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Van Tine BA, Ingham MA, Attia S, Meyer CF, Baird JD, Brooks-Asplund E, D'Silva D, Kong R, Mwatha A, O'Keefe K, Weetall M, Spiegel R, Schwartz GK. Phase Ib Study of Unesbulin (PTC596) Plus Dacarbazine for the Treatment of Locally Recurrent, Unresectable or Metastatic, Relapsed or Refractory Leiomyosarcoma. J Clin Oncol 2024:JCO2301684. [PMID: 38684039 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase Ib study was designed to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) and to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of unesbulin plus dacarbazine (DTIC) in patients with advanced leiomyosarcoma (LMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult subjects with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic, relapsed or refractory LMS were treated with escalating doses of unesbulin orally twice per week in combination with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) once every 21 days. The time-to-event continual reassessment method was used to determine the RP2D on the basis of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) assessed during the first two 21-day treatment cycles. All explored doses of unesbulin (200 mg up to 400 mg) were in combination with DTIC. An expansion cohort was enrolled to evaluate the safety and efficacy of unesbulin at the RP2D. RESULTS Unesbulin 300 mg administered orally twice per week in combination with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 IV once every 21 days was identified as the RP2D. On the basis of data from 27 subjects who were deemed DLT-evaluable, toxicity was higher in the unesbulin 400 mg group, with three of four subjects (75%) experiencing DLTs versus one of four subjects (25%) in the 200 mg group and three of 19 subjects (15.8%) in the 300 mg group. The most commonly reported DLTs and treatment-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. At the RP2D, seven subjects who were efficacy evaluable achieved partial response for an objective response rate of 24.1%. CONCLUSION Unesbulin 300 mg twice per week plus DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 once every 21 days was identified as the RP2D, demonstrating a favorable benefit-risk profile in a heavily pretreated population of adults with advanced LMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christian F Meyer
- Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
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Liu G, Lipari P, Mollin A, Jung S, Teplova I, Li W, Ying L, More V, Lennox W, Yeh S, McGann E, Moon YC, Rice C, Huarte E, Gruszka B, Ray B, Goodwin E, Buckendahl P, Yurkow E, Braughton B, Narasimhan J, Welch E, Voronin G, Weetall M. Comparison of pharmaceutical properties and biological activities of prednisolone, deflazacort, and vamorolone in DMD disease models. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:211-223. [PMID: 37819629 PMCID: PMC10800023 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disabling X-linked recessive disorder that causes gradual and irreversible loss of muscle, resulting in early death. The corticosteroids prednisone/prednisolone and deflazacort are used to treat DMD as the standard of care; however, only deflazacort is FDA approved for DMD. The novel atypical corticosteroid vamorolone is being investigated for treatment of DMD. We compared the pharmaceutical properties as well as the efficacy and safety of the three corticosteroids across multiple doses in the B10-mdx DMD mouse model. Pharmacokinetic studies in the mouse and evaluation of p-glycoprotein (P-gP) efflux in a cellular system demonstrated that vamorolone is not a strong P-gp substrate resulting in measurable central nervous system (CNS) exposure in the mouse. In contrast, deflazacort and prednisolone are strong P-gp substrates. All three corticosteroids showed efficacy, but also side effects at efficacious doses. After dosing mdx mice for two weeks, all three corticosteroids induced changes in gene expression in the liver and the muscle, but prednisolone and vamorolone induced more changes in the brain than did deflazacort. Both prednisolone and vamorolone induced depression-like behavior. All three corticosteroids reduced endogenous corticosterone levels, increased glucose levels, and reduced osteocalcin levels. Using micro-computed tomography, femur bone density was decreased, reaching significance with prednisolone. The results of these studies indicate that efficacious doses of vamorolone, are associated with similar side effects as seen with other corticosteroids. Further, because vamorolone is not a strong P-gp substrate, vamorolone distributes into the CNS increasing the potential CNS side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Liu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Philip Lipari
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Stephen Jung
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Irina Teplova
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Wencheng Li
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Lanqing Ying
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Vijay More
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - William Lennox
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Shirley Yeh
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Eric McGann
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Young-Choon Moon
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Cari Rice
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Eduardo Huarte
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Barbara Gruszka
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Balmiki Ray
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Elizabeth Goodwin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Patricia Buckendahl
- Rutgers University, Molecular Imaging Center, 41 Gordon Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Edward Yurkow
- Rutgers University, Molecular Imaging Center, 41 Gordon Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Bruce Braughton
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Jana Narasimhan
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Ellen Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Gregory Voronin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, United States
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3
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Schultz A, Cheng SY, Kirchner E, Costello S, Miettinen H, Chaverra M, King C, George L, Zhao X, Narasimhan J, Weetall M, Slaugenhaupt S, Morini E, Punzo C, Lefcort F. Reduction of retinal ganglion cell death in mouse models of familial dysautonomia using AAV-mediated gene therapy and splicing modulators. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18600. [PMID: 37903840 PMCID: PMC10616160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45376-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease caused by a splicing mutation in the Elongator Acetyltransferase Complex Subunit 1 (ELP1) gene. The reduction in ELP1 mRNA and protein leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and visual impairment in all FD patients. Currently patient symptoms are managed, but there is no treatment for the disease. We sought to test the hypothesis that restoring levels of Elp1 would thwart the death of RGCs in FD. To this end, we tested the effectiveness of two therapeutic strategies for rescuing RGCs. Here we provide proof-of-concept data that gene replacement therapy and small molecule splicing modifiers effectively reduce the death of RGCs in mouse models for FD and provide pre-clinical foundational data for translation to FD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Schultz
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Shun-Yun Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Neurobiology and Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Emily Kirchner
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanann Costello
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Heini Miettinen
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Marta Chaverra
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Colin King
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Lynn George
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
- Department of Biological and Physical Science, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | | | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Susan Slaugenhaupt
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Morini
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claudio Punzo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Neurobiology and Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Frances Lefcort
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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Weetall M, Rance M, Ingham M, Van Tine BA. Editorial: New therapeutics for soft tissue sarcomas. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1297215. [PMID: 37909024 PMCID: PMC10614288 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1297215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marla Weetall
- Pharmacology and Biomarkers, PTC Therapeutics (United States), South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Mark Rance
- Pharmacology and Biomarkers, PTC Therapeutics (United States), South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Matthew Ingham
- Clinical Development, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, United States
| | - Brian A. Van Tine
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, United States
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5
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Schultz A, Cheng SY, Kirchner E, Costello S, Miettinen H, Chaverra M, King C, George L, Zhao X, Narasimhan J, Weetall M, Slaugenhaupt S, Morini E, Punzo C, Lefcort F. Reduction of retinal ganglion cell death in mouse models of familial dysautonomia using AAV-mediated gene therapy and splicing modulators. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.22.541535. [PMID: 37293016 PMCID: PMC10245894 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease caused by a splicing mutation in the Elongator Acetyltransferase Complex Subunit 1 ( ELP1 ) gene. The reduction in ELP1 mRNA and protein leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and visual impairment in all FD patients. Currently, patient symptoms are managed, but there is no treatment for the disease. We sought to test the hypothesis that restoring levels of Elp1 would thwart the death of RGCs in FD. To this end, we tested the effectiveness of two therapeutic strategies for rescuing RGCs. Here we provide proof-of-concept data that gene replacement therapy and small molecule splicing modifiers effectively reduce the death of RGCs in mouse models for FD and provide pre-clinical data foundation for translation to FD patients.
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6
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Morini E, Chekuri A, Logan EM, Bolduc JM, Kirchner EG, Salani M, Krauson AJ, Narasimhan J, Gabbeta V, Grover S, Dakka A, Mollin A, Jung SP, Zhao X, Zhang N, Zhang S, Arnold M, Woll MG, Naryshkin NA, Weetall M, Slaugenhaupt SA. Development of an oral treatment that rescues gait ataxia and retinal degeneration in a phenotypic mouse model of familial dysautonomia. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:531-547. [PMID: 36809767 PMCID: PMC10027479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by a splicing mutation in elongator acetyltransferase complex subunit 1 (ELP1). This mutation leads to the skipping of exon 20 and a tissue-specific reduction of ELP1, mainly in the central and peripheral nervous systems. FD is a complex neurological disorder accompanied by severe gait ataxia and retinal degeneration. There is currently no effective treatment to restore ELP1 production in individuals with FD, and the disease is ultimately fatal. After identifying kinetin as a small molecule able to correct the ELP1 splicing defect, we worked on its optimization to generate novel splicing modulator compounds (SMCs) that can be used in individuals with FD. Here, we optimize the potency, efficacy, and bio-distribution of second-generation kinetin derivatives to develop an oral treatment for FD that can efficiently pass the blood-brain barrier and correct the ELP1 splicing defect in the nervous system. We demonstrate that the novel compound PTC258 efficiently restores correct ELP1 splicing in mouse tissues, including brain, and most importantly, prevents the progressive neuronal degeneration that is characteristic of FD. Postnatal oral administration of PTC258 to the phenotypic mouse model TgFD9;Elp1Δ20/flox increases full-length ELP1 transcript in a dose-dependent manner and leads to a 2-fold increase in functional ELP1 in the brain. Remarkably, PTC258 treatment improves survival, gait ataxia, and retinal degeneration in the phenotypic FD mice. Our findings highlight the great therapeutic potential of this novel class of small molecules as an oral treatment for FD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Morini
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Anil Chekuri
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily M Logan
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica M Bolduc
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily G Kirchner
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Salani
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aram J Krauson
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Amal Dakka
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | | | - Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Nanjing Zhang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Sophie Zhang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | | | | | | | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Susan A Slaugenhaupt
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Zaworski PG, Schwartz R, Burr J, Skutnik D, Mollin A, Kumar B, Ngumah Q, Welch E, Johnson B, Narasimhan J, Weetall M. Quantitation of Pax-6 protein in ocular impression cytology samples using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Anal Biochem 2022; 656:114876. [PMID: 36058293 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Paired box protein Pax-6 (oculothrombin) is a transcription factor that plays an important regulatory role in ocular, brain, and pancreatic development. Mutations of the PAX6 gene cause aniridia and Peters anomaly. Reduction in Pax-6 protein is also associated with ocular diseases such as dry eye. An electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method using the Meso Scale Discovery platform was developed to measure Pax-6 protein levels in corneal epithelial cells obtained by impression cytology. Impression cytology involves harvesting ocular epithelial cells by applying a polyethersulfone membrane patch briefly to the ocular surface using a commercially available EYEPRIM™ device. The epithelial cells that adhere to the membrane patch of the EYEPRIM™ device provide a biological sample which can be assayed for Pax-6 protein levels. Assay development identified an antibody pair capable of detecting purified recombinant Pax-6 protein produced in mammalian cells. The optimized assay has a dynamic range of 24 pg mL-1 to 100,000 pg mL-1 and a lower limit of quantification of 24 pg mL-1. Assay selectivity was demonstrated using either HeLa or HEK293 cells transfected with inhibitory RNA. Finally, the method was validated by measuring Pax-6 protein levels in impression cytology acquired samples obtained using the EYEPRIM™ device from rabbit cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffrey Burr
- PharmOptima, 6710 Quality Way, Portage, MI, 49002, USA
| | | | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Binit Kumar
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Quintus Ngumah
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Ellen Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Briana Johnson
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Jana Narasimhan
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA.
