HRCT trends across improvers and non-improvers.

<p>(A) QGG trends. (B) QLF trends. (C) Baseline [QGG-QLF] marker vs. intrinsic subset. (D) Baseline [QGG-QLF] marker vs. response status.</p

CONSORT flowchart for the study.

<p>CONSORT flowchart for the study.</p

Baseline demographics and disease characteristics of SSc patients (n = 31).

<p>Baseline demographics and disease characteristics of SSc patients (n = 31).</p

Representative pairs of baseline and follow-up HRCT images.

<p>(A) Better case: pulmonary fibrosis (PF) improved and ground glass opacity (GGO) worsened by the visual assessment in whole lung; (B) annotated HRCT of (A) with a CAD system: QLF and QILD in whole lung decreased, by 2.9% (3.9% to 1.0%) and 0.2% (19.9% to 19.7%), respectively. (C) Stable case; (D) annotated CAD of (C): QLF in the worst lobe (lower left) increased by 2% (64% to 66%). In whole lung, QLF and QILD increased, by 2.3% (39.5% to 41.8%) and 1.8% (72.4% to 74.2%), respectively. (E) Worse case: PF worsened and GGO improved; (F) annotated CAD of (E): QLF increased by 6.0% (28% to 34%) in the most severe lobe (lower right) and 1.8% (9.8% to 11.6%) in whole lung. QILD in whole lung was stable (41.3% to 40.5%).</p

Identification and Optimization of Small Molecule Pyrazolopyrimidine TLR7 Agonists for Applications in Immuno-oncology

Small molecule toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 agonists have gathered considerable interest as promising therapeutic agents for applications in cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we describe the development and optimization of a series of novel TLR7 agonists through systematic structure–activity relationship studies focusing on modification of the phenylpiperidine side chain. Additional refinement of ADME properties culminated in the discovery of compound 14, which displayed nanomolar reporter assay activity and favorable drug-like properties. Compound 14 demonstrated excellent in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles and synergistic antitumor activity when administered in combination with aPD1 antibody, suggesting opportunities of employing 14 in immuno-oncology therapies with immune checkpoint blockade agents

Discovery of Novel TLR7 Agonists as Systemic Agent for Combination With aPD1 for Use in Immuno-oncology

We have designed and developed novel and selective TLR7 agonists that exhibited potent receptor activity in a cell-based reporter assay. In vitro, these agonists significantly induced secretion of cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TNFa, IFNa, and IP-10 in human and mouse whole blood. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in mice showed a significant secretion of IFNα and TNFα cytokines. When combined with aPD1 in a CT-26 tumor model, the lead compound showed strong synergistic antitumor activity with complete tumor regression in 8/10 mice dosed using the intravenous route. Structure–activity relationship studies enabled by structure-based designs of TLR7 agonists are disclosed

Identification of a Potent, Selective, and Efficacious Phosphatidylinositol 3‑Kinase δ (PI3Kδ) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Immunological Disorders

PI3Kδ plays an important role controlling immune cell function and has therefore been identified as a potential target for the treatment of immunological disorders. This article highlights our work toward the identification of a potent, selective, and efficacious PI3Kδ inhibitor. Through careful SAR, the successful replacement of a polar pyrazole group by a simple chloro or trifluoromethyl group led to improved Caco-2 permeability, reduced Caco-2 efflux, reduced hERG PC activity, and increased selectivity profile while maintaining potency in the CD69 hWB assay. The optimization of the aryl substitution then identified a 4′-CN group that improved the human/rodent correlation in microsomal metabolic stability. Our lead molecule is very potent in PK/PD assays and highly efficacious in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis model