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MALDI-TOF MS is a powerful analytical technique that provides a fast and label-free readout for in vitro assays in the high-throughput screening (HTS) environment. Here, we describe the development of a novel, HTS compatible, MALDI-TOF MS-based drug discovery assay for the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), an important target in immuno-oncology and auto-immune diseases. A MALDI-TOF MS assay was developed beginning with an already established ERAP1 RapidFire MS (RF MS) assay, where the peptide YTAFTIPSI is trimmed into the product TAFTIPSI. We noted low ionisation efficiency of these peptides in MALDI-TOF MS and hence incorporated arginine residues into the peptide sequences to improve ionisation. The optimal assay conditions were established with these new basic assay peptides on the MALDI-TOF MS platform and validated with known ERAP1 inhibitors. Assay stability, reproducibility and robustness was demonstrated on the MALDI-TOF MS platform. From a set of 699 confirmed ERAP1 binders, identified in a prior affinity selection mass spectrometry (ASMS) screen, active compounds were determined at single concentration and in a dose-response format with the new MALDI-TOF MS setup. Furthermore, to allow for platform performance comparison, the same compound set was tested on the established RF MS setup, as the new basic peptides showed fragmentation in ESI-MS. The two platforms showed a comparable performance, but the MALDI-TOF MS platform had several advantages, such as shorter sample cycle times, reduced reagent consumption, and a lower tight-binding limit.

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An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

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A range of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles have been synthesized using a UV-B activated flow approach starting from carboxylic acids and 5-substituted tetrazoles. The application of UV light represents an attractive alternative to the traditional thermolytic approach and has demonstrated comparable efficiency and versatility, with a diverse substrate scope, including the incorporation of highly substituted amino acids.

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4-(Pyrimidin-4-yl)morpholines are privileged pharmacophores for PI3K and PIKKs inhibition by virtue of the morpholine oxygen, both forming the key hydrogen bonding interaction and conveying selectivity over the broader kinome. Key to the morpholine utility as a kinase hinge binder is its ability to adopt a coplanar conformation with an adjacent aromatic core favored by the morpholine nitrogen nonbonding pair of electrons interacting with the electron deficient pyrimidine π-system. Few selective morpholine replacements have been identified to date. Herein we describe the discovery of a potent non-nitrogen containing morpholine isostere with the ability to mimic this conformation and its application in a potent selective dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2 (29b).

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Myofibroblasts are the key effector cells responsible for excessive extracellular matrix deposition in multiple fibrotic conditions, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis has been implicated in fibrosis, with pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibition currently under clinical evaluation in IPF. Here we demonstrate that rapamycin-insensitive mTORC1 signaling via 4E-BP1 is a critical pathway for TGF-ß1 stimulated collagen synthesis in human lung fibroblasts, whereas canonical PI3K/Akt signaling is not required. The importance of mTORC1 signaling was confirmed by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in normal and IPF fibroblasts, as well as in lung cancer-associated fibroblasts, dermal fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells. The inhibitory effect of ATP-competitive mTOR inhibition extended to other matrisome proteins implicated in the development of fibrosis and human disease relevance was demonstrated in live precision-cut IPF lung slices. Our data demonstrate that the mTORC1/4E-BP1 axis represents a critical signaling node during fibrogenesis with potential implications for the development of novel anti-fibrotic strategies.

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A deconstruction of previously reported phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) inhibitors and subsequent regrowth led to the identification of a privileged fragment for PI3Kδ, which was exploited to deliver a potent, efficient, and selective lead series with a novel binding mode observed in the PI3Kδ crystal structure.

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A four-step process of high-quality modeling of existing data, deconstruction, identification of replacement cores, and an innovative synthetic regrowth strategy led to the rapid discovery of a novel oral series of PI3Kδ inhibitors with promising selectivity and excellent in vivo characteristics.

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Optimisation of a series of biaryl sulphonamides resulted in the identification of compound 14 [corrected] which demonstrated dose-dependent and strain-specific inhibition of monocyte recruitment in a thioglycollate-induced peritonitis model of inflammation. [Formula: see text]. [corrected].

