Discovery and Optimization of Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant 1-Heteroaryl-1 H-Indazole LRRK2 Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

J Med Chem. 2022 Dec 22;65(24):16801-16817. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01605. Epub 2022 Dec 7.

Abstract

Inhibition of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) kinase activity represents a genetically supported, chemically tractable, and potentially disease-modifying mechanism to treat Parkinson's disease. Herein, we describe the optimization of a novel series of potent, selective, central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant 1-heteroaryl-1H-indazole type I (ATP competitive) LRRK2 inhibitors. Type I ATP-competitive kinase physicochemical properties were integrated with CNS drug-like properties through a combination of structure-based drug design and parallel medicinal chemistry enabled by sp3-sp2 cross-coupling technologies. This resulted in the discovery of a unique sp3-rich spirocarbonitrile motif that imparted extraordinary potency, pharmacokinetics, and favorable CNS drug-like properties. The lead compound, 25, demonstrated exceptional on-target potency in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, excellent off-target kinase selectivity, and good brain exposure in rat, culminating in a low projected human dose and a pre-clinical safety profile that warranted advancement toward pre-clinical candidate enabling studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indazoles / pharmacology
  • Indazoles / therapeutic use
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease* / drug therapy
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Rats

Substances

  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Indazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • LRRK2 protein, human