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8
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Ingham M, Blay JY, Baird J, D'Silva D, O'Keefe K, Kong R, Spiegel R, Wahba M, Weetall M. 1528TiP A phase II/III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of unesbulin in advanced leiomyosarcoma (SUNRISELMS). Ann Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.07.1917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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9
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Lazow MA, Baxter P, Stanek J, Lane A, Rodriguez DP, Kumar SS, Leach JL, Mikael L, Fuller C, Boué DR, Pierson CR, Thomas D, Breneman J, Palmer J, Li XN, Salloum R, Ashley D, de Blank P, Hwang E, Leary SES, Plant A, Crabtree D, Wahba M, Weetall M, Baird J, Leonard J, Stewart CF, Mardis E, Fouladi M, Drissi R. EPCT-05. Phase Ib study of unesbulin (PTC596) in children with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and high-grade glioma (HGG): A report from the COllaborative Network for NEuro-Oncology Clinical Trials (CONNECT). Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9165000 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site-1 (BMI-1) protein, implicated in self-renewal and DNA-damage signaling, is highly expressed in DIPG and HGG. Preclinically, BMI-1 modulation by unesbulin (PTC596 [which mediates hyperphosphorylation and subsequent degradation of BMI-1]) leads to DIPG/HGG cell proliferation blockade, mitotic abnormalities, and tumor cell sensitization to radiation-induced DNA damage. METHODS: This phase Ib study sought to determine the maximally tolerated dose/ recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of unesbulin administered concurrently with radiotherapy and adjuvantly in children with newly diagnosed DIPG or HGG. Patients were enrolled according to a Rolling-6 design and received oral unesbulin twice weekly during radiotherapy and as maintenance therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients enrolled (median age: 8.5 years [range: 2-18]), including 18 patients with DIPG and nine patients with HGG. Unesbulin was administered in capsule formulation in the first nine patients, then tablet formulation for subsequent patients. Within the capsule formulation group, three dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in two patients on dose level 2 (grade 4 neutropenia). Within the tablet formulation group, four DLTs were experienced by three patients on dose level 2 (grade 3 ALT elevation, grade 3 dehydration/vomiting, grade 3 decreased ejection fraction, grade 4 neutropenia). Dose level 1 was declared the RP2D, and six additional patients enrolled in the expansion cohort at this dose without DLTs. Most common drug-related grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (48%), leucopenia (35%), and elevated ALT (26%). Similar pharmacokinetic profiles were observed for capsule and tablet formulations, consistent with adult data. Survival outcomes and genomics results will be shared at time of presentation. CONCLUSIONS: The RP2D of unesbulin in children newly diagnosed with DIPG or HGG is 200mg/m2 twice weekly, concurrent with and following radiotherapy. The recently opened surgical cohort will assess intratumoral pharmacokinetics and inhibition of tumor BMI-1 signaling, with results forthcoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot A Lazow
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | | | | | - Adam Lane
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH , USA
| | - Diana P Rodriguez
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Shiva Senthil Kumar
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - James L Leach
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH , USA
- University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, OH , USA
| | | | | | - Daniel R Boué
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Christopher R Pierson
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Diana Thomas
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - John Breneman
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH , USA
- University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, OH , USA
| | - Joshua Palmer
- The James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago , Chicago, IL , USA
| | - Ralph Salloum
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | | | - Peter de Blank
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH , USA
- University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, OH , USA
| | - Eugene Hwang
- Children's National Medical Center , Washington, DC , USA
| | | | - Ashley Plant
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago , Chicago, IL , USA
| | | | - Mona Wahba
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield , NJ , USA
| | | | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield , NJ , USA
| | - Jeffrey Leonard
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | | | - Elaine Mardis
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Maryam Fouladi
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, OH , USA
- The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA
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10
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Van Tine BA, Ingham M, Attia S, Meyer CF, Baird J, D'Silva D, O'Keefe K, Maliakal P, Wahba MM, Weetall M, Schwartz GK. A phase 1b study of unesbulin (PTC596) plus dacarbazine for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic relapsed/refractory leiomyosarcoma. J Clin Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.11507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
11507 Background: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is one of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma and is associated with high risk of relapse and a poor prognosis for advanced disease. In preclinical LMS models, unesbulin, a microtubule polymerization inhibitor, potentiated the activity of dacarbazine (DTIC) (Jernigan F, et al. Mol Cancer Ther. 2021;20:1846–1857). Here, we report preliminary safety and efficacy results from a Phase 1b dose escalation study evaluating the combination of unesbulin with DTIC in patients with advanced LMS (NCT03761095). Methods: In this single-arm, open-label, Phase 1b clinical trial, patients with advanced LMS received unesbulin orally at 200, 300, or 400 mg twice weekly (BIW) in combination with intravenous DTIC at 1,000 mg/m2 once every 21 days. The primary objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of unesbulin in combination with DTIC and to characterize the safety profile of the combination. The time-to-event continual reassessment model (TITE-CRM) was used for dose finding. An expansion cohort with up to 12 additional patients is currently being enrolled. Results: As of the data cutoff on January 6, 2022, 29 LMS patients have been treated. Median prior lines of therapy were 3 (range 1–6). Of 27 evaluable patients, 12 had non-uterine and 15 had uterine LMS. The MTD/RP2D of unesbulin was determined to be 300 mg BIW with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 every 21 days using the TITE-CRM. At the RP2D, the most common treatment-related adverse events included fatigue, diarrhea, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. In the intent-to-treat population, the overall response rate (ORR) was 17.2% (5/29) and the disease control rate (DCR) (DCR = complete response + partial response + stable disease at 12 weeks) was 58.6%. At the 300 mg dose level, the ORR was 19% (4/21) and the DCR was 57.1%. Patients received a median of four cycles (range 1–12). The study is ongoing, with patients continuing to receive treatment. Conclusions: Unesbulin 300 mg BIW in combination with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 every 21 days was well tolerated and demonstrated promising efficacy in a heavily pre-treated patient population with advanced LMS; these results support further investigation. Updated clinical results will be presented as the data mature. A randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 2/3 trial is planned. Clinical trial information: NCT03761095.
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11
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Branstrom A, Cao L, Furia B, Trotta C, Santaguida M, Graci JD, Colacino JM, Ray B, Li W, Sheedy J, Mollin A, Yeh S, Kong R, Sheridan R, Baird JD, O'Keefe K, Spiegel R, Goodwin E, Keating S, Weetall M. Emvododstat, a Potent Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor, Is Effective in Preclinical Models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Front Oncol 2022; 12:832816. [PMID: 35223511 PMCID: PMC8864546 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.832816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking the pyrimidine nucleotide de novo synthesis pathway by inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) results in the cell cycle arrest and/or differentiation of rapidly proliferating cells including activated lymphocytes, cancer cells, or virally infected cells. Emvododstat (PTC299) is an orally bioavailable small molecule that inhibits DHODH. We evaluated the potential for emvododstat to inhibit the progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using several in vitro and in vivo models of the disease. Broad potent activity was demonstrated against multiple AML cell lines, AML blasts cultured ex vivo from patient blood samples, and AML tumor models including patient-derived xenograft models. Emvododstat induced differentiation, cytotoxicity, or both in primary AML patient blasts cultured ex vivo with 8 of 10 samples showing sensitivity. AML cells with diverse driver mutations were sensitive, suggesting the potential of emvododstat for broad therapeutic application. AML cell lines that are not sensitive to emvododstat are likely to be more reliant on the salvage pathway than on de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. Pharmacokinetic experiments in rhesus monkeys demonstrated that emvododstat levels rose rapidly after oral administration, peaking about 2 hours post-dosing. This was associated with an increase in the levels of dihydroorotate (DHO), the substrate for DHODH, within 2 hours of dosing indicating that DHODH inhibition is rapid. DHO levels declined as drug levels declined, consistent with the reversibility of DHODH inhibition by emvododstat. These preclinical findings provide a rationale for clinical evaluation of emvododstat in an ongoing Phase 1 study of patients with relapsed/refractory acute leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Branstrom
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Liangxian Cao
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Bansri Furia
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Jason D Graci
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Joseph M Colacino
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Balmiki Ray
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Wencheng Li
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Anna Mollin
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Shirley Yeh
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Ronald Kong
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | | | - John D Baird
- Clinical, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Kylie O'Keefe
- Commercial, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Robert Spiegel
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Elizabeth Goodwin
- Scientific Writing, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Suzanne Keating
- Scientific Writing, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Marla Weetall
- Research, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, United States
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12
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Ma J, Kaushik D, Yeh S, Northcutt V, Babiak J, Risher N, Weetall M, Moon YC, Welch EM, Molony L, O'Keefe K, Kong R. In Vitro Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interaction Potentials of Emvododstat, a DHODH Inhibitor. Xenobiotica 2021; 52:152-164. [PMID: 34846990 DOI: 10.1080/00498254.2021.2010287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Emvododstat was identified as a potent inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and is now in clinical development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia and COVID-19. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and drug interaction potentials of emvododstat.Emvododstat showed high binding to plasma protein with minimal distribution into blood cells in mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human whole blood.O-Demethylation followed by glucuronidation appeared to be the major metabolic pathway in rat, dog, monkey, and human hepatocytes. CYP2C8, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 were involved in O-desmethyl emvododstat metabolite formation. Both emvododstat and O-desmethyl emvododstat inhibited CYP2D6 activity and induced CYP expression to different extents in vitro.Emvododstat and O-desmethyl emvododstat inhibited BCRP transporter activity but did not inhibit bile salt transporters and other efflux or uptake transporters. Neither emvododstat nor O-desmethyl emvododstat was a substrate for common efflux or uptake transporters investigated.Emvododstat is bioavailable in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys following a single oral dose. The absorption was generally slow with the mean plasma Tmax ranging from 2 to 5 h; plasma exposure of O-desmethyl emvododstat was lower in rodents, but relatively higher in dogs and monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Ma
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Diksha Kaushik
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Shirley Yeh
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - John Babiak
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Nicole Risher
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Ellen M Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lachlan Molony
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kylie O'Keefe
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
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13
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Jernigan F, Branstrom A, Baird JD, Cao L, Dali M, Furia B, Kim MJ, O'Keefe K, Kong R, Laskin OL, Colacino JM, Pykett M, Mollin A, Sheedy J, Dumble M, Moon YC, Sheridan R, Mühlethaler T, Spiegel RJ, Prota AE, Steinmetz MO, Weetall M. Preclinical and Early Clinical Development of PTC596, a Novel Small-Molecule Tubulin-Binding Agent. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1846-1857. [PMID: 34315764 PMCID: PMC9398121 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PTC596 is an investigational small-molecule tubulin-binding agent. Unlike other tubulin-binding agents, PTC596 is orally bioavailable and is not a P-glycoprotein substrate. So as to characterize PTC596 to position the molecule for optimal clinical development, the interactions of PTC596 with tubulin using crystallography, its spectrum of preclinical in vitro anticancer activity, and its pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship were investigated for efficacy in multiple preclinical mouse models of leiomyosarcomas and glioblastoma. Using X-ray crystallography, it was determined that PTC596 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with unique key interactions. PTC596 exhibited broad-spectrum anticancer activity. PTC596 showed efficacy as monotherapy and additive or synergistic efficacy in combinations in mouse models of leiomyosarcomas and glioblastoma. PTC596 demonstrated efficacy in an orthotopic model of glioblastoma under conditions where temozolomide was inactive. In a first-in-human phase I clinical trial in patients with cancer, PTC596 monotherapy drug exposures were compared with those predicted to be efficacious based on mouse models. PTC596 is currently being tested in combination with dacarbazine in a clinical trial in adults with leiomyosarcoma and in combination with radiation in a clinical trial in children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John D. Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Liangxian Cao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Mandar Dali
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Bansri Furia
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Min Jung Kim
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Kylie O'Keefe
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | | | - Mark Pykett
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea E. Prota
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Michel O. Steinmetz
