavailability, and the ability to reduce IL-17 levels and skin inflammation in a preclinical in vivo animal model upon oral administration.

Discovery of 3-Cyano-N-(3-(1-isobutyrylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrolo [2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)benzamide. A Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor C2 (RORC2) Inverse Agonist.,Schnute ME, Wennerstal M, Alley J, Bengtsson M, Blinn JR, Bolten CW, Braden T, Bonn T, Carlsson B, Caspers NL, Chen MZ, Choi C, Collis LP, Crouse K, F Auml Rneg Aring Rdh M, Fennell KF, Fish S, Flick A, Goos-Nilsson A, Gullberg H, Harris PK, Heasley SE, Hegen M, Hromockyj AE, Hu X, Husman B, Janosik T, Jones P, Kaila N, Kallin E, Kauppi B, Kiefer JR, Knafels JD, Koehler K, Kruger L, Kurumbail RG, Kyne RE Jr, Li W, Lofstedt J, Long SA, Menard CA, Mente S, Messing D, Meyers MJ, Napierata L, Noteberg D, Nuhant P, Pelc MJ, Prinsen MJ, Rhonnstad P, Backstrom-Rydin E, Sandberg J, Sandstrom M, Shah F, Sjoberg M, Sundell A, Taylor AP, Thorarensen A, Trujillo JI, Trzupek JD, Unwalla R, Vajdos FF, Weinberg RA, Wood DC, Xing L, Zamaratski E, Zapf CW, Zhao Y, Wilhelmsson A, Berstein G J Med Chem. 2018 Aug 21. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00392. PMID:30130103^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.