Substituted pyridines as bromodomain inhibitors

The disclosure relates to substituted pyridines, which are useful for inhibition of BET protein function by binding to bromodomains, and their use in therapy.

This application is a U.S. national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/IB2015/002462, filed Dec. 1, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/086,115, filed Dec. 1, 2014, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and their use in prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) proteins.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones are involved in regulation of gene expression and chromatin organization in eukaryotic cells. Histone acetylation at specific lysine residues is a PIM that is regulated by histone acetylases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs). Peserico, A. and C. Simone, “Physical and functional HAT/HDAC interplay regulates protein acetylation balance,”J Biomed Biotechnol,2011:371832 (2011). Small molecule inhibitors of HDACs and HATs are being investigated as cancer therapy. Hoshino, I. and H. Matsubara, “Recent advances in histone deacetylase targeted cancer therapy”Surg Today40(9):809-15 (2010); Vernarecci, S., F. Tosi, and P. Filetici, “Tuning acetylated chromatin with HAT inhibitors: a novel tool for therapy”Epigenetics5(2):105-11 (2010); Bandyopadhyay, K., et al., “Spermidinyl-CoA-based HAT inhibitors block DNA repair and provide cancer-specific chemo- and radiosensitization,”Cell Cycle8(17):2779-88 (2009); Arif, M., et al., “Protein lysine acetylation in cellular function and its role in cancer manifestation,”Biochim Biophys Acta1799(10-12):702-16 (2010). Histone acetylation controls gene expression by recruiting protein complexes that bind directly to acetylated lysine via bromodomains. Sanchez, R. and M. M. Zhou, “The role of human bromodomains in chromatin biology and gene transcription,”Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel12(5):659-65 (2009). One such family, the bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) proteins, comprises Brd2, Brd3, Brd4, and BrdT, each of which contains two bromodomains in tandem that can independently bind to acetylatecilysines, as reviewed in Wu, S. Y. and C. M. Chiang, “The double bromodomain-containing chromatin adaptor Brd4 and transcriptional regulation,”J Biol Chem282(18):13141-5 (2007).

Interfering with BET protein interactions via bromodomain inhibition results in modulation of transcriptional programs that are often associated with diseases characterized by dysregulation of cell cycle control, inflammatory cytokine expression, viral transcription, hematopoietic differentiation, insulin transcription, and adipogenesis. Beikina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012). BET inhibitors are believed to be useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions related to systemic or tissue inflammation, inflammatory responses to infection or hypoxia, cellular activation and proliferation, lipid metabolism, fibrosis, and the prevention and treatment of viral infections. Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012); Pringia, R, K., J. Witherington, and K. Lee, “Place your BETs: the therapeutic potential of bromodomains,”Trends Pharmacal Sci33(3):146-53 (2012).

