Patent Application
20230313313
This invention relates to biomarkers for cancer therapy. In particular, the invention provides biological markers that identify a cancer cell as likely to be sensitive to an MDM2 antagonist. These biomarkers can be incorporated into methods, systems and kits for predicting response to treatment, and into personalised treatments for cancer.
Precision medicine, or personalised medicine, is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle for each patient. It is often said to be the practice of administering the right dosage of the right drug at the right time.
A particular focus of precision medicine is the need to predict whether a given patient will respond to a specific drug. A test that is able to predict whether a particular drug will effectively treat an individual patient is often referred to as a companion diagnostic. Effective companion diagnostics are very desirable because of their ability to improve treatment outcomes for patients while also saving the significant economic cost of providing ineffective treatments. An effective companion diagnostic for a new therapeutic agent can also increase the chances of that therapy being trialled in the correct population and ultimately being approved.
Precision medicines and companion diagnostics often rely on biomarkers that are able to predict reliably whether a patient is likely to respond to a specific treatment. Identifying reliable biomarkers for every therapy and disease is a very significant challenge.
Iorio et al (Cell. 2016 Jul. 28; 166(3):740-75) “A Landscape of Pharmacogenomic Interactions in Cancer” report how cancer-driven alterations identified in 11,289 tumours from 29 tissues (integrating somatic mutations, copy number alterations, DNA methylation, and gene expression) can be mapped onto 1,001 molecularly annotated human cancer cell lines and correlated with sensitivity to 265 drugs. While such studies provide a resource to link genotypes with cellular phenotypes and to identify therapeutic options for selected cancer sub-populations, the development of clinically-relevant molecularly-targeted cancer therapies remains a formidable challenge.
There remains a need to identify reliable biomarkers for use in precision medicine.
The invention is based on the identification of biomarkers that can be used to predict effective treatment of cancer using an MDM2 antagonist. Identifying one or more of these biomarkers in a cancer patient allows a determination to be made whether the patient's cancer is likely to be treated or likely to be successfully treated using an MDM2 antagonist. Accordingly, in certain aspects the invention relates generally to a companion diagnostic for MDM2 antagonist therapy.
In particular, a biomarker identified in the present invention is SKP2. The SKP2 protein and the gene encoding it are known in the art, with the Entrez gene ID 6502. As used herein, SKP2 is referred to as a “biomarker of the invention”.
In particular, in one aspect the invention provides an MDM2 antagonist for use in a method of treating cancer, wherein the cancer expresses low levels of SKP2.
Sensitivity to MDM2 antagonism can be identified by reduced SKP2 expression.
For SKP2, protein and/or nucleic acid levels may typically be measured. Protein level can be achieved using, for example, immunohistochemistry (IHC).
SKP2 nucleic acid may be DNA or RNA. RNA may be detected, typically as SKP2 mRNA.
Measurement techniques can therefore include quantitative techniques such as RT-PCR or Nanostring analysis, as are known in the art.
DNA can also be measured. In some embodiments copy number variation (CNV) analysis and/or mutational analysis (e.g. DNA sequencing) may be used to detect SKP2 status.
There are a variety of measures of the biomarker, including the presence or absence of the gene, mutation of the gene, gene expression level and protein expression level. The term depletion may mean loss or complete loss of the SKP2 gene, mutation of the SKP2 gene and loss of function, or it may mean low gene expression and low protein expression and function, which result from the loss or mutation of the gene or otherwise. All of these depletions are encompassed by the term “depleted”.
SKP2 can be detected directly, or indirectly. Indirect measurement typically involves detection of a molecule that is functionally upstream or downstream of SKP2 and the level of which correlates with the level of the biomarker. SKP2 can be detected indirectly through the detection of one or more SKP2 substrates. Accordingly, SKP2 substrates are also referred to herein as biomarkers of the invention.
As described below, a typical SKP2 substrate is p27. In one embodiment of the invention the SKP2 level is assessed by measuring the levels of one or more, for example two or more, three or more, five or more or ten or more, of p27, p21, p57, E2F-1, MEF, P130, Tob1, cyclin D, cyclin E, Smad4, Myc, Mcb, RASSF1A, Foxo1, Orc1p, Cdt1, Rag2, Brca2, CDK9, MPK1, and/or UBP43. In one embodiment, depleted SKP2 is determined by identifying increased or high levels of one or more, for example two or more, three or more, five or more or ten or more, of p27, p21, p57, E2F-1, MEF, P130, Tob1, cyclin D, cyclin E, Smad4, Myc, Mcb, RASSF1A, Foxo1, Orc1p, Cdt1, Rag2, Brca2, CDK9, MPK1, and/or UBP43. In some embodiments, a combination of protein and nucleic acids may be detected.
High SKP2 substrate levels are indicative of low SKP2. In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention are low SKP2, or increased or high levels of one or more, for example two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more, of p27, p21, p57, E2F-1, MEF, P130, Tob1, cyclin D, cyclin E, Smad4, Myc, Mcb, RASSF1A, Foxo1, Orc1p, Cdt1, Rag2, Brca2, CDK9, MPK1, and/or UBP43.
The data in the Examples below indicate that depletion for example loss (also known as total or complete loss) of SKP2 is predictive of sensitivity of cancer cells to an MDM2 antagonist. Accordingly, low levels of SKP2 can be used to identify a cancer suitable for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. Low SKP2 expression is indicative of sensitivity of cancer cells to an MDM2 antagonist. Conversely, normal or high SKP2 expression is indicative of resistance to an MDM2 antagonist. When a tumour has normal or high SKP2 and is therefore indicated not to be senstitive to MDM2 antagonism, an agent to induce sensitivity to an MDM2 antagonist can be used. This may be, for example, an agent to lower the level of SKP2 in the tumour. Accordingly, one method of treating cancer in a patient is provided wherein a patient is selected on the basis of having normal or high levels of SKP2 within a biological sample obtained from said patient, and that patient is administered a therapeutically effective amount of an MDM2 antagonist and an agent to induce sensitivity to an MDM2 antagonist, for example an agent to lower the levels of SKP2 in the tumour.
In some embodiments, the expression of a biomarker of the invention is determined relative to a non-cancer cell. This cancer:non-cancer comparison may be particularly useful for assessing SKP2 loss. The non-cancer cell will typically be a cell of the same type as the cancer cell. The non-cancer cell may be from the same patient, or may be from a different patient, or may be a value known for a non-cancer cell of that type. In this way, expression can be compared relative to control levels determined in healthy individuals or relative to control levels determined in normal non-proliferative tissue.
In some embodiments, the expression of a biomarker of the invention is determined relative to cancer cell samples from MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subjects, or in a sample of cancer cells from an MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subject. In some embodiments, the biomarker is decreased relative to the cancer cell samples from MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subjects, or in a sample of cancer cells from an MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subject. The non-responsive cancer cells will typically be a cell of the same cancer type as the tested cancer cell. The non-responsive cancer cells will typically be from a different patient or patients from the tested sample, or may be a value known for a non-responsive cancer cell of that cancer type. In some embodiments, the patient can be identified as a candidate for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist when the expression level of SKP2 is low relative to the upper limit of normal (ULN). Accordingly, in some embodiments a cancer is identified as treatable with an MDM2 inhibitor when SKP2 expression in the cancer is below the upper limit of normal (ULN).
Optionally, the method may comprise the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an MDM2 antagonist to the patient.
In all aspects and embodiments described herein, the cancer is typically a p53-wild-type cancer.
In one embodiment, the invention provides an MDM2 antagonist for use in the treatment of cancer, in particular a p53 wild type cancer, wherein the cancer is characterised by the biomarker of the invention within a biological sample obtained from the patient.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient based on the expression profile of a biomarker of the invention. In certain embodiments, the patient is selected based on:
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an MDM2 antagonist for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient, characterised in that said patient has been selected for having:
In certain embodiments a sample of patient tissue is tested prior to treatment, to determine the cancer biomarker expression profile. The sample may typically comprise one or more cancer cells, cancer DNA, or circulating tumour DNA. The sample may be a blood sample. The sample may be a tumour sample, for example a tumour biopsy. The testing may comprise an assay to detect protein, mRNA, DNA and/or ctDNA.
In another aspect, the invention provides the use of the expression level of SKP2 in a cancer cell sample of a human patient, as a biomarker for assessing whether the cancer is susceptible to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for prognosing or assessing the responsiveness of a human cancer patient to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, comprising assessing the expression level in a sample from a cancer patient of the biomarker of the invention and determining whether the tested expression level indicates that the cancer should be treated with an MDM2 antagonist.
In some embodiments, the biomarker of the invention indicates that the cancer is likely to be apoptosed effectively. Therefore, in some embodiments the invention is able to identify those patients for whom treatment will be particularly effective.
In some embodiments, the assessment step comprises an in vitro assay to determine the expression level of the biomarker or biomarkers.
In some embodiments, the assessment step comprises comparing the expression level with the expression level known to be associated with responsiveness or non-responsiveness to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. In some embodiments, the assessment step comprises comparing the observed expression level with a threshold value reflecting in the same manner the expression level associated with susceptibility to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, to assess whether the tested expression level indicates that the cancer can be treated with an MDM2 antagonist.
In some embodiments, the patient is classified into a group based on the biomarker profile. This may include classifying the patient as likely to respond well (or strongly), or not, to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of determining whether a human cancer patient is suitable for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, comprising
In a further embodiment the invention provides an MDM2 antagonist for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient in combination with an anticancer compound, characterised in that said cancer in said patient is a p53 wild type cancer, which has been selected for having the biomarker of the invention.
In a further embodiment the invention provides a method of treating cancer in a patient, wherein said cancer in said patient is optionally a p53 wild type cancer, and wherein the patient has been selected as having the biomarker of the invention at a level that indicates that MDM2 antagonist treatment will be effective; and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a MDM2 antagonist and optionally another anticancer agent to the selected patient.
In a further embodiment the invention provides a method of identifying a patient suffering from cancer suitable for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist wherein said method comprises detecting, and optionally quantifying, the expression of SKP2.
In a further embodiment the invention provides a method of selecting a patient (e.g. suffering from cancer) wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient by detecting, and optionally quantifying, the expression of SKP2.
In a further embodiment the invention provides a method of determining the likelihood that a cancer patient will respond to therapy with an MDM2 antagonist, the method comprising:
In a further embodiment the invention provides a drug administration process comprising:
In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting the expression SKP2 in a human patient suffering from cancer. This method typically comprises:
In a still further aspect, the invention provides a kit or device for detecting the expression level of at least one biomarker for sensitivity to MDM2 antagonism in a sample from a human patient, said kit or device comprising a detection reagent or detection reagents for detecting the biomarker of the invention.
In a further aspect, the invention resides in a system for assessing whether a human cancer patient is susceptible to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, the system comprising:
The system optionally contains a data connection to an interface, particularly a graphical user interface, capable of presenting information, preferably also capable of putting in information such as the age of the subject, as well as optionally other patient information such as sex and/or medical history information, said interface being either a part of the system or a remote interface. Optionally one or more of the foregoing items, particularly the processor, are enabled to function “in the cloud”, i.e., not on a fixed machine, but by means of an internet-based application.
The invention also provides methods of identifying and screening patients, combinations, and kits.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of screening or identifying a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprising determining whether said patient has:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying a patient responder comprising testing a patient for:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treatment comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treatment comprising:
In a further embodiment, the cancer is AML with a translocation t(15;17).
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of selecting a treatment for a cancer patient comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a process for selecting a patient (e.g. suffering from cancer) for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, characterised in that said patient has been selected for having:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides an MDM2 antagonist for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient, characterised in that said patient is known to have:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a kit for treating cancer in a patient, wherein said kit comprises a biosensor for detection and/or quantification of SKP2, and/or reagents for the detection of SKP2, optionally together with instructions for use of the kit in accordance with the methods as defined herein.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of determining responsiveness of an individual with cancer to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of determining responsiveness of an individual with cancer to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprising identifying a patient:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient:
administering to said patient selected in steps herein a therapeutically effective amount of an MDM2 antagonist in combination with interferon(s) (e.g. interferon alpha).
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a drug administration process comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a packaged pharmaceutical product comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises:
The levels of SKP2 can be determined by measuring the levels of SKP2 expression directly. The protein or nucleic acid levels of SKP2 can be measured, as previously described.
In a further embodiment, the levels of SKP2 may be determined by measuring the levels of SKP2 substrates. Known SKP2 substrates are disclosed in Chan et al. The Scientific World Journal (2010) 10, 1001-1015, in particular those described in Table 1.
In one embodiment of the invention the SKP2 level is assessed by measuring the levels of one or more of p27, p21, p57, E2F-1, MEF, P130, Tob1, cyclin D, cyclin E, Smad4, Myc, Mcb, RASSF1A, Foxo1, Orc1p, Cdt1, Rag2, Brca2, CDK9, MPK1, and/or UBP43. In one embodiment, depleted SKP2 is determined by identifying increased or high levels of one or more of p27, p21, p57, E2F-1, MEF, P130, Tob1, cyclin D, cyclin E, Smad4, Myc, Mcb, RASSF1A, Foxo1, Orc1p, Cdt1, Rag2, Brca2, CDK9, MPK1, and/or UBP43. In certain embdiments, the levels of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more of these substrates are measured or identified. In one embodiment, the levels of all these substrates are measured or identified. In another embodiment, levels of one of these substrates is measured or identified.
Typically the level is detected, determined or known to reflect low SKP2. One embodiment would be a level of the SKP2 substrate above the ULN.
In one embodiment of the invention, depleted SKP2 is determined by measuring the levels of p27 in a tumour sample. Depleted SKP2 is determined by identifying increased or high p27 levels. Typically, the levels of the p27 protein are measured. Typically the p27 protein levels are measuring using immunobased assays (e.g. ELISA, MSD, WES, Western blot, IHC etc.). In another embodiment, p27 RNA levels are measured (by, for example, PCR, nanostring, RNA seq.).
The levels of SKP2 substrates may be measured in the same samples as disclosed for SKP2 measurement. Typically, SKP2 substrates are measured in tumour samples.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for identifying a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, the method comprising:
The patient may optionally be identified as a candidate for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist when the expression level of SKP2 is low relative to (e.g. below) the upper limit of normal (ULN). In certain embodiments, the expression level of at least one other biomarker for MDM2 antagonist treatment is also determined. Accordingly, a panel of biomarkers can be tested, wherein the panel comprises SKP2.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for identifying a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, the method comprising:
The assay in part (b) may be or comprise an immunohistochemical assay. In some embodiments, the assay may be or comprise an ELISA. When the sample from the patient is contacted with an antibody against SKP2, an immunohistochemical assay is typically performed on said sample, and the patient is identified as a candidate for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist when the level of SKP2 is low (or absent) relative to the upper limit of normal (ULN).
Once a patient has been identified for treatment, the methods described herein can further comprise treating cancer in the patient with an MDM2 antagonist.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of selecting a cancer patient for receiving an MDM2 antagonist therapy for a cancer, comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for predicting efficacy of MDM2 antagonist for a cancer in a patient, or for predicting response of a cancer patient to an MDM2 antagonist for a cancer, comprising determining the level of SKP2 in a biological sample from the patient, where a biological sample level of SKP2 equal to or typically less than a predetermined value is predictive of efficacy in the patient.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of selecting a patient having cancer in need of treatment with an MDM2 antagonist which comprises testing a tumour sample obtained from the patient for low level of SKP2.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating cancer comprising (i) testing a tumour sample obtained from a patient suffering from or likely to suffer from cancer for SKP2 loss and (ii) administering an MDM2 antagonist to the patient from which the sample was taken.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying a patient having cancer most likely to benefit from treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprising measuring the level of one or more or the biomarkers of the invention in a tumour sample obtained from the patient and identifying whether or not the patient is likely to benefit from treatment with an MDM2 antagonist according to the levels present.
Some embodiments of the invention comprise detecting the presence of mutation of SKP2 indicative of SKP2 loss. These mutations may be compared to control levels determined in normal non-proliferative tissue or absence of mutation.
The invention variously provides: a method of determining if a cancer patient is amenable to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist; a method of predicting the sensitivity of tumour cell growth to inhibition by a MDM2 antagonist; a method of predicting responsiveness of a cancer in a subject to a cancer therapy including an MDM2 antagonist; a method of developing a treatment plan for a subject with cancer; an in vitro method for the identification of a patient responsive to or sensitive to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist regimen. The methods typically comprise comparing the levels of SKP2 in the sample, typically a tumour sample, to a reference level and predicting the responsiveness of the cancer to treatment with the cancer therapy including an MDM2 antagonist.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides an in vitro method for predicting the likelihood that a patient suffering from a tumour, who is a candidate for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, will respond to the treatment with the compound, comprising the step of: (a) determining the levels of SKP2 in one or more tissue samples taken from the patient, wherein (i) SKP2 depletion or loss (e.g compared to a reference value of at least one normal non-proliferative tissue) indicates that the patient is likely to respond to the treatment and/or (ii) normal or high levels of SKP2 indicates that the patient is less likely to respond to the treatment.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides an assay comprising: (a) measuring or quantifying the level of SKP2; (b) comparing the level of SKP2 (e.g. relative to control levels determined in healthy individuals) (e.g. relative to control levels determined in normal non-proliferative tissue), and if the level of SKP2 (e.g. relative to control levels determined in healthy individuals) is decreased, and/or a loss of SKP2 (e.g. relative to control levels determined in normal non-proliferative tissue) identifying the patient as suitable for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides an assay comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating cancer comprising administering an MDM2 antagonist to a subject with loss of SKP2 in a tumour sample as determined by sequencing or immunoassay.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of administering an MDM2 antagonist to a patient in need thereof comprising:
In a further embodiment, the invention provides use of an MDM2 antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient wherein the cancer tumour has SKP2 loss.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides use of an MDM2 antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of cancer in a patient identified as likely to be responsive to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist according to the method described herein.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides an article of manufacture comprising, packaged together, an MDM2 antagonist medicament in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a package insert indicating that the cancer medicament is for treating a patient with cancer (e.g. myeloid leukemia, optionally AML) based on the level of SKP2 as determined by an assay method used to measure the levels.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for advertising an MDM2 antagonist medicament comprising promoting, to a target audience, the use of the MDM2 antagonist medicament for treating a cancer patient with SKP2 loss.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides apparatus configured to identify a tumour (e.g. myeloid leukemia, optionally AML) in a cancer patient as being likely to benefit from treatment with a therapeutic agent or a combination of therapeutic agents targeting MDM2 or not likely to benefit from treatment with the therapeutic agent or combination of therapeutic agents. The apparatus may comprise a storage device storing sequencing data or immunoassay data from tumour or blood-based samples for SKP2 loss to identify the patient as being either likely or not likely to benefit from the therapeutic agent or a combination of therapeutic agents targeting MDM2.
In one embodiment of the method described here when the SKP2 levels are low or absent (e.g. SKP2 loss) then the patient is administered an MDM2 antagonist.
In another embodiment of the method described here when the SKP2 levels are high (or present) then the patient is not administered an MDM2 antagonist.
Where expression of the biomarker of the invention is high, an MDM2 antagonist may be administered in combination with an additional treatment, for example an additional treatment to reduce SKP2 levels.
SKP2 levels may be impacted by reducing gene expression, for example Notch1 signalling induces Skp2 gene expression and inhibiting Notch1 pathway will reduce Skp2 levels. The IKK-NF-kB pathway also regulates Skp2 gene expression through p52/RelA or p52/RelB binding to the Skp2 promoter and reduction of signalling to NFkB transcription factors will decrease SKP2 expression. Another pathway regulating Skp2 gene expression is the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, thus inhibition of PI3K activity by PI3Ki or AKTi reduces Skp2 mRNA levels. Upstream regulators of the PI3K/AKT pathway, such as BCR-ABL and HER2 also regulate SKP2 expression.
In addition to regulation at the expression level, skp2 may be regulated via protein stability. SKP2 phosphorylation, for example by AKT or CDK2, attenuates SKP2 ubiquitination and degradation. Therefore, inhibition of SKP2 phosphorylation is another route to reduce SKP2 protein levels.
In certain embodiments, an MDM2 antagonist may be administered to a patient in combination with an addtitional cancer treatment that is not an MDM2 antagonist.
In one embodiment a biomarker of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP2 substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an agent described in (i)-(xlix) below.
In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined not to be suitable for treatment with single agent MDM2 inhibitor due to presence of high or increased levels of SKP2 (“SKP2 high”) and hence treatment with an additional agent can be used to trigger low or decreased levels of SKP2 (“SKP2 low”) in combination with MDM2 inhibitor. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an additional anticancer agent. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more of the agents listed in (i)-(xlix) below.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of AKT, inhibitors of CDK2, inhibitors of Notch1 pathway, inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway, inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2.
In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of AKT, inhibitors of CDK2, inhibitors of Notch1 pathway, inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway, inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of CDK2.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of Notch1 pathway.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, in particular inhibitors of PI3K activity by PI3Ki or AKTi.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway for example through p52/RelA or p52/RelB binding to the Skp2 promoter and reduction of signalling to NFkB transcription factors.
In one embodiment the IKK-NF-kB pathway inhibitor is an IRAK inhibitor.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2.
The term “PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor” is used herein to define a compound which inhibits the activation of AKT, the activity of the kinase itself or modulate downstream targets, blocking the proliferative and cell survival effects of the pathway (including one or more of the target enzymes in the pathway as described herein, including phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K), AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), PDK-1, p70 S6 kinase and forkhead translocation).
PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include PKA/B and/or PKB (akt) inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and/or calmodulin inhibitors (forkhead translocation inhibitors) Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include PI3K Inhibitors.
Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors also include mTOR.
Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include forkhead translocation inhibitors.
Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include AKT Inhibitors.
In one embodiment the PI3K/AKT Pathway inhibitor is a PI3K inhibitor selected from one or more of the specific compounds described above. In one embodiment the PI3K/AKT Pathway inhibitor is PI-103 or LY294002.
In one embodiment is provided a combination of an MDM2 antagonist as described herein and a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor.
In another embodiment there is provided a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient:
In one embodiment the agent or treatment to decrease SKP2 levels is an anticancer agent or treatment.
In one embodiment the agent or treatment to decrease SKP2 levels is a PI3K/AKT Pathway inhibitor.
In another embodiment there is provided an MDM2 antagonist for use in a method of treating a cancer having normal or high SKP2 expression, in combination with an agent to induce sensitivity to an MDM2 antagonist for example an agent to lower the level of SKP2.
Another embodimentn provides a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient:
The agent to induce sensitivity to an MDM2 antagonist may in some embodiments be ASTX660, also known as tolinapant.
The term “MDM2 inhibitor” and “MDM2 antagonist” are used as synonyms and define MDM2 compounds or analogues of MDM2 compounds as described herein, including the ionic, salt, solvate, isomers, tautomers, N-oxides, ester, prodrugs, isotopes and protected forms thereof (preferably the salts or tautomers or isomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof, and more preferably, the salts or tautomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof), as described herein.
“MDM2 antagonist” means an antagonist of one or more MDM2 family members in particular MDM2 and MDM4 (also called MDMx). The term “antagonist” refers to a type of receptor ligand or drug that blocks or dampens agonist-mediated biological responses. Antagonists have affinity but no agonistic efficacy for their cognate receptors, and binding will disrupt the interaction and inhibit the function of any ligand (e.g. endogenous ligands or substrates, an agonist or inverse agonist) at receptors. The antagonism may arise directly or indirectly, and may be mediated by any mechanism and at any physiological level. As a result, antagonism of ligands may under different circumstances manifest itself in functionally different ways. Antagonists mediate their effects by binding to the active site or to allosteric sites on receptors, or they may interact at unique binding sites not normally involved in the biological regulation of the receptor's activity. Antagonist activity may be reversible or irreversible depending on the longevity of the antagonist-receptor complex, which, in turn, depends on the nature of antagonist receptor binding.
“Potency” is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity. A highly potent drug evokes a larger response at low concentrations. Potency is proportional to affinity and efficacy. Affinity is the ability of the drug to bind to a receptor. Efficacy is the relationship between receptor occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the molecular, cellular, tissue or system level.
As used herein, the term “mediated”, as used e.g. in conjunction with MDM2/p53 as described herein (and applied for example to various physiological processes, diseases, states, conditions, therapies, treatments or interventions) is intended to operate limitatively so that the various processes, diseases, states, conditions, treatments and interventions to which the term is applied are those in which the protein plays a biological role. In cases where the term is applied to a disease, state or condition, the biological role played by the protein may be direct or indirect and may be necessary and/or sufficient for the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease, state or condition (or its aetiology or progression). Thus, the protein function (and in particular aberrant levels of function, e.g. over- or under-expression) need not necessarily be the proximal cause of the disease, state or condition: rather, it is contemplated that the mediated diseases, states or conditions include those having multifactorial aetiologies and complex progressions in which the protein in question is only partially involved. In cases where the term is applied to treatment, prophylaxis or intervention, the role played by the protein may be direct or indirect and may be necessary and/or sufficient for the operation of the treatment, prophylaxis or outcome of the intervention. Thus, a disease state or condition mediated by a protein includes the development of resistance to any particular cancer drug or treatment.
The term “treatment” as used herein in the context of treating a condition i.e. state, disorder or disease, pertains generally to treatment and therapy, whether for a human or an animal (e.g. in veterinary applications), in which some desired therapeutic effect is achieved, for example, the inhibition of the progress of the condition, and includes a reduction in the rate of progress, a halt in the rate of progress, amelioration of the condition, diminishment or alleviation of at least one symptom associated or caused by the condition being treated and cure of the condition. For example, treatment can be diminishment of one or several symptoms of a disorder or complete eradication of a disorder.
The term “prophylaxis” (i.e. use of a compound as prophylactic measure) as used herein in the context of treating a condition i.e. state, disorder or disease, pertains generally to the prophylaxis or prevention, whether for a human or an animal (e.g. in veterinary applications), in which some desired preventative effect is achieved, for example, in preventing occurrence of a disease or guarding from a disease. Prophylaxis includes complete and total blocking of all symptoms of a disorder for an indefinite period of time, the mere slowing of the onset of one or several symptoms of the disease, or making the disease less likely to occur.
References to the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state or condition such as cancer include within their scope alleviating or reducing the incidence e.g. of cancer.
The combinations of the invention may produce a therapeutically efficacious effect relative to the therapeutic effect of the individual compounds/agents when administered separately.
The term ‘efficacious’ includes advantageous effects such as additivity, synergism, reduced side effects, reduced toxicity, increased time to disease progression, increased time of survival, sensitization or resensitization of one agent to another, or improved response rate. Advantageously, an efficacious effect may allow for lower doses of each or either component to be administered to a patient, thereby decreasing the toxicity of chemotherapy, whilst producing and/or maintaining the same therapeutic effect. A “synergistic” effect in the present context refers to a therapeutic effect produced by the combination which is larger than the sum of the therapeutic effects of the agents of the combination when presented individually. An “additive” effect in the present context refers to a therapeutic effect produced by the combination which is larger than the therapeutic effect of any of the agents of the combination when presented individually. The term “response rate” as used herein refers, in the case of a solid tumour, to the extent of reduction in the size of the tumour at a given time point, for example 12 weeks. Thus, for example, a 50% response rate means a reduction in tumour size of 50%.
