Discovery and Preclinical Characterization of 5-[4,6-Bis({3-oxa-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl})-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-4-(difluoromethyl)pyridin-2-amine (PQR620), a Highly Potent and Selective mTORC1/2 Inhibitor for Cancer and Neurological Disorders

J Med Chem. 2018 Nov 21;61(22):10084-10105. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01262. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Abstract

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) promotes cell proliferation, growth, and survival and is overactivated in many tumors and central nervous system disorders. PQR620 (3) is a novel, potent, selective, and brain penetrable inhibitor of mTORC1/2 kinase. PQR620 (3) showed excellent selectivity for mTOR over PI3K and protein kinases and efficiently prevented cancer cell growth in a 66 cancer cell line panel. In C57BL/6J and Sprague-Dawley mice, maximum concentration ( Cmax) in plasma and brain was reached after 30 min, with a half-life ( t1/2) > 5 h. In an ovarian carcinoma mouse xenograft model (OVCAR-3), daily dosing of PQR620 (3) inhibited tumor growth significantly. Moreover, PQR620 (3) attenuated epileptic seizures in a tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) mouse model. In conclusion, PQR620 (3) inhibits mTOR kinase potently and selectively, shows antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo, and promises advantages in CNS indications due to its brain/plasma distribution ratio.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / metabolism
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Pyridines / metabolism
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Seizures / drug therapy*
  • Triazines / metabolism
  • Triazines / pharmacology*
  • Triazines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Azabicyclo Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • Triazines
  • pqr620
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2