Autoimmune diseases, which are often chronic and debilitating, are a result of a dysregulated immune response, which leads the body to attack its own cells, tissues, and organs. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-17 are overexpressed in autoimmune disease. IL-17 expression defines the T cell subset known as Th17 cells, which are differentiated, in part, by IL-6, and drive many of the pathogenic consequences of autoimmune disease. Thus, the IL-6/Th17 axis represents an important, potentially druggable target in autoimmune disease therapy. Kimura, A. and T. Kishimoto, “IL-6: regulator of Treg/Th17 balance,”Eur J Immunol40(7):1830-5 (2010). BET inhibitors are expected to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012); Prinjha, R. K., J. Witherington, and K. Lee, “Place your BETs: the therapeutic potential of bromodomains,”Trends Pharmacol Sci33(3):146-53 (2012). BET inhibitors have been shown to have a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory effects in vitro including the ability to decrease expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in activated immune cells. Mirguet, O., et al., “From ApoA1 upregulation to BET family bromodomain inhibition: discovery of I-BET151,”Bioorg Med Chem Lett22(8):2963-7 (2012); Nicodeme, E., et al., “Suppression of inflammation by a synthetic histone mimic,”Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010); Seal, J., et al., “Identification of a novel series of BET family bromodomain inhibitors: binding mode and profile of I-BET151 (GSK1210151A),”Bioorg Med Chem Lett22(8):2968-72 (2012). The mechanism for these anti-inflammatory effects may involve BET inhibitor disruption of Brd4 co-activation of NF-κB-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines and/or displacement of BET proteins from cytokine promoters, including IL-6. Nicodeme, E., et al., “Suppression of inflammation by a synthetic histone mimic,”Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010); Zhang, G., et al., “Down-regulation of NF-kappaB Transcriptional Activity in HIVassociated Kidney Disease by BRD4 inhibition,”J Biol Chem,287(34):8840-51 (2012); Zhou, M., et al., “Bromodomain protein Brd4 regulates human immunodeficiency virus transcription through phosphorylation of CDK9 at threonine 29,”J Virol83(2):1036-44 (2009). In addition, because Brd4 is involved in T-cell lineage differentiation, BET inhibitors may be useful in inflammatory disorders characterized by specific programs of T cell differentiation. Zhang, W. S., et al., “Bromodomain-Containing-Protein 4 (BRD4) Regulates RNA Polymerase II Serine 2 Phosphorylation in Human CD4+ T Cells,”J Biol Chem(2012).

The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of BET inhibition have also been confirmed in vivo. A BET inhibitor prevented endotoxin- or bacterial sepsis-induced death and cecal ligation puncture-induced death in mice, suggesting utility for BET inhibitors in sepsis and acute inflammatory disorders. Nicodeme, E., et al., “Suppression of inflammation by a synthetic histone mimic,”Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010). A BET inhibitor has been shown to ameliorate inflammation and kidney injury in HIV-1 transgenic mice, an animal model for HIV-associated nephropathy, in part through inhibition of Brd4 interaction with NF-κB. Zhang, G., et al., “Down-regulation of NF-kappaB Transcriptional Activity in HIV associated Kidney Disease by BRD4 Inhibition,”J Biol Chem,287(34):8840-51 (2012). The utility of BET inhibition in autoimmune disease was demonstrated in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, where BET inhibition resulted in abrogation of clinical signs of disease, in part, through inhibition of IL-6 and IL-17. R. Jahagirdar, S. M. et al., “An Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule RVX-297 Significantly Decreases Disease in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis,”World Congress of Inflammation, Paris, France (2011). These results were supported in a similar mouse model where it was shown that treatment with a BET inhibitor inhibited T cell differentiation into pro-autoimmune Th1 and Th17 subsets in vitro, and further abrogated disease induction by pro-inflammatory Th1 cells. Bandukwala, H. S., et al., “Selective inhibition of CD4+ T-cell cytokine production and autoimmunity by BET protein and c-Myc inhibitors,”Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,109(36):14532-7 (2012).

BET inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of a wide variety of acute inflammatory conditions. Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating inflammatory conditions including but not limited to, acute gout, nephritis including lupus nephritis, vasculitis with organ involvement, such as glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, Behcet's disease, Kawasaki disease, and Takayasu's arteritis.

BET inhibitors may be useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases or conditions that involve inflammatory responses to infections with bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and their toxins, such as, but not limited to sepsis, sepsis syndrome, septic shock (Nicodeme, E., et al., “Suppression of inflammation by a synthetic histone mimic,”Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010)), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, toxic shock syndrome, acute lung injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute renal failure, fulminant hepatitis, burns, post-surgical syndromes, sarcoidosis, Herxheimer reactions, encephalitis, myelitis, meningitis, malaria, and SIRS associated with viral infections, such as influenza, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, and coronavirus. Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012). Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating these inflammatory responses to infections with bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and their toxins described herein.