References herein to a “clinical response” refer to response rates of 50% or greater. A “partial response” is defined herein as being a response rate of less than 50%.
As used herein, the term “combination”, as applied to two or more compounds and/or agents, is intended to define material in which the two or more agents are associated. The terms “combined” and “combining” in this context are to be interpreted accordingly.
The association of the two or more compounds/agents in a combination may be physical or non-physical. Examples of physically associated combined compounds/agents include:
Examples of non-physically associated combined compounds/agents include:
As used herein, the term “combination therapy” is intended to define therapies which comprise the use of a combination of two or more compounds/agents (as defined above). Thus, references to “combination therapy”, “combinations” and the use of compounds/agents “in combination” in this application may refer to compounds/agents that are administered as part of the same overall treatment regimen. As such, the posology of each of the two or more compounds/agents may differ: each may be administered at the same time or at different times. It will therefore be appreciated that the compounds/agents of the combination may be administered sequentially (e.g. before or after) or simultaneously, either in the same pharmaceutical formulation (i.e. together), or in different pharmaceutical formulations (i.e. separately). Simultaneously in the same formulation is as a unitary formulation whereas simultaneously in different pharmaceutical formulations is non-unitary. The posologies of each of the two or more compounds/agents in a combination therapy may also differ with respect to the route of administration.
As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical kit” defines an array of one or more unit doses of a pharmaceutical composition together with dosing means (e.g. measuring device) and/or delivery means (e.g. inhaler or syringe), optionally all contained within common outer packaging. In pharmaceutical kits comprising a combination of two or more compounds/agents, the individual compounds/agents may unitary or non-unitary formulations. The unit dose(s) may be contained within a blister pack. The pharmaceutical kit may optionally further comprise instructions for use.
As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical pack” defines an array of one or more unit doses of a pharmaceutical composition, optionally contained within common outer packaging. In pharmaceutical packs comprising a combination of two or more compounds/agents, the individual compounds/agents may unitary or non-unitary formulations. The unit dose(s) may be contained within a blister pack. The pharmaceutical pack may optionally further comprise instructions for use.
The term ‘optionally substituted’ as used herein refers to a group which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a substituent as herein defined.
The invention is based on the identification of a biomarker that allows the determination of a cancer patient's likely response to MDM2 antagonist therapy. This provides for precision therapy of cancer using an MDM2 antagonist.
In certain embodiments, the invention provides a companion diagnostic for treatment of cancer using an MDM2 antagonist. As used herein, the term companion diagnostic is used to refer both to a test that is required to determine whether or not a patient will respond to a drug (i.e. a necessary companion diagnostic) and a test that is intended to identify whether the patient will respond favourably or optimally (which is sometimes referred to as a complementary diagnostic). In certain embodiments, the biomarker identifies a patient that will respond, and so discriminates responders from non-responders.
In another embodiment, the biomarker identifies patients that will respond optimally, whereby the physician can then select the optimal treatment for that patient.
In some embodiments, the invention provides assays for determining the expression level of SKP2. This may be determined directly or indirectly, as discussed above. This assay may or may not include a step of deducing a prognostic outcome. The assay is typically an in vitro assay carried out on a sample from the patient, such as a cancer biopsy or a blood sample (whether or not the cancer is a blood cancer).
Biomarkers for Effective Cancer Treatment
The present disclosure provides a biomarker that indicates increased sensitivity of cancer cells to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. The identification of SKP2 therefore allows a cancer patient to be selected for MDM2 antagonist treatment.
The biomarker of the invention is S-Phase Kinase Associated Protein 2, commonly referred to as “SKP2”. This protein and gene is known in the art. Human SKP2 has Entrez gene ID 6502 (located at 5p13.2) and Uniprot accession No. Q13309.
Low SKP2 expression is indicative of sensitivity of cancer cells to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. Normal or high SKP2 expression is indicative of resistance of cancer cells to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. In Example 2, basal SKP2 expression was lower in apoptotic AML cell lines than in non-apoptotic AML cell lines (
Accordingly, low levels of SKP2 are predictive of enhanced sensitivity of cancer cells to MDM2 antagonist treatment.
In some embodiments, SKP2 depletion may result from one or more mutations in the SKP2 gene. The mutation may comprise one or more nucleotide substitutions, additions, deletions, inversions or other DNA rearrangement or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more mutations in the SKP2 gene is inactivating.
When multiple biomarkers are determined, the combination of biomarkers may be referred to as a biomarker panel. The biomarker panel can comprise or consist of the identified biomarkers.
In addition to SKP2, other biomarkers and/or data, such as demographic data (e.g., age, sex), can be included in a set of data applied for the determination of suitability for MDM2 inhibition. When other biomarkers are optionally included, the total number of biomarkers (i.e. the biomarker of the invention plus other biomarkers) may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more. In some embodiments, a predictive biomarker panel with fewer components can simplify the testing required.
The terms “loss” and “decreased” as used herein are to be given their usual meanings. The terms “increased” and “enhanced” as used herein are to be given their usual meanings.
The biomarkers can be determined by appropriate techniques that will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The biomarkers can be determined by direct or indirect techniques. Gene expression can be detected by detecting mRNA transcripts. Protein biomarkers can be detected by immunohistochemistry.
In some embodiments, depletion of one or more of the biomarkers of the invention may be determined by evaluating the function of the one or more biomarkers. The biomarker expression level may be directly proportional to the level of function. The function of the one or more biomarkers may be determined directly or indirectly.
In some embodiments, the expression level can be compared to a threshold value reflecting in the same manner the expression level known to be associated with sensitivity to treatment, to assess whether the tested value is indicative of sensitivity to MDM2 inhibition treatment in the patient.
A patient that is assessed according to the present disclosure is known or suspected to have a cancer.
The sample that is tested may be known or suspected to comprise cancer cells. In typical embodiments, the sample that is tested will be a biopsy of cancer tissue. The biopsy may be a liquid biopsy or a solid tissue (e.g. solid tumour) biopsy.
Biomarker Levels
The invention provides SKP2 as a biomarker. It has been observed that decreased SKP2 levels are indicative of increased sensisivitiy to MDM2 inhibitor therapy for treating cancer.
The comparison may be made relative to normal healthy individuals, typically to non-cancer cells of the same type as the cancer cell.
In some embodiments, the decreased biomarker level is determined relative to non-cancerous cells from the same individual, typically non-cancerous cells of the same type, from the same individual.
In further embodiments, the biomarker level is determined relative to laboratory standards and values based on a known normal population value. Typically, the known level is taken from a non-cancer cell.
In other embodiments the biomarker level is relative to known values from normal (non-cancerous) individuals. For example, BloodSpot (www.bloodspot.eu) is a data resource of gene expression of normal and malignant blood cells and includes AML gene expression data, as discussed elsewhere herein.
In some other embodiments, the biomarker level is assessed relative to the level determined in cancer samples from MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subjects, or in a cancer sample from an MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subject.
In one embodiment, the RNA level of SKP2 is decreased relative to the amount of said RNA in a control sample obtained from a normal subject not suffering from cancer.
In an alternative embodiment, the RNA level of SKP2 is decreased relative to the amount of said RNA in an earlier sample obtained from the same patient when that patient did not have the cancer.
In one embodiment it is decreased relative to normal levels (e.g. “Upper limit of Normal” or ULN).
In one embodiment, the level of at least one of the biomarkers has an area under the curve (AUC) in cancer vs. a control sample of greater than (for increased biomarkers) or less than (for depleted biomarkers) 0.5 relative to (a) the level of at least one of the biomarkers in a sample from a tissue or person not having cancer, or (b) the level of one or more control proteins in a sample from the subject. Optionally the AUC is greater than or less than 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 0.95, 0.975 or 0.99.
In some embodiments, the level of at least one of the biomarkers is at least one standard deviation from the control relative to (a) the level of the one or more biomarkers in a sample from a tissue or person not having cancer, or (b) the level of one or more control proteins in a sample from the cancer subject.
In some embodiments, the control for comparison is a sample obtained from a healthy patient or a non-cancerous tissue sample obtained from a patient diagnosed with cancer, such as a non-cancerous tissue sample from the same organ in which the tumour resides (e.g., non-cancerous leukocytes can serve as a control for a leukemia). In some embodiments, the control is a historical control or standard value (i.e., a previously tested control sample or group of samples that represent baseline or normal values).
Controls or standards for comparison to a sample, for the determination of differential expression, include samples believed to be normal (in that they are not altered for the desired characteristic, for example a sample from a subject who does not have colon cancer) as well as laboratory values, even though possibly arbitrarily set. Laboratory standards and values may be set based on a known or determined population value and can be supplied in the format of a graph or table that permits comparison of measured, experimentally determined values.
In such embodiments, a reference score for biomarker or biomarkers is based on normal healthy individuals.
Cancers
A cancer presenting the identified SKP2 biomarker has an increased likelihood of successful treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. The cancer to be treated is not particularly limited, provided that it presents the biomarker.
The cancer is typically p53 wild-type. As is recognized in the art, p53 wild-type cancer cells express the tumour suppressor p53 at wild-type levels and with wild-type function. Wild-type p53 cells do not contain a mutation in the p53 gene that leads to decreased p53 tumour suppressor function.
The initial biomarker data provided in Example 2 were generated from a range of cancerous tissues including colon, blood, breast, lung, skin, ovary and pancreas.
The cancer may therefore be a liquid cancer or a solid tumour.
The detailed biomarker analysis in Examples 3 et seq focus on blood cancers, specifically acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Accordingly, in certain embodiments the cancer is a liquid cancer, typically a blood cancer. Typical blood cancers include leukemias, lymphomas (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) and myelomas.
In one embodiment the cancer is a lymphoma. This may be non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), or may be a Hodgkin lymphoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is a myeloma. This may be multiple myeloma (MM).
Typically the cancer is a leukemia. Leukemias include acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic Myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL).
More typically the cancer is a myeloid leukemia. Myeloid leukamias include chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Typically the cancer is acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
In one embodiment the AML is AML with a translocation t(15;17).
In another embodiment, the cancer is a solid tumour. The solid tumour may be a colon cancer. In a further embodiment the cancer is a breast cancer. In another embodiment the cancer is a lung cancer.
In yet another embodiment the cancer is a skin cancer, for example a melanoma or a carcinoma. In another embodiment the cancer is an ovarian cancer. In a different embodiment the cancer is a pancreatic cancer.
Particular cancers that can be assessed for treatment according to the invention include but are not limited to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML was observed to be the most sensitive cancer in some exemplified assays.
In certain embodiments, the proliferation of cancer cells is inhibited by an MDM2 antagonist with an IC50 value in the nanomolar range. In certain embodiments, the IC50 value is less than 500 nM, less than 400 nM, less than 300 nM, or less than 200 nM. In some embodiments, the IC50 value is less than 100 nM. IC50 values can be calculated, for example, using GraphPad Prism software as shown herein, or methods known in the art.
In certain embodiments, the MDM2 antagonist induces apoptosis of the cancer cell. Apoptosis may typically be mediated via activated caspase-3. Induction of apoptosis can be determined by detecting cells that are positive for activated caspase-3 following 72-hour treatment with 1 μM of the MDM2 antagonist. Other assay concentrations and/or treatment lengths may be used, as will be apparent to the skilled person, for example 48 hours with 1 μM or 48 hours with 5 μM of the MDM2 antagonist. In certain embodiments, at least 10%, at least 20% or at least 30% of cells staining positive for activated caspase-3 is an indicator of induced apoptosis. In certain embodiments, 40% is a reliable level to identify strong induction of apoptosis wherein >40% of cells in a population, staining positive for activated caspase-3, can be deemed as apoptotic. Other levels may be used as appropriate to the cells and assay, as will be apparent to the skilled person, for example 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75% or more. Active caspase-3 staining kits are commercially-available, for example the “Cleaved Caspase-3 Staining Kit (Red)” available from Abcam (Cambridge, UK) as catalogue number ab65617. The Invitrogen Cell Event dye (C10423) may also be used.
Annexin V dye can also be used for detecting apoptosis. This was used in the Examples and is well known in the art as a useful dye for detecting apoptosis.
MDM2 Antagonists
The transformation-related protein 53 (TP53) gene encodes a 53 KDa protein—p53. The tumour suppressor protein p53 reacts to cellular stresses, such as hypoxia, DNA damage and oncogenic activation, via a number of posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation and methylation, and acts as a signalling node in the diverse pathways that become activated. p53 has additional roles in other physiological processes, including autophagy, cell adhesion, cell metabolism, fertility, and stem cell aging and development. Phosphorylation of p53, resulting from activation of kinases including ATM, CHK1 and 2, and DNA-PK, results in a stabilised and transcriptionally active form of the protein, thus producing a range of gene products. The responses to p53 activation include apoptosis, survival, cell-cycle arrest, DNA-repair, angiogenesis, invasion and autoregulation. The specific combination of which, in concert with the cell's genetic background, gives rise to the observed cellular effect i.e. apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest or senescence. For tumour cells, the apoptotic pathway may be favoured due to the loss of tumour suppressor proteins and associated cell cycle checkpoint controls, coupled with oncogenic stress.
Under conditions of stress such as hypoxia and DNA damage it is known that the cellular level of the protein p53 increases. p53 is known to initiate transcription of a number of genes which govern progression through the cell cycle, the initiation of DNA repair and programmed cell death. This provides a mechanism for the tumour suppressor role of p53 evidenced through genetic studies.
The activity of p53 is negatively and tightly regulated by a binding interaction with the MDM2 protein, the transcription of which is itself directly regulated by p53. p53 is inactivated when its transactivation domain is bound by the MDM2 protein. Once inactivated the functions of p53 are repressed and the p53-MDM2 complex becomes a target for ubiquitinylation.
In normal cells the balance between active p53 and inactive MDM2-bound p53 is maintained in an autoregulatory negative feedback loop. That is to say that p53 can activate MDM2 expression, which in turn leads to the repression of p53.
It has been found that inactivation of p53 by mutation is common in around half of all common adult sporadic cancers. Furthermore, in around 10% of tumours, gene amplification and over-expression of MDM2 results in the loss of functional p53, thereby allowing malignant transformation and uncontrolled tumour growth.
Inactivation of p53 by a range of mechanisms is a frequent causal event in the development and progression of cancer. These include inactivation by mutation, targeting by oncogenic viruses and, in a significant proportion of cases, amplification and/or an elevated rate of transcription of the MDM2 gene resulting in overexpression or increased activation of the MDM2 protein. Gene amplification of MDM2 giving rise to overexpression of MDM2 protein has been observed in tumour samples taken from common sporadic cancers. Overall, around 10% of tumours had MDM2 amplification, with the highest incidence found in hepatocellular carcinoma (44%), lung (15%), sarcomas and osteosarcomas (28%), and Hodgkin disease (67%) (Danovi et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 2004, 24, 5835-5843, Toledo et al., Nat Rev Cancer 2006, 6, 909-923, Gembarska et al., Nat Med 2012, 18, 1239-1247). Normally, transcriptional activation of MDM2 by activated p53 results in increased MDM2 protein levels, forming a negative feedback loop. The essential nature of p53 regulation by MDM2 and MDMX is demonstrated by gene knockout mouse models. MDM2−/− knockout mice are embryonically lethal around the time of implantation. Lethality is rescued in the double knockout for MDM2 and TP53. MDM2 inhibits the activity of p53 directly, by binding to and occluding the p53 transactivation domain, and by promoting the proteosomal destruction of the complex, through its E3-ubiquitin ligase activity. In addition, MDM2 is a transcriptional target of p53, and so the two proteins are linked in an autoregulatory feedback loop, ensuring that p53 activation is transient.
SKP2 is an F-box protein required for substrate recognition of the SCFskp2 ubiquitin ligase complex. It targets several proteins for degradation, including p21, p27 and p300. p300 is capable of acetylating and activating p53. SKP2 upregulation has been identified in a number of solid cancer cell lines including colon cancer (HCT116), osteosarcoma (U2OS), and choriocarcinoma (Kitagawa et al. 2008. Cell, 29, pp. 216-231). SKP2 overexpression in cancer has been associated with p300 degradation and loss of p53 activation. A SKP2 isoform, Skp2B has also been shown to prevent p53 activation by targeting prohibitin for degradation in breast cancer (Chander et al. 2009. EMBO reports, 11(3), pp. 220-225). These studies therefore identified high SKP2 expression in solid tumours.
Although MDMX shows strong amino acid sequence and structural homology to MDM2, neither protein can substitute for loss of the other; MDMX null mice die in utero, whereas MDM2 knockout is lethal during early embryogenesis, however both can be rescued by p53 knockout, demonstrating p53-dependence of the lethality. MDMX also binds p53 and inhibits p53-dependent transcription, but unlike MDM2 it is not transcriptionally activated by p53 and so does not form the same autoregulatory loop. Furthermore, MDMX has neither E3 ubiquitin ligase activity nor a nuclear localisation signal, however it is believed to contribute to p53 degradation by forming heterodimers with MDM2 and contributing to MDM2 stabilisation.
The therapeutic rationale for MDM2-p53 inhibition is that a potent antagonist of the protein-protein interaction will liberate p53 from the repressive control of MDM2 and activate p53 mediated cell death in the tumour. In tumours, selectivity is envisioned to result from p53 sensing preexisting DNA-damage or oncogenic activation signals that had previously been blocked by the action of MDM2 at normal or overexpressed levels. In normal cells, p53 activation is anticipated to result in activation of non-apoptotic pathways and if anything a protective growth inhibition response. In addition due to the non-genotoxic mechanism of action for MDM2-p53 antagonists they are suitable for the treatment of cancer in particular in the pediatric population. MDM4 is also an important negative regulator of p53.
About 50% of cancers harbour cells in which TP53, the gene that encodes for p53, is mutated resulting in a loss of the protein's tumour suppressor function and sometimes even in p53 protein versions that gain novel oncogenic functions.
Cancers where there is a high level of MDM2 amplification include liposarcoma (88%), soft tissue sarcoma (20%), osteosarcoma (16%) oesophageal cancer (13%), and certain paediatric malignancies including B-cell malignancies.
Examples of MDM2 Antagonists
Idasanutlin (RG-7388), a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 from Roche has been reported to be in Phase I-III clinical trials for solid and haematological tumours, AML, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera and follicular lymphoma. Idasanutlin (RG-7388) has the structure below:
Idasanutlin (RG-7388) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2014/128094 or by processes analogous thereto.
HDM-201 (NVP-HDM201, Siremadlin) is being developed by Novartis in Phase I/II clinical trials for wild type TP53 characterised advanced/metastatic solid tumours, haematological tumours including ALL, AML, MS, metastatic uveal melanoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma and well differentiated liposarcoma. Antagonist HDM-201 (NVP-HDM201) has the chemical structure below:
HDM-201 (NVP-HDM201) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2013/111105 or by processes analogous thereto.
KRT-232 (AMG-232, navtemadlin) a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by NCI/Amgen/GSK in Phase I-I/II clinical trials for solid tumours, soft tissue sarcomas such as liposarcoma, recurrent or newly diagnosed glioblastoma, metastatic breast cancer, refractory MM, metastatic cutaneous melanoma and relapsed/refractory AML. KRT-232 (AMG-232) has the chemical structure below:
KRT-232 (AMG-232, navtemadlin) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2011/153509 or by processes analogous thereto.
ALRN-6924 (SP-315), a peptide dual antagonist of MDM2 and MDM4 is being developed by Aileron Therapeutics and Roche in Phase II clinical trials for intravenous treatment of solid tumours, small cell lung cancer and pediatric tumours including lymphomas, acute myeloid leukemia acute lymphocytic leukemia, retinoblastoma, hepatoblastoma, brain tumour, liposarcoma and metastatic breast cancer. ALRN-6924 (SP-315) is a synthetic peptide which is developed based on stapled peptide technology that locks the peptides into certain folded shapes (biologically active shape), that are resistant to proteases. ALRN-6924 (SP-315) has the structure below:
ALRN-6924 (SP-315) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO2017205786 or by processes analogous thereto.
CGM-097 (NVP-CGM-097) a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by Novartis in Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumours and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). CGM-097 (NVP-CGM-097) has the chemical the structure below:
CGM-097 (NVP-CGM-097) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO2011076786 or by processes analogous thereto.
Milademetan tosylate (DS-3032 or DS-3032b), licensed to Rain Therapeutics and renamed by research code RAIN-32, a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by Daiichi Sankyo in Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumours, lymphomas, melanoma, refractory or relapsed AML, ALL, multiple myeloma, CML in blast phase, or high risk MDS and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Milademetan tosylate (DS-3032) has the chemical the structure below:
Milademetan tosylate (DS-3032) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2015/033974 or by processes analogous thereto.
APG-115 (AAA-115; NCT-02935907, alrizomadlin) a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by Ascentage Pharma in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumours and lymphomas, AML, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). APG-115 (AAA-115; NCT-02935907) has the chemical the structure below:
APG-115 (AAA-115; NCT-02935907) is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2015/161032 or by processes analogous thereto.
BI-907828 an antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by BI in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of GBM, metastatic brain tumour, NSCLC, soft tissue sarcoma and transitional cell carcinoma (urothelial cell carcinoma).
BI-907828 is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2015/161032 or by processes analogous thereto.
The University of Michigan is developing LE-004 a PROTAC of MI-1061 and a thalidomide conjugate, which showed that it efficiently inhibited growth in human leukaemia models in mice, by inducing MDM2 degradation. The structure is below and may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2017/176957 or WO 2017/176958 or by processes analogous thereto. LE-004 has the chemical the structure below
MI-773 (SAR405838) is a highly potent and selective MDM2 inhibitor, binds to MDM2 with high specificity over other proteins and potently inhibits cell growth in cancer cell lines. SAR405838 effectively induces apoptosis and potently inhibits cell growth and induces dose-dependent apoptosis and is being investigated in clinical trials. The structure is:
SAR405838 can be prepared for example as described in WO-A-2011/060049.
DS-5272 is an antagonist of MDM2 and is being developed by Daiichi Sankyo for Oral Dosing. The structure is:
DS-5272 may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2015/033974 or by processes analogous thereto.
SJ-0211 is an antagonist of MDM2 and is being developed by University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky and St Jude Children's Research Hospital for treatment of Retinotherapy. The structure is a Nutlin-3 analogue.
BI-0252 is an antagonist of MDM2 being developed by BI for Oral Dosing. BI-0252 inhibits MDM2 and p53 interactions. The structure is:
AM-7209 is an antagonist of MDM2 and is being developed by Amgen as a back up for AMG-232. The structure is:
AM-7209 may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2014/200937 or by processes analogous thereto.
SP-141 (JapA) is a direct antagonist of MDM2 and is being developed by Texas Tech University. The structure is:
SCH-1450206 is an antagonist of MDM2 is being developed by Schering-Plough & Merck for Oral Dosing. One example structure is:
Cytarabine, also known as MK-8242 and SCH-900242, is an antimetabolite analogue of cytidine with a modified sugar moiety (arabinose instead of ribose). An orally bioavailable inhibitor of human homolog of double minute 2 (HDM2) with potential antineoplastic activity, upon oral administration, HDM2 inhibitor MK-8242 inhibits the binding of the HDM2 protein to the transcriptional activation domain of the tumor suppressor protein p53. By preventing this HDM2-p53 interaction, the degradation of p53 is inhibited, which may result in the restoration of p53 signaling. This induces p53-mediated tumor cell apoptosis.
Nutlin-3a is an antagonist or inhibitor of MDM2 (human homolog of murine double minute 2), which disrupts its interaction with p53, leading to the stabilization and activation of p53. The structure is:
NXN-6 (NXN-7; NXN-552; NXN-561; NXN-11) is an antagonist of MDM2 being developed by Nexus, Priaxon and BI for Oral Dosing. An example structure is:
ADO-21 is an antagonist of MDM2 being developed by Adamed Group.
CTX-50-CTX-1 is a small molecule MDM2 antagonist being developed by MiRx Pharmaceuticals, CRC.
ISA-27 is a small molecule MDM2 antagonist being developed by the University of Napoli and the University of Salerno. The structure is:
RG-7112 (RO5045337) is a potent, selective, first clinical, orally active and blood-brain barrier crossed MDM2-p53 inhibitor. The structure is:
RO-8994 is a small molecule MDM2 antagonist being developed by Roche. RO-8994 has been shown to inhibit tumour growth inducing mitochondrial effects of p53. The structure is:
RO-8994 is commercially available or may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2011/067185 or by processes analogous thereto.
RO-6839921 (RG-7775) is a small molecule MDM2 antagonist being developed by Roche for IV administration. The structure is:
RO-6839921 (RG-7775) may be prepared for example as described in PCT Patent application WO 2014/206866 or by processes analogous thereto.
JNJ 26854165 (Serdemetan) has the structure below, as is an oral HDM2 inhibitor (or antagonist), which showed potent activity against multiple myeloma (MM) cells in vitro and ex vivo; potential agent to restore p53 function and to potentially impact other HDM2 dependent pathways.
ATSP-7041 (SP-154), a stapled synthetic peptide dual antagonist of MDM2 and MDM4 is being developed by Aileron Therapeutics and Roche and is in Preclinical development. ATSP-7041 (SP-154) has the structure below:
SAH-p53-8 is a stapled synthetic peptide antagonist of MDM4, Hdm2 and Caspase 3 is being developed by Harvard College and Dana-Faber in is in Preclinical development. SAH-p53-8 has the structure below:
PM-2 (sMTide-02) is a stapled synthetic peptide antagonist of MDM4, Hdm2 and Caspase 3 is being developed by Harvard College and Dana-Faber and is in Preclinical development. PM-2 (sMTide-02) has the structure below:
K-178 is a small molecule antagonist of MDM4 that is being developed by Kansai Medical University and is in Preclinical development. K-178 has the chemical the structure below:
MMRi-64 is a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 and MDM4 that is being developed by Roswell Park Cancer Institute and is in the discovery phase. MMRi-64 has the chemical the structure below:
Small molecule antagonists of MDM2 and MDM4 are also being developed by Jagiellonian University and the Second Military Medical University. On example has the chemical the structure below:
Small molecule antagonists of MDM2 and MDM4 are being developed by Emory and Georgia State University and are in Preclinical development for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Small molecule antagonists of MDM2 and MDM4 are being developed by Adamed and are in the discovery phase.