- University of Basel, Biozentrum, Basel, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey.,Corresponding Author: Marla Weetall, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. E-mail:
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14
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Zhao X, Feng Z, Risher N, Mollin A, Sheedy J, Ling KKY, Narasimhan J, Dakka A, Baird JD, Ratni H, Lutz C, Chen K, Naryshkin N, Ko CP, Welch E, Metzger F, Weetall M. SMN protein is required throughout life to prevent spinal muscular atrophy disease progression. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:82-96. [PMID: 34368854 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by the loss of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene function. The related SMN2 gene partially compensates but produces insufficient levels of SMN protein due to alternative splicing of exon 7. Evrysdi™ (risdiplam), recently approved for the treatment of SMA, and related compounds promote exon 7 inclusion to generate full-length SMN2 mRNA and increase SMN protein levels. SMNΔ7 type I SMA mice survive without treatment for ~ 17 days. SMN2 mRNA splicing modulators increase survival of SMN∆7 mice with treatment initiated at postnatal day 3 (PND3). To define SMN requirements for adult mice, SMNΔ7 mice were dosed with a SMN2 mRNA splicing modifier from PND3 to PND40, then dosing was stopped. Mice not treated after PND40 showed progressive weight loss, necrosis, and muscle atrophy after ~ 20 days. Male mice presented a more severe phenotype than female mice. Mice dosed continuously did not show disease symptoms. The estimated half-life of SMN protein is 2 days indicating that the SMA phenotype reappeared after SMN protein levels returned to baseline. Although SMN protein levels decreased with age in mice and SMN protein levels were higher in brain than in muscle, our studies suggest that SMN protein is required throughout the life of the mouse and is especially essential in adult peripheral tissues including muscle. These studies indicate that drugs such as risdiplam will be optimally therapeutic when given as early as possible after diagnosis and potentially will be required for the life of an SMA patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nicole Risher
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | | | - Karen K Y Ling
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | | | - Amal Dakka
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - John D Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Hasane Ratni
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Chien-Ping Ko
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ellen Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Friedrich Metzger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
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15
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Hall MD, Anderson JM, Anderson A, Baker D, Bradner J, Brimacombe KR, Campbell EA, Corbett KS, Carter K, Cherry S, Chiang L, Cihlar T, de Wit E, Denison M, Disney M, Fletcher CV, Ford-Scheimer SL, Götte M, Grossman AC, Hayden FG, Hazuda DJ, Lanteri CA, Marston H, Mesecar AD, Moore S, Nwankwo JO, O’Rear J, Painter G, Singh Saikatendu K, Schiffer CA, Sheahan TP, Shi PY, Smyth HD, Sofia MJ, Weetall M, Weller SK, Whitley R, Fauci AS, Austin CP, Collins FS, Conley AJ, Davis MI. Report of the National Institutes of Health SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Therapeutics Summit. J Infect Dis 2021; 224:S1-S21. [PMID: 34111271 PMCID: PMC8280938 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The NIH Virtual SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Summit, held on 6 November 2020, was organized to provide an overview on the status and challenges in developing antiviral therapeutics for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including combinations of antivirals. Scientific experts from the public and private sectors convened virtually during a live videocast to discuss severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) targets for drug discovery as well as the preclinical tools needed to develop and evaluate effective small-molecule antivirals. The goals of the Summit were to review the current state of the science, identify unmet research needs, share insights and lessons learned from treating other infectious diseases, identify opportunities for public-private partnerships, and assist the research community in designing and developing antiviral therapeutics. This report includes an overview of therapeutic approaches, individual panel summaries, and a summary of the discussions and perspectives on the challenges ahead for antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - James M Anderson
- Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Annaliesa Anderson
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - David Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jay Bradner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kyle R Brimacombe
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Kizzmekia S Corbett
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Sara Cherry
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Emmie de Wit
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Mark Denison
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie L Ford-Scheimer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Abigail C Grossman
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hilary Marston
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Moore
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - Jules O’Rear
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Celia A Schiffer
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Timothy P Sheahan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Hugh D Smyth
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc, South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sandra K Weller
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Richard Whitley
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Anthony S Fauci
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher P Austin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Francis S Collins
- Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony J Conley
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mindy I Davis
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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16
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Kong L, Valdivia DO, Simon CM, Hassinan CW, Delestrée N, Ramos DM, Park JH, Pilato CM, Xu X, Crowder M, Grzyb CC, King ZA, Petrillo M, Swoboda KJ, Davis C, Lutz CM, Stephan AH, Zhao X, Weetall M, Naryshkin NA, Crawford TO, Mentis GZ, Sumner CJ. Impaired prenatal motor axon development necessitates early therapeutic intervention in severe SMA. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/578/eabb6871. [PMID: 33504650 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb6871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gene replacement and pre-mRNA splicing modifier therapies represent breakthrough gene targeting treatments for the neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but mechanisms underlying variable efficacy of treatment are incompletely understood. Our examination of severe infantile onset human SMA tissues obtained at expedited autopsy revealed persistence of developmentally immature motor neuron axons, many of which are actively degenerating. We identified similar features in a mouse model of severe SMA, in which impaired radial growth and Schwann cell ensheathment of motor axons began during embryogenesis and resulted in reduced acquisition of myelinated axons that impeded motor axon function neonatally. Axons that failed to ensheath degenerated rapidly postnatally, specifically releasing neurofilament light chain protein into the blood. Genetic restoration of survival motor neuron protein (SMN) expression in mouse motor neurons, but not in Schwann cells or muscle, improved SMA motor axon development and maintenance. Treatment with small-molecule SMN2 splice modifiers beginning immediately after birth in mice increased radial growth of the already myelinated axons, but in utero treatment was required to restore axonal growth and associated maturation, prevent subsequent neonatal axon degeneration, and enhance motor axon function. Together, these data reveal a cellular basis for the fulminant neonatal worsening of patients with infantile onset SMA and identify a temporal window for more effective treatment. These findings suggest that minimizing treatment delay is critical to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Kong
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David O Valdivia
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Christian M Simon
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Cera W Hassinan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nicolas Delestrée
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel M Ramos
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jae Hong Park
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Celeste M Pilato
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xixi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Melissa Crowder
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chloe C Grzyb
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zachary A King
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Kathryn J Swoboda
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Crystal Davis
- Genetic Resource Science, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Cathleen M Lutz
- Genetic Resource Science, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Alexander H Stephan
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel CH-4070, Switzerland
| | - Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | | | - Thomas O Crawford
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - George Z Mentis
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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17
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Maroni G, Bassal MA, Krishnan I, Fhu CW, Savova V, Zilionis R, Maymi VA, Pandell N, Csizmadia E, Zhang J, Storti B, Castaño J, Panella R, Li J, Gustafson CE, Fox S, Levy RD, Meyerovitz CV, Tramontozzi PJ, Vermilya K, De Rienzo A, Crucitta S, Bassères DS, Weetall M, Branstrom A, Giorgetti A, Ciampi R, Del Re M, Danesi R, Bizzarri R, Yang H, Kocher O, Klein AM, Welner RS, Bueno R, Magli MC, Clohessy JG, Ali A, Tenen DG, Levantini E. Identification of a targetable KRAS-mutant epithelial population in non-small cell lung cancer. Commun Biol 2021; 4:370. [PMID: 33854168 PMCID: PMC8046784 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01897-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Tumor heterogeneity, which hampers development of targeted therapies, was herein deconvoluted via single cell RNA sequencing in aggressive human adenocarcinomas (carrying Kras-mutations) and comparable murine model. We identified a tumor-specific, mutant-KRAS-associated subpopulation which is conserved in both human and murine lung cancer. We previously reported a key role for the oncogene BMI-1 in adenocarcinomas. We therefore investigated the effects of in vivo PTC596 treatment, which affects BMI-1 activity, in our murine model. Post-treatment, MRI analysis showed decreased tumor size, while single cell transcriptomics concomitantly detected near complete ablation of the mutant-KRAS-associated subpopulation, signifying the presence of a pharmacologically targetable, tumor-associated subpopulation. Our findings therefore hold promise for the development of a targeted therapy for KRAS-mutant adenocarcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Maroni
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mahmoud A Bassal
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Chee Wai Fhu
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Virginia Savova
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rapolas Zilionis
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Valerie A Maymi
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Preclinical Murine Pharmacogenetics Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Pandell
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Preclinical Murine Pharmacogenetics Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eva Csizmadia
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Barbara Storti
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Julio Castaño
- Platform for Immunotherapy BST-Hospital Clinic, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Riccardo Panella
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Jia Li
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Corinne E Gustafson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sam Fox
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel D Levy
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claire V Meyerovitz
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter J Tramontozzi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Vermilya
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Assunta De Rienzo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefania Crucitta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela S Bassères
- Biochemistry Department, Chemistry Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Art Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Alessandra Giorgetti
- Cell Biology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Stem Cell Biology and Leukemiogenesis Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raffaele Ciampi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marzia Del Re
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Romano Danesi
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ranieri Bizzarri
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Olivier Kocher
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allon M Klein
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert S Welner
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Medicine, Hemathology/Oncology, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Raphael Bueno
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Lung Center and the International Mesothelioma Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Magli
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - John G Clohessy
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Preclinical Murine Pharmacogenetics Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Azhar Ali
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel G Tenen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Elena Levantini
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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18
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Kong R, Ma J, Hwang S, Moon YC, Welch EM, Weetall M, Colacino JM, Almstead N, Babiak J, Goodwin E. In vitro metabolism, reaction phenotyping, enzyme kinetics, CYP inhibition and induction potential of ataluren. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 8:e00576. [PMID: 32196986 PMCID: PMC7083565 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ataluren promotes ribosomal readthrough of premature termination codons in mRNA which result from nonsense mutations. In vitro studies were performed to characterize the metabolism and enzyme kinetics of ataluren and its interaction potential with CYP enzymes. Incubation of [14C]‐ataluren with human liver microsomes indicated that the major metabolic pathway for ataluren is via direct glucuronidation and that the drug is not metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP). Glucuronidation was also observed in the incubation in human intestinal and kidney microsomes, but not in human pulmonary microsomes. UGT1A9 was found to be the major uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) responsible for ataluren glucuronidation in the liver and kidney microsomes. Enzyme kinetic analysis of the formation of ataluren acyl glucuronide, performed in human liver, kidney, and intestinal microsomes and recombinant human UGT1A9, found that increasing bovine serum albumin (BSA) levels enhanced the glucuronidation Michaelis‐Menten constant (Km) and ataluren protein binding but had a minimal effect on maximum velocity (Vmax) of glucuronidation. Due to the decreased unbound Michaelis‐Menten constant (Km,u), the ataluren unbound intrinsic clearance (CLint,u) increased for all experimental systems and BSA concentrations. Human kidney microsomes were about 3.7‐fold more active than human liver microsomes, in terms of CLint,u/mg protein, indicating that the kidney is also a key organ for the metabolism and disposition of ataluren in humans. Ataluren showed no or little potential to inhibit or induce most of the CYP enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Jiyuan Ma