Cancer is a group of diseases caused by dysregulated cell proliferation. Therapeutic approaches aim to decrease the numbers of cancer cells by inhibiting cell replication or by inducing cancer cell differentiation or death, but there is still significant unmet medical need for more efficacious therapeutic agents. Cancer cells accumulate genetic and epigenetic changes that alter cell growth and metabolism, promoting cell proliferation and increasing resistance to programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Some of these changes include inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes, and modifications of the regulation of chromatin structure, including deregulation of histone PTMs. Watson, J. D., “Curing ‘incurable’ cancer,”Cancer Discov1(6):477-80 (2011); Morin, R. D., et al., “Frequent mutation of histone-modifying genes in non-Hodgkin lymphoma”Nature476(7360):298-303 (2011).

One aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating human cancer, including, but not limited to, cancers that result from aberrant translocation or overexpression of BET proteins (e.g., NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) (French, C. A., “NUT midline carcinoma,”Cancer Genet Cytogenet203(1):16-20 (2010) and B-cell lymphoma (Greenwald, R. J., et al., “E mu-BRD2 transgenic mice develop B-cell lymphoma and leukemia,”Blood103(4):1475-84 (2004)). NMC tumor cell growth is driven by a translocation of the Brd4 or Brd3 gene to the nutlin 1 gene. Filippakopoulos, P., et al., “Selective inhibition of BET bromodomains,”Nature468(7327):1067-73 (2010). BET inhibition has demonstrated potent antitumor activity in murine xenograft models of NMC, a rare but lethal form of cancer. The present disclosure provides a method for treating human cancers, including, but not limited to, cancers dependent on a member of the myc family of oncoproteins including c-myc, MYCN, and L-myc. Vita, M. and M. Henriksson, “The Myc oncoprotein as a therapeutic target for human cancer,”Semin Cancer Biol16(4):318-30 (2006). These cancers include Burkitt's lymphoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma, and aggressive human medulloblastoma. Vita, M. and M. Henriksson, “The Myc oncoprotein as a therapeutic target for human cancer,”Semin Cancer Biol16(4):318-30 (2006). Cancers in which c-myc is overexpressed may be particularly susceptible to BET protein inhibition; it has been shown that treatment of tumors that have activation of c-myc with a BET inhibitor resulted in tumor regression through inactivation of c-myc transcription. Dawson, M. A., et al., Inhibition of BET recruitment to chromatin as an effective treatment for MLL-fusion leukaemia. Nature, 2011. 478(7370): p. 529-33; Delmore, J. E., et al, “BET bromodomain inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to target c-Myc,”Cell146(6):904-17 (2010); Mertz, J. A., et al., “Targeting MYC dependence in cancer by inhibiting BET bromodomains,”Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA108(40):16669-74 (2011); Ott, C. J., et al., “BET bromodomain inhibition targets both c-Myc and IL7R in highrisk acute lymphoblastic leukemia,”Blood120(14):2843-52 (2012); Zuber, J., et al., “RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia,”Nature478(7370):524-8 (2011).

Embodiments of the invention include methods for treating human cancers that rely on BET proteins and pTEFb (Cdk9/CyclinT) to regulate oncogenes (Wang, S. and P. M. Fischer, “Cyclin-dependent kinase 9: a key transcriptional regulator and potential drug target in oncology, virology and cardiology,”Trends Pharmacol Sci29(6):302-13 (2008)), and cancers that can be treated by inducing apoptosis or senescence by inhibiting Bcl2, cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6)(Dawson, M. A., et al., “Inhibition of BET recruitment to chromatin as an effective treatment for MLL-fusion leukaemia,”Nature478(7370):529-33 (2011)), or human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Delmore, J. E., et al., “BET bromodomain inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to target c-Myc,”Cell146(6):9011-17 (2010); Ruden, M. and N. Puri, “Novel anticancer therapeutics targeting telomerase,”Cancer Treat Rev(2012).