In one embodiment of the invention, the MDM2 antagonist is selected from the group consisting of idasanutlin, HDM-201, KRT-232 (AMG-232), ALRN-6924, CGM-097, milademetan tosylate (DS-3032b), APG-115, BI-907828, LE-004, DS-5272, SJ-0211, APG-155, RG-7112, RG7388, SAR405939, Cytarabine (also known as MK-8242 and SCH-900242), BI-0252, AM-7209, SP-141, SCH-1450206, NXN-6, ADO-21, CTX-50-CTX-1, ISA-27, RO-8994, RO-6839921, ATSP-7041, SAH-p53-8, PM-2, K-178, MMRi-64 and
or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention, the MDM2 antagonist is selected from the group consisting of idasanutlin, HDM-201, KRT-232 (AMG-232), ALRN-6924, CGM-097, milademetan tosylate (DS-3032b), APG-115, BI-907828, LE-004, DS-5272, SJ-0211, BI-0252, AM-7209, SP-141, SCH-1450206, NXN-6, ADO-21, CTX-50-CTX-1, ISA-27, RO-8994, RO-6839921, ATSP-7041, SAH-p53-8, PM-2, K-178, MMRi-64 and
or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention, the MDM2 antagonist is selected from the group consisting of idasanutlin (RG-7388), HDM-201, KRT-232 (AMG-232), ALRN-6924, MI-773 (SAR405838), milademetan (DS-3032b), APG-115, BI-907828, or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention, the MDM2 antagonist is selected from the group consisting of idasanutlin (RG-7388), HDM-201, KRT-232 (AMG-232), ALRN-6924, MI-773 (SAR405838), milademetan (DS-3032b), APG-115, BI-907828, or a compound of formula Io, or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof
Compounds of Formula Io
Particular MDM2 antagonists are isoindoline compounds which are disclosed in our earlier international patent applications PCT/GB2016/053042 and PCT/GB2016/053041 filed 29 Sep. 2016 claiming priority from United Kingdom patent application numbers 1517216.6 and 1517217.4 filed 29 Sep. 2015, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In particular, the compound (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid (“Compound 1”) is disclosed in our earlier international patent application PCT/GB2016/053042.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula Io:
R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, —(CRxRy)u—CO2H, —(CRxRy)u—CO2C1-4alkyl, and —(CRxRy)u—CONRxRy;
v is selected from 0 and 1
The compounds of the formula (Io): have a chiral centre, marked below with a “*”:
The compounds of formula (Io) include a stereocentre at the position indicated (referred to herein as (3)) and are chiral non-racemic. Compounds of formula (Io) have the stereochemistry shown by the hashed and solid wedged bonds and this stereoisomer predominates.
Typically, at least 55% (e.g. at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%) of the compound of the formula (Io) is present as the shown stereoisomer. In one general embodiment, 97% (e.g. 99%) or more (e.g. substantially all) of the total amount of the compound of the formula (Io) may be present as a single stereoisomer.
The compounds may also include one or more further chiral centres (e.g. in the —CR6R7OH group and/or in the R3 group and/or in the —CHR2 group).
Typically, the compound of formula (Io) has an enantiomeric excess of at least 10% (e.g. at least 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%). In one general embodiment, the compound of formula (Io) has an enantiomeric excess of 97% (e.g. 99%) or more.
For the purposes of this section the isoindolin-1-one ring is numbered as followed:
Compounds are named in accordance with protocols utilized by chemical naming software packages.
Compounds of Formula (Io) Wherein Cyc is Phenyl
Compounds of formula (Io) wherein cyc is phenyl are disclosed in our earlier international patent application PCT/GB2016/053042 which was published as WO 2017/055860 on 6 Apr. 2017. A cross reference is made to the compounds, subformulae, and substituents disclosed in WO 2017/055860 (e.g. formulae (I), I(e), I(f), I(g), I(g′), I(h), I(i), I(j), I(k), I(L), I(m), I(m′), I(n), I(o), I(o′), I(o″), I(p), I(p′), I(q), I(q′), I(q″), I(q′″), I(q″″), I(r), I(s), I(t), I(u), I(v), I(v′), I(w), I(x), I(x′), I(y), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IVa), (IVb), (V), (VI), (VIa), (VII), (VIIa), (VIIb), (VIIc), (VIId), (VIId′), (VIIe), (VIIe′), (a), (b), (ba), (bb), (bc) or (c)). Accordingly, by virtue of this cross reference, the compounds, subformulae, and substituents of WO 2017/055860 are directly and unambiguously disclosed by the present application.
Particular subformulae, embodiments and compounds of formula (Io) wherein cyc is phenyl include the following: In one embodiment, R1 is chloro or nitrile, in particular chloro.
When R2 is other than hydrogen, the compound of formula (Io) can exist as at least two diastereoisomers:
For the avoidance of doubt, the general formula (Io) and all subformulae cover both individual diastereoisomers and mixtures of the diastereoisomers which are related as epimers at the —CHR2— group. In one embodiment the compound of formula (Io) is diastereoisomer 1A or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In one embodiment the compound of formula (Io) is diastereoisomer 1B or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In one embodiment R2 is selected from hydrogen and —(CRxRy)u—CO2H (e.g. —COOH, —CH2COOH, —CH2CH2—CO2H, —(CH(CH3))—CO2H and —(C(CH3)2)—CO2H),
In one embodiment, a is 1 and the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the isoindolin-1-one, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ir) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
R4 is independently selected from halogen, nitrile, C1-4 alkyl, haloC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy and haloC1-4alkoxy.
In one embodiment, R4 is halogen. In one embodiment, R4 is fluoro or chloro. In another embodiment, R4 is fluoro.
In one embodiment, a is 1, the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the isoindolin-1-one, and R4 is F and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Is) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
When R6 and R7 are different, the compound of formula (Io) can exist as at least two diastereoisomers:
For the avoidance of doubt, the general formula (Io) and all subformulae cover both individual diastereoisomers and mixtures of the diastereoisomers which are related as epimers at the —CR6R7OH group.
In one embodiment, R6 is C1-6alkyl (such as methyl or ethyl e.g. methyl) and R7 is oxanyl, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Iw):
In one embodiment of formula (Iw) Rz is hydrogen or fluorine.
Subformulae
In one embodiment, R6 is methyl or ethyl, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (IIIb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, a, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, s is 0 and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (IVb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, a, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, m is 1 and the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the phenyl group, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (VI) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, R5 is chloro and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (VIa) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, R3 is methyl, and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (VIIf) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment of Formula (VIIf), R6 is ethyl.
In one embodiment of the compound of formula (VIIf, R7 is selected from methyl, oxanyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, piperidinyl, and cyclohexyl wherein said cycloalkyl and heterocyclic groups are optionally substituted by one or more Rz groups (e.g. methyl, fluorine, or hydroxy).
In one embodiment of the compound of formula (VIIf, R7 is selected from oxanyl and methyl.
In one embodiment of the compound of formula (VIIf), R7 is selected from piperidinyl optionally substituted by one or more Rz groups (e.g. methyl, fluorine, or hydroxy).
In another embodiment of the subsformulae described hereinabove, R2 is selected from —(CH(CH3))—CO2H and —(C(CH3)2—CO2H).
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is one of the Examples 1-137 or is selected from the Examples 1-137 or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof described in the first set of examples defined herein i.e. the compounds in which cyc is phenyl, as also described in WO 2017/055860)
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is one of the Examples 1-97 (examples wherein cyc is phenyl) or is selected from the Examples 1-97 (examples wherein cyc is phenyl) or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof described in the first set of examples defined herein i.e. the compounds in which cyc is phenyl, as also described in WO 2017/055860)
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
e.g
and
e.g.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2B and is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
In one embodiment, the compound of formula (Io) is 2-(5-chloro-2-{[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]methyl}phenyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1 S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid, (“Compound 1”) or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof
e.g.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is to be understood that each general and specific embodiment and example for one substituent may be combined with each general and specific embodiment and example for one or more, in particular all, other substituents as defined herein and that all such embodiments are embraced by this application.
Compounds of Formula (Io) Wherein Cyc is a Heterocyclic Group
Compounds of formula (Io) wherein cyc is a heterocyclic group are disclosed in our earlier international patent application PCT/GB2016/053041 which was published as WO 2017/055859 on 6 Apr. 2017. A cross reference is made to the compounds, subformulae, and substituents disclosed in WO 2017/055859 (e.g. formulae (I), I(a), I(a′), I(b), I(c), I(d), I(e), I(f), I(g), I(g′), I(h), I(i), I(j), I(k), I(L), I(m), I(m′), I(n), I(o), I(o′), I(o″), I(p), I(p′), I(q), I(q′), I(q″), I(q′″), I(q″″), I(r), I(s), I(t), I(u), I(v), I(v), I(w), I(x), I(x′), I(y), (II), (IIa), (IIb), (IIIIa), (IIIIb), (Iva), (IVb), (V), (VI), (VIa), (VII), (VIIa), (VIIb), (VIIc), (VIId), (VIId′), (VIIe), (VIIe′), (a), (b), (ba), (bb), (bc), or (c)) and examples thereof as defined herein, Accordingly, by virtue of this cross reference, the compounds, subformulae, and substituents of WO 2017/055859 are directly and unambiguously disclosed by the present application.
Particular subformulae, embodiments and compounds of formula (Io) wherein cyc is a heterocyclic group include the following:
In another embodiment, R2 is hydrogen and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ie) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
When R2 is other than hydrogen, the compound of formula (Io) can exist as at least two diastereoisomers:
For the avoidance of doubt, the general formula (Io) and all subformulae cover both individual diastereoisomers and mixtures of the diastereoisomers which are related as epimers at the —CHR2— group. In one embodiment the compound of formula (Io) is diastereoisomer 1A or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In one embodiment the compound of formula (Io) is diastereoisomer 1B or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1, 2 or 3) and t is 1 and s is 0 or 1, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (If) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1, 2 or 3) and t is 1 and s is 1, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ig) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1, 2 or 3) and t is 1 and s is 1, and the cycloalkyl group is geminally disubstituted (i.e. the group —(CRxRy)q—X and the —CH2—O-isoindolinone group are both attached to the same atom of the cycloalkyl group), and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ih) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a cyclopropyl group (i.e. g is 1), t is 1 and s is 1. Therefore the cycloalkyl group is a cyclopropyl group and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ii) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1, 2 or 3), t is 1, s is 1 and X is —CN and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of the formula (Ik′) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In another embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1, 2 or 3), t is 1, s is 1 and Rx and Ry are hydrogen (including 1H and 2H) and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (IL) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-cycloalkyl group (i.e. g is 1), t is 1, s is 1 and X is —CN and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (In′) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein q is 0 or 1. In one embodiment of the compound (In), q is 0.
In one embodiment, R3 is —(CRxRy)q—X and s is 1, t is 0 and q is 1 or 2, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of the formula (Ip):
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group or saturated heterocyclic group with 3 to 6 ring members, wherein t is 1, and s is 1, Y is independently selected from —CH2—, O, or SO2, i is 0 or 1, g is 1, 2, 3 or 4 and i+g is 1, 2, 3 or 4 and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of the formula (Iq) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, i is 1 and Y is O or SO2, in particular O. In one embodiment, the compound of formula (Iq) is a compound of formula (Iq″″) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, s is 0, t is 1, A is tetrahydofuranyl, q is 0 and X is hydrogen. In one embodiment, R3 is tetrahydrofuranyl and s is 0.
In one embodiment, a is 1 and the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the isoindolin-1-one, and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ir) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
R4 is independently selected from halogen, nitrile, C1-4 alkyl, haloC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy and haloC1-4alkoxy.
In one embodiment, R4 is halogen. In one embodiment, R4 is fluoro or chloro. In another embodiment, R4 is fluoro.
In one embodiment, a is 1, the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the isoindolin-1-one, and R4 is F and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Is) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
When R6 and R7 are different, the compound of formula (Io) can exist as at least two diastereoisomers:
For the avoidance of doubt, the general formula (Io) and all subformulae cover both individual diastereoisomers and mixtures of the diastereoisomers which are related as epimers at the —CR6R7OH group.
In one embodiment, R7 is 4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (Ix″) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
Subformulae
In one embodiment, the compound of formulae (Io) is a compound of formulae (II) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein L is CR1, CH or N and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, a, m and s are as defined herein. In one embodiment L is CH. In one embodiment L is N. In one embodiment L is CR1 such as C—OH or C-hydroxyC1-4alkyl (e.g. C—OH or C—CH2OH).
In another embodiment, R1 is chloro or nitrile and the compound of formula (II) is a compound of formula (IIa) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, R6 is ethyl, and the compound of formula (II) is a compound of formula (IIIb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, a, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, s is 0 and the compound of formula (II) is a compound of formula (IVb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, R4 is F and the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (V) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R5, R7, m and s are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, m is 1 and the substituent R4 is at the 4-position of the phenyl group, and the compound of formula (II) is a compound of formula (VI) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, R5 is chloro and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (VIa) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (g is 1, 2 or 3) and t is 1, and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (VII) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, A is a C3-6cycloalkyl group (g is 1, 2 or 3) and t is 1, and the cycloalkyl group is geminally disubstituted (i.e. the group —(CRxRy)—X and the CH2 group (where s is 1) or the oxygen atom (where s is 0) are both attached to the same atom of the cycloalkyl group, and the compound of formula (VII) is a compound of formula (Vila) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, g is 1, and so the cycloalkyl group is a cyclopropyl group and the compound of formula (VIIa) is a compound of formula (VIIb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, s is 1, and the compound of formula (VIIb) is a compound of formula (VIIc) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, X is —CN and the compound of formula (VIId) is a compound of the formula (VIIe″) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein q is 0 or 1, and in particular q is 0.
In one embodiment, R3 is methyl, and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (VIIf) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment of the compound of formula (a), R7 is piperidinyl or piperazinyl, optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl (e.g. methyl) and/or halo (e.g. flouro).
In one embodiment of the compound of formula (a′), R7 is piperidinyl, optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl (e.g. methyl) and/or halo (e.g. flouro).
In one embodiment, A is a heterocyclyl group with 3 to 6 ring members, wherein the heterocyclic group comprises one or more (e.g. 1, 2, or 3) heteroatoms selected from N, O, S and oxidised forms thereof (t is 1; g is 1, 2, 3 or 4; Z represents N, O, S and oxidised forms thereof; i is 1, 2, or 3; and i+g=2, 3, 4 or 5), and the compound of formula (VI) is a compound of formula (b) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In one embodiment, s is 0, g is 2, q is 0 and X is hydrogen, and the compound of formula (b) is a compound of formula (bb) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
In another embodiment, the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (c) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1 is chloro or nitrile, s is 1 and X is hydroxyl or s is 0 and X is —C(═O)NH2.
In another embodiment, the compound of formula (Io) is a compound of formula (c′) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
wherein R1 is chloro or nitrile, s is 1 and X is hydroxyl or s is 0 and X is —CN.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is the compound of formula (Io) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is one of the Examples 1-580 (examples wherein cyc is a heterocyclic group or is selected from the Examples 1-580 or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof (the compounds of formula Io described in the second set of examples defined herein i.e. the compounds in which cyc is Het, as also described in WO 2017/055859).
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is one of the Examples 1-460 or is selected from the Examples 1-460 or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof (the compounds of formula Io described in the second set of examples defined herein i.e. the compounds in which cyc is Het, as also described in WO 2017/055859).
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is one of the Examples 1-459 or is selected from the Examples 1-459 or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof (the compounds of formula Io described in the second set of examples defined herein i.e. the compounds in which cyc is Het, as also described in WO 2017/055859).
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
and
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2A and is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2B and is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is selected from the following compounds, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is 1-({[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-7-fluoro-5-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl]oxy}methyl)cyclopropane-1-carbonitrile, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is (3R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-fluoro-6-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2A and is 1-({[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-7-fluoro-5-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl]oxy}methyl)cyclopropane-1-carbonitrile, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2A and is (3R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-fluoro-6-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2B and is 1-({[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-7-fluoro-5-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl]oxy}methyl)cyclopropane-1-carbonitrile, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) which is diastereoisomer 2B and is (3R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-fluoro-6-[1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment the MDM2 antagonist is (3R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-fluoro-6-[(1S)-1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment the MDM2 antagonist is (3R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-fluoro-6-[(1R)-1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment the MDM2 antagonist is 1-({[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl]oxy}methyl)cyclopropane-1-carbonitrile, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment the MDM2 antagonist is 1-({[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-7-fluoro-5-[(1R)-1-(4-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-yl]oxy}methyl)cyclopropane-1-carbonitrile, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is to be understood that each general and specific embodiment and example for one substituent may be combined with each general and specific embodiment and example for one or more, in particular all, other substituents as defined herein and that all such embodiments are embraced by this application.
Particular Compounds
The uses and methods of the invention apply to all compound of formula Io described herein i.e. the MDM2 antagonist may be a compound of formula Io, any subformulae thereof, or any specific compound described herein, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula Io selected from Examples 1 to 134 as described in the first set of examples defined herein (i.e. the compounds in which cyc is phenyl, as also described in WO 2017/055860).
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula Io selected from Examples 1 to 580 as described in the second set of examples defined herein (i.e. the compounds in which cyc is Het, as also described in WO 2017/055859).
In one particular embodiment of the invention, the MDM2 antagonist is a compound of formula (Io) or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof as defined herein, which is (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid.
e.g.
(2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid is disclosed as Example 124 in international patent application no PCT/GB2016/053042 which was published as WO 2017/055860 on 6 Apr. 2017.
Methods for the preparation of compound 1 can be found in international patent application no PCT/GB2018/050845 which was published as WO 2018/178691 on 4 Oct. 2018.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is compound 1 in the form of the free acid. In another embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of compound 1.
General
Other MDM2 antagonists may be prepared in conventional manner for example by processes analogous to those described.
The posology of the MDM2 antagonists is known to a person skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the preferred method of administration and the dosage amounts and regimes for each MDM2 antagonist will depend on the particular tumour being treated and the particular host being treated. The optimum method, administration schedule, the dosage amounts and regime can be readily determined by those skilled in the art using conventional methods and in view of the information set out herein.
Salts, Solvates, Tautomers, Isomers, N-Oxides, Esters, Prodrugs and Isotopes
A reference to any compound herein also includes ionic forms, salts, solvates, isomers (including geometric and stereochemical isomers unless specified), tautomers, N-oxides, esters, prodrugs, isotopes and protected forms thereof, for example, as discussed below; in particular, the salts or tautomers or isomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof; and more particularly the salts or tautomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof. In one embodiment reference to a compound also includes the salts or tautomers or solvates thereof.
Salts
The compounds can exist in the form of salts, for example acid addition salts or, in certain cases salts of organic and inorganic bases such as carboxylate, sulfonate and phosphate salts. All such salts are within the scope of this invention, and references to compounds of the formula (Io) include the salt forms of the compounds.
N-Oxides
Compounds containing an amine function may also form N-oxides. A reference herein to a compound that contains an amine function also includes the N-oxide.
Geometric Isomers and Tautomers
The compounds may exist in a number of different geometric isomeric, and tautomeric forms and references to compounds of the formula (Io) include all such forms. For the avoidance of doubt, where a compound can exist in one of several geometric isomeric or tautomeric forms and only one is specifically described or shown, all others are nevertheless embraced for use according to the invention.
For example, certain heteroaryl rings can exist in the two tautomeric forms such as A and B shown below. For simplicity, a formula may illustrate one form but the formula is to be taken as embracing both tautomeric forms.
Stereoisomers
Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds denotes the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms.
Compounds of Formula (Io)
Stereocentres are illustrated in the usual fashion, using ‘hashed’ or ‘solid’ wedged lines. e.g.
Where a compound is described as a mixture of two diastereoisomers/epimers, the configuration of the stereocentre is not specified and is represented by straight lines.
Where compounds contain one or more chiral centres, and can exist in the form of two or more optical isomers, references to compounds include all optical isomeric forms thereof (e.g. enantiomers, epimers and diastereoisomers), either as individual optical isomers, or mixtures (e.g. racemic or scalemic mixtures) or two or more optical isomers, unless the context requires otherwise.
Of special interest are those compounds which are stereochemically pure. When a compound is for instance specified as R, this means that the compound is substantially free of the S isomer. If a compound is for instance specified as E, this means that the compound is substantially free of the Z isomer. The terms cis, trans, R, S, E and Z are well known to a person skilled in the art.
Isotopic Variations
The present invention includes use of all pharmaceutically acceptable isotopically-labeled compounds, i.e. compounds, wherein one or more atoms are replaced by atoms having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature.
Solvates and Crystalline Forms
Also encompassed by the compounds are any polymorphic forms of the compounds, and solvates such as hydrates, alcoholates and the like.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a crystalline form of the free acid of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid.
In one embodiment, the MDM2 antagonist is a crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid having:
In particular, the crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid has:
In particular, the crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern characterised by the presence of major peaks at the diffraction angles (20), interplanar spacings (d) and intensities set forth in Table 6 herein.
In particular, the crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern which exhibits peaks at the same diffraction angles as those of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern shown in FIG. 12 of, WO-A-2021/130682 (incorporated herein by reference) and preferably wherein the peaks have the same relative intensity as the peaks in FIG. 12 of WO-A-2021/130682.
In particular, the crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern substantially as shown in FIG. 12 of WO-A-2021/130682.
In one embodiment, the crystalline form of (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid exhibits an exothermic peak at 266-267° C. (e.g. 266.61° C.) when subjected to DSC.
The crystalline forms may be substantially crystalline, which means that one single crystalline form may predominate, although other crystalline forms may be present in minor and preferably negligible amounts.
For example, a crystalline form may contain no more than 5% by weight of any other crystalline form.
Complexes
The compounds also includes within their scope complexes (e.g. inclusion complexes or clathrates with compounds such as cyclodextrins, or complexes with metals) of the compounds. Inclusion complexes, clathrates and metal complexes can be formed by means of methods well known to the skilled person.
Prodrugs
Also encompassed by the compounds are any pro-drugs of the compounds. By “prodrugs” is meant for example any compound that is converted in vivo into the biologically active compounds.
Methods for the Preparation of Compounds Used in the Invention
Compounds of the formula (Io)
In this section, as in all other sections of this application unless the context indicates otherwise, references to formula Io also include all other subformulae and examples thereof as defined herein, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Compounds of the formula (Io) can be prepared in accordance with synthetic methods well known to the skilled person.
The required intermediates are either commercially available, known in the literature, prepared by methods analogous to those in the literature or prepared by methods analogous to those described in the example experimental procedures below. Other compounds may be prepared by functional group interconversion of the groups using methods well known in the art.
General processes for preparing, isolating and purifying the compounds wherein cyc is phenyl can be found in international patent application no PCT/GB2016/053042 which was published as WO 2017/055860 on 6 Apr. 2017:
General processes for preparing, isolating and purifying the compounds wherein cyc is Het can be found in international patent application no PCT/GB2016/053041 which was published as WO 2017/055859 on 6 Apr. 2017.
Biomarker Detection
In some embodiments, a sample of patient tissue is tested. The tissue may comprise one or more cancer cells, or may comprise nucleic acid, typically DNA, from cancer cells such as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) obtainable from blood.
In some embodiments, the sample is entered into an in vitro diagnostic device, which measures the relevant expression of the biomarker or biomarkers of interest.
The patient may typically be known or suspected to have cancer when the invention is carried out to confirm whether treatment is likely to be effective. In certain embodiments therefore, the method is for assessing whether a human patient, known or suspected to have cancer, can be treated using an MDM2 antagonist.
A method of the invention typically comprises detecting SKP2, and optionally further biomarkers, by using one or more detection reagents and/or detection techniques. The detection is typically carried out ex vivo on a sample from the patient, for example in vitro. In one embodiment, SKP2 is measured directly. In another embodiment, SKP2 substrates, typically p27, may be measured to indirectly measure SKP2 levels.
By “detecting” is meant measuring, quantifying, scoring, or assaying the expression level of the biomarkers. Methods of evaluating biological compounds, including biomarker proteins, genes or mRNA transcripts, are known in the art. It is recognized that methods of detecting a biomarker include direct measurements and indirect measurements. One skilled in the art will be able to select an appropriate method of assaying a particular biomarker.
A “detection reagent” is an agent or compound that specifically (or selectively) binds to, interacts with or detects the biomarker of interest. Such detection reagents may include, but are not limited to, an antibody, polyclonal antibody, or monoclonal antibody that preferentially binds a protein biomarker, or an oligonucleotide that is complementary to and binds selectively to an mRNA or DNA biomarker, typically under stringent hybridising conditions.
The phrase “specifically (or selectively) binds” or “specifically (or selectively) immunoreactive with,” when referring to a detection reagent, refers to a binding reaction that is determinative of the presence of the biomarker in a heterogeneous population of biological molecules. For example under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified detection reagent (e.g. antibody) binds to a particular protein at least two times the background and does not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample. Specific binding under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. A variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example, solid-phase ELISA immunoassays (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) are routinely used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein (see, e.g., Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual (1988), for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity). Typically a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice the background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times the background.
Technologies such as in situ hybridization (ISH), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR) and immuno-histochemistry (IHC) have been traditionally used for diagnosing or detecting disease biomarkers. However, the emergence of high throughput, sensitive approaches such as next-generation sequencing, single molecule real-time sequencing, digital pathology and quantitative histopathology have created a shift in the enabling technology platform for a companion diagnostic or CDx. Quantitative histopathology and digital pathology are both medical imaging-based diagnostics approaches; they provide localization and measurement of protein biomarkers in a tissue sample. Tissue markers are identified and quantified using an automated, fluorescence-based imaging platform.
When the biomarker to be detected is a protein, methods for detection include antibody-based assays, protein array assays, mass spectrometry (MS) based assays, and (near) infrared spectroscopy based assays. For example, immunoassays, include but are not limited to competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as Western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA, “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, fluorescent immunoassays and the like. Such assays are routine and well known in the art.
To “analyze” includes determining a set of values associated with a sample by measurement of a marker (such as, e.g., presence or absence of a marker or constituent expression levels) in the sample and comparing the measurement against measurement in a sample or set of samples from the same subject or other control subject(s). The markers of the present teachings can be analyzed by any of various conventional methods known in the art. To “analyze” can include performing a statistical analysis to, e.g., determine whether a subject is a responder or a non-responder to a therapy (e.g., an MDM2 antagonist treatment as described herein).
A “sample” in the context of the present teachings refers to any biological sample that is isolated from a subject, e.g., a blood sample or a biopsy. A sample can include, without limitation, a single cell or multiple cells, fragments of cells, an aliquot of body fluid, whole blood, platelets, serum, plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells or leucocytes, endothelial cells, tissue biopsies, synovial fluid, lymphatic fluid, ascites fluid, and interstitial or extracellular fluid. The term “sample” also encompasses the fluid in spaces between cells, including gingival crevicular fluid, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), saliva, mucous, sputum, semen, sweat, urine, or any other bodily fluids. “Blood sample” can refer to whole blood or any fraction thereof, including blood cells, red blood cells, white blood cells or leukocytes, platelets, serum and plasma. Samples can be obtained from a subject by means including but not limited to venipuncture, excretion, ejaculation, massage, biopsy, needle aspirate, lavage, scraping, surgical incision, or intervention or other means known in the art.
Analysis Techniques
Prior to administration of a MDM2 antagonist, a patient may be screened to determine whether a disease or condition from which the patient is or may be suffering is one which would be susceptible to treatment with a compound which inhibits MDM2/p53. The term ‘patient’ includes human and veterinary subjects such as primates, in particular human patients.
For example, a biological sample taken from a patient may be analysed to determine whether a condition or disease, such as cancer, that the patient is or may be suffering from is one which is characterised by a genetic abnormality or abnormal protein expression which leads to up-regulation of the levels of MDM2 or to upregulation of a biochemical pathway downstream of MDM2/p53. Furthermore the biological sample taken from a patient may be analysed to determine whether a condition or disease, such as cancer, that the patient is or may be suffering from is one which is characterised by the biomarkers of the invention.
Examples of such abnormalities that result in activation or sensitisation of MDM2, loss of, or inhibition of regulatory pathways impacting on MDM2 expression, up-regulation of receptors or their ligands, cytogenetic aberrations or presence of mutant variants of the receptors or ligands. Tumours with up-regulation of MDM2/p53, in particular over-expression of MDM2 or exhibit wild-type p53, may be particularly sensitive to inhibitors of MDM2/p53. In addition, there may be low or decreased SKP2 expression.