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Babiak
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
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19
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Ma J, Risher N, Northcutt V, Moon YC, Weetall M, Welch E, Colacino J, Almstead N, Kong R. Ataluren metabolism: Ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide is a stable circulating metabolite in mouse, rat, dog and human. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2021; 38:100393. [PMID: 33872944 DOI: 10.1016/j.dmpk.2021.100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ataluren is an aromatic acid derivative with a 1,2,4-oxodiazole moiety. Ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide is a prominent circulatory metabolite in mice, rats, dogs, and humans following oral administration of ataluren. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the stability in vitro and in vivo of ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide metabolite. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods were developed to separate and monitor ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide and its possible migration isomers. In vitro stability was assessed in phosphate buffered saline as well as in control rat and human plasma. The disappearance of ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide and the formation of migration isomers were monitored by the ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. In vitro, ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide underwent isomerization with an estimated half-life of approximately 1 h. However, ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide was stable and was the only detectable acyl glucuronide following oral administration of ataluren in mice, rats, dogs, and humans using the same analytical methods. Ataluren acyl glucuronide in mouse, rat, dog, and human plasma could be hydrolyzed by β-glucuronidase, further confirming the structure of O-1β-acyl glucuronide. These results demonstrated that ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide did not undergo migration in vivo. No clinical safety concern related to ataluren-O-1β-acyl glucuronide migration has been detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Ma
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - Ellen Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA.
| | | | | | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA.
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20
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Luban J, Sattler RA, Mühlberger E, Graci JD, Cao L, Weetall M, Trotta C, Colacino JM, Bavari S, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Suder EL, Wang Y, Soloveva V, Cintron-Lue K, Naryshkin NA, Pykett M, Welch EM, O'Keefe K, Kong R, Goodwin E, Jacobson A, Paessler S, Peltz SW. The DHODH inhibitor PTC299 arrests SARS-CoV-2 replication and suppresses induction of inflammatory cytokines. Virus Res 2021; 292:198246. [PMID: 33249060 PMCID: PMC7690341 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an urgent need for therapeutics that inhibit the SARS-COV-2 virus and suppress the fulminant inflammation characteristic of advanced illness. Here, we describe the anti-COVID-19 potential of PTC299, an orally bioavailable compound that is a potent inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis pathway. In tissue culture, PTC299 manifests robust, dose-dependent, and DHODH-dependent inhibition of SARS-COV-2 replication (EC50 range, 2.0-31.6 nM) with a selectivity index >3,800. PTC299 also blocked replication of other RNA viruses, including Ebola virus. Consistent with known DHODH requirements for immunomodulatory cytokine production, PTC299 inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A (also called IL-17), IL-17 F, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tissue culture models. The combination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, cytokine inhibitory activity, and previously established favorable pharmacokinetic and human safety profiles render PTC299 a promising therapeutic for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Luban
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA; Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rachel A Sattler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Elke Mühlberger
- Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jason D Graci
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Liangxian Cao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | | | | | - Sina Bavari
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, USA
| | | | - Ellen L Suder
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Yetao Wang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Veronica Soloveva
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, USA
| | | | | | - Mark Pykett
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Ellen M Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Kylie O'Keefe
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | | | - Allan Jacobson
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Stuart W Peltz
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA.
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21
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Shapiro GI, O'Mara E, Laskin OL, Gao L, Baird JD, Spiegel RJ, Kaushik D, Weetall M, Colacino J, O'Keefe K, Branstrom A, Goodwin E, Infante J, Bedard PL, Kong R. Pharmacokinetics and Safety of PTC596, a Novel Tubulin-Binding Agent, in Subjects With Advanced Solid Tumors. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2021; 10:940-949. [PMID: 33440067 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PTC596 is a novel, orally bioavailable, small-molecule tubulin-binding agent that reduces B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 activity and is being developed for the treatment of solid tumors. A phase 1, open-label, multiple-ascending-dose study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of the drug in subjects with advanced solid tumors. PTC596 was administered orally biweekly based on body weight. Dose escalation followed a modified 3 + 3 scheme using doses of 0.65, 1.3, 2.6, 5.2, 7.0, and 10.4 mg/kg. Following oral administration, PTC596 was rapidly absorbed, and between 0.65 and 7.0 mg/kg reached a maximum plasma concentration 2 to 4 hours after dosing. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve increased proportionally with body weight-adjusted doses. Maximum plasma concentration increased with dose, although the increase was less than dose proportional at dose levels >2.6 mg/kg. No accumulation occurred after multiple administrations up to 7.0 mg/kg. PTC596 had a terminal half-life ranging 12 to 15 hours at all doses except for the highest dose of 10.4 mg/kg, where the half-life was approximately 20 hours. Overall, PTC596 was well tolerated. The most frequently reported PTC596-related treatment-emergent adverse events were mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea (54.8%), nausea (45.2%), vomiting (35.5%), and fatigue (35.5%). Only 1 patient treated with 10.4 mg/kg experienced dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, both of which were reversible. Stable disease as best overall response was observed among 7 patients, with 2 patients receiving the study drug up to 16 weeks. These results support the further development of PTC596 for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward O'Mara
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Oscar L Laskin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lan Gao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - John D Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Diksha Kaushik
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Kylie O'Keefe
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Infante
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute and Tennessee Oncology PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Philippe L Bedard
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
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22
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Alimova I, Danis E, Weetall M, Pierce AM, Wang D, Serkova N, Balakrishnan I, Madhavan K, Sanford B, Michel C, Foreman NK, Baird J, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. ATRT-06. SMARCB1 LOSS DRIVEN NON-CANONICAL PRC1 ACTIVITY REGULATES DIFFERENTIATION IN ATYPICAL TERATOID RHABDOID TUMORS (ATRT). Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715494 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of SMARCB1 is the hallmark genetic event that characterizes ATRT. SMARCB1 is a member of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex that is responsible for determining cellular pluripotency and lineage commitment. To identify co-operating epigenetic factors, we performed an unbiased shRNA screen targeting 408 epigenetic/chromatin molecules in patient-derived ATRT cell lines and identified BMI1, a component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1), as essential for ATRT cell viability. Genetic and Chemical inhibition of BMI1 inhibited clonogenic potential and induced apoptosis in vitro. In vivo PTC 596 significantly decreased growth of intracranial orthotopic ATRT tumors as evaluated by T2 MRI imaging and significantly prolonged survival compared to control animals. Using RNA-seq and ChIP-Seq our studies show that BMI1 co-operates with SMARCB1 loss to suppress transcription of pro-differentiation pathways and promote self-renewal of tumor stem cells. We then used a doxycycline-inducible SMARCB1 expression system and performed Immunoprecipitation for BMI1, followed by and mass spectrometry analysis. In SMARCB1 deficient cells BMI1 forms a partial PRC1 complex devoid of DNA binding components. Re-expression of SMARCB1 activates two PRC1 chromatin localizing components CBX4 and CBX8. CBX4 is implicated DNA damage response, tumor angiogenesis and self-renewal. CBX8 activates lineage-specific genes during differentiation of ESC. Our data suggest that SMARCB1 deletion results in reprograming of BMI1 chromatin occupancy away from lineage specification by altering the components of the PRC1 complex. These studies identify the mechanistic basis of BMI1 co-operation with SMARCB1 loss in ATRT and establish BMI1 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach in ATRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Angela M Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cole Michel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Neurosurgery University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, INC, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
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23
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Feng Z, Ling KKY, Zhao X, Zhou C, Karp G, Welch EM, Naryshkin N, Ratni H, Chen KS, Metzger F, Paushkin S, Weetall M, Ko CP. Corrigendum to: Pharmacologically-induced mouse model of adult spinal muscular atrophy to evaluate effectiveness of therapeutics after disease onset. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 30:843. [PMID: 33201218 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Feng
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA
| | - Karen K Y Ling
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA
| | - Gary Karp
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Ellen M Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | | | - Hasane Ratni
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karen S Chen
- SMA Foundation, 888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Friedrich Metzger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergey Paushkin
- SMA Foundation, 888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Chien-Ping Ko
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA
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24
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Zhong C, Kayamori K, Koide S, Shinoda D, Oshima M, Nakajima-Takagi Y, Nagai Y, Mimura N, Sakaida E, Yamazaki S, Iwano S, Miyawaki A, Ito R, Tohyama K, Yamaguchi K, Furukawa Y, Lennox W, Sheedy J, Weetall M, Iwama A. Efficacy of the novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor PTC-028 for myelodysplastic syndrome. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:4336-4347. [PMID: 33037737 PMCID: PMC7734154 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Monomer tubulin polymerize into microtubules, which are highly dynamic and play a critical role in mitosis. Therefore, microtubule dynamics are an important target for anticancer drugs. The inhibition of tubulin polymerization or depolymerization was previously targeted and exhibited efficacy against solid tumors. The novel small molecule PTC596 directly binds tubulin, inhibits microtubule polymerization, downregulates MCL‐1, and induces p53‐independent apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells. We herein investigated the efficacy of PTC‐028, a structural analog of PTC596, for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). PTC‐028 suppressed growth and induced apoptosis in MDS cell lines. The efficacy of PTC028 in primary MDS samples was confirmed using cell proliferation assays. PTC‐028 synergized with hypomethylating agents, such as decitabine and azacitidine, to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in MDS cells. Mechanistically, a treatment with PTC‐028 induced G2/M arrest followed by apoptotic cell death. We also assessed the efficacy of PTC‐028 in a xenograft mouse model of MDS using the MDS cell line, MDS‐L, and the AkaBLI bioluminescence imaging system, which is composed of AkaLumine‐HCl and Akaluc. PTC‐028 prolonged the survival of mice in xenograft models. The present results suggest a chemotherapeutic strategy for MDS through the disruption of microtubule dynamics in combination with DNA hypomethylating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensuke Kayamori
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shuhei Koide
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shinoda
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Motohiko Oshima
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yaeko Nakajima-Takagi
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yurie Nagai
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoya Mimura
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Emiko Sakaida
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamazaki
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iwano
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryoji Ito
- Humanized Model Laboratory, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kaoru Tohyama
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yamaguchi
- Division of Clinical Genome Research, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Furukawa
- Division of Clinical Genome Research, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Atsushi Iwama
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Luban J, Sattler R, Mühlberger E, Graci JD, Cao L, Weetall M, Trotta C, Colacino JM, Bavari S, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Suder EL, Wang Y, Soloveva V, Cintron-Lue K, Naryshkin NA, Pykett M, Welch EM, O'Keefe K, Kong R, Goodwin E, Jacobson A, Paessler S, Peltz S. The DHODH Inhibitor PTC299 Arrests SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Suppresses Induction of Inflammatory Cytokines. bioRxiv 2020. [PMID: 32793904 DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.05.238394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an urgent need for therapeutics that inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus and suppress the fulminant inflammation characteristic of advanced illness. Here, we describe the anti-COVID-19 potential of PTC299, an orally available compound that is a potent inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. In tissue culture, PTC299 manifests robust, dose-dependent, and DHODH-dependent inhibition of SARS CoV-2 replication (EC 50 range, 2.0 to 31.6 nM) with a selectivity index >3,800. PTC299 also blocked replication of other RNA viruses, including Ebola virus. Consistent with known DHODH requirements for immunomodulatory cytokine production, PTC299 inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A (also called IL-17), IL-17F, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tissue culture models. The combination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, cytokine inhibitory activity, and previously established favorable pharmacokinetic and human safety profiles render PTC299 a promising therapeutic for COVID-19.