Inhibition of BET proteins may also result in inhibition of enhancer and/or super-enhancer known to drive transcriptional programs associated with several human disease etiologies (Hnisz, D. et al., “Super-enhancers in the control of cell identity and disease. Cell 155, 934-947 (2013), Loven, J. et al., “Selective inhibition of tumor oncogenes by disruption of super-enhancers,” Cell 153, 320-334 (2013), and Whyte, W. A. et al., “Master transcription factors and mediator establish super-enhancers at key cell identity genes,” Cell 153, 307-319 (2013)). The MYC oncogene is an example of a gene associated with a super enhancer that is disrupted by BET-bromodomain inhibitors. See, e.g., Loven (2013). Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating such diseases and disorders, including cancers associated with a super-enhancer or enhancer that may be disrupted with a BET inhibitor.

BET inhibitors of the present disclosure may be useful in the treatment of cancers that are resistant to current and future cancer treatments, as BET proteins are involved in the mechanisms of resistance of several anti-cancer treatment, including chemotherapy (Feng, Q. et al., “An epigenomic approach to therapy for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. Cell Res 24, 809-819,” (2014)), immunotherapy (Emadali, A. et al., “Identification of a novel BET bromodomain inhibitor-sensitive, gene regulatory circuit that controls Rituximab response and tumour growth in aggressive lymphoid cancers,” EMBO Mol Med 5, 1180-1195 (2013)), hormone-deprivation therapies (Asangani, I. A. et al., “Therapeutic targeting of BET bromodomain proteins in castration-resistant prostate cancer,” Nature 510, 278-282 (2014)), or other molecules (Knoechel, B. et al., “An epigenetic mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nat Genet 46, 364-370 (2014)). In these instances, the BET proteins are involved in the resistance mechanism to the cancer therapy, and treatment with a BET inhibitor could either restore sensitivity to the treatment, inhibit proliferation or induce cell death or senescence, either alone or in combination with other therapies (Moros, A. et al., “Synergistic antitumor activity of lenalidomide with the BET bromodomain inhibitor CPI203 in bortezomib-resistant mantle cell lymphoma,” Leukemia 28, 2049-2059 (2014)).

BET inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of benign proliferative and fibrotic disorders, including benign soft tissue tumors, bone tumors, brain and spinal tumors, eyelid and orbital tumors, granuloma, lipoma, meningioma, multiple endocrine neoplasia, nasal polyps, pituitary tumors, prolactinoma, pseudotumor cerebri, seborrheic keratoses, stomach polyps, thyroid nodules, cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, hemangiomas, vocal cord nodules, polyps, and cysts, Castleman disease, chronic pilonidal disease, dermatofibroma, pilar cyst, pyogenic granuloma, juvenile polyposis syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, renal fibrosis, post-operative stricture, keloid formation, scleroderma, and cardiac fibrosis. Tang, X. at al., “Assessment of Brd4 Inhibition in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung Fibroblasts and in Vivo Models of Lung Fibrosis,”Am J Pathology183(2):470-9 (2013). Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating such benign proliferative and fibrotic disorders.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Roger, V. L. et al., “Heart disease and stroke statistics—2012 update: a report from the American Heart Association,”Circulation125(1):e2-e220 (2012). Atherosclerosis, an underlying cause of CVD, is a multifactoral disease characterized by dyslipidemia and inflammation. BET inhibitors are expected to be efficacious in atherosclerosis and associated conditions because of aforementioned anti-inflammatory effects as well as ability to increase transcription of ApoA-I, the major constituent of HDL. Mirguet, O. et al., “From ApoA1 upregulation to BET family bromodomain inhibition: discovery of I-BET151,”Bioorg Med Chem Lett22(8):2963-7 (2012); Chung, C. W., et al., “Discovery and characterization of small molecule inhibitors of the BET family bromodomains,”J Med Chem54(11):3827-38 (2011). Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to atherosclerosis.