The terms “elevated” and “increased” includes up-regulated expression or over-expression, including gene amplification (i.e. multiple gene copies), cytogenetic aberration and increased expression by a transcriptional effect or post-translational effect. Thus, the patient may be subjected to a diagnostic test to detect a suitable protein or marker characteristic of up-regulation of the biomarker of the invention. The term diagnosis includes screening.
The term “marker” or “biomarker” includes genetic markers including, for example, the measurement of DNA composition to identify presence of mutations in p53 or amplification MDM2, or typically the biomarkers of the invention discussed extensively herein. The term marker also includes markers which are characteristic of up regulation of MDM2/p53 or upregulation or down regulation of the biomarkers outlined herein, including protein levels, protein state and mRNA levels of the aforementioned proteins. Gene amplification includes greater than 7 copies, as well as gains of between 2 and 7 copies.
The terms “reduced”, “depleted” or “decreased” includes lowered expression or reduced-expression, including down regulation (i.e. reduced gene copies), cytogenetic aberration, decreased expression by a transcriptional effect and gene loss. Thus, the patient may be subjected to a diagnostic test to detect lower levels of a biomarker of the invention.
The diagnostic tests and screens are typically conducted on a biological sample (i.e. body tissue or body fluids) selected from tumour biopsy samples, blood samples (isolation and enrichment of shed tumour cells or isolation of circulating tumour DNA), cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, serum, saliva, stool biopsies, sputum, chromosome analysis, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, buccal spears, skin biopsy or urine.
Furthermore liquid biopsies such as blood-based (systematic) circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) tests or NGS-based liquid biopsy tests can also be used, in particular to detect cancer or identify mutations. Liquid-based biopsies involving next-generation sequencing (NGS) supplement traditional detection methods of PCR and tumour biopsies for example by whole genome sequencing on circulating tumour cells (CTCs) or massively parallel sequencing of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).
In one embodiment, the sample obtained is a blood sample e.g. a plasma or serum sample, in particular a serum sample. In one embodiment, the sample obtained is a tumour biopsy sample.
In one embodiment, blood, usually collected in a serum-separating tube, is analysed in a medical laboratory or at the point of care. In a second embodiment the tumour is analysed by biopsy and analysed in a medical laboratory.
Screening methods could include, but are not limited to, standard methods such as reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), protein analysis or in-situ hybridization such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Methods of identification and analysis of cytogenetic aberration, genetic amplification, deletions, down regulation, mutations and up-regulation of proteins are known to a person skilled in the art. Screening methods could include, but are not limited to, standard methods such as DNA sequence analysis by conventional Sanger or next-generation sequencing methods, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), RNA sequencing (RNAseq), Nanostring hybridisation proximity RNA nCounter assays, or in-situ hybridization such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, methods for assessing protein levels include immunohistochemistry or other immunoassays. Therefore, in one embodiment protein expression is analysed in the patient sample. In another embodiment gene expression is analysed in the patient sample for example gene aberration, using techniques such as FISH. Methods for assessing gene copy changes include techniques commonly used in cytogenetic laboratories such as MLPA (Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification) a multiplex PCR method detecting abnormal copy numbers, or other PCR techniques which can detect gene amplification, gain and deletion.
In screening by RT-PCR, the level of mRNA in the tumour is assessed by creating a cDNA copy of the mRNA followed by amplification of the cDNA by PCR. Methods of PCR amplification, the selection of primers, and conditions for amplification, are known to a person skilled in the art. Nucleic acid manipulations and PCR are carried out by standard methods, as described for example in Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds. (2004) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons Inc., or Innis, M. A. et al., eds. (1990) PCR Protocols: a guide to methods and applications, Academic Press, San Diego. Reactions and manipulations involving nucleic acid techniques are also described in Sambrook et al., (2001), 3rd Ed, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Alternatively a commercially available kit for RT-PCR (for example Roche Molecular Biochemicals) may be used, or methodology as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,828; 4,683,202; 4,801,531; 5,192,659, 5,272,057, 5,882,864, and 6,218,529 and incorporated herein by reference. Mutations, for example in the genes outlined herein, can be determined by PCR. In one embodiment the specific primer pairs are commercially available or as described in the literature.
An example of an in-situ hybridisation technique for assessing mRNA expression would be fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) (see Angerer (1987) Meth. Enzymol., 152: 649).
Next generation sequencing (NGS), DNA sequencing or Nanostring can be performed.
Generally, in situ hybridization comprises the following major steps: (1) fixation of tissue to be analyzed; (2) prehybridization treatment of the sample to increase accessibility of target nucleic acid, and to reduce nonspecific binding; (3) hybridization of the mixture of nucleic acids to the nucleic acid in the biological structure or tissue; (4) post-hybridization washes to remove nucleic acid fragments not bound in the hybridization, and (5) detection of the hybridized nucleic acid fragments. The probes used in such applications are typically labelled, for example, with radioisotopes or fluorescent reporters. Certain probes are sufficiently long, for example, from about 50, 100, or 200 nucleotides to about 1000 or more nucleotides, to enable specific hybridization with the target nucleic acid(s) under stringent conditions. Standard methods for carrying out FISH are described in Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds. (2004) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons Inc and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: Technical Overview by John M. S. Bartlett in Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Methods and Protocols, 2nd ed.; ISBN: 1-59259-760-2; March 2004, pps. 077-088; Series: Methods in Molecular Medicine.
Methods for gene expression profiling are described by (DePrimo et al. (2003), BMC Cancer, 3:3). Briefly, the protocol is as follows: double-stranded cDNA is synthesized from total RNA using a (dT)24 oligomer for priming first-strand cDNA synthesis, followed by second strand cDNA synthesis with random hexamer primers. The double-stranded cDNA is used as a template for in vitro transcription of cRNA using biotinylated ribonucleotides. cRNA is chemically fragmented according to protocols described by Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA, USA), and then hybridized overnight on Human Genome Arrays. Alternatively, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, a type of DNA microarray, can be used to detect polymorphisms within a population.
In addition, test kits may use Nanostring technology or ddPCR.
Alternatively, the protein products expressed from the mRNAs may be assayed by immunohistochemistry of tumour samples (or other immunoassays), solid phase immunoassay with microtitre plates, Western blotting, 2-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ELISA, flow cytometry and other methods known in the art for detection of specific proteins e.g. capillary electrophoresis. Detection methods would include the use of site specific antibodies. The skilled person will recognise that all such well-known techniques for detection of upregulation of MDM2 and p53, detection of MDM2 or p53 variants or mutants, or loss of negative regulators of MDM2 (e.g. p14ARF), or the genes described herein are applicable in the present case. In particular levels of the genes described herein can be measured using immunohistochemistry. Expression in the cytoplasm can be assessed by staining of tumour cells. In some embodiments, SKP2 is assayed using these techniques. In some embodiments, one or more SKP2 substrates are assayed using these techniques.
Levels of proteins, in particular increased, decreased or abnormal levels of proteins can be measured using standard protein assays. Elevated or lowered levels, or under- or over-expression could also be detected in a tissue sample, for example, a tumour tissue by measuring the protein levels with an assay such as that from Chemicon International. The protein of interest would be immunoprecipitated from the sample lysate and its levels measured.
In the embodiment where the gene is SKP2, it will be appreciated that there are various analytical methods are available for determination, such as ELISA, immunoturbidimetry, rapid immunodiffusion, and visual agglutination.
In the embodiment where gene expression is tested, it will be appreciated that there are various analytical methods available for determination.
In one embodiment which comprises detection of SKP2 loss, such detection may typically be conducted at the DNA (i.e. DNA sequencing), RNA (i.e. qPCR, gene array, exome sequencing and the like) or protein (i.e. immunohistochemistry) level using clinical validated assays on biopsies. In an alternative embodiment, the detection of SKP2 loss comprises one or more of: reverse phase protein array, western blotting, semi-quantitative or quantitative IHC.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an important technique for biomarker detection. First, it allows direct visualization of biomarker expression in histologically relevant regions of the examined cancer tissue. Second, IHC is run on FFPE tissue sections processed by standard methods, ensuring the biomarker assay can be run on clinically available specimens. Third, validated IHC assays can be implemented readily into clinical practice. For example, there are multiple validated IHC assays used clinically, such as assays to detect PD-L1, HER2 and ALK (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/vitro-diagnostics/list-cleared-or-approved-companion-diagnostic-devices-vitro-and-imaging-tools). Traditionally, pathologists have visually scored IHC data. For example, in the calculation of an HSCORE, a summation of the percentage of area stained at each intensity level multiplied by the weighted intensity (e.g., 1, 2, or 3; where 0 is no staining, 1 is weak staining, 2 is moderate staining and 3 is strong staining) of staining is generated [McCarty et al: Cancer Res 1986, 46:4244s-4248s]. For assay validation purposes these analyses are frequently performed on specimens arrayed on stained TMA sections allowing representation of a sufficiently large number of specimens to for statistically rigorous testing. Tissue specimens are adequately represented by tissue cores on very few slides minimizing IHC cost and tissue usage, and facilitating intra-observer, inter-observer and inter-laboratory studies. Computer aided methods to classify image areas of interest (e.g., carcinomatous areas of tissue specimens) and quantify IHC staining intensity within those areas can also be utilised to generate data.
Such techniques will find equal applicability in the detection of other genes described herein. In some embodiments, detection of the increased levels of the genes described herein comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, or direct nucleic acid sequencing or hybridization with a nucleic acid probe specific for the genes.
Therefore all of these techniques could also be used to identify tumours particularly suitable for treatment with MDM2 antagonists.
Ex-vivo functional assays could also be utilised where appropriate, for example measurement of circulating leukemia cells in a cancer patient, to assess the response to challenge with an MDM2/p53 inhibitor.
Therefore in a further aspect of the invention includes use of MDM2 antagonist for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease state or condition in a patient who has been screened and has been determined as suffering from, or being at risk of suffering from, a disease or condition which would be susceptible to treatment with an MDM2/p53 inhibitor.
Another aspect of the invention includes a MDM2 antagonist for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer in a patient selected from a sub-population possessing SKP2 loss.
Another aspect of the invention includes a MDM2 antagonist for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer in a patient selected from a sub-population possessing p53 wild-type and SKP2 loss.
Another aspect of the invention includes a MDM2 antagonist for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer in a patient possessing SKP2 loss.
MRI determination of vessel normalization (e.g. using MRI gradient echo, spin echo, and contrast enhancement to measure blood volume, relative vessel size, and vascular permeability) in combination with circulating biomarkers may also be used to identify patients suitable for treatment with a compound used in the invention.
Thus a further aspect of the invention is a method for the diagnosis and treatment of a disease state or condition mediated by MDM2/p53, which method comprises (i) screening a patient to determine whether a disease or condition from which the patient is or may be suffering is one which would be susceptible to treatment with MDM2/p53 inhibitor; and (ii) where it is indicated that the disease or condition from which the patient is thus susceptible, thereafter administering to the patient a MDM2 antagonists and sub-groups or examples thereof as defined herein.
In one embodiment, the method of the invention additionally comprises the step of screening a patient possessing overexpression of one or more of the MDM family members (e.g. MDM2 and/or MDMx).
In one embodiment, the method of the invention additionally comprises the step of screening a patient possessing a cytogenetic aberration that results in overexpression of MDM2.
In one embodiment the samples obtained from the patient are contacted with a primer, antibody, substrate or probe to determine the levels of genes described herein.
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with a primer, antibody, substrate or probe, and (ii) determining the levels of genes described herein.
Basal levels can be analysed by performing intracellular staining of untreated cells with an antibody for example an antibody conjugated to fluorescent probe. Antibodies against the biomarkers described herein are commercially available from a range of suppliers. In particular the antibody to be used may be part of an FDA approved in vitro diagnostic kit (IVD).
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with an antibody, and (ii) determining the levels of one or more biomarkers described herein. In an alternative embodiment, step (i) of the method comprises contacting the patient sample with one or more PCR primers for one or more biomarker substrates.
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with an antibody, and (ii) determining the level of nuclear localisation to assess the level of one or more biomarkers described herein. In an alternative embodiment, step (i) of the method comprises contacting the patient sample with a biomarker substrate antibody.
Where appropriate, the level of nuclear localisation can be determined using immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence using an antibody.
Mutations which result in loss of SKP2 can be detected using reverse phase protein array, Western blotting, semi-quantitative or quantitative IHC, or DNA sequencing. In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with an anti-mutant antibody, and (ii) determining that the patients tumour is SKP2 loss thereof. In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with an anti-mutant antibody, and (ii) determining the levels of SKP2 (or loss thereof).
Detection of SKP2 deletions and mutations can be performed by extraction of DNA from a patient sample, for example a tumour biopsy, amplification by PCR and DNA sequencing using an appropriate primer. PCR primers can be designed or are commercially available. Mutation array kits are also commercially available.
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with one or more SKP2 PCR primers, and (ii) determining the presence or absence of a SKP2 mutation or deletion. In an alternative embodiment, step (i) of the method comprises contacting the patient sample with one or more PCR primers for one or more SKP2 substrates.
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with a SKP2 antibody, and (ii) determining the presence or absence of a SKP2 mutation or deletion. In an alternative embodiment, step (i) of the method comprises contacting the patient sample with a SKP2 substrate antibody.
Protein levels can be determined using an ELISA Kit. ELISA kits for use on patient samples may be used in a clinical setting to assess blood chemistry. These utilise an antibody specific for the protein for example an anti-biomarker antibody such as anti-SKP2, or a conjugated antibody. In particular the antibody to be used is part of an FDA approved in vitro diagnostic kit. In one embodiment, the level is determined using a test that complies with the standard as defined by the Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB).
In one embodiment the method comprises: (i) contacting the patient sample with an antibody, and (ii) determining the levels of proteins from the genes described herein.
In particular, the sample is contacted under conditions to quantify the levels.
For example, in the contacting step above the sample is contacted with primer, probe, substrate or antibody typically in the presence of a buffer. The substrate may be e.g. a fluorescent probe.
Patient Selection
It will be appreciated that the patient selected for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist according to the invention will be tested for or will be measured for SKP2 in accordance with the methodology described in the previous section.
For example, such a selected patient will have:
In one embodiment, the selected patient exhibits or presents with at least one symptom of cancer in particular, a TP53 wild-type tumour.
In one embodiment, the selected cancer patient has not previously been treated with an MDM2 antagonist. In one embodiment, the selected patient has not previously responded to therapy with an MDM2 antagonist.
In some embodiments, a nucleic acid expression profile is determined by PCR, HTG EdgeSeq or a quantitative gene expression assay such as NanoString nCounter. In some embodiments, a protein expression profile (e.g. SKP2) is determined by an immunoassay.
Gene Expression Assays
In one embodiment, the RNA level of SKP2 is decreased relative to the amount of said RNA in a control sample obtained from a normal subject not suffering from cancer.
In an alternative embodiment, the RNA level of SKP2 is decreased in tumour relative to the amount of said RNA in a non-tumour sample obtained from the same patient.
In some embodiments, the decreased level is relative to the amount of RNA determined in samples from MDM2 inhibitor non-responsive subjects.
In one embodiment it is decreased relative to normal levels.
Upper limit of normal (ULN) refers to those levels that are at 95% of the whole range. It is a set of values within which 95 percent of the normal population falls (that is, 95% prediction interval).
In one embodiment, the decreased level is a >1 fold difference relative to the control sample, upper limit of normal (ULN) or sample taken from said patient, such as a fold difference of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 or any ranges therebetween. In one embodiment, the decreased level is between 1 and 50 fold difference relative to the control sample or ULN. In one embodiment, the decreased level is very high for example a >10 fold difference relative to the control sample, ULN or sample taken from said patient, such as a fold difference of 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 1000 or any ranges therebetween. In one embodiment, the decreased level is between 10 and 1000 fold difference relative to the control sample or ULN. In one embodiment, the decreased level is between 2 and 10 fold difference relative to the control sample (e.g. 5 fold).
The fold difference can be determined between disease individual and normal individual (reference value or control sample). This reference value can be calculated from normal individuals or based on a pool of samples excluding the sample type to be tested (eg. TP53 wild and decreased SKP2). In one embodiment the difference in expression of the SKP2 gene in patient myeloid leukemia samples to normal tissues (BloodSpot resource, Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 Jan. 4; 44) is from 0.66 to −3.55 (log 2 scale) with a median decrease of −1.35 in SKP2 gene expression in AML samples.
In one embodiment, the concentration of the RNA is determined by RT-PCR and/or microarray and/or nanostring. It is typical for each assay to have an “upper limit of normal” (ULN) value associated with the specific assay method. Such ULN is typically determined from a sufficient sample size of normal, healthy subjects using the particular assay method to measure the RNA concentration. The ULN is then typically determined to be the highest RNA concentration that is still considered within the normal range (e.g. within two standard deviations of the mean). Since such ULN values will vary depending on the particular assay method employed to measure concentration, each specific assay will have a unique ULN value that is associated with that assay method.
As shown herein, concentrations can be used to predict whether a cancer patient will be likely to benefit from MDM2 antagonist treatment.
Protein Assays
In one embodiment, the protein level of SKP2 is decreased relative to the amount of said protein in a control sample obtained from a normal subject not suffering from cancer.
In an alternative embodiment, the protein level of SKP2 is decreased relative to the amount of said protein in an earlier sample obtained from the same patient.
In one embodiment it is reduced or decreased relative to normal levels.
Upper limit of normal (ULN) refers to those levels that are at 95% of the whole range. It is a set of values within which 95 percent of the normal population falls (that is, 95% prediction interval).
In one embodiment, the reduced level is a <1 fold difference relative to the control sample, upper limit of normal (ULN) or sample taken from said patient, such as a fold difference of 0.75, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 or 0.01 or any ranges therebetween. In one embodiment, the reduced level is between 1 and 0.01 fold difference relative to the control sample or ULN. In one embodiment, the reduced level is very low for example a >0.01 fold difference relative to the control sample, ULN or sample taken from said patient, such as a fold difference of 0.001 or any ranges therebetween. In one embodiment, the reduced level is 0 i.e. completely absent.
In another embodiment the SKP2 level is determined by immunohistochemistry.
Proteins, protein complexes or proteomic markers may be specifically identified and/or quantified by a variety of methods known in the art and may be used alone or in combination. Immunologic- or antibody-based techniques include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), western blotting, immunofluorescence, microarrays, some chromatographic techniques (i.e. immunoaffinity chromatography), flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation and the like. Such methods are based on the specificity of an antibody or antibodies for a particular epitope or combination of epitopes associated with the protein or protein complex of interest. Non-immunologic methods include those based on physical characteristics of the protein or protein complex itself. Examples of such methods include electrophoresis, some chromatographic techniques (e.g. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography and the like), mass spectrometry, sequencing, protease digests, and the like. Such methods are based on the mass, charge, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, which is derived from the amino acid complement of the protein or protein complex, and the specific sequence of the amino acids.
In one embodiment there is no SKP2 expression. Samples having low levels of SKP2 can be identified as SKP2 negative, for example SKP2 loss.
In one embodiment the loss of SKP2 is assessed by mutational analysis for example DNA sequencing.
Levels of cytoplasmic as well as nuclear expression of SKP2 can also be determined. Nuclear localisation of SKP2 protein is a marker in cells. Levels of nuclear expression can be scored using histology by a score (range, 0-100) expressing the percentage of positive cells was obtained following treatment with an antibody (e.g. monoclonal antihuman antibody against the biomarker). The immunostaining expression scores can be made.
Levels of SKP2 in the cytoplasm can also be measured using immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence.
In one embodiment, the level of SKP2 is reduced relative to the amount of said protein in a control sample obtained from a normal subject not suffering from cancer.
In one embodiment, the level of SKP2 is reduced in tumour relative to the amount of said protein in a non-tumour sample obtained from the same patient.
In one embodiment, the expression level of SKP2 is reduced by 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9% or 100%. 100% reduction in expression is completely reduced i.e. total loss. In some embodiments, at least 50% reduction is provided. In some embodiments, at least 75% reduction is provided.
In some embodiments, at least 80% reduction is provided.
In some embodiments, at least 95% reduction is provided, for example at least 99%.
Methods of Quantifying
The invention relates to identifying a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. In some embodiments, the methods comprise at least the steps of:
In other embodiments, the method for identifying a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprises:
Also described is a method for identifying or selecting a patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist, the method comprising:
The selected patient is typically a cancer patient. A patient is typically selected when the patient has a level of SKP2 in the biological sample from the patient that is lower than a predetermined value (or is absent).
The cancer may be a liquid cancer or a solid tumour. In one embodiment, the cancer is a liquid cancer, such as a blood cancer. In a further embodiment, the cancer may be a leukemia, a lymphoma or a myeloma.
Typically, the cancer is a leukemia, optionally a myeloid leukemia.
In another embodiment, the cancer is acute myeloid leukemia.
The cancer may be a solid tumour. In one embodiment, the solid tumour is a colon cancer. In another embodiment, the cancer is a breast cancer. In another embodiment, the cancer is a lung cancer. In yet another embodiment, the cancer is a skin cancer, for example a melanoma or a carcinoma. In a different embodiment, the cancer is a pancreatic cancer.
Particular cancers that can be assessed for treatment according to the invention include but are not limited to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML was observed to be the most sensitive cancer in initial assays.
A method for predicting efficacy of an MDM2 antagonist for a cancer in a patient, comprises determining the level of SKP2 in the biological sample from the patient, where a biological sample level of SKP2 less than a predetermined value is predictive of efficacy in the patient.
In one embodiment the difference in expression of the SKP2 gene in patient myeloid leukemia samples to normal tissues is from 0.66 to −3.55 (log 2 scale) with a median decrease of −1.35 in SKP2 gene expression in AML samples. Low expression of SKP2 also seems to be more associated with specific AML subtypes (eg. AML with a translocation t(15;17)) [Source: BloodSpot (www.bloodspot.eu, Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 Jan. 4; 44)]. Similarly, difference in expression of CDKN1B (p27) in AML samples to normal tissues varies from −3.76 to 2.37 (log 2 scale), and is more 1-fold up-regulated in AML samples with low SKP2 expression levels.
In one embodiment is provided an MDM2 antagonist for use in a method of treating a cancer, wherein the cancer is AML with a translocation t(15;17).
Systems for Carrying Out the Methods
The methods described herein can make use of a system to assist in the assessment or prognosis of the patient. The system can be a single apparatus having various device components (units) integrated therein. The system can also have its various components, or some of these components, as separate apparatuses. The components can comprise a measurement device, a graphical user interface and a computer-processing unit.
The system typically comprises a data connection to an interface, whereby the interface itself can be a part of the system or can be a remote interface. The latter refers to the possibility to use a different apparatus, preferably a handheld apparatus such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, for providing the actual interface. The data connection in such cases will preferably involve wireless data transfer such as by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or by other techniques or standards.
In certain embodiments, the measurement device is configured to receive a tissue sample, for example by putting one or more cancer cells or a drop of blood on a cartridge, which can be inserted into the device. The device can be an existing device that is capable to determine, from the same sample, the levels of the biomarker or biomarkers. A processing unit can receive numerical values for the protein concentrations from the measurement device. The processing unit is typically provided with software (typically embedded software) allowing it to calculate a score based on the input data.
In another embodiment, a system for assessing whether a human cancer patient is suitable for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprises:
Optionally, the system comprises a user interface (or a data connection to remote interface), particularly a graphical user interface (GUI), capable of presenting information; a GUI is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation, instead of text-based user interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation (none of such interface types being excluded in the present invention); GUIs are generally known, and are used typically in handheld mobile devices such as MP3 players, portable media players, gaming devices, smartphones and smaller household, office and industrial controls; as said, the interface optionally can also be chosen so as to be capable of putting in information, such as, information on the patient.
In one embodiment, a system for determining the suitability of a human cancer patient for treatment with an MDM2 antagonist comprises a storage memory for storing data associated with a sample from the patient comprising data associated with a panel of biomarkers indicating biomarker expression levels in the sample from the subject, the panel of biomarkers comprising SKP2; and a processor communicatively coupled to the storage memory for classifying the patient.
Kits
The invention also provides, either separately or as part of the aforementioned system, a kit for detecting SKP2 and/or one or more SKP2 substrates, to assess a patient's likelihood of responding to MDM2 inhibition for cancer therapy. The kit typically comprises one or more detection reagents for detecting one or more of the biomarkers of the invention. These reagents may be for direct detection or indirect detection of the biomarker, for example detection of a correlated substrate.
Typically, the kit comprises two or more, or three or more, detection reagents, each directed to a different biomarker of the invention.
As discussed above with reference to the methods of the invention, the kit may comprise more detection reagents, such as for other proteins. In a preferred embodiment the detection reagents made available in the kit consist of the detection reagents for the detection of one, two, three or four proteins making up a biomarker panel of the invention, as mentioned.
The kit may comprise a solid support, such as a chip, a microtiter plate or a bead or resin comprising said detection reagents. In some embodiments, the kits comprise mass spectrometry probes.
The kit may also provide washing solutions and/or detection reagents specific for either unbound detection reagent or for said biomarker and/or biomarkers (sandwich type assay).
Such kits will suitably comprise a biosensor for detection and/or quantification of SKP2, optionally together with instructions for use of the kit in accordance with the methodology as described herein.
There are well established genetic and biochemical means of characterising the state of the biomarker of the invention. There are also well established biochemical means of characterising the amount of proteins in blood e.g. serum samples.
In one embodiment, the invention includes a packaged cancer treatment. The packaged treatment includes a composition packaged with instructions for using an effective amount of the composition of the invention for an intended use in a patient selected using the present invention. In other embodiments, the present invention provides a use of any of the compositions of the invention for manufacture of a medicament to treat cancer in a subject.
In one embodiment the invention provides a kit or panel or array for determining the level of SKP2 from a single patient sample.
Biological Effects
The compounds described herein, subgroups and examples thereof, have been shown to inhibit the interaction of p53 with MDM2. Such inhibition leads to cell proliferative arrest and cell death (typically apoptosis), which may be useful in preventing or treating disease states or conditions described herein, for example the diseases and conditions discussed below and the diseases and conditions described above in which p53 and MDM2 play a role. Thus, for example, it is envisaged that the compounds described herein may be useful in alleviating or reducing the incidence of cancer.
The compounds described herein may be useful for the treatment of the adult population. The compounds used in the present invention may be useful for the treatment of the pediatric population.
The compounds described herein have been shown to be good antagonists of the formation of MDM2-p53 complex. The compounds described herein are capable of binding to MDM2 and exhibiting potency for MDM2. The efficacies of the compounds of the present invention have been determined against MDM2/p53 using the assay protocol described herein and other methods known in the art. More particularly, the compounds of the formula (Io) and sub-groups thereof have affinity for MDM2/p53.
Certain compounds used in the invention are those having IC50 values of less than 0.1 μM in particular less than 0.01 or 0.001 μM.