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26
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Baiazitov RY, Friesen W, Johnson B, Mollin A, Sheedy J, Sierra J, Weetall M, Branstrom A, Welch E, Moon YC. Chemical modifications of G418 (geneticin): Synthesis of novel readthrough aminoglycosides results in an improved in vitro safety window but no improvements in vivo. Carbohydr Res 2020; 495:108058. [PMID: 32658832 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2020.108058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
G418 is currently the most potent and active aminoglycoside to promote readthrough of eukaryotic nonsense mutations. However, owing to its toxicity G418 cannot be used in vivo to study readthrough activity A robust and scalable method for selective derivatization of G418 was developed to study the biological activity and toxicity of a series of analogs. Despite our synthetic efforts, an improvement in readthrough potency was not achieved. We discovered several analogs that demonstrated reduced zebra fish hair cell toxicity (a surrogate for ototoxicity), but this reduction in cellular toxicity did not translate to reduced in vivo toxicity in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramil Y Baiazitov
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA.
| | - Westley Friesen
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Briana Johnson
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Jairo Sierra
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Arthur Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Ellen Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
| | - Young-Choon Moon
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA
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27
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Bolomsky A, Muller J, Stangelberger K, Lejeune M, Duray E, Breid H, Vrancken L, Pfeiffer C, Hübl W, Willheim M, Weetall M, Branstrom A, Zojer N, Caers J, Ludwig H. The anti-mitotic agents PTC-028 and PTC596 display potent activity in pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma but challenge the role of BMI-1 as an essential tumour gene. Br J Haematol 2020; 190:877-890. [PMID: 32232850 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Future progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) requires both the characterisation of key drivers of the disease and novel, innovative approaches to tackle these vulnerabilities. The present study focussed on the pre-clinical evaluation of a novel drug class, BMI-1 modulators, in MM. We demonstrate potent activity of PTC-028 and PTC596 in a comprehensive set of in vitro and in vivo models, including models of drug resistance and stromal support. Treatment of MM cells with PTC-028 and PTC596 downregulated BMI-1 protein levels, which was found to correlate with drug activity. Surprisingly, BMI-1 was dispensable for the activity of BMI-1 modulators and MM cell growth. Our data rather point to mitotic arrest accompanied by myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (MCL-1) loss as key anti-MM mechanisms and reveal impaired MYC and AKT signalling activity due to BMI-1 modulator treatment. Moreover, we observed a complete eradication of MM after PTC596 treatment in the 5TGM.1 in vivo model and define epigenetic compounds and B cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2 homology domain 3 (BH3) mimetics as promising combination partners. These results bring into question the postulated role of BMI-1 as an essential MM gene and confirm BMI-1 modulators as potent anti-mitotic agents with encouraging pre-clinical activity that supports their rapid translation into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold Bolomsky
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joséphine Muller
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Kathrin Stangelberger
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Margaux Lejeune
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Elodie Duray
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Helene Breid
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Louise Vrancken
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christina Pfeiffer
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Hübl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Willheim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Niklas Zojer
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jo Caers
- Laboratory of Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Heinz Ludwig
- Department of Medicine I, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
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28
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Weetall M, Branstrom A, Baird J, Cao L, Sheedy J, O'Keefe K, Ingham M, Schwartz GK, Spiegel R, O'Mara E. Abstract 292: PTC596 combination therapy for sarcoma. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Sarcomas are rare cancers derived from mesenchymal tissues. Although rare, there are approximately 15,000 new cases of sarcoma diagnosed each year in the United States. Certain soft tissue sarcomas are treated with doxorubicin and olaratumabas first line, gemcitabine as second line, and often dacarbazine (DTIC) as third line. PTC596 is a first-in-class, oral investigational new drug that reduces levels of BMI1, a protein required for cancer stem cell survival. PTC596 acts by binding to tubulin causing a G2M cell cycle arrest. PTC596 lowers levels of BMI1 in preclinical tumor models and is generally well tolerated as a monotherapy at doses that result in preclinical target plasma concentrations. Efficacy of PTC596 was evaluated in a series of preclinical models. PTC596 delayed tumor growth as monotherapy and significantly enhanced, in combination, the activity of standard chemotherapeutics including gemcitabine, doxorubicin/ doxil, dacarbazine (DTIC), and other tubulin binding agents. Based on these results, a Ph1b clinical trial in patients with relapsed refractory leiomyosarcoma is to be initiated. It is a dose escalation study of a combination regimen of dacarbazine and PTC596 with the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) to be determined using a continuous reassessment methodology. Previously, a Phase I multi-center dose escalation study was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors. PTC596 was administered as an oral monotherapy in 4-week cycles using bodyweight-adjusted twice-per-week (biw) dosing. A maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not determined though a well-tolerated recommended Phase 2 dose of 7mg/kg biw was identified. The most relevant toxicities observed were neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting which were generally mild to moderate, manageable and reversible.
Citation Format: Marla Weetall, Art Branstrom, John Baird, Liang Cao, Josephine Sheedy, Kylie O'Keefe, Matthew Ingham, Gary K. Schwartz, Robert Spiegel, Edward O'Mara. PTC596 combination therapy for sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 292.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liang Cao
- 1PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ
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29
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Eberle-Singh JA, Sagalovskiy I, Maurer HC, Sastra SA, Palermo CF, Decker AR, Kim MJ, Sheedy J, Mollin A, Cao L, Hu J, Branstrom A, Weetall M, Olive KP. Effective Delivery of a Microtubule Polymerization Inhibitor Synergizes with Standard Regimens in Models of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5548-5560. [PMID: 31175095 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a deadly cancer that is broadly chemoresistant, due in part to biophysical properties of tumor stroma, which serves as a barrier to drug delivery for most classical chemotherapeutic drugs. The goal of this work is to evaluate the preclinical efficacy and mechanisms of PTC596, a novel agent with potent anticancer properties in vitro and desirable pharmacologic properties in vivo.Experimental Design: We assessed the pharmacology, mechanism, and preclinical efficacy of PTC596 in combination with standards of care, using multiple preclinical models of PDA. RESULTS We found that PTC596 has pharmacologic properties that overcome the barrier to drug delivery in PDA, including a long circulating half-life, lack of P-glycoprotein substrate activity, and high systemic tolerability. We also found that PTC596 combined synergistically with standard clinical regimens to improve efficacy in multiple model systems, including the chemoresistant genetically engineered "KPC" model of PDA. Through mechanistic studies, we learned that PTC596 functions as a direct microtubule polymerization inhibitor, yet a prior clinical trial found that it lacks peripheral neurotoxicity, in contrast to other such agents. Strikingly, we found that PTC596 synergized with the standard clinical backbone regimen gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, yielding potent, durable regressions in a PDX model. Moreover, similar efficacy was achieved in combination with nab-paclitaxel alone, highlighting a specific synergistic interaction between two different microtubule-targeted agents in the setting of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate clear rationale for the development of PTC596 in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy for PDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime A Eberle-Singh
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Irina Sagalovskiy
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - H Carlo Maurer
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephen A Sastra
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Carmine F Palermo
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Amanda R Decker
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | - Jianhua Hu
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | - Kenneth P Olive
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York. .,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
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30
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Barbosa K, Deshpande A, Chen BR, Ghosh A, Sun Y, Dutta S, Weetall M, Dixon J, Armstrong SA, Bohlander SK, Deshpande AJ. Acute myeloid leukemia driven by the CALM-AF10 fusion gene is dependent on BMI1. Exp Hematol 2019; 74:42-51.e3. [PMID: 31022428 PMCID: PMC10586237 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A subset of acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cases harbor a t(10;11)(p13;q14) translocation resulting in the CALM-AF10 fusion gene. Standard chemotherapeutic strategies are often ineffective in treating patients with CALM-AF10 fusions. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify molecular pathways dysregulated in CALM-AF10-positive leukemias which may lay the foundation for novel targeted therapies. Here we demonstrate that the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 gene BMI1 is consistently overexpressed in adult and pediatric CALM-AF10-positive leukemias. We demonstrate that genetic Bmi1 depletion abrogates CALM-AF10-mediated transformation of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Furthermore, CALM-AF10-positive murine and human AML cells are sensitive to the small-molecule BMI1 inhibitor PTC-209 as well as to PTC-596, a compound in clinical development that has been shown to result in downstream degradation of BMI1 protein. PTC-596 significantly prolongs survival of mice injected with a human CALM-AF10 cell line in a xenograft assay. In summary, these results validate BMI1 as a bona fide candidate for therapeutic targeting in AML with CALM-AF10 rearrangements.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring/pharmacology
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Polycomb Repressive Complex 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Polycomb Repressive Complex 1/genetics
- Polycomb Repressive Complex 1/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Thiazoles/pharmacology
- U937 Cells
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Barbosa
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anagha Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Bo-Rui Chen
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anwesha Ghosh
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Younguk Sun
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sayantanee Dutta
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jesse Dixon
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Stefan K Bohlander
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Aniruddha J Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA.
