AWZ1066S, a highly specific anti-Wolbachia drug candidate for a short-course treatment of filariasis

Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are two neglected tropical diseases that together affect ∼157 million people and inflict severe disability. Both diseases are caused by parasitic filarial nematodes with elimination efforts constrained by the lack of a safe drug that can kill the adult filaria (macrofilaricide). Previous proof-of-concept human trials have demonstrated that depleting >90% of the essential nematode endosymbiont bacterium, Wolbachia, using antibiotics, can lead to permanent sterilization of adult female parasites and a safe macrofilaricidal outcome. AWZ1066S is a highly specific anti-Wolbachia candidate selected through a lead optimization program focused on balancing efficacy, safety and drug metabolism/pharmacokinetic (DMPK) features of a thienopyrimidine/quinazoline scaffold derived from phenotypic screening. AWZ1066S shows superior efficacy to existing anti-Wolbachia therapies in validated preclinical models of infection and has DMPK characteristics that are compatible with a short therapeutic regimen of 7 days or less. This candidate molecule is well-positioned for onward development and has the potential to make a significant impact on communities affected by filariasis

A New and Efficient Synthesis of α-Bromoalkyl Perfluoroalkyl Ketones via Opening of Epoxides

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Transformation of the Manufacturing Process from Discovery to Kilogram Scale for AWZ1066S: A Highly Specific Anti-Wolbachia Drug Candidate for a Short-Course Treatment of Filariasis

Anti-Wolbachia therapy has been clinically proven to be a safe approach for the treatment of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. AWZ1066S, a first-in-class highly specific anti-Wolbachia drug candidate developed for a short-course treatment of human filariasis, has advanced into clinical development. An improved, cost-efficient, and scalable process for the manufacture of this clinical candidate is described. Presented herein is the process development work for the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and its two key starting materials [2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]methanamine and (S)-3-methylmorpholine, starting from 2,4-dichloropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, which is capable of delivering high-purity (>99%) API consistently. The optimized production route was used in the manufacture of the clinical candidate at the kilogram scale to support the ongoing clinical development