Up-regulation of ApoA-I is considered to be a useful strategy in treatment of atherosclerosis and CVD. Degoma, E. M, and D. J. Rader, “Novel HDL-directed pharmacotherapeutic strategies,”Nat Rev Cardiol8(5):266-77 (2011) BET inhibitors have been shown to increase ApoA-I transcription and protein expression. Mirguet, O., et al., “From ApoA1 upregulation to BET family bromodomain inhibition: discovery of I-BET151,”Bioorg Med Chem Lett22(8):2963-7 (2012); Chung, C. W., et al., “Discovery and characterization of small molecule inhibitors of the BET family bromodomains,”J Med Chem54(11):3827-38 (2011). It has also been shown that BET inhibitors bind directly to BET proteins and inhibit their binding to acetylated histones at the ApoA-1 promoter, suggesting the presence of a BET protein repression complex on the ApoA-1 promoter, which can be functionally disrupted by BET inhibitors. It follows that, BET inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of disorders of lipid metabolism via the regulation of ApoA-I and HDL such as hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis (Degoma, E. M. and D. J. Rader, “Novel HDL-directed pharmacotherapeutic strategies,”Nat Rev Cardiol8(5):266-77 (2011)), and Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Elliott, D. A. et al., “Apolipoproteins in the brain: implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders,”Clin Lipidol51(4):555-573 (2010). Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating cardiovascular disorders by upregulation of ApoA-1.

BET inhibitors may be useful in the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury such as, but not limited to, myocardial infarction, stroke, acute coronary syndromes (Prinjha, R. K., J. Witherington, and K. Lee, “Place your BETs: the therapeutic potential of bromodomains,”Trends Pharmacol Sci33(3):146-53 (2012)), renal reperfusion injury, organ transplantation, coronary artery bypass grafting, cardio-pulmonary bypass procedures, hypertension, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, gastro-intestinal, or peripheral limb embolism. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for prevention and treatment of conditions described herein that are associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Obesity-associated inflammation is a hallmark of type B diabetes, insulin resistance, and other metabolic disorders. Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012); Denis, G. V., “Bromodomain coactivators in cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation,”Discov Med10(55):489-99 (2010). Consistent with the ability of BET inhibitors to inhibit inflammation, gene disruption of Brd2 in mice ablates inflammation and protects animals from obesity-induced insulin resistance. Wang, F., et al., “Brd2 disruption in mice causes severe obesity without Type 2 diabetes,”Biochem J1425(1):71-83 (2010). It has been shown that Brd2 interacts with PPARγ and opposes its transcriptional function. Knockdown of Brd2 in vitro promotes transcription of PPARγ-regulated networks, including those controlling adipogenesis. Denis, G. V., et al, “An emerging role for bromodomain-containing proteins in chromatin regulation and transcriptional control of adipogenesis,”FEBS Lett584(15):3260-8 (2010). In addition Brd2 is highly expressed in pancreatic β-cells and regulates proliferation and insulin transcription. Wang, F., et al., “Brd2 disruption in mice causes severe obesity without Type 2 diabetes,”Biochem J425(1):71-83 (2010). Taken together, the combined effects of BET inhibitors on inflammation and metabolism decrease insulin resistance and may be useful in the treatment of pre-diabetic and type II diabetic individuals as well as patients with other metabolic complications. Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012). Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders, including but not limited to obesity-associated inflammation, type II diabetes, and insulin resistance.