MDM2/p53 function has been implicated in many diseases due to its role in a variety of process for example vascular remodelling and antiangiogenic processes and regulation of metabolic pathways, as well as in oncogenesis. As a consequence of their affinity for MDM2 it is anticipated that the compounds may prove useful in treating or preventing a range of diseases or conditions including autoimmune conditions; diabetes mellitus; chronic inflammatory diseases, for example lupus nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), autoimmune mediated glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diabetes mellitus, Eczema hypersensitivity reactions, asthma, COPD, rhinitis, and upper respiratory tract disease; hyperkeratotic diseases such as autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI); kidney diseases including glomerular disorders, chronic kidney disease (CKD) renal inflammation, podocyte loss, glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, and progressive kidney disease; cardiovascular diseases for example cardiac hypertrophy, restenosis, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis; ischemic injury associated myocardial infarctions, vascular injury, stroke and reperfusion injury; vascular proliferative diseases; ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration in particular wet form of age-related macular degeneration, ischemic proliferative retinopathies such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic retinopathy, and hemangioma.
As a consequence of their affinity for MDM2 it is anticipated that the compounds may prove useful in treating or preventing proliferative disorders such as cancers.
Examples of cancers (and their benign counterparts) which may be treated (or inhibited) include, but are not limited to tumours of epithelial origin (adenomas and carcinomas of various types including adenocarcinomas, squamous carcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas and other carcinomas) such as carcinomas of the bladder and urinary tract, breast, gastrointestinal tract (including the esophagus, stomach (gastric), small intestine, colon, bowel, colorectal, rectum and anus), liver (hepatocellular carcinoma), gall bladder and biliary system, exocrine pancreas, kidney (for example renal cell carcinoma), lung (for example adenocarcinomas, small cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, bronchioalveolar carcinomas and mesotheliomas), head and neck (for example cancers of the tongue, buccal cavity, larynx, pharynx, nasopharynx, tonsil, salivary glands, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses), ovary, fallopian tubes, peritoneum, vagina, vulva, penis, testes, cervix, myometrium, endometrium, thyroid (for example thyroid follicular carcinoma), brain, adrenal, prostate, skin and adnexae (for example melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, dysplastic naevus); haematological malignancies (i.e. leukemias, lymphomas) and premalignant haematological disorders and disorders of borderline malignancy including haematological malignancies and related conditions of lymphoid lineage (for example acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL], chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], B-cell lymphomas such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL], follicular lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphomas and leukaemias, natural killer [NK] cell lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphomas, hairy cell leukaemia, monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders), and haematological malignancies and related conditions of myeloid lineage (for example acute myelogenous leukemia [AML], chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML], chronic myelomonocytic leukemia [CMML], hypereosinophilic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia and primary myelofibrosis, myeloproliferative syndrome, myelodysplastic syndrome, and promyelocytic leukemia); tumours of mesenchymal origin, for example sarcomas of soft tissue, bone or cartilage such as osteosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, liposarcomas, angiosarcomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, synovial sarcomas, epithelioid sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, benign and malignant histiocytomas, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; tumours of the central or peripheral nervous system (for example astrocytomas (e.g. gliomas), neuromas and glioblastomas, meningiomas, ependymomas, pineal tumours and schwannomas); endocrine tumours (for example pituitary tumours, adrenal tumours, islet cell tumours, parathyroid tumours, carcinoid tumours and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid); ocular and adnexal tumours (for example retinoblastoma); germ cell and trophoblastic tumours (for example teratomas, seminomas, dysgerminomas, hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinomas); and paediatric and embryonal tumours (for example medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, and primitive neuroectodermal tumours); or syndromes, congenital or otherwise, which leave the patient susceptible to malignancy (for example Xeroderma Pigmentosum).
Growth of cells is a closely controlled function. Cancer, a condition of abnormal cell growth, results when cells replicate in an uncontrolled manner (increasing in number), uncontrollably grow (getting larger) and/or experience reduced cell death by apoptosis (programmed cell death), necrosis, or annoikis. In one embodiment abnormal cell growth is selected from uncontrolled cell proliferation, excessive cell growth or reduced programmed cell death. In particular, the condition or disease of abnormal cell growth is a cancer.
Thus, in the pharmaceutical compositions, uses or methods of this invention for treating a disease or condition comprising abnormal cell growth (i.e. uncontrolled and/or rapid cell growth), the disease or condition comprising abnormal cell growth in one embodiment is a cancer.
Many diseases are characterized by persistent and unregulated angiogenesis. Chronic proliferative diseases are often accompanied by profound angiogenesis, which can contribute to or maintain an inflammatory and/or proliferative state, or which leads to tissue destruction through the invasive proliferation of blood vessels. Tumour growth and metastasis have been found to be angiogenesis-dependent. Compounds used in the invention may therefore be useful in preventing and disrupting initiation of tumour angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis is generally used to describe the development of new or replacement blood vessels, or neovascularisation. It is a necessary and physiological normal process by which vasculature is established in the embryo. Angiogenesis does not occur, in general, in most normal adult tissues, exceptions being sites of ovulation, menses and wound healing. Many diseases, however, are characterized by persistent and unregulated angiogenesis. For instance, in arthritis, new capillary blood vessels invade the joint and destroy cartilage. In diabetes (and in many different eye diseases), new vessels invade the macula or retina or other ocular structures, and may cause blindness. The process of atherosclerosis has been linked to angiogenesis. Tumour growth and metastasis have been found to be angiogenesis-dependent. The compounds may be beneficial in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and metastasis, ocular diseases, arthritis and hemangioma.
Therefore, the compounds used in the invention may be useful in the treatment of metastasis and metastatic cancers. Metastasis or metastatic disease is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. The cancers which can be treated by the compounds used in the invention include primary tumours (i.e. cancer cells at the originating site), local invasion (cancer cells which penetrate and infiltrate surrounding normal tissues in the local area), and metastatic (or secondary) tumours i.e. tumours that have formed from malignant cells which have circulated through the bloodstream (haematogenous spread) or via lymphatics or across body cavities (trans-coelomic) to other sites and tissues in the body. In particular, the compounds used in the invention may be useful in the treatment of metastasis and metastatic cancers.
In one embodiment the haematological malignancies is a leukaemia. In another embodiment the haematological malignancies is a lymphoma. In one embodiment the cancer is AML. In another embodiment the cancer is CLL.
In one embodiment the compound used in the invention is for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of leukemia, such as acute or chronic leukaemia, in particular acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
In one embodiment the compound used in the invention is for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of lymphoma, such as acute or chronic lymphoma, in particular Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
In one embodiment the compound used in the invention is for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL).
In one embodiment the compound used in the invention is for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of haematological malignancies (i.e. leukemias, lymphomas) and premalignant haematological disorders and disorders of borderline malignancy including haematological malignancies and related conditions of lymphoid lineage (for example acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL], chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], B-cell lymphomas such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL], follicular lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphomas and leukaemias, natural killer [NK] cell lymphomas, Hodgkin's lymphomas, hairy cell leukaemia, monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders), and haematological malignancies and related conditions of myeloid lineage (for example acute myelogenous leukemia [AML], chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML], chronic myelomonocytic leukemia [CMML], hypereosinophilic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia and primary myelofibrosis, myeloproliferative syndrome, myelodysplastic syndrome, and promyelocytic leukemia.
One embodiment includes a compound used in the invention for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer in a patient selected from a sub-population possessing cancers which are p53 wild-type or have an MDM2 amplification.
The cancers may be cancers which are sensitive to treatment with MDM2 antagonists. The cancers may be cancers which overexpress MDM2. The cancer may be cancers which are p53 wild-type.
Particular cancers include those with an MDM2 amplification and/or MDM2 overexpression, for example, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung, sarcomas, osteosarcomas, and Hodgkin disease.
Particular cancers include those with wild-type p53. Particulars cancers include those cancer cells with wild-type p53, particularly but not exclusively, if MDM2 is highly expressed.
In one embodiment the cancer is a p53 functional tumour. In one embodiment this disease to be treated is p53 functional solid and haematological malignancies. In another embodiment the patient to be treated has p53 mutant tumour for example AML patients with p53 mutant tumour.
In one embodiment the cancer is a tumour of the brain, for example glioma, or neuroblastoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the skin, for example melanoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the lung, for example NSCLC or mesothelioma. In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the lung, for example mesothelioma. In one embodiment the mesothelioma is malignant peritoneal mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma.
In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, for example GIST, gastric, colorectal or bowel.
In one embodiment the cancer is osteosarcoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is liposarcoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is Ewing's sarcoma.
In one embodiment, the cancer is liposarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, oesophageal cancer, and certain paediatric malignancies including B-cell malignancies.
In one embodiment, the cancer is colorectal, breast, lung and brain In one embodiment, the cancer is a paediatric cancer.
In one embodiment, the cancer is a p53 wild-type.
In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the lung, for example NSCLC or mesothelioma, Renal e.g. KIRC or cancer of the brain such as glioblastoma.
In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer known to demonstrate SKP2 loss. In one embodiment the cancer is a cancer of the brain, cancer of the kidney for example clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) or KIRC, esophageal cancer, or melanoma.
Whether a particular cancer is one which is sensitive to MDM2 antagonists, may be determined by a method as set out in the section headed “Methods of Diagnosis”.
A further aspect provides the use of a compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease or condition as described herein, in particular cancer.
Certain cancers are resistant to treatment with particular drugs. This can be due to the type of the tumour (most common epithelial malignancies are inherently chemoresistant and prostate is relatively resistant to currently available regimens of chemotherapy or radiation therapy) or resistance can arise spontaneously as the disease progresses or as a result of treatment. In this regard, references to prostate includes prostate with resistance towards anti-androgen therapy, in particular abiraterone or enzalutamide, or castrate-resistant prostate. Similarly references to multiple myeloma includes bortezomib-insensitive multiple myeloma or refractory multiple myeloma and references to chronic myelogenous leukemia includes imitanib-insensitive chronic myelogenous leukemia and refractory chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this regard, references to mesothelioma includes mesothelioma with resistance towards topoisomerase poisons, alkylating agents, antitubulines, antifolates, platinum compounds and radiation therapy, in particular cisplatin-resistant mesothelioma.
The compounds may also be useful in the treatment of tumour growth, pathogenesis, resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy by sensitising cells to chemotherapy and as an anti-metastatic agent.
Therapeutic anticancer interventions of all types necessarily increase the stresses imposed on the target tumour cells. Antagonists of MDM2/p53 represent a class of chemotherapeutics with the potential for: (i) sensitizing malignant cells to anticancer drugs and/or treatments; (ii) alleviating or reducing the incidence of resistance to anticancer drugs and/or treatments; (iii) reversing resistance to anticancer drugs and/or treatments; (iv) potentiating the activity of anticancer drugs and/or treatments; (v) delaying or preventing the onset of resistance to anticancer drugs and/or treatments.
In one embodiment the invention provides a compound for use in the treatment of a disease or condition which is mediated by MDM2. In a further embodiment the disease or condition which is mediated by MDM2 is a cancer which is characterised by overexpression and/or increased activity of MDM2, or high copy number MDM2 and/or wildtype p53.
A further aspect provides the use of a compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease or condition as described herein, in particular cancer.
In one embodiment there is provided a compound for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease or condition mediated by MDM2/p53. In one embodiment there is provided a compound for inhibiting the interaction between of MDM2 protein with p53.
In one embodiment there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of at least one compound as defined.
In one embodiment there is provided a method for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer comprising the steps of administering to a mammal a medicament comprising at least one compound as defined.
Pharmaceutical Formulations
While it is possible for the active compound to be administered alone, it is generally presented as a pharmaceutical composition (e.g. formulation).
Thus, the present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions, as defined above, and methods of making a pharmaceutical composition comprising (e.g admixing) at least one MDM2 antagonist, including a compound of formula (Io) (and sub-groups thereof as defined herein), together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and optionally other therapeutic or prophylactic agents as described herein.
The pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s) can be selected from, for example, carriers (e.g. a solid, liquid or semi-solid carrier), adjuvants, diluents, fillers or bulking agents, granulating agents, coating agents, release-controlling agents, binding agents, disintegrants, lubricating agents, preservatives, antioxidants, buffering agents, suspending agents, thickening agents, flavouring agents, sweeteners, taste masking agents, stabilisers or any other excipients conventionally used in pharmaceutical compositions. Examples of excipients for various types of pharmaceutical compositions are set out in more detail below.
The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein pertains to compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of a subject (e.g. a human subject) without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Each excipient must also be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation.
Pharmaceutical compositions containing an MDM2 antagonist, including compounds of the formula (Io) can be formulated in accordance with known techniques, see for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, PA, USA.
The pharmaceutical compositions can be in any form suitable for oral, parenteral, topical, intranasal, intrabronchial, sublingual, ophthalmic, otic, rectal, intra-vaginal, or transdermal administration. Where the compositions are intended for parenteral administration, they can be formulated for intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous administration or for direct delivery into a target organ or tissue by injection, infusion or other means of delivery. The delivery can be by bolus injection, short-term infusion or longer term infusion and can be via passive delivery or through the utilisation of a suitable infusion pump or syringe driver.
Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, co-solvents, surface active agents, organic solvent mixtures, cyclodextrin complexation agents, emulsifying agents (for forming and stabilizing emulsion formulations), liposome components for forming liposomes, gellable polymers for forming polymeric gels, lyophilisation protectants and combinations of agents for, inter alia, stabilising the active ingredient in a soluble form and rendering the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration may also take the form of aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents (R. G. Strickly, Solubilizing Excipients in oral and injectable formulations, Pharmaceutical Research, Vol 21(2) 2004, p 201-230).
The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules, vials and prefilled syringes, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilised) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example water for injections, immediately prior to use. In one embodiment, the formulation is provided as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in a bottle for subsequent reconstitution using an appropriate diluent.
The pharmaceutical formulation can be prepared by lyophilising an MDM2 antagonist, including a compound of formula (Io), or sub-groups thereof. Lyophilisation refers to the procedure of freeze-drying a composition. Freeze-drying and lyophilisation are therefore used herein as synonyms.
Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets.
Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention for parenteral injection can also comprise pharmaceutically acceptable sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions as well as sterile powders for reconstitution into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents or vehicles include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), carboxymethylcellulose and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils (such as sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil or olive oil), and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of thickening materials such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.
The compositions of the present invention may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents, and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include agents to adjust tonicity such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
In one typical embodiment of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition is in a form suitable for i.v. administration, for example by injection or infusion. For intravenous administration, the solution can be dosed as is, or can be injected into an infusion bag (containing a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, such as 0.9% saline or 5% dextrose), before administration.
In another typical embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is in a form suitable for sub-cutaneous (s.c.) administration.
Pharmaceutical dosage forms suitable for oral administration include tablets (coated or uncoated), capsules (hard or soft shell), caplets, pills, lozenges, syrups, solutions, powders, granules, elixirs and suspensions, sublingual tablets, wafers or patches such as buccal patches.
Thus, tablet compositions can contain a unit dosage of active compound together with an inert diluent or carrier such as a sugar or sugar alcohol, eg; lactose, sucrose, sorbitol or mannitol; and/or a non-sugar derived diluent such as sodium carbonate, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, or a cellulose or derivative thereof such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and starches such as corn starch. Tablets may also contain such standard ingredients as binding and granulating agents such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, disintegrants (e.g. swellable crosslinked polymers such as crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose), lubricating agents (e.g. stearates), preservatives (e.g. parabens), antioxidants (e.g. BHT), buffering agents (for example phosphate or citrate buffers), and effervescent agents such as citrate/bicarbonate mixtures. Such excipients are well known and do not need to be discussed in detail here.
Tablets may be designed to release the drug either upon contact with stomach fluids (immediate release tablets) or to release in a controlled manner (controlled release tablets) over a prolonged period of time or with a specific region of the GI tract.
Capsule formulations may be of the hard gelatin or soft gelatin variety and can contain the active component in solid, semi-solid, or liquid form. Gelatin capsules can be formed from animal gelatin or synthetic or plant derived equivalents thereof.
The solid dosage forms (eg; tablets, capsules etc.) can be coated or un-coated. Coatings may act either as a protective film (e.g. a polymer, wax or varnish) or as a mechanism for controlling drug release or for aesthetic or identification purposes. The coating (e.g. a Eudragit™ type polymer) can be designed to release the active component at a desired location within the gastro-intestinal tract. Thus, the coating can be selected so as to degrade under certain pH conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, thereby selectively release the compound in the stomach or in the ileum, duodenum, jejenum or colon.
Instead of, or in addition to, a coating, the drug can be presented in a solid matrix comprising a release controlling agent, for example a release delaying agent which may be adapted to release the compound in a controlled manner in the gastrointestinal tract. Alternatively the drug can be presented in a polymer coating e.g. a polymethacrylate polymer coating, which may be adapted to selectively release the compound under conditions of varying acidity or alkalinity in the gastrointestinal tract. Alternatively, the matrix material or release retarding coating can take the form of an erodible polymer (e.g. a maleic anhydride polymer) which is substantially continuously eroded as the dosage form passes through the gastrointestinal tract. In another alternative, the coating can be designed to disintegrate under microbial action in the gut. As a further alternative, the active compound can be formulated in a delivery system that provides osmotic control of the release of the compound. Osmotic release and other delayed release or sustained release formulations (for example formulations based on ion exchange resins) may be prepared in accordance with methods well known to those skilled in the art.
The MDM2 antagonist, including a compound of formula (Io) may be formulated with a carrier and administered in the form of nanoparticles, the increased surface area of the nanoparticles assisting their absorption. In addition, nanoparticles offer the possibility of direct penetration into the cell. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems are described in “Nanoparticle Technology for Drug Delivery”, edited by Ram B Gupta and Uday B. Kompella, Informa Healthcare, ISBN 9781574448573, published 13th March 2006. Nanoparticles for drug delivery are also described in J. Control. Release, 2003, 91 (1-2), 167-172, and in Sinha et al., Mol. Cancer Ther. August 1, (2006) 5, 1909.
The pharmaceutical compositions typically comprise from approximately 1% (w/w) to approximately 95% active ingredient and from 99% (w/w) to 5% (w/w) of a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or combination of excipients. Typically, the compositions comprise from approximately 20% (w/w) to approximately 90% (w/w) active ingredient and from 80% (w/w) to 10% of a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or combination of excipients. The pharmaceutical compositions comprise from approximately 1% to approximately 95%, typically from approximately 20% to approximately 90%, active ingredient. Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be, for example, in unit dose form, such as in the form of ampoules, vials, suppositories, pre-filled syringes, dragees, tablets or capsules.
The pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s) can be selected according to the desired physical form of the formulation and can, for example, be selected from diluents (e.g solid diluents such as fillers or bulking agents; and liquid diluents such as solvents and co-solvents), disintegrants, buffering agents, lubricants, flow aids, release controlling (e.g. release retarding or delaying polymers or waxes) agents, binders, granulating agents, pigments, plasticizers, antioxidants, preservatives, flavouring agents, taste masking agents, tonicity adjusting agents and coating agents.
The skilled person will have the expertise to select the appropriate amounts of ingredients for use in the formulations. For example tablets and capsules typically contain 0-20% disintegrants, 0-5% lubricants, 0-5% flow aids and/or 0-99% (w/w) fillers/or bulking agents (depending on drug dose). They may also contain 0-10% (w/w) polymer binders, 0-5% (w/w) antioxidants, 0-5% (w/w) pigments. Slow release tablets would in addition contain 0-99% (w/w) polymers (depending on dose). The film coats of the tablet or capsule typically contain 0-10% (w/w) release-controlling (e.g. delaying) polymers, 0-3% (w/w) pigments, and/or 0-2% (w/w) plasticizers.
Parenteral formulations typically contain 0-20% (w/w) buffers, 0-50% (w/w) cosolvents, and/or 0-99% (w/w) Water for Injection (WFI) (depending on dose and if freeze dried). Formulations for intramuscular depots may also contain 0-99% (w/w) oils.
Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration can be obtained by combining the active ingredient with solid carriers, if desired granulating a resulting mixture, and processing the mixture, if desired or necessary, after the addition of appropriate excipients, into tablets, dragee cores or capsules. It is also possible for them to be incorporated into a polymer or waxy matrix that allow the active ingredients to diffuse or be released in measured amounts.
The compounds used in the invention can also be formulated as solid dispersions. Solid dispersions are homogeneous extremely fine disperse phases of two or more solids. Solid solutions (molecularly disperse systems), one type of solid dispersion, are well known for use in pharmaceutical technology (see (Chiou and Riegelman, J. Pharm. Sci., 60, 1281-1300 (1971)) and are useful in increasing dissolution rates and increasing the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.
This invention also provides solid dosage forms comprising the solid solution described herein. Solid dosage forms include tablets, capsules, chewable tablets and dispersible or effervescent tablets. Known excipients can be blended with the solid solution to provide the desired dosage form. For example, a capsule can contain the solid solution blended with (a) a disintegrant and a lubricant, or (b) a disintegrant, a lubricant and a surfactant. In addition a capsule can contain a bulking agent, such as lactose or microcrystalline cellulose. A tablet can contain the solid solution blended with at least one disintegrant, a lubricant, a surfactant, a bulking agent and a glidant. A chewable tablet can contain the solid solution blended with a bulking agent, a lubricant, and if desired an additional sweetening agent (such as an artificial sweetener), and suitable flavours. Solid solutions may also be formed by spraying solutions of drug and a suitable polymer onto the surface of inert carriers such as sugar beads (‘non-pareils’). These beads can subsequently be filled into capsules or compressed into tablets.
The pharmaceutical formulations may be presented to a patient in “patient packs” containing an entire course of treatment in a single package, usually a blister pack. Patient packs have an advantage over traditional prescriptions, where a pharmacist divides a patient's supply of a pharmaceutical from a bulk supply, in that the patient always has access to the package insert contained in the patient pack, normally missing in patient prescriptions. The inclusion of a package insert has been shown to improve patient compliance with the physician's instructions.
Compositions for topical use and nasal delivery include ointments, creams, sprays, patches, gels, liquid drops and inserts (for example intraocular inserts). Such compositions can be formulated in accordance with known methods.
Examples of formulations for rectal or intra-vaginal administration include pessaries and suppositories which may be, for example, formed from a shaped moldable or waxy material containing the active compound. Solutions of the active compound may also be used for rectal administration.
Compositions for administration by inhalation may take the form of inhalable powder compositions or liquid or powder sprays, and can be administrated in standard form using powder inhaler devices or aerosol dispensing devices. Such devices are well known. For administration by inhalation, the powdered formulations typically comprise the active compound together with an inert solid powdered diluent such as lactose.
The MDM2 antagonist, including compounds of the formula (Io) will generally be presented in unit dosage form and, as such, will typically contain sufficient compound to provide a desired level of biological activity. For example, a formulation may contain from 1 nanogram to 2 grams of active ingredient, e.g. from 1 nanogram to 2 milligrams of active ingredient. Within these ranges, particular sub-ranges of compound are 0.1 milligrams to 2 grams of active ingredient (more usually from 10 milligrams to 1 gram, e.g. 50 milligrams to 500 milligrams), or 1 microgram to 20 milligrams (for example 1 microgram to 10 milligrams, e.g. 0.1 milligrams to 2 milligrams of active ingredient).
For oral compositions, a unit dosage form may contain from 1 milligram to 2 grams, more typically 10 milligrams to 1 gram, for example 50 milligrams to 1 gram, e.g. 100 miligrams to 1 gram, of active compound.
The active compound will be administered to a patient in need thereof (for example a human or animal patient) in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
Combinations with Other Anticancer Agents
The MDM2 antagonist as defined herein may be useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of a range of disease states or conditions mediated by MDM2/p53. Examples of such disease states and conditions are set out above.
The compounds are generally administered to a subject in need of such administration, for example a human or animal patient, typically a human.
The compounds will typically be administered in amounts that are therapeutically or prophylactically useful and which generally are non-toxic. However, in certain situations (for example in the case of life threatening diseases), the benefits of administering a compound of formula (Io) may outweigh the disadvantages of any toxic effects or side effects, in which case it may be considered desirable to administer compounds in amounts that are associated with a degree of toxicity.
The compounds may be administered over a prolonged term to maintain beneficial therapeutic effects or may be administered for a short period only. Alternatively they may be administered in a continuous manner or in a manner that provides intermittent dosing (e.g. a pulsatile manner).
A typical daily dose of the MDM2 antagonists can be in the range from 100 picograms to 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, more typically 5 nanograms to 25 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight, and more usually 10 nanograms to 15 milligrams per kilogram (e.g. 10 nanograms to 10 milligrams, and more typically 1 microgram per kilogram to 20 milligrams per kilogram, for example 1 microgram to 10 milligrams per kilogram) per kilogram of bodyweight although higher or lower doses may be administered where required. The compound of the formula (Io) can be administered on a daily basis or on a repeat basis every 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 10 or 14, or 21, or 28 days for example.
Dosages may also be expressed as the amount of drug administered relative to the body surface area of the patient (mg/m2). A typical daily dose of the MDM2 antagonists can be in the range from 3700 pg/m2 to 3700 mg/m2, more typically 185 ng/m2 to 925 mg/m2, and more usually 370 ng/m2 to 555 mg/m2 (e.g. 370 ng/m2 to 370 mg/m2, and more typically 37 mg/m2 to 740 mg/m2, for example 37 mg/m2 to 370 mg/m2) although higher or lower doses may be administered where required. The compound used in the formula (Io) can be administered on a daily basis or on a repeat basis every 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 10 or 14, or 21, or 28 days for example.
The compounds used in the invention may be administered orally in a range of doses, for example 0.1 to 5000 mg, or 1 to 1500 mg, 2 to 800 mg, or 5 to 500 mg, e.g. 2 to 200 mg or 10 to 1000 mg, particular examples of doses including 10, 20, 50 and 80 mg. The compound may be administered once or more than once each day. The compound can be administered continuously (i.e. taken every day without a break for the duration of the treatment regimen). Alternatively, the compound can be administered intermittently (i.e. taken continuously for a given period such as a week, then discontinued for a period such as a week and then taken continuously for another period such as a week and so on throughout the duration of the treatment regimen). Examples of treatment regimens involving intermittent administration include regimens wherein administration is in cycles of one week on, one week off; or two weeks on, one week off; or three weeks on, one week off; or two weeks on, two weeks off; or four weeks on two weeks off; or one week on three weeks off—for one or more cycles, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or more cycles. This discontinuous treatment can also be based upon numbers of days rather than a full week. For example, the treatment can comprise daily dosing for 1 to 6 days, no dosing for 1 to 6 days with this pattern repeating during the treatment protocol. The number of days (or weeks) wherein the compounds used in the invention are not dosed do not necessarily have to equal the number of days (or weeks) wherein the compounds used in the invention are dosed.
In one embodiment, the compounds used in the invention can be administered in amounts from 3 mg/m2 to 125 mg/m2 daily. Treatment can be by continuous daily dosing or more usually consist of multiple cycles of treatment separated by treatment breaks. One example of a single treatment cycle is 5 consecutive daily doses followed by 3 weeks without treatment.
One particular dosing regimen is once a day (e.g. orally) for a week (e.g. 5 days of treatment), followed by a treatment break of 1, 2, or 3 weeks. An alternative dosing regimen is once a week (e.g. orally), for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
In one particular dosing schedule, a patient will be given an infusion of a compound of the formula (Io) for periods of one hour daily for up to ten days in particular up to five days for one week, and the treatment repeated at a desired interval such as two to four weeks, in particular every three weeks.
More particularly, a patient may be given an infusion of a compound of the formula (Io) for periods of one hour daily for 5 days and the treatment repeated every three weeks.
