Skip to main content
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters logoLink to ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
editorial
. 2024 Apr 23;15(5):581–582. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00169

Pyrrolidinone Derivatives as NIK Inhibitors for Treating Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases

Ram W Sabnis 1,*
PMCID: PMC11089656  PMID: 38746901

Abstract

graphic file with name ml4c00169_0004.jpg

Provided herein are novel pyrrolidinone derivatives as NIK inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions, use of such compounds in treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and processes for preparing such compounds.

Important Compound Classes

graphic file with name ml4c00169_0001.jpg

Title

Pyrrolidinone Derivatives as Inhibitors of NF-κB Inducing Kinase

Patent Publication Number

WO 2023/217851 A1

URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2023217851A1/en

Publication Date

November 16, 2023

Priority Application

US 63/364,549

Priority Date

May 11, 2022

Inventors

Rovira, A. R.; Murphy, S. K.; Lebsack, A. D.; Chai, W.; Enny, D.; Maertens, A.; Ameriks, M.

Assignee Company

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Belgium

Disease Area

Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

Biological Target

NIK

Summary

NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) is a serine/threonine kinase transcription factor regulating the expression of various genes involved in immune response disorders. Because of this immune system regulatory role, inhibition of NIK blocks several downstream pathways that produce inflammatory molecules. Clinical validation with biologics has confirmed a key role for several NIK-dependent pathways in autoimmune diseases. One way to mitigate or eliminate the adverse effects associated with NIK activity is to increase INK inhibition.

The present application describes a series of novel pyrrolidinone derivatives as NIK inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Further, the application discloses compounds, their preparation, use, and pharmaceutical composition, and treatment.

Definitions

A = 5-membered heteroaryl that is optionally substituted with one or more C1–4alkyl groups;

W = CH2, CHF, CF2, or CHRw;

X = N, CH or CRx; Y = N, CH or CRy;

R1 = H, C1–4alkyl or C1–4haloalkyl; R2 = H or C1–4alkyl;

L = absent, C1–4alkylene, or C3–6cycloalkylene;

R3 = C1–10alkyl, C3–10cycloalkyl, 3- to 10-membered heterocyclyl, 5- to 12-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system containing one or more heteroatoms, C6–10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, or C(O)N(RN3)(RN4);

R4 = H, halo, or C1–4alkyl; and R5 = H, halo, or C1–4alkyl.

Key Structures

graphic file with name ml4c00169_0002.jpg

Biological Assay

The human NF-KappaB-inducing kinase (NIK/MAP3K14) activity (AlphaScreen) assay was performed. The compounds described in this application were tested for their ability to inhibit NIK. The NIK IC50 values (nM) are shown in the following table.

Biological Data

The table below shows representative compounds that were tested for NIK inhibition and the biological data obtained from testing representative examples. For IC50: A means <50 nM.graphic file with name ml4c00169_0003.jpg

Claims

Total claims: 117

Compound claims: 111

Pharmaceutical composition claims: 1

Method of treatment claims: 5

Recent Review Articles

See refs (15).

The author declares no competing financial interest.

References

  1. Xu G.; Dong F.; Su L.; Tan Z.-X.; Lei M.; Li L.; Wen D.; Zhang F. The role and therapeutic potential of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in ischemic stroke. Biomed. Pharmacother. 2024, 171, 116140. 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Freigeh G. E.; Michniacki T. F. NF-κB and Related Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases. Rheum. Dis. Clin. North Am. 2023, 49, 805–823. 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.06.008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Morrison H. A.; Trusiano B.; Rowe A. J.; Allen I. C. Negative regulatory NLRs mitigate inflammation via NF-κB pathway signaling in inflammatory bowel disease. Biomed. J. 2023, 46, 100616. 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100616. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Sabnis R. W. Pyrrolidinone Derivatives as NIK Inhibitors for Treating Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2024, 15, 322–323. 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00044. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Casper E. The crosstalk between Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in coronary artery disease: Can it be regulated by SIRT6?. Life Sci. 2023, 330, 122007. 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters are provided here courtesy of American Chemical Society

RESOURCES