BET inhibitors may be useful in the prevention and treatment of episome-based DNA viruses including, but not limited to, human papillomavirus, herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus (Belkina, A. C. and G. V. Denis, “BET domain co-regulators in obesity, inflammation and cancer,”Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012)), adenovirus, poxvirus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. Host-encoded BET proteins have been shown to be important for transcriptional activation and repression of viral promoters. Brd4 interacts with the E2 protein of human papilloma virus (HPV) to enable E2 mediated transcription of E2-target genes. Gagnon, D., et al., “Proteasomal degradation of the papillomavirus E2 protein is inhibited by overexpression of bromodomain-containing protein 4,”J Virol83(9):4127-39 (2009). Similarly, Brd2, Brd3, and Brd4 all bind to latent nuclear antigen 1 (LANA1), encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), promoting LANA1-dependent proliferation of KSHV-infected cells. You, J. et al., “Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus latency-associated nuclear antigen interacts with bromodomain protein Brd4 on host mitotic chromosomes,”J Virol80(18):8909-19 (2006). A BET inhibitor has been shown to inhibit the Brd4-mediated recruitment of the transcription elongation complex pTEFb to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral C promoter, suggesting therapeutic value for EBV-associated malignancies. Palermo, R. D. et al., “RNA polymerase II stalling promotes nucleosome occlusion and pTEFb recruitment to drive immortalization by Epstein-Barr virus,”PLoS Pathog7(10):e1002334 (2011). Also, a BET inhibitor reactivated HIV in models of latent T cell infection and latent monocyte infection, potentially allowing for viral eradication by complementary anti-retroviral therapy. Zhu, J. et al., “Reactivation of Latent HIV-1 by Inhibition of BRD4,”Cell Rep(2012); Banerjee, C. et al., “BET bromodomain inhibition as a novel strategy for reactivation of HIV-1,”J Leukoc Biol(2012); Bartholomeeusen, K. et al., “BET bromodomain inhibition activates transcription via a transient release of P-TEFb from 7SK snRNP,”J Biol Chem(2012); Li, Z. et al., “The BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 activates HIV latency through antagonizing Brd4 inhibition of Tat-transactivation,”Nucleic Acids Res(2012). Thus, the invention also provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treatment and prevention of episome-based DNA virus infections. In particular, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treatment and/or prevention of a viral infection, including, but not limited to infection by HPV, KSHV, EBV, HIV, HBV, HCV, adenovirus, poxvirus herpes virus, or a malignancy associated with that infection.

Some central nervous system (CNS) diseases are characterized by disorders in epigenetic processes. Brd2 haplo-insufficiency has been linked to neuronal deficits and epilepsy. Velisek, L. et al. “GABAergic neuron deficit as an idiopathic generalized epilepsy mechanism: the role of BRD2 haploinsufficiency in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy,”PLoS One6(8): e23656 (2011). SNPs in various bromodomain-containing proteins have also been linked to mental disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Prinjha, R. K., Witherington, J., and K. Lee, “Place your BETs: the therapeutic potential of bromodomains,”Trends Pharmacol Sci33(3):146-53 (2012). In addition, the ability of BET inhibitors to increase ApoA-I transcription may make BET inhibitors useful in Alzheimer's disease therapy considering the suggested relationship between increased ApoA-I and Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Elliott, D. A. et al., “Apolipoproteins in the brain: implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders,”Clin Lipidol51(4):555-573 (2010). Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating such CNS diseases and disorders.