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31
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Alimova I, Danis E, Weetall M, Pierce AM, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Foreman NK, Baird J, Hoffman L, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. ATRT-05. PRC1 IS AN ESSENTIAL DEPENDENCY AND THERAPEUTIC TARGET IN SMARCB1 DEFICIENT ATYPICAL TERATOID RHABDOID TUMORS. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ettiene Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Angelela M Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, USA
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Lindsey Hoffman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, USA
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32
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Adile A, Bakhshinyan D, Venugopal C, Subapanditha M, Weetall M, Davis T, Singh S. THER-14. SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITOR TARGETING SELF-RENEWAL AS A THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR RECURRENT MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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33
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Kumar SS, Sengupta S, Weetall M, Baird J, Drissi R. THER-11. BMI-1 MODULATION IMPAIRS DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE AND SENSITIZES DIPG CELLS TO IONIZING RADIATION. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Senthil Kumar
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Satarupa Sengupta
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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34
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Poirier A, Weetall M, Heinig K, Bucheli F, Schoenlein K, Alsenz J, Bassett S, Ullah M, Senn C, Ratni H, Naryshkin N, Paushkin S, Mueller L. Risdiplam distributes and increases SMN protein in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2018; 6:e00447. [PMID: 30519476 PMCID: PMC6262736 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, inherited neuromuscular disease caused by deletion and/or mutation of the Survival of Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. A second gene, SMN2, produces low levels of functional SMN protein that are insufficient to fully compensate for the lack of SMN1. Risdiplam (RG7916; RO7034067) is an orally administered, small-molecule SMN2 pre-mRNA splicing modifier that distributes into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. To further explore risdiplam distribution, we assessed in vitro characteristics and in vivo drug levels and effect of risdiplam on SMN protein expression in different tissues in animal models. Total drug levels were similar in plasma, muscle, and brain of mice (n = 90), rats (n = 148), and monkeys (n = 24). As expected mechanistically based on its high passive permeability and not being a human multidrug resistance protein 1 substrate, risdiplam CSF levels reflected free compound concentration in plasma in monkeys. Tissue distribution remained unchanged when monkeys received risdiplam once daily for 39 weeks. A parallel dose-dependent increase in SMN protein levels was seen in CNS and peripheral tissues in two SMA mouse models dosed with risdiplam. These in vitro and in vivo preclinical data strongly suggest that functional SMN protein increases seen in patients' blood following risdiplam treatment should reflect similar increases in functional SMN protein in the CNS, muscle, and other peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnès Poirier
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | | | - Katja Heinig
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Franz Bucheli
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Kerstin Schoenlein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Jochem Alsenz
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Simon Bassett
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Mohammed Ullah
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Claudia Senn
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | - Hasane Ratni
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Lutz Mueller
- Roche Pharma Research and Early DevelopmentRoche Innovation CenterBaselSwitzerland
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35
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Friesen WJ, Johnson B, Sierra J, Zhuo J, Vazirani P, Xue X, Tomizawa Y, Baiazitov R, Morrill C, Ren H, Babu S, Moon YC, Branstrom A, Mollin A, Hedrick J, Sheedy J, Elfring G, Weetall M, Colacino JM, Welch EM, Peltz SW. The minor gentamicin complex component, X2, is a potent premature stop codon readthrough molecule with therapeutic potential. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206158. [PMID: 30359426 PMCID: PMC6201930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense mutations, resulting in a premature stop codon in the open reading frame of mRNAs are responsible for thousands of inherited diseases. Readthrough of premature stop codons by small molecule drugs has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to treat disorders resulting from premature termination of translation. The aminoglycoside antibiotics are a class of molecule known to promote readthrough at premature termination codons. Gentamicin consists of a mixture of major and minor aminoglycoside components. Here, we investigated the readthrough activities of the individual components and show that each of the four major gentamicin complex components representing 92–99% of the complex each had similar potency and activity to that of the complex itself. In contrast, a minor component (gentamicin X2) was found to be the most potent and active readthrough component in the gentamicin complex. The known oto- and nephrotoxicity associated with aminoglycosides preclude long-term use as readthrough agents. Thus, we evaluated the components of the gentamicin complex as well as the so-called “designer” aminoglycoside, NB124, for in vitro and in vivo safety. In cells, we observed that gentamicin X2 had a safety/readthrough ratio (cytotoxicity/readthrough potency) superior to that of gentamicin, G418 or NB124. In rodents, we observed that gentamicin X2 showed a safety profile that was superior to G418 overall including reduced nephrotoxicity. These results support further investigation of gentamicin X2 as a therapeutic readthrough agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Westley J. Friesen
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Briana Johnson
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jairo Sierra
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jin Zhuo
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Priya Vazirani
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Xiaojiao Xue
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Yuki Tomizawa
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Ramil Baiazitov
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Christie Morrill
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Hongyu Ren
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Suresh Babu
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Young-Choon Moon
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Art Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Gary Elfring
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | | | - Ellen M. Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Stuart W. Peltz
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
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Gerasyuto AI, Arnold MA, Wang J, Chen G, Zhang X, Smith S, Woll MG, Baird J, Zhang N, Almstead NG, Narasimhan J, Peddi S, Dumble M, Sheedy J, Weetall M, Branstrom AA, Prasad JVN, Karp GM. Correction to Discovery and Optimization of Indolyl-Containing 4-Hydroxy-2-pyridone Type II DNA Topoisomerase Inhibitors Active against Multidrug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria. J Med Chem 2018; 61:9394. [PMID: 30351051 PMCID: PMC8154551 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Cao L, Weetall M, Trotta C, Cintron K, Ma J, Kim MJ, Furia B, Romfo C, Graci JD, Li W, Du J, Sheedy J, Hedrick J, Risher N, Yeh S, Qi H, Arasu T, Hwang S, Lennox W, Kong R, Petruska J, Moon YC, Babiak J, Davis TW, Jacobson A, Almstead NG, Branstrom A, Colacino JM, Peltz SW. Targeting of Hematologic Malignancies with PTC299, A Novel Potent Inhibitor of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase with Favorable Pharmaceutical Properties. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 18:3-16. [PMID: 30352802 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PTC299 was identified as an inhibitor of VEGFA mRNA translation in a phenotypic screen and evaluated in the clinic for treatment of solid tumors. To guide precision cancer treatment, we performed extensive biological characterization of the activity of PTC299 and demonstrated that inhibition of VEGF production and cell proliferation by PTC299 is linked to a decrease in uridine nucleotides by targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a rate-limiting enzyme for de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Unlike previously reported DHODH inhibitors that were identified using in vitro enzyme assays, PTC299 is a more potent inhibitor of DHODH in isolated mitochondria suggesting that mitochondrial membrane lipid engagement in the DHODH conformation in situ is required for its optimal activity. PTC299 has broad and potent activity against hematologic cancer cells in preclinical models, reflecting a reduced pyrimidine nucleotide salvage pathway in leukemia cells. Archived serum samples from patients treated with PTC299 demonstrated increased levels of dihydroorotate, the substrate of DHODH, indicating target engagement in patients. PTC299 has advantages over previously reported DHODH inhibitors, including greater potency, good oral bioavailability, and lack of off-target kinase inhibition and myelosuppression, and thus may be useful for the targeted treatment of hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangxian Cao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey.
