Macrocyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers as antibody-drug conjugate payloads

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2017 Dec 1;27(23):5267-5271. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.10.028. Epub 2017 Oct 16.

Abstract

Macrocyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers were designed and evaluated for use as antibody-drug conjugate payloads. Initial structure-activity exploration established that macrocyclization could increase the potency of PBD dimers compared with non-macrocyclic analogs. Further optimization overcame activity-limiting solubility issues, leading to compounds with highly potent (picomolar) activity against several cancer cell lines. High levels of in vitro potency and specificity were demonstrated with an anti-mesothelin conjugate.

Keywords: Antibody-drug conjugates; Macrocycles; Pyrrolobenzodiazepines.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzodiazepines / chemical synthesis
  • Benzodiazepines / chemistry
  • Benzodiazepines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dimerization
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Solubility
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Macrocyclic Compounds
  • Pyrroles
  • pyrrolo(2,1-c)(1,4)benzodiazepine
  • Benzodiazepines