In another particular dosing schedule, a patient is given an infusion over 30 minutes to 1 hour followed by maintenance infusions of variable duration, for example 1 to 5 hours, e.g. 3 hours.
The compounds used in the invention can also be administered by bolus or continuous infusion. The compound used in the invention can be given daily to once every week, or once every two weeks, or once every three weeks, or once every four weeks during the treatment cycle. If administered daily during a treatment cycle, this daily dosing can be discontinuous over the number of weeks of the treatment cycle: for example, dosed for a week (or a number of days), no dosing for a week (or a number of days, with the pattern repeating during the treatment cycle.
In a further particular dosing schedule, a patient is given a continuous infusion for a period of 12 hours to 5 days, and in particular a continuous infusion of 24 hours to 72 hours.
Ultimately, however, the quantity of compound administered and the type of composition used will be commensurate with the nature of the disease or physiological condition being treated and will be at the discretion of the physician.
It may be beneficial to use a compound used in the invention as a single agent or to combine the compound used in the invention with another agent which acts via a different mechanism to regulate cell growth thus treating two of the characteristic features of cancer development. Combination experiments can be performed, for example, as described in Chou T C, Talalay P. Quantitative analysis of dose-effect relationships: the combined effects of multiple drugs or enzyme inhibitors. Adv Enzyme Regulat 1984; 22: 27-55.
The compounds as defined herein can be administered as the sole therapeutic agent or they can be administered in combination therapy with one of more other compounds (or therapies) for treatment of a particular disease state, for example a neoplastic disease such as a cancer as hereinbefore defined. For the treatment of the above conditions, the compounds used in the invention may be advantageously employed in combination with one or more other medicinal agents, more particularly, with other anti-cancer agents or adjuvants (supporting agents in the therapy) in cancer therapy. Examples of other therapeutic agents or treatments that may be administered together (whether concurrently or at different time intervals) with the MDM2 antagonists include but are not limited to:
Particular examples of anti-cancer agents or adjuvants (or salts thereof), include but are not limited to any of the agents selected from groups (i)-(xlviii), and optionally group (xlix), below:
In one embodiment the SKP2 biomarker of the invention can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more of the agents listed in (i)-(xlix) above. In one embodiment the SKP2 biomarker of the invention can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with recombinant interferons, DNA repair inhibitors such as PARP inhibitors; IAP antagonists; platinum compounds; alkylating agents, and/or radiation therapy.
In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined not to be suitable for treatment with a single agent MDM2 inhibitor due to the presence of normal or high levels of SKP2, and hence the patient could be treated with an MDM2 inhibitor in combination with an additional agent that can be used to cause sensitivity to an MDM2 antagonist. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an additional anti-cancer agent. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to have SKP2 present and/or normal level or high levels of SKP2 gene expression, and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more of the agents listed in (i)-(xlix) above.
In one embodiment, SKP2 can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more of the agents (i)-(xlix) above.
In one embodiment, SKP2 can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more recombinant interferons (such as interferon-γ and interferon α) and interleukins (e.g. interleukin 2), for example aldesleukin, denileukin diftitox, interferon alfa 2a, interferon alfa 2b, or peginterferon alfa 2b. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high, and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more recombinant interferons.
In one embodiment, SKP2 can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with DNA repair inhibitors such as PARP inhibitors for example, olaparib, velaparib, iniparib, INO-1001, AG-014699, or ONO-2231. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with a PARP inhibitor. In one embodiment the PARP inhibitor is, for example, selected from olaparib, rucaparib, veliparib, iniparib, INO-1001, AG-014699, ONO-2231 and talazoparib.
In one embodiment, SKP2 can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with IAP antagonists including LCL-161 (Novartis), Debio-1143 (Debiopharma/Ascenta) (xevinapant), AZD5582, Birinapant/TL-32711 (TetraLogic), CUDC-427/GDC-0917/RG-7459 (Genentech), JP1201 (Joyant), T-3256336 (Takeda), GDC-0152 (Genentech) or HGS-1029/AEG-40826 (HGS/Aegera). In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an IAP antagonist. In one embodiment the IAP antagonist is, for example, selected from LCL-161 (Novartis), Debio-1143 (Debiopharma/Ascenta), AZD5582, Birinapant/TL-32711 (TetraLogic), CUDC-427/GDC-0917/RG-7459 (Genentech), JP1201 (Joyant), T-3256336 (Takeda), GDC-0152 (Genentech), ASTX660 (tolinapant) and HGS-1029/AEG-40826 (HGS/Aegera). In one embodiment, IAP antagonists include Debio-4028 or Ascentage IAP inhibitor, APG-1387. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be have normal or high levels of SKP2 and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an IAP antagonist.
In one embodiment, SKP2 can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with platinum compounds, for example cisplatin (optionally combined with amifostine), carboplatin or oxaliplatin; alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards or nitrosourea, for example cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine (BCNU), bendamustine, thiotepa, melphalan, treosulfan, lomustine (CCNU), altretamine, busulfan, dacarbazine, estramustine, fotemustine, ifosfamide (optionally in combination with mesna), pipobroman, procarbazine, streptozocin, temozolomide, uracil, mechlorethamine, methylcyclohexylchloroethylnitrosurea, or nimustine (ACNU), and/or radiation therapy. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with a platinum compound, for example cisplatin (optionally combined with amifostine), carboplatin or oxaliplatin; alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards or nitrosourea, for example cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine (BCNU), bendamustine, thiotepa, melphalan, treosulfan, lomustine (CCNU), altretamine, busulfan, dacarbazine, estramustine, fotemustine, ifosfamide (optionally in combination with mesna), pipobroman, procarbazine, streptozocin, temozolomide, uracil, mechlorethamine, methylcyclohexylchloroethylnitrosurea, or nimustine (ACNU), and/or radiation therapy. In one embodiment the platinum compound is selected from, for example, cisplatin (optionally combined with amifostine), carboplatin, oxaliplatin, dicycloplatin, heptaplatin, lobaplatin, nedaplatin, satraplatin or triplatin tetranitrate, in particular cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. In one embodiment the alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards or nitrosourea, is selected from, for example, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine (BCNU), ambamustine, bendamustine, thiotepa, melphalan, treosulfan, lomustine (CCNU), busulfan, dacarbazine, estramustine, fotemustine, ifosfamide (optionally in combination with mesna), pipobroman, procarbazine, streptozocin, temozolomide, uracil, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, methylcyclohexylchloroethylnitrosurea, nimustine (ACNU), prednimustine, meclorethamine, etoglucid; streptozotocin, irofulven, mitolactol, glufosfamide, evofosfamide, ethylenimines or methylamelamines including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, trimethylolomelamine, triethylenephosphoramide, triethylenethiophosphoramide, or trimemylolomelamine. In one embodiment the SKP2 biomarker of the invention can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with radiation therapy. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 normal or high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with radiation therapy.
In another embodiment there is provided a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient:
In one embodiment the agent or treatment to induce sensitivity e.g. lower the levels of SKP2 is an anticancer agent or treatment. In one embodiment the agent or treatment to induce sensitivity e.g. lower the levels of SKP2 is recombinant interferons (such as interferon-γ and interferon α) and interleukins (e.g. interleukin 2), for example aldesleukin, denileukin diftitox, interferon alfa 2a, interferon alfa 2b, or peginterferon alfa 2b, or DNA repair inhibitors such as PARP inhibitors, or IAP antagonists or platinum compounds, for example cisplatin (optionally combined with amifostine), carboplatin or oxaliplatin; alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards or nitrosourea, for example cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine (BCNU), bendamustine, thiotepa, melphalan, treosulfan, lomustine (CCNU), altretamine, busulfan, dacarbazine, estramustine, fotemustine, ifosfamide (optionally in combination with mesna), pipobroman, procarbazine, streptozocin, temozolomide, uracil, mechlorethamine, methylcyclohexylchloroethylnitrosurea, or nimustine (ACNU), and/or radiation therapy.
In one embodiment the agent or treatment to induce sensitivity, e.g. lower the levels of SKP2, is selected from recombinant interferons and interleukins, DNA repair inhibitors, IAP antagonists or platinum compounds. In one embodiment the agent or treatment to induce sensitivity, e.g. lower the levels SKP2, is an IAP antagonist.
In one embodiment the agent or treatment to trigger apoptosis is an IAP antagonist. In one embodiment the IAP antagonist is LCL-161 (Novartis), Debio-1143 (Debiopharma/Ascenta), AZD5582, Birinapant/TL-32711 (TetraLogic), CUDC-427/GDC-0917/RG-7459 (Genentech), JP1201 (Joyant), T-3256336 (Takeda), GDC-0152 (Genentech) or HGS-1029/AEG-40826 (HGS/Aegera).
In one embodiment the IAP antagonist is ASTX660, LCL-161 (Novartis), Debio-1143 (Debiopharma/Ascenta), AZD5582, Birinapant/TL-32711 (TetraLogic), CUDC-427/GDC-0917/RG-7459 (Genentech), JP1201 (Joyant), T-3256336 (Takeda), GDC-0152 (Genentech) or HGS-1029/AEG-40826 (HGS/Aegera). In one embodiment, IAP antagonists include Debio-4028 or Ascentage IAP inhibitor, APG-1387. In one embodiment the IAP antagonist is ASTX660 (tolinapant). In one embodiment the invention relates to a combination of an MDM2 antiagonist e.g. (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid and ASTX660.
In one aspect, the invention provides a combination of
In particular, this aspect of the invention provides:
A combination comprising a combination as disclosed herein (e.g. a combination of the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof) and optionally one or more (e.g. 1 or 2) other therapeutic agents (e.g. anticancer agents).
A combination as disclosed herein comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are physically associated.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein wherein the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are: (a) in admixture; (b) chemically/physicochemically linked; (c) chemically/physicochemically co-packaged; or (d) unmixed but co-packaged or co-presented.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein wherein the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are non-physically associated.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein wherein the combination comprises: (a) at least one of the two or more compounds together with instructions for the extemporaneous association of the at least one compound to form a physical association of the two or more compounds; or (b) at least one of the two or more compounds together with instructions for combination therapy with the two or more compounds; or (c) at least one of the two or more compounds together with instructions for administration to a patient population in which the other(s) of the two or more compounds have been (or are being) administered; or (d) at least one of the two or more compounds in an amount or in a form which is specifically adapted for use in combination with the other(s) of the two or more compounds.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein in the form of a pharmaceutical kit or patient pack.
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination as disclosed herein for use in therapy.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination as disclosed herein for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state or condition as described herein.
A use of a combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination as disclosed herein for the manufacture of a medicament for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state or condition as described herein.
A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease or condition as described herein comprising administering to a patient a combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination as disclosed herein.
A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease or condition as described herein, comprising administering to patient in need thereof (i) the additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof and (ii) the isoindolin-1-one compound as defined herein, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination for use as disclosed herein, in particular for use in a method for the prophylaxis or treatment as disclosed herein, wherein the disease state or condition is mediated by MDM2-p53.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination for use as disclosed herein, or a method for the prophylaxis or treatment using the combination as disclosed herein, wherein patient is selected according to the SKP2 biomarker described herein.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination for use as disclosed herein, or a method for the prophylaxis or treatment using the combination as disclosed herein, wherein patient is selected as having a tumour which is SKP2 normal or high.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination for use as disclosed herein, or a method for the prophylaxis or treatment using the combination as disclosed herein, wherein the disease state or condition is cancer.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination for use as disclosed herein, or a method for the prophylaxis or treatment using the combination as disclosed herein, wherein the disease state or condition is a cancer which is acute myeloid leukaemia.
A combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as disclosed herein for use as disclosed herein for the prophylaxis or treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia.
The isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state or condition as described herein, wherein the isoindolin-1-one compound is used in combination with an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
The isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a cancer as described herein, wherein the isoindolin-1-one compound is used in combination with an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state or condition as described herein, wherein the therapeutic agent is used in combination with the isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
The isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in preventing, treating or managing cancer in a patient in need thereof in combination therapy with an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and optionally with one or more other therapeutic agents.
The use of the isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a cancer where the patient is being treated with another therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
The use of a therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a cancer where the patient is being treated with the isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as disclosed herein.
The use of the isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for use in enhancing or potentiating the response rate in a patient suffering from a cancer where the patient is being treated with another therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
The isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in treating a disease or condition comprising or arising from abnormal cell growth in a mammal, wherein the mammal is undergoing treatment with another therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
The isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use in alleviating or reducing the incidence of a disease or condition comprising or arising from abnormal cell growth in a mammal, wherein the mammal is undergoing treatment with another therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof,
The use of a combination as disclosed herein (e.g a combination comprising the isoindolin-1-one compound or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660 or a tautomer or a solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof) in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the growth of tumour cells.
A product containing as a first active ingredient the isoindolin-1-one compound, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and as a further active ingredient an additional therapeutic agent e.g. ASTX660, or a tautomer, N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of cancer.
In one embodiment the additional therapeutic agent used in combination is an agent or treatment to lower the levels of SKP2. In one embodiment the agent or treatment to lower the levels of SKP2 is Recombinant interferons (such as interferon-γ and interferon α) and interleukins (e.g. interleukin 2), for example aldesleukin, denileukin diftitox, interferon alfa 2a, interferon alfa 2b, or peginterferon alfa 2b, or DNA repair inhibitors such as PARP inhibitors, or IAP antagonists or platinum compounds, for example cisplatin (optionally combined with amifostine), carboplatin or oxaliplatin; alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards or nitrosourea, for example cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine (BCNU), bendamustine, thiotepa, melphalan, treosulfan, lomustine (CCNU), altretamine, busulfan, dacarbazine, estramustine, fotemustine, ifosfamide (optionally in combination with mesna), pipobroman, procarbazine, streptozocin, temozolomide, uracil, mechlorethamine, methylcyclohexylchloroethylnitrosurea, or nimustine (ACNU), and/or radiation therapy.
A specific process for preparing, isolating and purifying 1-{6-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1H,2H,3H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridin-1-yl}-2-[(2R,5R)-5-methyl-2-{[(3R)-3-methylmorpholin-4-yl]methyl}piperazin-1-yl]ethan-1-one (ASTX660) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof including the lactate salt can be found at Example 2 in international patent application no PCT/GB2014/053778 which was published as WO 2015/092420 on 25 Jun. 2015. in one embodiment it is the lactate salt of 1-{6-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1H,2H,3H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridin-1-yl}-2-[(2R,5R)-5-methyl-2-{[(3R)-3-methylmorpholin-4-yl]methyl}piperazin-1-yl]ethan-1-one.
Each of the compounds present in the combinations of the invention may be given in individually varying dose schedules and via different routes. As such, the posology of each of the two or more agents may differ: each may be administered at the same time or at different times. A person skilled in the art would know through his or her common general knowledge the dosing regimes and combination therapies to use. For example, the compound used in the invention may be using in combination with one or more other agents which are administered according to their existing combination regimen. Examples of standard combination regimens are provided below.
The taxane compound is advantageously administered in a dosage of 50 to 400 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 75 to 250 mg/m2, particularly for paclitaxel in a dosage of about 175 to 250 mg/m2 and for docetaxel in about 75 to 150 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The camptothecin compound is advantageously administered in a dosage of 0.1 to 400 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 1 to 300 mg/m2, particularly for irinotecan in a dosage of about 100 to 350 mg/m2 and for topotecan in about 1 to 2 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The anti-tumour podophyllotoxin derivative is advantageously administered in a dosage of 30 to 300 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 50 to 250 mg/m2, particularly for etoposide in a dosage of about 35 to 100 mg/m2 and for teniposide in about 50 to 250 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The anti-tumour vinca alkaloid is advantageously administered in a dosage of 2 to 30 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, particularly for vinblastine in a dosage of about 3 to 12 mg/m2, for vincristine in a dosage of about 1 to 2 mg/m2, and for vinorelbine in dosage of about 10 to 30 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The anti-tumour nucleoside derivative is advantageously administered in a dosage of 200 to 2500 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 700 to 1500 mg/m2, particularly for 5-FU in a dosage of 200 to 500 mg/m2, for gemcitabine in a dosage of about 800 to 1200 mg/m2 and for capecitabine in about 1000 to 2500 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The alkylating agents such as nitrogen mustard or nitrosourea is advantageously administered in a dosage of 100 to 500 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 120 to 200 mg/m2, particularly for cyclophosphamide in a dosage of about 100 to 500 mg/m2, for chlorambucil in a dosage of about 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg, for carmustine in a dosage of about 150 to 200 mg/m2, and for lomustine in a dosage of about 100 to 150 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The anti-tumour anthracycline derivative is advantageously administered in a dosage of 10 to 75 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 15 to 60 mg/m2, particularly for doxorubicin in a dosage of about 40 to 75 mg/m2, for daunorubicin in a dosage of about 25 to 45 mg/m2, and for idarubicin in a dosage of about 10 to 15 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
The antiestrogen agent is advantageously administered in a dosage of about 1 to 100 mg daily depending on the particular agent and the condition being treated. Tamoxifen is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of 5 to 50 mg, typically 10 to 20 mg twice a day, continuing the therapy for sufficient time to achieve and maintain a therapeutic effect. Toremifene is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of about 60 mg once a day, continuing the therapy for sufficient time to achieve and maintain a therapeutic effect. Anastrozole is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of about 1 mg once a day. Droloxifene is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of about 20-100 mg once a day. Raloxifene is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of about 60 mg once a day. Exemestane is advantageously administered orally in a dosage of about 25 mg once a day.
Antibodies are advantageously administered in a dosage of about 1 to 5 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, or as known in the art, if different. Trastuzumab is advantageously administered in a dosage of 1 to 5 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, particularly 2 to 4 mg/m2 per course of treatment.
Where the compound of the formula (Io) is administered in combination therapy with one, two, three, four or more other therapeutic agents (typically one or two, more typically one), the compounds can be administered simultaneously or sequentially. In the latter case, the two or more compounds will be administered within a period and in an amount and manner that is sufficient to ensure that an advantageous or synergistic effect is achieved. When administered sequentially, they can be administered at closely spaced intervals (for example over a period of 5-10 minutes) or at longer intervals (for example 1, 2, 3, 4 or more hours apart, or even longer periods apart where required), the precise dosage regimen being commensurate with the properties of the therapeutic agent(s). These dosages may be administered for example once, twice or more per course of treatment, which may be repeated for example every 7, 14, 21 or 28 days.
It will be appreciated that the typical method and order of administration and the respective dosage amounts and regimes for each component of the combination will depend on the particular other medicinal agent and compound used in the present invention being administered, their route of administration, the particular tumour being treated and the particular host being treated. The optimum method and order of administration and the dosage amounts and regime can be readily determined by those skilled in the art using conventional methods and in view of the information set out herein.
The weight ratio of the compound according to the present invention and the one or more other anticancer agent(s) when given as a combination may be determined by the person skilled in the art. Said ratio and the exact dosage and frequency of administration depends on the particular compound according to the invention and the other anticancer agent(s) used, the particular condition being treated, the severity of the condition being treated, the age, weight, gender, diet, time of administration and general physical condition of the particular patient, the mode of administration as well as other medication the individual may be taking, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is evident that the effective daily amount may be lowered or increased depending on the response of the treated subject and/or depending on the evaluation of the physician prescribing the compounds used in the invention. A particular weight ratio for the present MDM2 antagonists and another anticancer agent may range from 1/10 to 10/1, more in particular from 1/5 to 5/1, even more in particular from 1/3 to 3/1.
Skp2 levels may be impacted by reducing gene expression, for example Notch1 signalling induces Skp2 gene expression and inhibiting Notch1 pathway will reduce Skp2 levels. The IKK-NF-kB pathway also regulates Skp2 gene expression through p52/RelA or p52/RelB binding to the Skp2 promoter and reduction of signalling to NFkB transcription factors will decrease Skp2 expression. Another pathway regulating Skp2 gene expression is the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, thus inhibition of PI3K activity by PI3Ki or AKTi reduces Skp2 mRNA levels. Upstream regulators of the PI3K/AKT pathway, such as BCR-ABL and HER2 also regulate Skp2 expression.
In addition to regulation at the expression level, skp2 may be regulated via protein stability. Skp2 phosphorylation, for example by AKT or CDK2, attenuates Skp2 ubiquitination and degradation. Therefore, inhibition of Skp2 phosphorylation is another route to reduce Skp2 protein levels.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with (i)-(xlix) above.
In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be not be suitable for treatment with single agent MDM2 inhibitor due to presence of SKP2 high and hence treatment with an additional agent can be used to trigger SKP2 low in combination with MDM2 inhibitor. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with an additional anticancer agent. In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with one or more of the agents listed in (i)-(xlix) above.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of AKT, inhibitors of CDK2, inhibitors of Notch1 pathway, inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway, inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2.
In one embodiment the patient's tumour is determined to be SKP2 high and is treated with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of AKT, inhibitors of CDK2, inhibitors of Notch1 pathway, inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway, inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of CDK2. In one embodiment the CDK2 inhibitors are selected from AT7519, roscovitine, seliciclib, alvocidib (flavopiridol), abemaciclib, dinaciclib (SCH-727965), 7-hydroxy-staurosporine (UCN-01), JNJ-7706621, BMS-387032 (a.k.a. SNS-032), PHA533533, ZK-304709, zotiraciclib and AZD-5438. Further CDK2 inhibitors include PHA-793887, PHA-690509, PF-07104091, roniciclib (BAY-1000394), milciclib (PHA-848125), NUV-422, ebvaciclib (PF-06873600), FN-1501, fadraciclib (CYC-065), AGM-130, R-547, AG-24322 and IIIM-290.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of Notch1 pathway. One such Notch inhibitor is pictilisib.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, in particular inhibitors of PI3K activity by PI3Ki or AKTi.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of the IKK-NF-kB pathway for example through p52/RelA or p52/RelB binding to the Skp2 promoter and reduction of signalling to NFkB transcription factors. In one embodiment the IKK-NF-kB pathway inhibitor is an inhibitor of IκB kinase (IKK). In one embodiment the IKK-NF-kB pathway inhibitor is an inhibitor of Nuclear factor kappa B inducing kinase (NIK or MAP3K14). One particular compound is Nik inhibitor TRC694 from Janssen.
In one embodiment the IKK-NF-kB pathway inhibitor is an IRAK inhibitor. In one embodiment the IKK-NF-kB pathway inhibitor is such as PF-06650833, R-835, pacritinib, CA-4948, BAY-1830839.
In one embodiment the biomarkers of the invention, in particular SKP2 and/or the SKP substrates listed herein can be used to select a patient to treat with an MDM2 antagonist in combination with inhibitors of BCR-ABL and/or inhibitors of HER2. One such BCR-ABL inhibitor is asciminib. Also imatinib, asciminib (Bcr-Abl), flumatinib (Abl), bosutinib, dasatinib, olverembatinib, axitinib, nilotinib, saracatinib (AZD-0530), ponatinib. Further BCR-ABL inhibitors include radotinib (Supect, IY-5511), bafetinib (INNO-406, NS-187), vodobatinib (K-0706), rebastinib (DCC-2036), NPB-001056, NRC-AN-019, PF-114, AEG-41174, or AZD-0424. In one embodiment the BCR-ABL inhibitor is imatinib, dasatinib, ponatinib.
HER2 inhibitors include afatinib (dual EGFR/HER2) or HER2 antibodies such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, trastuzumab-DM1, ertumaxomab. Further HER2 inhibitors include tucatinib (Tukysa, ARRY-380, MK-7119, ONT-380, irbinitinib), pyrotinib (Airuini, SHR-1258), dacomitinib (Vizimpro, PF-00299804), mobocertinib (AP-32788, TAK-788), varlitinib (ARRY-334543, ASLAN-001; LINO-1608, SPS-4370, QBT-01), tarloxotinib (Tarlox, PR-610, SN-33999, TH-4000), poziotinib (HM-781-36, NOV-120101), epertinib (S-222611), sapitinib (AZD-8931), mubritinib (TAK-165), canertinib (CI-1033, PD-183805), or selatinib, CP-724714 (HY-14674). Further HER2 antibodies include margetuximab (Margenza, MGAH-22), or coprelotamab (GB-221), B-002. In one embodiment the HER inhibitor is lapatinib, neratinib, trastuzumab.
The term “PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor” is used herein to define a compound which inhibits the activation of AKT, the activity of the kinase itself or modulate downstream targets, blocking the proliferative and cell survival effects of the pathway (including one or more of the target enzymes in the pathway as described herein, including phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K), AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), PDK-1, p70 S6 kinase and forkhead translocation).
PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include PKA/B and/or PKB (akt) inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and/or calmodulin inhibitors (forkhead translocation inhibitors) Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include PI3K Inhibitors such as apitolisib, buparlisib, copanlisib, pictilisib, dactolisib, idelalisib, serabelisib, duvelisib, ipatasertib, alpelisib, afuresertib, paxalisib, sonolisib, pilaralisib, fimepinostat (CUDC-907), SKLB-1028, GSK1059615 (PI3K), ZSTK-474, GSK-2636771, samotolisib (LY-3023414), LY294002, SF1126 and PI-103. Further examples include umbralisib (Ukoniq, RP-5264, TGR-1202), inavolisib (GDC-0077, RG-6114, RO-7113755), parsaclisib (IBI-376, INCB-050465), zandelisib (ACC-524, ME-401, PW-143), leniolisib (CDZ-173), linperlisib (YY-20394), eganelisib (IPI-549), tenalisib (RP-6530), seletalisib (UCB-5857), dezapelisib (INCB-040093), nemiralisib (GSK-2269557), bimiralisib (NCB-5, PQR-309), voxtalisib (SAR-245409, XL-765), panulisib (P-7170), gedatolisib (PF-05212384), taselisib (GDC-0032, RG-7604), puquitinib (XC-302), acalisib (CAL-120, GS-9820), or omipalisib (GSK-2126458).
Particular PI3K Inhibitors include apitolisib, buparlisib, copanlisib, pictilisib, ZSTK-474, fimepinostat (CUDC-907), GSK-2636771, and LY-3023414.
Alternative particular PI3K Inhibitors include apitolisib, buparlisib, copanlisib, pictilisib, dactolisib, idelalisib, serabelisib, duvelisib, ipatasertib, alpelisib, afuresertib, paxalisib, sonolisib, pilaralisib, fimepinostat, or samotolisib.
Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors also include mTOR inhibitors such as sirolimus (originally known as rapamycin) and rapamycin analogues such as RAD 001 (everolimus), CCI 779 (temsirolemus), and ridaforolimus (AP23573), or sapanisertib (MLN0128 (INK128), a dual inhibitor of the mTOR complex I (mTORCI) and mTORC2. Further examples include zotarolimus (ABT-578), everolimus (Afinitor, RAD-001), sirolimus (Rapamune, rapamycin), Fosciclopirox (CPX-POM), CC-115, BI-860585 (XP-105), onatasertib (ATG-008, CC-223), or vistusertib (AZD-2014).
PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors also include MTOR inhibitors such as rapamycin analogues, AP23841 and AP23573, calmodulin inhibitors (forkhead translocation inhibitors), API-2/TCN (triciribine), RX-0201, enzastaurin HCl (LY317615), NL-71-101, SR-13668, PX-316, or KRX-0401 (perifosine/NSC 639966); Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include forkhead translocation inhibitors such as calmodulin inhibitor e.g. CBP-501. Calmodulin inhibitors from Harvard are forkhead translocation inhibitors.