BRDT is the testis-specific member of the BET protein family which is essential for chromatin remodeling during spermatogenesis. Gaucher, J. et al., “Bromodomain-dependent stage-specific male genome programming by Brdt,”EMBO J31(19):3809-20 (2012); Shang, E. et al., “The first bromodomain of Brdt, a testis-specific member of the BET sub-family of double-bromodomain-containing proteins, is essential for male germ cell differentiation,”Development134(19):3507-45 (2007). Genetic depletion of BRDT or inhibition of BRDT interaction with acetylated histones by a BET inhibitor resulted in a contraceptive effect in mice, which was reversible when small molecule BET inhibitors were used. Matzuk, M. M. et al., “Small-Molecule Inhibition of BRDT for Male Contraception,”Cell150(4): 673-684 (2012); Berkovits, B. D. et al., “The testis-specific double bromodomain-containing protein BRDT forms a complex with multiple spliceosome components and is required for mRNA splicing and 3′-UTR truncation in round spermatids,”Nucleic Acids Res40(15):7162-75 (2012). These data suggest potential utility of BET inhibitors as a novel and efficacious approach to male contraception. Thus, another aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for male contraception.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1, CCL2) plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. Niu, J, and Kolattukudy, P. E., “Role of MCP-1 in cardiovascular disease: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications,”Clin Sci(Lond) 117(3):95-109 (2009). MCP-1, by its chemotactic activity, regulates recruitment of monocytes from the arterial lumen to the subendothelial space, where they develop into macrophage foam cells, and initiate the formation of fatty streaks which can develop into atherosclerotic plaque. Dawson, J, et al., “Targeting monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 signalling in disease,”Expert Opin Ther Targets7(1):35-48 (2003). The critical role of MCP-1 (and its cognate receptor CCR2) in the development of atherosclerosis has been examined in various transgenic and knockout mouse models on a hyperlipidemic background. Boring, L. et al., “Decreased lesion formation in CCR2−/− mice reveals a role for chemokines in the initiation of atherosclerosis,”Nature394(6696):894-7 (1998); Gosling, J. et al., “MCP-1 deficiency reduces susceptibility to atherosclerosis in mice that overexpress human apolipoprotein B,”J Clin Invest103(6):773-8 (1999); Cu, L. et al., “Absence of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 reduces atherosclerosis in low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice,”Mol Cell2(2):275-81 (1998); Aiello, R. J. et al., “Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 accelerates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice,”Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol19(6):1518-25 (1999). These reports demonstrate that abrogation of MCP-1 signaling results in decreased macrophage infiltration to the arterial wall and decreased atherosclerotic lesion development.

The association between MCP-1 and cardiovascular disease in humans is well-established. Niu, J. and Kolattukudy P. E., “Role of MCP-1 in cardiovascular disease: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications,”Clin Sci(Lond) 117(3):95-109 (2009). MCP-1 and its receptor are overexpressed by endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and infiltrating monocytes/macrophages in human atherosclerotic plaque. Nelken, N. A. et al., “Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human atheromatous plaques,”J Clin Invest88(4):1121-7 (1991). Moreover, elevated circulating levels of MCP-1 are positively correlated with most cardiovascular risk factors, measures of coronary atherosclerosis burden, and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Deo, R. et al, “Association among plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and subclinical atherosclerosis,”J Am Coll Cardiol44(9):1812-8 (2004). CHD patients with among the highest levels of MCP-1 are those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). de Lemos, J. A., et al., “Association between plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes,”Circulation107(5):690-5 (2003). In addition to playing a role in the underlying inflammation associated with CHD, MCP-1 has been shown to be involved in plaque rupture, ischemic/reperfusion injury, restenosis, and heart transplant rejection. Niu, J. and Kolattukudy, P. E., “Role of MCP-1 in cardiovascular disease: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications,”Clin Sci(Lond) 117(3):95-109 (2009).

MCP-1 also promotes tissue inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS), MCP-1 plays a role in the infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes into the joint in RA, and is overexpressed in the synovial fluid of RA patients. Koch, A. E. et al., “Enhanced production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in rheumatoid arthritis,”J Clin Invest90(3):772-9 (1992). Blockade of MCP-1 and MCP-1 signaling in animal models of RA have also shown the importance of MCP-1 to macrophage accumulation and proinflammatory cytokine expression associated with RA. Brodmerkel, C. M. et al., “Discovery and pharmacological characterization of a novel rodent-active CCR2 antagonist, INCB3344,”J Immunol175(8):5370-8 (2005); Bruhl, H. et al., “Dual role of CCR2 during initiation and progression of collagen-induced arthritis: evidence for regulatory activity of CCR2+ T cells,”J Immunol172(2):890-8 (2004); Gong, J. H. et al., “An antagonist of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) inhibits arthritis in the MRL-Ipr mouse model,”J Exp Med186(1):131-7 (1997); Gong, J. H. et al., “Post-onset inhibition of murine arthritis using combined chemokine antagonist therapy,”Rheumatology43(1): 39-42 (2004).