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | | | - Jiyuan Ma
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Min Jung Kim
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Bansri Furia
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Charles Romfo
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Jason D Graci
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Wencheng Li
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Joshua Du
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Nicole Risher
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Shirley Yeh
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Hongyan Qi
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Tamil Arasu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | | | - Ronald Kong
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | | | - John Babiak
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | | | - Allan Jacobson
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | | | - Art Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey
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Buechel M, Dey A, Dwivedi SKD, Crim A, Ding K, Zhang R, Mukherjee P, Moore KN, Cao L, Branstrom A, Weetall M, Baird J, Bhattacharya R. Inhibition of BMI1, a Therapeutic Approach in Endometrial Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:2136-2143. [PMID: 30026381 PMCID: PMC7285980 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With rising incidence rates, endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies in the United States. Although surgery provides significant survival benefit to early-stage patients, those with advanced or recurrent metastatic disease have a dismal prognosis. Limited treatment options include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Hence, there is a compelling need for developing molecularly targeted therapy. Here, we show that the polycomb ring finger protein BMI1, also known as a stem cell factor, is significantly overexpressed in endometrial cancer cell lines, endometrial cancer patient tissues as well as in nonendometrioid histologies and associated with poor overall survival. PTC-028, a second-generation inhibitor of BMI1 function, decreases invasion of endometrial cancer cells and potentiates caspase-dependent apoptosis, while normal cells with minimal expression of BMI1 remain unaffected. In an aggressive uterine carcinosarcoma xenograft model, single-agent PTC-028 significantly delayed tumor growth and increased tumor doubling time compared with the standard carboplatin/paclitaxel therapy. Therefore, anti-BMI1 strategies may represent a promising targeted approach in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, a population where treatment options are limited. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(10); 2136-43. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Buechel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Anindya Dey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Shailendra Kumar Dhar Dwivedi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Aleia Crim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Kai Ding
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Roy Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Priyabrata Mukherjee
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Kathleen N Moore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | | | | | | | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, New Jersey
| | - Resham Bhattacharya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Ratni H, Ebeling M, Baird J, Bendels S, Bylund J, Chen KS, Denk N, Feng Z, Green L, Guerard M, Jablonski P, Jacobsen B, Khwaja O, Kletzl H, Ko CP, Kustermann S, Marquet A, Metzger F, Mueller B, Naryshkin NA, Paushkin SV, Pinard E, Poirier A, Reutlinger M, Weetall M, Zeller A, Zhao X, Mueller L. Discovery of Risdiplam, a Selective Survival of Motor Neuron-2 ( SMN2) Gene Splicing Modifier for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). J Med Chem 2018; 61:6501-6517. [PMID: 30044619 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
SMA is an inherited disease that leads to loss of motor function and ambulation and a reduced life expectancy. We have been working to develop orally administrated, systemically distributed small molecules to increase levels of functional SMN protein. Compound 2 was the first SMN2 splicing modifier tested in clinical trials in healthy volunteers and SMA patients. It was safe and well tolerated and increased SMN protein levels up to 2-fold in patients. Nevertheless, its development was stopped as a precautionary measure because retinal toxicity was observed in cynomolgus monkeys after chronic daily oral dosing (39 weeks) at exposures in excess of those investigated in patients. Herein, we describe the discovery of 1 (risdiplam, RG7916, RO7034067) that focused on thorough pharmacology, DMPK and safety characterization and optimization. This compound is undergoing pivotal clinical trials and is a promising medicine for the treatment of patients in all ages and stages with SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasane Ratni
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Martin Ebeling
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Stefanie Bendels
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Johan Bylund
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Karen S Chen
- SMA Foundation , 888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 400 , New York , New York 10019 , United States
| | - Nora Denk
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California 90089 , United States
| | - Luke Green
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Melanie Guerard
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Philippe Jablonski
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Bjoern Jacobsen
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Omar Khwaja
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Heidemarie Kletzl
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Chien-Ping Ko
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California 90089 , United States
| | - Stefan Kustermann
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Anne Marquet
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Friedrich Metzger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Barbara Mueller
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Nikolai A Naryshkin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Sergey V Paushkin
- SMA Foundation , 888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 400 , New York , New York 10019 , United States
| | - Emmanuel Pinard
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Agnès Poirier
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Michael Reutlinger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Andreas Zeller
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Xin Zhao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Lutz Mueller
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Basel , Grenzacherstrasse 124 , 4070 Basel , Switzerland
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Krishnan I, Maroni G, Clohessy S, Savova V, Bassal M, Zilionis R, Csizmadia E, Kerwin CM, Choi S, Meyerovitz CV, Pandell N, Fhu CW, Zhang J, Basseres DS, Magli CM, Goggi J, Welner RS, Klein AM, Weetall M, Branstrom A, Bueno R, Ali A, Tenen DG, Levantini E. Abstract 5864: Novel anti-BMI-1 therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-5864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Lung cancer represents one of the most significant and lethal diseases worldwide. Advances in treatment protocols, the development of targeted agents, and our comprehensive understanding of the genetics and mechanisms driving this disease, have helped identify novel agents with therapeutic promise, yet mortality remains high. Thus, there is a real need to identify new therapeutic options that can target this disease to improve patient outcome. BMI-1 (B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1), a key component of the epigenetic Polycomb Repressive Complex 1, plays a substantial role in many solid tumors, including NSCLC. It represents a compelling therapeutic target for NSCLC cancer patients as the majority of NSCLCs (~75%) display positive BMI-1 protein expression. Several compounds that reduce levels of the oncogene BMI-1 protein have been discovered by PTC Therapeutics i.e., PTC596 and a related analog PTC-028. PTC596 completed Ph1 trials and is currently being further tested in Ph1b trials. By using xenografts and established murine models of NSCLC, we are investigating BMI-1 as a novel therapeutic target in lung cancer, the mechanisms through which BMI-1 confers tumorigenicity, and determine the efficacy of BMI-1 inhibition in in vivo models of lung cancer at the single cell level. One critical aspect of cancer development lies in the 3-dimensional network of interactions that occurs between cells within their microenvironment. Therefore, by means of droplet-based molecular barcoding techniques we are analyzing single cell transcripts and identifying the population clusters within the heterogeneous tumor cellular milieu, to determine which cellular populations exist within tumors and how they respond to anti-BMI-1 treatment. Our data show that mutant EGFR and K-Ras driven lung cancer transgenic mice, as well as xenograft mice, express high levels of BMI-1 protein. In addition, we show that tumor growth of both models is affected by PTC596 treatment, with a more rapid response than that of currently available therapeutics. Tumor growth was measured at different time-points by magnetic resonance imaging. Transcriptional deconvolution of single cell sequencing data has enabled us to identify tumor-associated pulmonary subpopulations displaying epithelial, immune, fibroblast, and endothelial features. Importantly, tumor associated epithelial cells display a positive BMI-1 signature, which we also identified in primary NSCLC samples, underscoring the beneficial effects of anti-BMI-1 therapy in NSCLC patients.
Citation Format: Indira Krishnan, Giorgia Maroni, Sean Clohessy, Virginia Savova, Mahmoud Bassal, Rapolas Zilionis, Eva Csizmadia, Clara M. Kerwin, Sun Choi, Claire V. Meyerovitz, Nicole Pandell, Chee W. Fhu, Junyan Zhang, Daniela S. Basseres, Cristina M. Magli, Julian Goggi, Robert S. Welner, Allon M. Klein, Marla Weetall, Art Branstrom, Raphael Bueno, Azhar Ali, Daniel G. Tenen, Elena Levantini. Novel anti-BMI-1 therapy in non-small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5864.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sun Choi
- 3Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Chee W. Fhu
- 4Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Junyan Zhang
- 1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Julian Goggi
- 7Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Azhar Ali
- 4Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel G. Tenen
- 4Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Maeda A, Nishida Y, Weetall M, Cao L, Branstrom A, Ishizawa J, Nii T, Schober WD, Abe Y, Matsue K, Yoshimura M, Kimura S, Kojima K. Targeting of BMI-1 expression by the novel small molecule PTC596 in mantle cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:28547-28560. [PMID: 29983879 PMCID: PMC6033370 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the development of the novel Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remains an incurable B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. BMI-1 is required for the self-renewal and maintenance of MCL-initiating stem cells. Upregulation of BMI-1 has been reported in MCL patients, especially in those with refractory/relapsed disease. We studied the effects of a novel small-molecule selective inhibitor of BMI1 expression, PTC596, in MCL cells. Eight MCL cell lines and patient-derived samples were exposed to PTC596. PTC596 induced mitochondrial apoptosis, as evidenced by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-3 cleavage, BAX activation, and phosphatidylserine externalization. There was a positive correlation between baseline BMI-1 protein levels and PTC596-induced apoptosis. p53 status did not affect sensitivity to PTC596. PTC596 effectively decreased BMI-1-expressing and tumor-initiating side population MCL cells (IC50: 138 nM) compared with ibrutinib, which modestly decreased side population cells. Interestingly, PTC596, reported to target cancer stem cells, decreased MCL-1 expression levels and antagonized ibrutinib-induced increase in MCL-1 expression, leading to synergistic apoptosis induction in MCL cells. There are currently no drugs that specifically target cancer stem cell fractions, and a reduction in BMI-1 protein by PTC596 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for MCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Maeda
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Yuki Nishida
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Jo Ishizawa
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Takenobu Nii
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wendy D Schober
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yoshiaki Abe
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Japan
| | - Kosei Matsue
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Japan
| | - Mariko Yoshimura
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Shinya Kimura
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Kensuke Kojima
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
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42
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Gerasyuto AI, Arnold MA, Wang J, Chen G, Zhang X, Smith S, Woll MG, Baird J, Zhang N, Almstead NG, Narasimhan J, Peddi S, Dumble M, Sheedy J, Weetall M, Branstrom AA, Prasad JVN, Karp GM. Discovery and Optimization of Indolyl-Containing 4-Hydroxy-2-Pyridone Type II DNA Topoisomerase Inhibitors Active against Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4456-4475. [PMID: 29727185 PMCID: PMC5991783 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
There exists an urgent medical need to identify new chemical entities (NCEs) targeting multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-negative pathogens. 4-Hydroxy-2-pyridones represent a novel class of nonfluoroquinolone inhibitors of bacterial type II topoisomerases active against MDR Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we report on the discovery and structure-activity relationships of a series of fused indolyl-containing 4-hydroxy-2-pyridones with improved in vitro antibacterial activity against fluoroquinolone resistant strains. Compounds 6o and 6v are representative of this class, targeting both bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV (Topo IV). In an abbreviated susceptibility screen, compounds 6o and 6v showed improved MIC90 values against Escherichia coli (0.5-1 μg/mL) and Acinetobacter baumannii (8-16 μg/mL) compared to the precursor compounds. In a murine septicemia model, both compounds showed complete protection in mice infected with a lethal dose of E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey I Gerasyuto
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Michael A Arnold
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Jiashi Wang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Guangming Chen
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Sean Smith
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Matthew G Woll
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Nanjing Zhang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Neil G Almstead
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Jana Narasimhan
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Srinivasa Peddi
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Melissa Dumble
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Arthur A Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - J V N Prasad
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
| | - Gary M Karp
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. , 100 Corporate Court , South Plainfield , New Jersey 07080 , United States
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43
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Arnold MA, Gerasyuto AI, Wang J, Du W, Gorske YJK, Arasu T, Baird J, Almstead NG, Narasimhan J, Peddi S, Ginzburg O, Lue SW, Hedrick J, Sheedy J, Lagaud G, Branstrom AA, Weetall M, Prasad JVNV, Karp GM. 4-Hydroxy-2-pyridones: Discovery and evaluation of a novel class of antibacterial agents targeting DNA synthesis. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:5014-5021. [PMID: 29032026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The continued emergence of bacteria resistant to current standard of care antibiotics presents a rapidly growing threat to public health. New chemical entities (NCEs) to treat these serious infections are desperately needed. Herein we report the discovery, synthesis, SAR and in vivo efficacy of a novel series of 4-hydroxy-2-pyridones exhibiting activity against Gram-negative pathogens. Compound 1c, derived from the N-debenzylation of 1b, preferentially inhibits bacterial DNA synthesis as determined by standard macromolecular synthesis assays. The structural features of the 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone scaffold required for antibacterial activity were explored and compound 6q, identified through further optimization of the series, had an MIC90 value of 8 μg/mL against a panel of highly resistant strains of E. coli. In a murine septicemia model, compound 6q exhibited a PD50 of 8 mg/kg in mice infected with a lethal dose of E. coli. This novel series of 4-hydroxy-2-pyridones serves as an excellent starting point for the identification of NCEs treating Gram-negative infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Arnold
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA.
