The Discovery of a Potent, Selective, and Peripherally Restricted Pan-Trk Inhibitor (PF-06273340) for the Treatment of Pain

J Med Chem. 2016 Nov 23;59(22):10084-10099. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00850. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Abstract

The neurotrophin family of growth factors, comprised of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), and neurotrophin 4 (NT4), is implicated in the physiology of chronic pain. Given the clinical efficacy of anti-NGF monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies, there is significant interest in the development of small molecule modulators of neurotrophin activity. Neurotrophins signal through the tropomyosin related kinase (Trk) family of tyrosine kinase receptors, hence Trk kinase inhibition represents a potentially "druggable" point of intervention. To deliver the safety profile required for chronic, nonlife threatening pain indications, highly kinase-selective Trk inhibitors with minimal brain availability are sought. Herein we describe how the use of SBDD, 2D QSAR models, and matched molecular pair data in compound design enabled the delivery of the highly potent, kinase-selective, and peripherally restricted clinical candidate PF-06273340.

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrroles
  • Protein Kinases
  • tropomyosin kinase
  • PF-06273340