Optimization of 2‑Anilino 4‑Amino Substituted Quinazolines into Potent Antimalarial Agents with Oral in Vivo Activity

Novel antimalarial therapeutics that target multiple stages of the parasite lifecycle are urgently required to tackle the emerging problem of resistance with current drugs. Here, we describe the optimization of the 2-anilino quinazoline class as antimalarial agents. The class, identified from publicly available antimalarial screening data, was optimized to generate lead compounds that possess potent antimalarial activity against <i>P. falciparum</i> parasites comparable to the known antimalarials, chloroquine and mefloquine. During the optimization process, we defined the functionality necessary for activity and improved <i>in vitro</i> metabolism and solubility. The resultant lead compounds possess potent activity against a multidrug resistant strain of <i>P. falciparum</i> and arrest parasites at the ring phase of the asexual stage and also gametocytogensis. Finally, we show that the lead compounds are orally efficacious in a 4 day murine model of malaria disease burden

Optimization of 2‑Anilino 4‑Amino Substituted Quinazolines into Potent Antimalarial Agents with Oral in Vivo Activity

Novel antimalarial therapeutics that target multiple stages of the parasite lifecycle are urgently required to tackle the emerging problem of resistance with current drugs. Here, we describe the optimization of the 2-anilino quinazoline class as antimalarial agents. The class, identified from publicly available antimalarial screening data, was optimized to generate lead compounds that possess potent antimalarial activity against <i>P. falciparum</i> parasites comparable to the known antimalarials, chloroquine and mefloquine. During the optimization process, we defined the functionality necessary for activity and improved <i>in vitro</i> metabolism and solubility. The resultant lead compounds possess potent activity against a multidrug resistant strain of <i>P. falciparum</i> and arrest parasites at the ring phase of the asexual stage and also gametocytogensis. Finally, we show that the lead compounds are orally efficacious in a 4 day murine model of malaria disease burden

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of 1,2,3-Triazolobenzodiazepine BET Bromodomain Inhibitors

A number of diazepines are known to inhibit bromo- and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins. Their BET inhibitory activity derives from the fusion of an acetyl-lysine mimetic heterocycle onto the diazepine framework. Herein we describe a straightforward, modular synthesis of novel 1,2,3-triazolobenzodiazepines and show that the 1,2,3-triazole acts as an effective acetyl-lysine mimetic heterocycle. Structure-based optimization of this series of compounds led to the development of potent BET bromodomain inhibitors with excellent activity against leukemic cells, concomitant with a reduction in c-<i>MYC</i> expression. These novel benzodiazepines therefore represent a promising class of therapeutic BET inhibitors