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A six-stage stereoselective synthesis of indanyl-7-(3'-pyridyl)-(3R,6R,7R)-2,5-diketopiperazines oxytocin antagonists from indene is described. SAR studies involving mono- and disubstitution in the 3'-pyridyl ring and variation of the 3-isobutyl group gave potent compounds (pK(i) > 9.0) with good aqueous solubility. Evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile in the rat, dog, and cynomolgus monkey of those derivatives with low cynomolgus monkey and human intrinsic clearance gave 2',6'-dimethyl-3'-pyridyl R-sec-butyl morpholine amide Epelsiban (69), a highly potent oxytocin antagonist (pK(i) = 9.9) with >31000-fold selectivity over all three human vasopressin receptors hV1aR, hV2R, and hV1bR, with no significant P450 inhibition. Epelsiban has low levels of intrinsic clearance against the microsomes of four species, good bioavailability (55%) and comparable potency to atosiban in the rat, but is 100-fold more potent than the latter in vitro and was negative in the genotoxicity screens with a satisfactory oral safety profile in female rats.

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A series of sulfonamide CCR2 antagonists was identified by high-throughput screening. Management of molecular weight and physical properties, in particular moderation of lipophilicity and study of pK(a), yielded highly potent CCR2 antagonists exhibiting good pharmacokinetic properties and improved potency in the presence of human plasma.

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Optimisation of a series of oxazole diketopiperazines has led to the discovery of a very potent and selective oxytocin antagonist GSK221149A. GSK221149A has been shown to inhibit oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in the anaesthetised rat.

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Several studies have suggested that the accumulation of bradykinin, or that of one its metabolites BK1-8, is involved in the occurrence of side effects such as AE associated with the use of various ACEi. In this work a novel approach combining HPLC-UV on-line with oaTOF-MS and ICPMS was applied to investigate in human and rat plasma the metabolism of labelled BK (79/81 Br-Phe5) BrBK in the presence of two new dual ACE/NEP inhibitors (GW660511X and omapatrilat) currently under clinical trial. In human plasma the BrBK half-life values in the absence or in the presence of GW660511X (3.8 microM) or omapatrilat (32 nM) were 38.7 +/- 2.4, 51.2 +/- 4.7 and 114.7 +/- 9.3 min, respectively and BrBK was degraded into BrBK1-8, BrBK1-7, BrBK1-5 and Br-Phe. In the presence of inhibitors, however, the levels of these resultant metabolites were different. Unlike GW660511X, omapatrilat abolished the production of BrBK1-5 and BrBK1-7, suggesting a better ACE inhibition effect over GW660511X as no NEP activity was found. In addition the production of BrBK1-8 was enhanced in the presence of these inhibitors with a greater accumulation being observed with omapatrilat. The production of Br-Phe5 was reduced with GW660511X while no significant change was observed with omapatrilat after 4 h of incubation. In rat plasma the BrBK half-life values in the absence or in the presence of GW660511X (530 nM) or omapatrilat (50 nM) were 9.31 +/- 1.7, 22.06 +/- 3.1 and 25.3 +/- 1.7 min, respectively and BrBK was degraded into BrBK1-8, BrBK1-7, BrBK1-5 and Br-Phe5 plus BrBK2-9, BrBK4-8 and BrBK2-8 metabolites not found in human plasma. GW660511X and omapatrilat reduced the production of BrBK1-5 and BrBK1-7 with more effect being observed with omapatrilat. GW660511X and omapatrilat increased the production of both BrBK1-8 and Br-Phe5 but not that of BrBK4-8 and BrBK2-8. This study shows that the potency of GW660511X in comparison with omapatrilat is more than 100-fold lower in human, but less than 10-fold lower in rat plasma, suggesting that rat may not be a suitable in vivo model for the evaluation of ACE/NEP inhibition in relation to effects in humans.

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