In Vivo Half-Life Extension of BMP1/TLL Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Using Small-Molecule Human Serum Albumin Binders

Bioconjug Chem. 2021 Feb 17;32(2):279-289. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00662. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Abstract

Reducing the required frequence of drug dosing can improve the adherence of patients to chronic treatments. Hence, drugs with longer in vivo half-lives are highly desirable. One of the most promising approaches to extend the in vivo half-life of drugs is conjugation to human serum albumin (HSA). In this work, we describe the use of AlbuBinder 1, a small-molecule noncovalent HSA binder, to extend the in vivo half-life and pharmacology of small-molecule BMP1/TLL inhibitors in humanized mice (HSA KI/KI). A series of conjugates of AlbuBinder 1 with BMP1/TLL inhibitors were prepared. In particular, conjugate c showed good solubility and a half-life extension of >20-fold versus the parent molecule in the HSA KI/KI mice, reaching half-lives of >48 h with maintained maximal inhibition of plasma BMP1/TLL. The same conjugate showed a half-life of only 3 h in the wild-type mice, suggesting that the half-life extension was principally due to specific interactions with HSA. It is envisioned that conjugation to AlbuBinder 1 should be applicable to a wide range of small molecule or peptide drugs with short half-lives. In this context, AlbuBinders represent a viable alternative to existing half-life extension technologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Metalloproteases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Serum Albumin, Human / metabolism*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Metalloproteases
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1
  • Serum Albumin, Human