Structure-based identification of ureas as novel nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2013 Jun 27;56(12):4921-37. doi: 10.1021/jm400186h. Epub 2013 Jun 13.

Abstract

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) is a promising anticancer target. Virtual screening identified a thiourea analogue, compound 5, as a novel highly potent Nampt inhibitor. Guided by the cocrystal structure of 5, SAR exploration revealed that the corresponding urea compound 7 exhibited similar potency with an improved solubility profile. These studies also indicated that a 3-pyridyl group was the preferred substituent at one inhibitor terminus and also identified a urea moiety as the optimal linker to the remainder of the inhibitor structure. Further SAR optimization of the other inhibitor terminus ultimately yielded compound 50 as a urea-containing Nampt inhibitor which exhibited excellent biochemical and cellular potency (enzyme IC50 = 0.007 μM; A2780 IC50 = 0.032 μM). Compound 50 also showed excellent in vivo antitumor efficacy when dosed orally in an A2780 ovarian tumor xenograft model (TGI of 97% was observed on day 17).

MeSH terms

  • Drug Discovery*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Urea / chemistry*
  • Urea / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Urea
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase

Associated data

  • PDB/4JR5