Examples of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors include AKT Inhibitors such as perifosine, ipatasertib, uprosertib, afuresertib, MK-2206, MK-8156, AT13148, capivasertib (AZD5363), triciribine, Enzastaurin, XL-418, GSK-690693, and RX-0201.
Particular AKT Inhibitors include perifosine, ipatasertib, afuresertib, MK-2206, MK-8156, AT13148, and AZD-5363.
Particular AKT Inhibitors include ipatasertib, uprosertib, afuresertib, capivasertib.
In one embodiment the PI3K/AKT Pathway inhibitor is a PI3K inhibitor selected from one or more of the specific compounds described above. In one embodiment the PI3K/AKT Pathway inhibitor is PI-103 or LY294002.
In one embodiment is provided a combination of an MDM2 antagonist as described herein and a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor selected from: apitolisib, buparlisib, copanlisib, pictilisib, ZSTK-474, CUDC-907, GSK-2636771, LY-3023414, ipatasertib, afuresertib, MK-2206, MK-8156, Idelalisib, BEZ235 (dactolisib), BYL719, GDC-0980, GDC-0941, GDC-0032 and GDC-0068.
In another embodiment there is provided a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method comprises the steps of selecting a patient:
The compounds used in the invention may also be administered in conjunction with non-chemotherapeutic treatments such as radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy; surgery and controlled diets. Radiotherapy may be for radical, palliative, adjuvant, neoadjuvant or prophylactic purposes.
The compounds used in the present invention also have therapeutic applications in sensitising tumour cells for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hence the compounds used in the present invention can be used as “radiosensitizer” and/or “chemosensitizer” or can be given in combination with another “radiosensitizer” and/or “chemosensitizer”. In one embodiment the compound used in the invention is for use as chemosensitiser.
The term “radiosensitizer” is defined as a molecule administered to patients in therapeutically effective amounts to increase the sensitivity of the cells to ionizing radiation and/or to promote the treatment of diseases which are treatable with ionizing radiation.
The term “chemosensitizer” is defined as a molecule administered to patients in therapeutically effective amounts to increase the sensitivity of cells to chemotherapy and/or promote the treatment of diseases which are treatable with chemotherapeutics.
Many cancer treatment protocols currently employ radiosensitizers in conjunction with radiation of x-rays. Examples of x-ray activated radiosensitizers include, but are not limited to, the following: metronidazole, misonidazole, desmethylmisonidazole, pimonidazole, etanidazole, nimorazole, mitomycin C, RSU 1069, SR 4233, E09, RB 6145, nicotinamide, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), bromodeoxycytidine, fluorodeoxyuridine (FudR), hydroxyurea, cisplatin, and therapeutically effective analogs and derivatives of the same.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancers employs visible light as the radiation activator of the sensitizing agent. Examples of photodynamic radiosensitizers include the following, but are not limited to: hematoporphyrin derivatives, Photofrin, benzoporphyrin derivatives, tin etioporphyrin, pheoborbide-a, bacteriochlorophyll-a, naphthalocyanines, phthalocyanines, zinc phthalocyanine, and therapeutically effective analogs and derivatives of the same.
Radiosensitizers may be administered in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more other compounds, including but not limited to: compounds which promote the incorporation of radiosensitizers to the target cells; compounds which control the flow of therapeutics, nutrients, and/or oxygen to the target cells; chemotherapeutic agents which act on the tumour with or without additional radiation; or other therapeutically effective compounds for treating cancer or other diseases.
Chemosensitizers may be administered in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more other compounds, including but not limited to: compounds which promote the incorporation of chemosensitizers to the target cells; compounds which control the flow of therapeutics, nutrients, and/or oxygen to the target cells; chemotherapeutic agents which act on the tumour or other therapeutically effective compounds for treating cancer or other disease. Calcium antagonists, for example verapamil, are found useful in combination with antineoplastic agents to establish chemosensitivity in tumour cells resistant to accepted chemotherapeutic agents and to potentiate the efficacy of such compounds in drug-sensitive malignancies.
For use in combination therapy with another chemotherapeutic agent, the compound of the formula (Io) and one, two, three, four or more other therapeutic agents can be, for example, formulated together in a dosage form containing two, three, four or more therapeutic agents i.e. in a unitary pharmaceutical composition containing all components. In an alternative, the individual therapeutic agents may be formulated separately and presented together in the form of a kit, optionally with instructions for their use.
In one embodiment the pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound of formula (Io) together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally one or more therapeutic agent(s) In another embodiment the invention relates to the use of a combination according to the invention in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the growth of tumour cells.
In a further embodiment the invention relates to a product containing a compound of formula (Io) and one or more anticancer agent, as a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of patients suffering from cancer.
The invention is now described further with reference to the following non-limiting examples.
MDM2 antagonists for use in the invention will now be illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the specific embodiments described in the following examples. Compounds are named using an automated naming package such as AutoNom (MDL) or ChemAxon Structure to Name or are as named by the chemical supplier.
The following first set of examples of MDM2 antagonists, in which cyc is phenyl, can be prepared as decribed in international patent application no PCT/GB2016/053042 which was published as WO 2017/055860 on 6 Apr. 2017:
The following second set of examples of MDM2 antagonists, in which cyc is Het, can be prepared as decribed in international patent application no PCT/GB2016/053041 which was published as WO 2017/055859 on 6 Apr. 2017:
2H2)propoxy]-6-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one
2H2)propoxy]-6-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one
To a solution of (S)-2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-fluoro-5-(1-hydroxy-1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)propyl)benzoic acid (Preparation 52) (0.686 g, 1.6 mmol), prop-2-en-1-yl (2S,3S)-3-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpropanoate (Preparation 62) (0.54 g, 2.12 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.83 mL, 4.8 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added HATU (0.91 g, 2.4 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hrs. Water was added and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with saturated NaHCO3, brine, dried and the solvent evaporated. The crude product was purified by chromatography to afford the title compound (0.75 g, 72%). MS: [M−H]−=654.
The title compound was prepared from ethyl (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-1-hydroxy-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoate and methanol in a similar manner as described in Preparation 10, but using MeOH instead of 1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropane. The diastereoisomers were separated by chiral SFC, the title compound was the faster eluting isomer. MS: [M+H]+=670.
The title compound was prepared from prop-2-en-1-yl (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoate in an analogous fashion as described in Example 90, step 4. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 12.56-12.00 (1H, m), 7.71 (1H, s), 7.42 (1H, d), 7.02 (4H, d), 6.88 (3H, d), 4.91 (1H, s), 4.23 (1H, d), 3.99-3.85 (2H, m), 3.75 (1H, dd), 3.25-3.10 (5H, m), 2.02-1.90 (1H, m), 1.90-1.78 (2H, m), 1.67 (1H, d), 1.43-1.17 (6H, m), 0.95 (1H, d), 0.58 (3H, t). MS:[M+H]+=630.
Compound above was dissolved in EtOH and 1 mol. eq. of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane was added. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a colourless solid. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.39 (d, J=10.7 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (broad s, 4H), 6.96-6.88 (m, 4H), 4.92 (broad s, 1H), 4.34-4.22 (m, 1H), 3.88 (dd, J=10.9, 4.2 Hz, 1H), 3.74 (dd, J=11.1, 4.2 Hz, 1H), 3.71-3.61 (m, 1H), 3.29 (s, 6H), 3.33-3.22 (m, 1H), 3.21-3.14 (m, 1H), 3.13 (s, 3H), 1.94 (tt, J=12.2, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 1.89-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.66 (d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H), 1.41-1.24 (m, 2H), 1.19 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.93 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 1H), 0.57 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H). MS: [M+H]+=630.
3-bromo-5-fluorobenzoic acid (32.0 g, 1.0 equiv) was stirred in a mixture of DCM (288 mL, 9 vol) and THF (32 mL, 1 vol) until the majority of the solid dissolved. DMF (0.57 mL, 5 mol %) was added, and the flask placed in an ambient temperature water bath. Oxalyl chloride (13.7 mL, 1.10 equiv) was added over 1 h via syringe pump; 30 minute after the end of addition the reaction was complete by HPLC (sample quenched into MeOH to form methyl ester prior to analysis). The resulting thin slurry was aged overnight, concentrated to 100 mL volume, diluted with THF (160 mL, 5 vol) and again concentrated to 100 mL. The resulting thin slurry of acid chloride was diluted to 160 mL total volume with THF. A solution of LiOtBu in THF (20 wt %, 67.3 g, 77 mL, 1.15 equiv) was diluted with THF (243 mL), then this solution was cooled to an internal temperature of −9° C. with an ice/salt bath. To this was added the slurry containing acid chloride over 55 min, while the internal temperature remained below −3° C. The reaction was complete 15 min following the end of addition. The solution was aged overnight as it warmed to ambient temperature, diluted with heptane (320 mL, 10 vol), and washed with water (160 mL, 5 vol). The aqueous layer was removed to the insoluble rag at the interface, then the organic layer was filtered through a pad of solka-floc. The pad was rinsed with heptane (10 mL), then the combined organic layer was washed 2× with water (2×80 mL, 2.5 vol). The resulting organic layer was distilled under reduced pressure to a 100 mL final volume, diluted with heptane (160 mL, 5 vol), and concentrated again to 100 mL total volume. The solution of tert-butyl 3-bromo-5-fluorobenzoate was used directly in the next step. NMR 1H (400 MHz; CDCl3): 7.89-7.88 (1H, m), 7.60-7.57 (1H, m), 7.40-7.37 (1H, m), 1.57 (9H, s).
A solution of tert-butyl 3-bromo-5-fluorobenzoate (20.0 g, 1.0 equiv) and 1-(oxan-4-yl)propan-1-one (10.85 g, 1.05 equiv) in 2-MeTHF (200 mL, 10 vol) was treated with a 0.5 M solution of LiCl in THE (72.7 mL, 0.5 equiv) and cooled to −70° C. A solution of n-butyllithium in hexanes (2.2 M, 39.0 mL, 1.1 equiv) was added dropwise over 1 h; the reaction was complete upon end of addition. The mixture was warmed to −20° C., quenched with half-saturated aq. NH4Cl solution (200 mL) and agitated for 10 minutes. The mixture was allowed to settle and the layers were separated. The organic phase was washed with water (50 mL, 2.5 vol). The solution assayed by HPLC for 20.6 g tert-butyl 3-fluoro-5-[1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoate (84% assay yield). LCMS (M−H)−; m/z=337.2. The organic solution was concentrated to ca 40 mL total volume (˜2 vol) by distillation under reduced pressure. The concentrated solution of tert-butyl 3-fluoro-5-[1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoate was treated with TFA (28.0 mL, 6.0 equiv) at 20° C. and the solution warmed to 60° C. and aged for 2 hours when HPLC analysis showed the reaction was 98% complete; the mixture was cooled to 20° C. then diluted with MTBE (40 mL, 2 vol) and heptane (80 mL, 4 vol). The solution was seeded with authentic tert-butyl 3-fluoro-5-[1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoate and aged for 30 min while a seed bed grew. The slurry was diluted over 1 h by addition of heptane (120 mL), filtered, and the cake washed with heptane (40 mL) to give the title compound as an off-white solid (14.89 g, 87% yield). NMR 1H (400 MHz; DMSO): 13.23 (1H, s), 7.79 (1H, t), 7.50-7.47 (1H, m), 7.43-7.39 (1H, m), 4.79 (1H, s, broad), 3.79 (2H, ddd), 3.18 (2H, dt), 1.86-1.79 (3H, m), 1.64 (1H, d), 1.36-1.09 (2H, m), 0.93 (1H, d), 0.58 (3H, t); LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=283.1
To a suspension of 3-fluoro-5-[1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoic acid (7.06 g, 1.0 equiv) in DCM (40 mL) at 0° C. was added Et3N (7.08 g, 2.6 equiv) over 30 mins (maintaining a temperature below 5° C.). The resulting clear solution was treated with a solution of TMSOTf (13.34 g, 2.4 equiv) in DCM (40 mL) over 60 mins (maintaining a temperature below 5° C.). The reaction mixture was stirred for a further 1 h at 0° C. Water (88 mL) was added to the cold reaction mixture over 15 mins and the phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with 0.2M KHSO4 solution (53 mL) and water (2×88 mL). The solution was dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product (an oil) was crystallized from DCM/heptane to afford the titled compound (8.24 g, 93%) as an off-white solid. NMR 1H (400 MHz; DMSO): 7.79 (1H, t), 7.65-8.62 (1H, m), 7.35-7.31 (1H, m), 3.98 (2H, ddd), 3.33 (2H, dtd), 2.04-1.84 (3H, m), 1.75 (1H, d), 1.37 (1h, qd), 1.26-1.20 (2H, m), 0.72 (3H, t), 0.25 (9H, s); LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=355.2
To THF (60 mL, 15 vol) at −70 C internal temp was added n-BuLi (9.8 mL, 2.0 equiv, 2.3M solution in hexanes). A solution of 3-fluoro-5-[1-(oxan-4-yl)-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]propyl]benzoic acid (4.0 g, 1.0 equiv) in THF (20.0 mL, 5 vol) was added dropwise over 60 min while the internal temperature was kept below −65 C. The resulting pale red solution was stirred for 30 min after the end of addition, and 4-chlorobenzoyl chloride (1.6 mL, 1.15 equiv) in THF (2 vol, 8.0 mL) was added over 10 min while the internal temperature was kept below −60 C—the reaction is complete at the end of addition; this solution was warmed to 0° C. to give 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-fluoro-5-[1-(oxan-4-yl)-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]propyl]benzoic acid as a solution in THF. LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=493.2 To the solution was added conc. H3PO4 (3.8 mL, 5.0 equiv) and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The mixture was diluted with toluene (40 mL, 10 vol) and 4% aq. NaCl (20 mL, 5 vol). The phases were separated, and the top organic layer was washed with 4% aq. NaCl (20 mL) and water (10 mL). The organic layer was concentrated to ˜⅓ volume, then diluted with toluene (60 mL, 15 vol). The solution was concentrated to −35 mL total volume (˜9 vol, 50° C. bath temp, 80 mbar pressure), over which time a while solid precipitated. The slurry was aged at 50° C. for 1 h, then cooled to ambient temperature and aged for 3 h. The slurry was filtered, and the cake washed with 2×8 mL (2×2 vol) toluene before being dried in a vacuum oven (50° C. oven temp) to a constant mass. The title compound was obtained as a white solid in 81% corr. yield (4.04 g, 95 wt %). LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=421.1
2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-fluoro-5-[1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoic acid (racemate, 300 g, 85 wt %, 255 g 6, 1.0 equiv) was dissolved in Isopropanol (4000 mL) by stirring at 55° C. for 10 min to give a homogeneous solution before cooling to 25° C. To the solution was added bis[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]amine (136.52 g; 1.0 equiv) in IPA (300 ml) over 2 minutes followed by an IPA rinse (200 mL). The solution was stirred at ambient temperature (22-23°) for 15 minutes and then seeded with authentic sample of the title compound (0.50 g); a solid crystallized readily and a slight endotherm (ca −0.4°) was observed. The suspension was stirred at an internal temperature of 19° C. for 20 h, filtered, and the cake washed with IPA (450 mL). The solid was dried under vacuum aspiration for 2 h then in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 20 h to give a beige solid; 175.5 g (41% yield as IPA solvate)—by HPLC, the mixture is 95:5 e.r.
Chiral HPLC Conditions:
Column: ChiralPak IC-3 3 μcolumn 4.6×150 mm
Column Temp: 270
Eluent: Heptane/IPA 80: 20 with 0.1% TFA
Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min @ 254 nm
Retention Desired (S) enantiomer; RT=4.60 mins. Undesired (R) enantiomer), RT=5.83 mins
The material (250 g, 1.0 equiv, 95:5 e.r.) was dissolved in IPA (4000 mL, 16 vol) by warming to 800 and stirring at this temperature for 15 min until a homogeneous solution formed. The solution was cooled over ˜1 h to 52° C., seeded with an authentic sample of the title compound (0.50 g) and the suspension was cooled to 20° C. over 4 hours and then stirred at ambient temperature this temperature overnight (total 24 h). The solid was isolated by filtration under vacuum, the filter cake washed with IPA (2×450 mL) and the filter cake sucked dry for 5 mins before further drying in a 50° C. vacuum oven. 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoic acid-bis[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]amine salt was obtained as a beige solid (219.2 g; 88% recovery); by HPLC the e.r. was 99.6:0.4. NMR 1H (400 MHz; DMSO): 7.84 (1H, d), 7.67 (1H, t), 7.65 (1H, t), 7.58 (1H, t), 7.56 (1H, t), 7.47 (1H, dd), 7.34-7.30 (4H, m), 7.28-7.20 (6H, m), 4.90 (1H, s), 3.90 (1H, dd), 3.80-3.72 (1H, m), 3.51-3.46 (1H, m), 3.30-3.15 (1H, m), 1.93-1.83 (3H, m), 1.68 (1H, d), 1.41-1.28 (1H, m), 1.26 (3H, s), 1.24 (3H, s), 1.04 (3H, s), 1.03 (3H, s), 0.65 (3H, t)
To a suspension of (2S,3S)-3-{[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]amino}-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid (109.82 g, 1.0 equiv), 2-trimethylsilylethanol (49.66 g, 1.2 equiv) and DMAP (4.28 g, 0.05 mol %) in DCM (1100 mL, 10 vol) at −10° C. was added EDC·HCl (100.65 g, 1.5 equiv) in five equal portions over 75 mins (maintaining a temperature below 0° C.). The resulting clear solution was slowly allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 16 h. 1N HCl solution (1000 mL) was slowly added to the reaction mixture over 15 mins and the phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with 5% NaHCO3 solution (500 mL) and water (2×500 mL). The organic phase was concentrated in vacuo to give a 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2S,3S)-3-{[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]amino}-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpropanoate, which was used directly in the next step. LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=414.2 The crude material (a waxy white solid) was redissolved into DCM (200 mL)/heptane (1500 mL) and a 4N solution of HCl in dioxane (350 mL, 4.0 equiv) was added dropwise to the heptane solution over 2 hrs. During this addition HCl salt begins to precipitate and the suspension gradually thickens as the reaction is aged at ambient temperature for 24 h. The suspension was diluted with MTBE (800 mL), filtered and the filter cake washed with MTBE (2×200 mL) to afford the title compound as a white flaky solid (108.22 g, 88%) after drying in a vacuum oven at 50° C. to a constant weight. NMR 1H (400 MHz; CDCl3): 8.93 (3H, bs), 7.39-7.29 (4H, m), 4.3 (1H, bd), 4.06-3.92 (2H, m), 3.17-3.08 (1H, m), 1.32 (3H, d), 0.80-0.71 (2H, m), −0.02 (9H, s); LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=314.1
Dichloromethane (150 mL, 10 vol) was added to a mixture of 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]benzoic acid-bis[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]amine salt (15.0 g, 1.0 equiv), 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2S,3S)-3-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpropanoate-hydrochloride salt (8.2 g, 1.1 equiv), EDC hydrochloride (4.7 g, 1.15 equiv), DMAP (260 mg, 0.1 equiv), and 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (230 mg, 0.1 equiv). The mixture was stirred for 18 h, then quenched by addition of aq. NaHCO3 (4.5 g, 2.5 equiv in 60 mL H2O). The layers were separated and the DCM phase concentrated to 30 mL (2 vol). MTBE (150 mL, 10 vol) was added, and the organic layer washed sequentially with 2× aq. H3PO4 (3.5 mL, 2.5 equiv in 60 mL water), aq. NaHCO3 (4.5 g, 2.5 equiv in 60 mL H2O), and water (60 mL). The organic layer was concentrated to 60 mL (2 vol), diluted with MeOH (300 mL, 20 vol), and concentrated to 150 mL (10 vol). The MeOH solution was diluted with water (15 mL), seeded with authentic sample (15 mg, 0.1 wt %), and aged at ambient temperature for 30 min while a seed bed grew. The slurry was diluted with water (45 mL) added over 2 h, aged for 1 h, then filtered. The cake was washed with 2.5/1 MeOH:H2O (45 mL) and water (45 mL), and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 18 h to give the title compound as a white solid (13.5 g, 89% yield, d.r.>99:1 by 19F NMR). NMR 1H (400 MHz; CDCl3): 7.80 (1H, s), 7.15 (1H, d), 7.01-6.99 (4H, m), 6.97-6.92 (4H, m), 4.77 (1H, s), 4.36 (1H, d), 4.16-4.08 (1H, m), 3.94-3.90 (1H, m), 3.89-3.79 (2H, m), 3.47 (1H, d), 3.31 (1H, t), 3.08 (1H, t), 2.55 (1H, s), 1.91 (1H, sep), 1.86-1.77 (2H, m), 1.74-1.71 (1H, m), 1.41-1.22 (5H, m), 0.94 (1H, d), 0.68-0.54 (5H, m), 0.10 (9H, s), NMR 19F (376 MHz, CDCl3) δ: −119.1 and LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=716.2
Solid 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-1-hydroxy-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoate (2.5 g, 1.0 equiv) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (12.5 mL, 5 vol) in a 100 mL 3-neck flask at room temperature. The solution was cooled to −70° C. internal temperature, and MeOTf (methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate) (0.46 mL, 1.2 equiv) was added. The resulting clear solution was held at internal temperature of −70° C. LiOtBu (20 wt % in THF, 1.9 mL, 1.2 equiv) was added dropwise over a period of 1 h by syringe pump. The mixture was held at −70° C. for 18 h then warmed to −15° C. over 2 h at which point conversion was >98%. The reaction mixture was diluted with IPA (12.5 mL) and then water (12.5 mL). The solution was seeded with product 10, and stirred at ambient temperature for 30 minutes while a seed bed formed. Additional water (25 mL) was added slowly via a syringe pump over 1.5 h and the slurry aged for 1 h at ambient temperature before being filtered. The cake was washed with 1:1 IPA/water (20 mL) and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. to give the title compound (2.4 g) (94% uncorrected yield, 100:0.5 d.r by 19F NMR). NMR 1H (400 MHz; CDCl3): 7.67 (1H, d), 7.28 (1H, dd), 6.93-6.88 (8H, m), 4.30-4.19 (m, 2H), 4.01 (dd, 1H), 3.92-3.77 (m, 3H), 3.40-3.26 (m, 2H), 3.22 (s, 3H), 1.97-1.84 (m, 4H), 1.72 (bs, 3H), 1.49-1.38 (m, 2H), 1.36 (d, 3H), 1.07 (bd, 1H), 0.69 (t, 3H), 0.61-0.52 (m, 2H), −0.08 (s, 9H); NMR 19F (376 MHz, CDCl3) δ: −118.8 and LCMS (M+H)+: m/z=730.3
2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoate (170.0 g, 1.0 equiv) and CsF (70.7 g, 2.0 equiv) were charged to a 5 L fixed vessel and DMF (510 mL, 3 vol) was added at ambient temperature. The mixture was warmed to 60° C. and aged for 7 h at this temperature at which point the reaction was complete. The mixture was cooled to 20° C. and stirred overnight. The DMF was diluted with EtOAc (1700 mL, 10 mL) and 1 M HCl (510 mL, 3 vol). The layers were separated, and the organic layer was washed sequentially with 5% aq. LiCl (4×680 mL, 4 vol) and water (2×680 mL, 4 vol) before being concentrated. The resulting oil was concentrated twice from EtOAc (250 mL each time) to give the title compound as a pale yellow foam (141 g corr., 92 wt %., 96% yield). The solid was suspended in EtOAc (684 mL, 4 vol) and heated to 70° C., held at this temperature for 1 h, then cooled to 20° C. over 2 h. Heptane (1370 mL, 8 vol) was added over 70 min and the slurry aged overnight. The solid was filtered, washed with EtOAc/heptane 1:2 (2×300 mL), and dried to a constant weight in a vacuum oven at 50° C. to give 133 g (86% yield).
The product was isolated in stable anhydrous crystalline form. This has been designated as free acid ‘Form F’ and is a stable crystalline polymorph.
The XRPD has peaks at the following resonances (Table 6):
(2S,3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-fluoro-5-[(1 S)-1-hydroxy-1-(oxan-4-yl)propyl]-1-methoxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl]-2-methylpropanoic acid (113.0 g, 1.0 equiv) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (21.95 g, 1.01 equiv) were charged as solids to a 2 L vessel. Methanol (1130 mL) was added with stirring under nitrogen to give a mobile suspension. The solids were dissolved by warming to 38-40° over 30 mins to give a clear solution. This was cooled to 20-22° and then concentrated under reduced pressure on a Buchi rotavapor to give a white foam. The foam was transferred to a crystallization dish and dried under vacuum (ca 20 mmHg) at 600 over a weekend (60 h) to give the title compound as a crisp white foam (134.1 g; 99.5).
Other methods for the preparation of compound 1 can be found in international patent application no PCT/GB2018/050845 which was published as WO 2018/178691 on 4 Oct. 2018.
MDM2-p53 Interaction Using a 96-Well Plate Binding Assay (ELISA)
The ELISA assay was performed in streptavidin coated plates which were preincubated with 200 μl per well of 1 μg ml−1 biotinylated IP3 peptide. The plates were ready to use for MDM2 binding after washing the plate with PBS.
Compounds and control solutions in DMSO aliquoted in 96-well plates were pre-incubated in a final 2.5-5% (v/v) DMSO concentration at room temperature (for example 20° C.) for 20 min with 190 μl aliquots of optimized concentrations of in vitro translated MDM2, before transfer of the MDM2-compound mixture to the b-IP3 streptavidin plates, and incubation at 4° C. for 90 min. After washing three times with PBS to remove unbound MDM2, each well was incubated at 20° C. for 1 hour with a TBS-Tween (50 mM Tris pH7.5; 150 mM NaCl; 0.05% Tween 20 nonionic detergent) buffered solution of primary mouse monoclonal anti-MDM2 antibody (Ab-5, Calbiochem, used at a 1/10000 or 1/200 dilution depending on the antibody stock solution used), then washed three times with TBS-Tween before incubation for 45 mins at 20° C. with a TBS-Tween buffered solution of a goat-anti-mouse horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondary antibody (used at 1/20000 or 1/2000 depending on the antibody stock solution). The unbound secondary antibody was removed by washing three times with TBS-Tween. The bound HRP activity was measured by enhanced chemiluminesence (ECL™, Amersham Biosciences) using the oxidation of the diacylhydrazide substrate, luminol, to generate a quantifiable light signal. The percentage of MDM2 inhibition at a given concentration is calculated as the [1−(RLU detected in the compound treated sample−RLU negative DMSO control)+(RLU of DMSO positive and negative controls)]×100 or as the (RLU detected in the compound treated sample+RLU of DMSO controls)×100. The IC50 was calculated using a plot of % MDM2 inhibition vs concentration and is the average of two or three independent experiments.
