Discovery and Optimization of Novel Biphenyl Derivatives Bearing Cyclopropyl Linkage as Potent Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2023 May 25;66(10):6811-6835. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00205. Epub 2023 May 9.

Abstract

A series of novel compounds bearing a cyclopropyl linkage were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. An optimized compound (1S,2S)-A25 showed potent inhibitory activity against the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction (IC50 = 0.029 μM) with a selected binding affinity with PD-L1 (KD = 1.554 × 10-1 μM). Additionally, under the co-culture with H460/Jurkat cells, (1S,2S)-A25 can reduce the survival of H460 cells in a concentration-dependent way. A liver microsomal assay revealed that (1S,2S)-A25 had favorable metabolic stability. Furthermore, (1S,2S)-A25 displayed favorable pharmacokinetic properties (oral bioavailability of 21.58%) and potent antitumor potency in a LLC1 lung carcinoma model without observable side effects. Data from the flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated that (1S,2S)-A25 suppressed the tumor growth by activating the immune microenvironment. Our study suggests that (1S,2S)-A25 is a promising lead compound for the further development of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • B7-H1 Antigen*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor* / metabolism

Substances

  • diphenyl
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Ligands