| | - Aleksey I Gerasyuto
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Jiashi Wang
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Wu Du
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Yi Jin Kim Gorske
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Tamil Arasu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Neil G Almstead
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Jana Narasimhan
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Srinivasa Peddi
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Olya Ginzburg
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Stanley W Lue
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Guy Lagaud
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Arthur A Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - J V N Vara Prasad
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| | - Gary M Karp
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
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44
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Graci JD, Michaels D, Chen G, Schiralli Lester GM, Nodder S, Weetall M, Karp GM, Gu Z, Colacino JM, Henderson AJ. Identification of benzazole compounds that induce HIV-1 transcription. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179100. [PMID: 28658263 PMCID: PMC5489165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection remains incurable in patients and continues to present a significant public health burden worldwide. While a number of factors contribute to persistent HIV-1 infection in patients, the presence of a stable, long-lived reservoir of latent provirus represents a significant hurdle in realizing an effective cure. One potential strategy to eliminate HIV-1 reservoirs in patients is reactivation of latent provirus with latency reversing agents in combination with antiretroviral therapy, a strategy termed "shock and kill". This strategy has shown limited clinical effectiveness thus far, potentially due to limitations of the few therapeutics currently available. We have identified a novel class of benzazole compounds effective at inducing HIV-1 expression in several cellular models. These compounds do not act via histone deacetylase inhibition or T cell activation, and show specificity in activating HIV-1 in vitro. Initial exploration of structure-activity relationships and pharmaceutical properties indicates that these compounds represent a potential scaffold for development of more potent HIV-1 latency reversing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D. Graci
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Daniel Michaels
- Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Guangming Chen
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Gillian M. Schiralli Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Sarah Nodder
- Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Gary M. Karp
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Zhengxian Gu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Colacino
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Henderson
- Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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45
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Infante JR, Bedard PL, Shapiro G, Bauer TM, Prawira A, Laskin O, Weetall M, Baird J, Branstrom A, O'Mara E, Spiegel RJ. Phase 1 results of PTC596, a novel small molecule targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) by reducing levels of BMI1 protein. J Clin Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.2574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
2574 Background: PTC596 is an oral investigational new drug that reduces levels of BMI1, a protein required for CSC survival. PTC596 reduced the number of CSCs in preclinical models and slowed growth rates of tumor xenografts in rodent models. The primary objectives of this first-in-human trial of PTC596 were to determine safety, dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and pharmacokinetics (PK). Secondary objectives included exploratory assessments of biological efficacy, pharmacodynamic changes and anti-tumor activity. Methods: A Phase I multi-center, open-label study was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors using a modified 3+3 design, followed by a dose-confirmatory 10-patient expansion. PTC596 was administered using bodyweight-adjusted twice-per-week (biw) oral dosing in 4 week cycles. Dose escalation and MTD were based on observed cycle 1 DLTs. Anti-tumor activity was assessed by RECIST 1.1. Results: A total of 31 patients with a broad range of tumor types were enrolled at dose levels of 0.65 (N = 3), 1.3 (N = 3), 2.6 (N = 3), 5.2 (N = 11), 7 (N = 8) and 10 mg/kg (N = 3). Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were the most common all grade adverse events, though usually mild and manageable. At 10 mg/kg one patient experienced DLTs of neutropenia, mucositis, and thrombocytopenia. The other two patients at this dose level also experienced poor tolerability with Grade 2 nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be partially due to the overall pill burden and excipients. The recommended dose for the expansion and further study was 7 mg/kg. Over the dosing range, plasma concentrations of PTC596 increased in an approximately dose-proportional manner and at doses of 2.6 mg/kg and above exceeded those associated with activity in vitro and in vivo models. Best response was stable disease in 5 patients including two with minor radiographic reductions in tumor volume. Conclusions: PTC596 is tolerable with manageable gastrointestinal side effects. At 7 mg/kg biw exposures exceeded those associated with preclinical activity and future clinical studies are planned for this first-in class molecule that targets CSCs. Clinical trial information: NCT02404480.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R. Infante
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute and Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, Nashville, TN
| | | | | | - Todd Michael Bauer
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute and Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy Prawira
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ
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46
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Pinard E, Green L, Reutlinger M, Weetall M, Naryshkin NA, Baird J, Chen KS, Paushkin SV, Metzger F, Ratni H. Discovery of a Novel Class of Survival Motor Neuron 2 Splicing Modifiers for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. J Med Chem 2017; 60:4444-4457. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Pinard
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luke Green
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Reutlinger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100
Corporate Court, South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, United States
| | - Nikolai A. Naryshkin
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100
Corporate Court, South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, United States
| | - John Baird
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., 100
Corporate Court, South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, United States
| | - Karen S. Chen
- SMA Foundation, 888 Seventh
Avenue, Suite 400, New York, New York 10019, United States
| | - Sergey V. Paushkin
- SMA Foundation, 888 Seventh
Avenue, Suite 400, New York, New York 10019, United States
| | - Friedrich Metzger
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hasane Ratni
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., pRED, Pharma Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
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47
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Friesen WJ, Trotta CR, Tomizawa Y, Zhuo J, Johnson B, Sierra J, Roy B, Weetall M, Hedrick J, Sheedy J, Takasugi J, Moon YC, Babu S, Baiazitov R, Leszyk JD, Davis TW, Colacino JM, Peltz SW, Welch EM. The nucleoside analog clitocine is a potent and efficacious readthrough agent. RNA 2017; 23:567-577. [PMID: 28096517 PMCID: PMC5340919 DOI: 10.1261/rna.060236.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Nonsense mutations resulting in a premature stop codon in an open reading frame occur in critical tumor suppressor genes in a large number of the most common forms of cancers and are known to cause or contribute to the progression of disease. Low molecular weight compounds that induce readthrough of nonsense mutations offer a new means of treating patients with genetic disorders or cancers resulting from nonsense mutations. We have identified the nucleoside analog clitocine as a potent and efficacious suppressor of nonsense mutations. We determined that incorporation of clitocine into RNA during transcription is a prerequisite for its readthrough activity; the presence of clitocine in the third position of a premature stop codon directly induces readthrough. We demonstrate that clitocine can induce the production of p53 protein in cells harboring p53 nonsense-mutated alleles. In these cells, clitocine restored production of full-length and functional p53 as evidenced by induced transcriptional activation of downstream p53 target genes, progression of cells into apoptosis, and impeded growth of nonsense-containing human ovarian cancer tumors in xenograft tumor models. Thus, clitocine induces readthrough of nonsense mutations by a previously undescribed mechanism and represents a novel therapeutic modality to treat cancers and genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuki Tomizawa
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Jin Zhuo
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Briana Johnson
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Jairo Sierra
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Bijoyita Roy
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | | | - James Takasugi
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | | | - Suresh Babu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Ramil Baiazitov
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - John D Leszyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655-0122, USA
| | - Thomas W Davis
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | | | - Stuart W Peltz
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
| | - Ellen M Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080, USA
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48
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Nishida Y, Maeda A, Kim MJ, Cao L, Kubota Y, Ishizawa J, AlRawi A, Kato Y, Iwama A, Fujisawa M, Matsue K, Weetall M, Dumble M, Andreeff M, Davis TW, Branstrom A, Kimura S, Kojima K. The novel BMI-1 inhibitor PTC596 downregulates MCL-1 and induces p53-independent mitochondrial apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia progenitor cells. Blood Cancer J 2017; 7:e527. [PMID: 28211885 PMCID: PMC5386342 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2017.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease recurrence is the major problem in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Relapse is driven by leukemia stem cells, a chemoresistant subpopulation capable of re-establishing disease. Patients with p53 mutant AML are at an extremely high risk of relapse. B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (BMI-1) is required for the self-renewal and maintenance of AML stem cells. Here we studied the effects of a novel small molecule inhibitor of BMI-1, PTC596, in AML cells. Treatment with PTC596 reduced MCL-1 expression and triggered several molecular events consistent with induction of mitochondrial apoptosis: loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, BAX conformational change, caspase-3 cleavage and phosphatidylserine externalization. PTC596 induced apoptosis in a p53-independent manner. PTC596 induced apoptosis along with the reduction of MCL-1 and phosphorylated AKT in patient-derived CD34+CD38low/− stem/progenitor cells. Mouse xenograft models demonstrated in vivo anti-leukemia activity of PTC596, which inhibited leukemia cell growth in vivo while sparing normal hematopoietic cells. Our results indicate that PTC596 deserves further evaluation in clinical trials for refractory or relapsed AML patients, especially for those with unfavorable complex karyotype or therapy-related AML that are frequently associated with p53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Nishida
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - A Maeda
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - M J Kim
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - L Cao
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - Y Kubota
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - J Ishizawa
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A AlRawi
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y Kato
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - A Iwama
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - M Fujisawa
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Japan
| | - K Matsue
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Japan
| | - M Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - M Dumble
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - M Andreeff
- Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - T W Davis
- PMV Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cranbury, NJ, USA
| | | | - S Kimura
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - K Kojima
- Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
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49
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Cao L, Weetall M, Bombard J, Qi H, Arasu T, Lennox W, Hedrick J, Sheedy J, Risher N, Brooks PC, Trifillis P, Trotta C, Moon YC, Babiak J, Almstead NG, Colacino JM, Davis TW, Peltz SW. Discovery of Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of VEGF Expression in Tumor Cells Using a Cell-Based High Throughput Screening Platform. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168366. [PMID: 27992500 PMCID: PMC5161367 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Current anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A) therapies to treat various cancers indiscriminately block VEGF function in the patient resulting in the global loss of VEGF signaling which has been linked to dose-limiting toxicities as well as treatment failures due to acquired resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests that this resistance is at least partially due to increased production of compensatory tumor angiogenic factors/cytokines. VEGF protein production is differentially controlled depending on whether cells are in the normal “homeostatic” state or in a stressed state, such as hypoxia, by post-transcriptional regulation imparted by elements in the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTR) of the VEGF mRNA. Using the Gene Expression Modulation by Small molecules (GEMS™) phenotypic assay system, we performed a high throughput screen to identify low molecular weight compounds that target the VEGF mRNA UTR-mediated regulation of stress-induced VEGF production in tumor cells. We identified a number of compounds that potently and selectively reduce endogenous VEGF production under hypoxia in HeLa cells. Medicinal chemistry efforts improved the potency and pharmaceutical properties of one series of compounds resulting in the discovery of PTC-510 which inhibits hypoxia-induced VEGF expression in HeLa cells at low nanomolar concentration. In mouse xenograft studies, oral administration of PTC-510 results in marked reduction of intratumor VEGF production and single agent control of tumor growth without any evident toxicity. Here, we show that selective suppression of stress-induced VEGF production within tumor cells effectively controls tumor growth. Therefore, this approach may minimize the liabilities of current global anti-VEGF therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangxian Cao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Jenelle Bombard
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Hongyan Qi
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Tamil Arasu
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - William Lennox
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Nicole Risher
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Peter C. Brooks
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, Maine, United States of America
| | - Panayiota Trifillis
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Christopher Trotta
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Young-Choon Moon
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - John Babiak
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Neil G. Almstead
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Colacino
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Thomas W. Davis
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Stuart W. Peltz
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
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50
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Shapiro G, Bedard P, Infante J, Bauer T, Prawira A, Laksin O, Weetall M, Baird J, Branstrom A, O'Mara E, Spiegel R. Phase 1 results of PTC596, a novel small molecule targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) by reducing levels of BMI1 protein. Eur J Cancer 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(16)33039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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