Western Blot Analysis
SJSA cells were treated for 6 hours with 5, 10 and 20 μM of compounds in 0.5% DMSO. The cells together with 0.5% DMSO only controls were washed with ice-cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and protein extracts prepared by lysing the cells in SDS buffer (62.5 mM Tris pH 6.8; 2% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS); 10% glycerol) with sonication for 2×5 seconds (Soniprep 150ME) to break down high molecular weight DNA and reduce the viscosity of the samples. The protein concentration of the samples was estimated using the Pierce BCA assay system (Pierce, Rockford, IL) and 50 μg aliquots of protein analysed using standard SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western immunoblotting procedures. β-mercaptoethanol (5%) and bromophenol blue (0.05%) were added and the samples, which were then boiled for 5 minutes, followed by brief centrifugation, before loading onto a pre-cast 4-20% gradient Tris-Glycine buffered SDS-polyacrylamide gel (Invitrogen). Molecular weight standards (SeeBlue™, Invitrogen) were included on every gel and electrophoresis was carried out in a Novex XL tank (Invitrogen) at 180 volts for 90 minutes. The separated proteins were transferred electrophoretically overnight from the gel onto a Hybond C nitrocellulose membrane (Amersham) using a BioRad electrophoresis tank and 25 mM Tris, 190 mM glycine and 20% methanol transfer buffer at 30 volts or two hours at 70 volts. Primary antibodies used for immunodetection of the transferred proteins were: mouse monoclonal NCL-p53DO-7 (Novocastra) at 1:1000; MDM2 (Ab-1, clone IF2) (Oncogene) at 1:500; WAF1 (Ab-1, clone 4D10) (Oncogene) at 1:100; Actin (AC40) (Sigma) at 1:1000. The secondary antibody used was peroxidase conjugated, affinity purified, goat anti-mouse (Dako) at 1:1000. Protein detection and visualisation was performed by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL™ Amersham) with light detection by exposure to blue-sensitive autoradiography film (Super RX, Fuji).
Protocol A: SJSA-1 and SN40R2 Assays
The MDM2 amplified cell lines tested were an isogenic matched pair of p53 wild-type and mutated osteosarcoma (SJSA-1 and SN40R2, respectively). All cell cultures were grown in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco, Paisley, UK) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and routinely tested and confirmed negative for mycoplasma infection. The growth of cells and its inhibition was measured using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) method as previously outlined. 100 μl of 3×104/ml and 2×104/ml SJSA-1 and SN40R2 cells, respectively, were seeded into 96-well tissue culture plates and incubated at 37° C. in a 5% CO2 humidified incubator for 24 hrs, after which the medium was replaced with 100 μl of test medium containing a range of MDM2-p53 antagonist concentrations and incubated for a further 72 hrs to allow cell growth before adding 25 μL of 50% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to fix the cells for 1 h at 4° C. The TCA was washed off with distilled water and 100 μL of SRB dye (0.4% w/v in 1% acetic acid) (Sigma-Aldrich, Poole, Dorset) added to each well of the plate. Following incubation with the SRB dye at room temperature for 30 min, the plates were washed with 1% acetic acid and left to dry. The SRB stained protein, which is a measure of the number of cells in a well, was then resuspended in 100 μL of 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 10.5) and the absorbance at λ=570 nm measured in each well using a FluoStar Omega Plate reader. The GI50 was calculated by non-linear regression analysis of the data using Prism v4.0 statistical software.
Protocol B: SJSA-1 and SN40R2 Assays
The CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay is a homogeneous method to determine the number of viable cells in culture based on quantitation of the ATP present, which signals the presence of metabolically active cells. Both SJSA-1 and SN40R2 were grown in RPMI 1640 (Life Technologies #61870) supplemented with 10% FBS (PAA #A15-204) and 10 U/ml penicillin/streptomycin. 2000 cells in 75 μl were seeded in each well of a 96 well plate and left at 37° C. in a 5% CO2 humidified incubator for 24 hrs. A range of MDM2-p53 antagonist concentrations in DMSO was then added to the cells to a final DMSO concentration of 0.3%, and incubated for a further 72 hrs to allow cell growth. 100 μl of CTG reagent (Promega #G7573) was added to all wells and luminescence was measured on the topcount.
The EC50 values were determined from a sigmoidal 4 parameter curve fit using XLfit in conjunction with Activity Base (IDBS; Guildford, Surrey, UK).
Anti-Proliferative Activity
Inhibition of cell growth is measured using the Alamar Blue assay (Nociari, M. M, Shalev, A., Benias, P., Russo, C. Journal of Immunological Methods 1998, 213, 157-167). The method is based on the ability of viable cells to reduce resazurin to its fluorescent product resorufin. For each proliferation assay cells are plated onto 96 well plates and allowed to recover for 16 hours prior to the addition of inhibitor compounds (in 0.1% DMSO v/v) for a further 72 hours. At the end of the incubation period 10% (v/v) Alamar Blue is added and incubated for a further 6 hours prior to determination of fluorescent product at 535 nM ex/590 nM em. The anti-proliferative activities of compounds of the invention can be determined by measuring the ability of the compounds to inhibit growth in cancer cell lines for example as available from DSMZ, ECACC or ATCC.
Results: First Set of Examples Wherein Cyc is Phenyl
Where more than one data point has been obtained, the table above shows an average (e.g. geometric or arithmetic mean) of these data points.
It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.
Results: Second Set of Examples Wherein Cyc is Het
Results
Compound 1 was screened in a panel of 210 p53 wild-type cancer cell lines derived from a range of tumour tissues including colon, blood, breast, lung, skin, ovary, and pancreas. IC50 values and activity areas were calculated from the raw dose-response curves. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines were found to be the most sensitive. Differential gene expression analyses on apoptotic vs. non-apoptotic AML cell lines surprisingly identified low SKP2 expression as a novel biomarker in AML (
Methods:
Cancer cells were cultured in appropriate medium. Cells were harvested and counted using the Vi-cell XR cell counter. Cells were adjusted to the appropriate density and seeded in a volume of 100 μL into 96-well opaque-walled clear bottom plates and incubated overnight at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. No cells were added to column 1, as this was to be used as a blank control.
A 10 mM stock solution of Compound 1 was prepared in DMSO. The stock solution was further diluted in DMSO, before addition to duplicate wells of the 96-well plates containing the cells, to give a 0.1% DMSO final concentration. Plates were then incubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 for 3 days. Each cell line was tested in triplicates.
100 μL of CellTiter-Glo reagent was added to each well of the assay plate. Plates were mixed on an orbital shaker for 10 minutes, before undergoing a 10-minute incubation at room temperature. The plate was then read (for luminescence) in an EnSpire plate reader.
Each well was calculated, minus medium only control (no cells) as percentage of the mean DMSO control minus medium only control. Sigmoidal dose-response (variable slope) curves and IC50 values were calculated using GraphPad Prism (GraphPad Software, La Jolla California USA).
Differential Gene Expression
Gene expression profiling of human AML cell lines was performed by paired-end (2×150 bp), strand-specific RNA-sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq platform and 3 biological replicates for each sample. Sequencing was done by GATC Biotech (now Eurofins Genomics) and the bioinformatics analysis of RNA-sequencing data was done in-house. On average around 89 million reads were produced per sample. The raw reads were aligned to the human genome hg19/GRC37 genome using Bowtie v2.2.9 [Langmead et al 2019 Genome Biology]. On average, 94% of the reads were aligned uniquely to the genome. Aligned BAM files were used for transcript and gene quantification using the htseq-count tool of the HTSeq software suite (version 0.11.1) based on the GENCODE v19 annotations. Variance stabilizing transformation function from the DESeq2 R package (v1.14.1, Love et al Genome Biology 550, 2014) was used to normalize the raw count data and unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed. Biological replicates were highly correlated (R2=0.99).
Differential gene expression was performed using the DESeq2 R package. Genes with corrected p-value <0.05 were considered as significantly differentially expressed between apoptotic and non-apoptotic samples. Among the down-regulated genes, SKP2 was identified as significantly down-regulated in apoptotic cell lines (
As AML is one of the indications in which low SKP2 is frequently found, the anti-proliferative activity of Compound 1 was further investigated in a panel of 12 AML cell lines. Levels of Compound 1-induced apoptosis were measured as percentage of cells with activated caspase-3. Compound 1-dependent increase in activated caspase-3 was observed in all cell lines except the negative control (KG-1, TP53 mutant). In particular, 5 cell lines (MV4-11, EOL-1, Molm-13, OCI-AML-2 and BDCM) showed a strong induction of apoptosis with >30% of cells staining positive for activated caspase-3 following 48-hour treatment with 100 nM Compound 1. For the purpose of follow-up analyses, these 5 cell lines were grouped as “apoptotic” versus the other 4 “non-apoptotic” cell lines (HNT-34, OCI-AML3, ML-2, GDM-1), which showed <30% apoptosis after identical treatment with Compound 1 (
Immunoblotting for SKP2 demonstrated that all 5 apoptotic cell lines (MV4-11, EOL-1, Molm-13, OCI-AML-2 and BDCM) show low levels of SKP2 protein expression compared to high SKP2 expression levels in the 4 non-apoptotic cell lines (HNT-34, OCI-AML3, ML-2, GDM-1) (
Methods:
Activated Caspase-3 by Cytometry
AML cell lines were set up in 6-well plates for treatment with Compound 1. The cell lines were plated out in 6-well plates at 0.5×106 cells/ml (2 ml/well) the day before treatment and allowed to recover overnight in a humidified 5% CO2/air incubator at 37° C. After incubation of the cells with 0.1 μM Compound 1 for 48 h a humidified 5% CO2/air incubator at 37° C., the cells were spun down and resuspended in 500 μl PBS. 200 μl of each sample was added to duplicate wells of a 96-well plate. To one of the two wells, 50 μl of serum-free medium was added as an unstained control. Caspase-3 substrate (CellPlayer™ Kinetic Caspase-3/7 Apoptosis Assay (Essen Bioscience Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK), Cat. No. 4440)) was added to the other well to give a final concentration of 2 μM by adding 50 μl of 5× CellPlayer Caspase-3/7 (10 μM in serum-free RPMI medium) to start the cell staining. The plate was incubated in the dark for 30 minutes before measuring fluorescent stained cells in a Guava EasyCyte HT cytometer (Merck Millipore, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). Activated caspase-3 staining was recorded in the GRN-B (green) channel, with unstained and DMSO control wells being used to set the gated stained and unstained cell populations—allowing the percentage of cells that are apoptotic to be calculated.
Western Blotting
Cell lysates were prepared by taking the cell pellets and adding ice-cold 1× complete Tris lysis buffer (1% Triton X-100, 150 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris·HCl pH 7.5, plus protease inhibitors (complete mini, 1 tablet/10 ml, Roche, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, UK), 50 mM NaF and 1 mM Na3V04). Samples were vortexed and left on ice for 30 min. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation for 15 minutes at 14,000 rpm in a cooled microfuge and a sample of the supernatant removed for protein determination (BCA assay—Pierce, Paisley, UK). The cell lysates were then analysed by Western blotting. Equivalent amounts of protein lysate were mixed with SDS sample buffer (Novex, Paisley, UK) and DTT before being boiled for 10 min. Samples were resolved by SDS PAGE (4-12% Nu-PAGE gels—Novex, Paisley, Scotland), blotted onto nitrocellulose filters, blocked with Odyssey Blocking Buffer (LI-COR Bioscience, Lincoln, USA) and incubated overnight at 4° C. with the specific primary antibodies, diluted in Odyssey blocking buffer. After washing, blots were incubated for 1 hour with infrared dye labelled anti-rabbit IR800 or anti-goat IR800 secondary antibodies at a dilution of 1:10,000 in Odyssey blocking buffer (LiCor Biosciences, Lincoln, USA). Blots were then scanned to detect infrared fluorescence on the Odyssey infrared imaging system (LiCOR Biosciences, Lincoln, USA).
Immunoblotting for SKP2 demonstrates that all 5 apoptotic cell lines (MV4-11, EOL-1, Molm-13, OCI-AML-2 and BDCM) expressed low levels of SKP2 protein. To test if overexpression of SKP2 could lead to increased resistance to treatment with Compound 1, the highly apoptotic MV4-11 cell line was engineered to overexpress SKP2. Alamar Blue proliferation assays show that SKP2 overexpression (SKP2 OE) makes MV4-11 cells resistant to Compound 1 treatment compared to control (
It is shown that SKP2 induced resistance to an MDM2 antagonist, but did not modulate the activity of other key regulators of apoptosis (
Methods:
Cell Lines Generation
shRNA Lentiviral Transduction:
MISSION® shRNA Lentiviral Transduction Particles (Sigma Aldrich, Pool, UK) were used to knockdown SKP2 in the OCI-AML3 AML cell line. Stable gene knockdown was established by cellular resistance to puromycin (1 μg/ml) and was confirmed at the protein level by western blot. The Non-Target shRNA Control Vector (Sigma Aldrich, Pool, UK) containing an insert sequence that does not target any human gene served as a negative control.
Precision LentiORF Transduction:
Precision LentiORF Lentiviral Transduction Particles (Cat. OHS5900-224629438, Dharmacon, UK) were used to overexpress SKP2 in the MV4-11 AML cell line. Stable gene overexpression was established by cellular resistance to blasticidin (5 μg/ml) and was confirmed at the protein level by western blot. The Precision LentiORF control empty vector (Dharmacon, UK) served as a negative control.
Alamar Blue Assay
The number of viable cells was determined by Alamar Blue assay (Bio-Rad, Irvine, CA, USA). All cell lines were grown and assayed in RPMI-1640+10% FBS medium. A black 96-well flat-bottomed (clear) tissue culture treated plate was seeded with 200 μl of cells at 5×104 cells/ml and incubated overnight at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air.
Compounds were diluted first in DMSO and then into serum-free medium, before addition to triplicate wells of the cultured cells to give a 0.1% DMSO final concentration. Plates were then incubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air for 24 h. Twenty μl of Alamar Blue™ (AbD Serotec/Bio-Rad) was added to each well and plates were then incubated for 4-6 h at 37° C. in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and air. Plates were then read at 535 nm (excitation) and 590 nm (emission) on a SpectraMax Gemini reader (Molecular Devices, San Jose, CA, USA). Each well was calculated, minus medium only control (no cells) as percentage of the mean DMSO control minus medium only control. Sigmoidal dose-response (variable slope) curves and IC50 values were calculated using Prism GraphPad Software (version 7, La Jolla, CA, USA).
Apoptosis Assay by Cytometry
AML cell lines were set up in 6-well plates for treatment with Compound 1. The cell lines were plated out in 6-well plates at 0.5×106 cells/ml (2 ml/well) the day before treatment and allowed to recover overnight in a humidified 5% CO2/air incubator at 37° C. After incubation of the cells with Compound 1 the cells were spun down and stained according to the manufacturer's protocol (Annexin V, Alexa Fluor™ 647 conjugate, Catalog number: A23204, Thermo Scientific, UK). Briefly, the cells were resuspended with the Annexin V-binding buffer and stained with Annexin V-conjugate. Samples were incubated for 20 min at room temperature in the dark. After washing with the Annexin V-binding buffer, the cells were analyzed with a flow cytometer.
For caspase 3/7 staining CellEvent™ Caspase 3/7 Green reagent (Life Technologies), a fluorogenic substrate for activated caspase-3 and -7 was used according to the manufacturer's protocol. The cells were incubated with 5 μM of substrate for 30 min at room temperature and then analyzed with a flow cytometer.
Western Blotting
Cell lysates were prepared by taking the cell pellets and adding ice-cold 1× complete Tris lysis buffer (1% Triton X-100, 150 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris·HCl pH 7.5, plus protease inhibitors (complete mini, 1 tablet/10 ml, Roche, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, UK), 50 mM NaF and 1 mM Na3V04). Samples were vortexed and left on ice for 30 min. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation for 15 minutes at 14,000 rpm in a cooled microfuge and a sample of the supernatant removed for protein determination (BCA assay—Pierce, Paisley, UK). The cell lysates were then analysed by Western blotting. Equivalent amounts of protein lysate were mixed with SDS sample buffer (Novex, Paisley, UK) and DTT before being boiled for 10 min. Samples were resolved by SDS PAGE (4-12% Nu-PAGE gels—Novex, Paisley, Scotland), blotted onto nitrocellulose filters, blocked with Odyssey Blocking Buffer (LI-COR Bioscience, Lincoln, USA) and incubated overnight at 4° C. with the specific primary antibodies, diluted in Odyssey blocking buffer. After washing, blots were incubated for 1 hour with infrared dye labelled anti-rabbit IR800 or anti-goat IR800 secondary antibodies at a dilution of 1:10,000 in Odyssey blocking buffer (LiCor Biosciences, Lincoln, USA). Blots were then scanned to detect infrared fluorescence on the Odyssey infrared imaging system (LiCOR Biosciences, Lincoln, USA).
In addition to assessing the effect of SKP2 overexpression and knockdown in vitro, the impact of SKP2 on cancer proliferation was evaluated in vivo, using a disseminated AML model based on the MV4-11 cell line. To generate a systemic in vivo model of AML, NSG mice were injected in the tail vein with MV4-11 cells engineered to overexpress SKP2 or empty vector. Systemic tumour burden was assessed by PCR for circulating human DNA. After 2 weeks mice were randomized and Compound 1 treatment was started. In the absence of SKP2 overexpression, only low levels of circulating human DNA were present following Compound 1 treatment confirming the potent anti-tumour effect of Compound 1 on the MV4-11 model (
To confirm the effects of Compound 1 treatment on leukemic bone marrow engraftment, 14 days after treatment, the percentage of MV4-11 tumour cells in the bone marrow (BM) was analyzed using FACS. In the absence of SKP2 overexpression, Compound 1 caused a significant decrease in leukemic tumour cells (
Methods:
In Vivo Systemic AML Mouse Model
Female NSG Mice (6-8 weeks old) were bought from Jackson Laboratories (Bar Harbor, ME). Animals were given an intravenous injection of 5×106 MV4-11 cells and tumour engraftment was assessed by PCR for circulating human DNA. Mice were randomized to treatment groups based on systemic tumour burden as detected by PCR. Leukemic burden was then monitored weekly by serial bleeding followed by PCR. Mice were observed daily and euthanized humanely upon signs of terminal illness (hind limb paralysis, inability to eat/drink, moribund lethargy).
Bone Marrow Flow Cytometry
On day 14 of treatment with compound 1, bone marrows were harvested from tumour bearing mice. Bone marrow cells were stained with PE-CF594 Anti-Human CD45 (BD 562312), BB515 Anti-Mouse CD45 (BD 564590) and DAPI. The amount of human cells engrafted in the bone marrow is expressed as % of viable mouse CD45+ cells.
PCR for Circulating Human DNA
Blood samples were collected in heparinized capillary tubes and samples were stored at −80° C. until analysis. DNA was extracted using the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Cat: 69504) and PCR for human DNA was run using TaqMan™ Genotyping Master Mix (ThermoFisherScientific Catalog number: 4371355) using the following primers:
Mouse TFRC was used as a reference assay for data normalization (ThermoFisherScientific Cat. 4458366)
SKP2low acute myeloid leukemia blasts isolated from patients are more sensitive to Compound 1 than SKP2high blasts (
Methods:
Evaluation of Primary AML Blasts Sensitivity to Compound 1
Primary frozen AML samples were purchased from NBS Biobank (Moscow, Russia). 13 primary AML samples with high blast content (>80%) were cultured in selected expansion media composed by StemSpan SFEM II media (Stemcell, #09605), 1× StemSpan CD34+ expansion supplement (Stemcell, #02691), 2% FBS and 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin. To evaluate ability of Compound 1 to induce apoptosis on these primary blasts, 24 h apoptosis assay were set up with two Compound 1 concentrations and cell death was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI staining.
Evaluation of SKP2 Protein Expression on Primary AML Blasts
Capillary Western analyses were performed using the ProteinSimple Wes System (San Jose, CA, USA). Antibodies used were specific for SKP2 (#4358) and TXN1 (#2429) as loading control. Samples were diluted with 0.1× Sample Buffer. Then 4 parts of diluted sample were combined with 1 part 5× Fluorescent Master Mix (containing 5× sample buffer, 5× fluorescent standard, and 200 mM DTT) and heated at 95° C. for 5 min. After this denaturation step, the prepared samples, blocking reagent, primary antibodies (1:10 dilution for SKP2, 1:100 for TXN1), HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies and chemiluminescent substrate were dispensed into designated wells in an assay plate. A biotinylated ladder provided molecular weight standards for each assay. After plate loading, the separation electrophoresis and immunodetection steps take place in the fully automated ProteinSimple Wes System.
Extensive investigation has validated low SKP2 expression as a biomarker for sensitivity of cancers, in particular AML, to treatment with an MDM2 antagonist. Validated included: Basal levels vs. sensitivity; Genetic knockdown and overexpression; Specificity for MDM2 antagonists; Mechanism of Action studies; Relevant in vivo model; and Primary AML patient samples.
A panel of AML cell lines which have wild-type (WT) TP53 were analysed for induction of apoptosis by cleaved-caspase-3 cytometry after treatment with MDM2 antagonist Compound 1 for 24 h, 48 h or 72 h.
A range of levels of induced apoptosis were observed after treatment with 0.1 μM Compound 1, and the OCI-AML3 was selected (as it had a lower level of apoptosis-induction after 72 h) for analysis of potential combination effect of Compound 1 with the IAP antagonist ASTX660 in the presence of added TNF-alpha. As shown in
Method:
OCI-AML3 cells were seeded into 6-well plates at 0.25×106 cells/ml in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FBS and left in a humidified 5% CO2/air incubator at 37° C. overnight. The next day the cells were treated with 0.1 μM Compound 1 or 1 μM ASTX660+1 ng/ml TNF-α or a combination of the treatments and incubated at 37° C. for 72 h (a 0.1% v/v DMSO control was set up for comparison). After 72 h the cells were harvested by centrifugation and resuspended in 0.5 ml PBS+1% FBS. Analysis of cleaved caspase-3 levels was performed by adding 2 μM CellEvent caspase-3/7 green detection reagent (Thermo Fisher, Paisley, UK) for 30 minutes at 37° C., before measuring fluorescent stained cells in a Guava easyCyte HT cytometer (Merck Millipore, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). Cleaved caspase-3 staining was recorded in the FL1 (green) channel, with unstained and DMSO control wells being used to set the gated stained and unstained cell populations—allowing the percentage of cells that are apoptotic to be calculated.
Discussion: Combination of Compound 1 and ASTX660
Experiments described demonstrate that p53 wt tumours with low SKP2 expression are sensitive to Compound 1 and those with high SKP2 expression are less sensitive. For example, the OCI-AML3 line has high levels of SKP2 (
Combinations of more than one agent capable of inducing apoptosis may increase the sensitivity of a tumour resistant to the single agent. The addition of the IAP antagonist ASTX660 sensitises the OCI-AML3 to apoptosis induction by Compound 1 (
(i) Tablet Formulation
A tablet composition containing a compound of Formula (Io) is prepared by mixing an appropriate amount of the compound (for example 50-250 mg) with an appropriate diluent, disintegrant, compression agent and/or glidant. One possible tablet comprises 50 mg of the compound with 197 mg of lactose (BP) as diluent, and 3 mg magnesium stearate as a lubricant and compressing to form a tablet in known manner. The compressed tablet may be optionally film coated.
(ii) Capsule Formulation
A capsule formulation is prepared by mixing 100-250 mg of a compound of Formula (Io) with an equivalent amount of lactose and filling the resulting mixture into standard hard gelatin capsules. An appropriate disintegrant and/or glidant can be included in appropriate amounts as required.
(iii) Injectable Formulation I
A parenteral composition for administration by injection can be prepared by dissolving a compound of Formula (Io) (e.g. in a salt form) in water containing 10% propylene glycol to give a concentration of active compound of 1.5% by weight. The solution is then made isotonic, sterilised by filtration or by terminal sterilisation, filled into an ampoule or vial or pre-filled syringe, and sealed.
(iv) Injectable Formulation II
A parenteral composition for injection is prepared by dissolving in water a compound of Formula (Io) (e.g. in salt form) (2 mg/ml) and mannitol (50 mg/ml), sterile filtering the solution or by terminal sterilisation, and filling into sealable 1 ml vials or ampoules or pre-filled syringe.
(v) Injectable formulation III
A formulation for i.v. delivery by injection or infusion can be prepared by dissolving the compound of Formula (Io) (e.g. in a salt form) in water at 20 mg/ml and then adjusted for isotonicity. The vial is then sealed and sterilised by autoclaving or filled into an ampoule or vial or pre-filled syringe, sterilised by filtration and sealed.
(vi) Injectable formulation IV
A formulation for i.v. delivery by injection or infusion can be prepared by dissolving the compound of Formula (Io) (e.g. in a salt form) in water containing a buffer (e.g. 0.2 M acetate pH 4.6) at 20 mg/ml. The vial, ampoule or pre-filled syringe is then sealed and sterilised by autoclaving or sterilized by filtration and sealed.
(vii) Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Injection Formulation
A composition for sub-cutaneous or intramuscular administration is prepared by mixing a compound of Formula (Io) with pharmaceutical grade corn oil to give a concentration of 5-50 mg/ml. The composition is sterilised and filled into a suitable container.
(viii) Lyophilised Formulation I
Aliquots of formulated compound of Formula (Io) are put into 50 ml vials and lyophilized. During lyophilisation, the compositions are frozen using a one-step freezing protocol at (−45° C.). The temperature is raised to −10° C. for annealing, then lowered to freezing at −45° C., followed by primary drying at +25° C. for approximately 3400 minutes, followed by a secondary drying with increased steps if temperature to 50° C. The pressure during primary and secondary drying is set at 80 millitor.
(ix) Lyophilised Formulation II
Aliquots of formulated compound of Formula (Io) or a salt thereof as defined herein are put into 50 mL vials and lyophilized. During lyophilisation, the compositions are frozen using a one-step freezing protocol at (−45° C.). The temperature is raised to −10° C. for annealing, then lowered to freezing at −45° C., followed by primary drying at +25° C. for approximately 3400 minutes, followed by a secondary drying with increased steps if temperature to 50° C. The pressure during primary and secondary drying is set at 80 millitor.
(x) Lyophilised Formulation for Use in i.v. Administration III
An aqueous buffered solution is prepared by dissolving a compound of Formula (Io) in a buffer. The buffered solution is filled, with filtration to remove particulate matter, into a container (such as a Type 1 glass vial) which is then partially sealed (e.g. by means of a Fluorotec stopper). If the compound and formulation are sufficiently stable, the formulation is sterilised by autoclaving at 121° C. for a suitable period of time. If the formulation is not stable to autoclaving, it can be sterilised using a suitable filter and filled under sterile conditions into sterile vials. The solution is freeze dried using a suitable cycle. On completion of the freeze drying cycle the vials are back filled with nitrogen to atmospheric pressure, stoppered and secured (e.g. with an aluminium crimp). For intravenous administration, the freeze dried solid can be reconstituted with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, such as 0.9% saline or 5% dextrose. The solution can be dosed as is, or can be diluted further into an infusion bag (containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, such as 0.9% saline or 5% dextrose), before administration.
(xii) Powder in a Bottle
A composition for oral administration is prepared by filling a bottle or vial with a compound of Formula (Io). The composition is then reconstituted with a suitable diluent for example water, fruit juice, or commercially available vehicle such as OraSweet or Syrspend. The reconstituted solution may be dispensed into dosing cups or oral syringes for administration.
It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. All publications, sequence accession numbers, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013476.3 | Aug 2020 | GB | national |
| 2020493.9 | Dec 2020 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/057853 | 8/27/2021 | WO |
