Development of 5-Aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide-based Bumped-Kinase Inhibitors for Cryptosporidiosis Therapy

J Med Chem. 2019 Mar 28;62(6):3135-3146. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00069. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of pediatric diarrhea worldwide. Currently, there is neither a vaccine nor a consistently effective drug available for this disease. Selective 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide-based bumped-kinase inhibitors (BKIs) are effective in both in vitro and in vivo models of Cryptosporidium parvum. Potential cardiotoxicity in some BKIs led to the continued exploration of the 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide scaffold to find safe and effective drug candidates for Cryptosporidium. A series of newly designed BKIs were tested for efficacy against C. parvum using in vitro and in vivo (mouse infection model) assays and safety issues. Compound 6 (BKI 1708) was found to be efficacious at 8 mg/kg dosed once daily (QD) for 5 days with no observable signs of toxicity up to 200 mg/kg dosed QD for 7 days. Compound 15 (BKI 1770) was found to be efficacious at 30 mg/kg dosed twice daily (BID) for 5 days with no observable signs of toxicity up to 300 mg/kg dosed QD for 7 days. Compounds 6 and 15 are promising preclinical leads for cryptosporidiosis therapy with acceptable safety parameters and efficacy in the mouse model of cryptosporidiosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Cell Line
  • Cryptosporidiosis / drug therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Development
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 5-aminopyrazole
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Pyrazoles
  • Interferon-gamma