Discovery of a Novel Macrocyclic Noncovalent CDK7 Inhibitor for Cancer Therapy

J Med Chem. 2024 Nov 28;67(22):20580-20594. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02098. Epub 2024 Nov 9.

Abstract

Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is a key regulator of the cell cycle and transcription, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. Although current CDK7 inhibitors have improved in their selectivity and druglike properties, CDK7 inhibitors have failed to progress through clinical development due to severe gastrointestinal and hematotoxic side effects. To mitigate these limitations, we have developed novel, macrocyclic, noncovalent CDK7 hit compounds 2 and 3 using a macrocyclization platform that has optimized these compounds from SY-5609, a leading clinical asset. We conducted extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to improve their potency, enhance oral bioavailability, and reduce intestinal distribution, which resulted in compound 13. Compound 13 exhibits potent in vitro activity, good ADME properties, and robust in vivo antitumor activity in xenograft models as a monotherapy. Notably, compound 13 with lower basicity demonstrated improved Caco-2 permeability, reduced blood/plasma ratio, and reduced intestinal distribution in rats, thus mitigating gastrointestinal and hematotoxic side effects.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases* / metabolism
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Activating Kinase
  • Macrocyclic Compounds