Overexpression of MCP-1, in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood, has also been associated with chronic and acute MS in humans. Mahad, D. J. and Ransohoff, R. M., “The role of MCP-1 (CCL2) and CCR2 in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE),”Semin Immunol15(1):23-32 (2003), MCP-1 is overexpressed by a variety of cell types in the brain during disease progression and contributes to the infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes which mediate the tissue damage associated with MS. Genetic depletion of MCP-1 or CCR2 in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model, a model resembling human MS, results in resistance to disease, primarily because of decreased macrophage infiltration to the CNS. Fife, B. T. et al., “CC chemokine receptor 2 is critical for induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,”J Exp Med192(6):899-905 (2000); Huang, D. R. et al., “Absence of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in mice leads to decreased local macrophage recruitment and antigen-specific T helper cell type 1 immune response in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,”J Exp Med193(6):713-26 (2001).

Preclinical data have suggested that small- and large-molecule inhibitors of MCP-1 and CCR2 have potential as therapeutic agents in inflammatory and autoimmune indications. Thus, one aspect of the invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for treating cardiovascular, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions associated with MCP-1 and CCR2.

The present disclosure includes compounds that are useful for inhibition of BET protein function by binding to bromodomains, pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of those compounds, and use of these compounds or compositions in the treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions, including, but not limited to, cancer, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases.

The first aspect of the present disclosure includes compounds of Formula I and methods of administering a therapeutically effective amount of those compounds to a mammal (e.g., a human) in need thereof:

wherein:A is selected from aryl (C5-C10) and heteroaryl (C5-C10) optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —SO2R1, and —NR1R2;B is selected from alkyl (C1-C6), benzyl, and phenyl optionally substituted with halogen;L is selected from —CH2— and —CH(CH3)— optionally substituted with halogen; or L may be absent in which case A is connected to X via a covalent bond;X is selected from —O— and —NH—;Y is selected from —O— and —NHMe, meaning if Y═NHMe then B is absent;R1and R2are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl (C1-C6); andR3and R4are independently selected from alkyl (C1-C6) optionally substituted with halogen and hydroxyl.
In other embodiments of Formula I:A is selected from aryl (C5-C10), heteroaryl (C2-C5), and heteroaryl (C5-C10) optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —SO2R1, —S(O)R1, and —NR1R2;B is selected from alkyl (C1-C6), benzyl, and phenyl optionally substituted with halogen;L is selected from —CH2— and —CH(CH3)— optionally substituted with halogen; or L may be absent in which case A is connected to X via a covalent bond;X is selected from —O— and —NH—;Y is selected from —O— and —NHMe, meaning if Y═NHMe then B is absent;R1and R2are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl (C1-C6); andR3and R4are independently selected from alkyl (C1-C6) optionally substituted with halogen and hydroxyl.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents or excipients is provided.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in therapy, in particular in the treatment of diseases or conditions for which a bromodomain inhibitor is indicated.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diseases or conditions for which a bromodomain inhibitor is indicated.

Definitions

As used in the present specification, the following words, phrases and symbols are generally intended to have the meanings as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicates otherwise. The following abbreviations and terms have the indicated meanings throughout.

“Subject” refers to an animal, such as a mammal, that has been or will be the object of treatment, observation, or experiment. The methods described herein may be useful for both human therapy and veterinary applications. In one embodiment, the subject is a human.

As used herein, “treatment” or “treating” refers to an amelioration of a disease or disorder, or at least one discernible symptom thereof. In another embodiment, “treatment” or “treating” refers to an amelioration of at least one measurable physical parameter, not necessarily discernible by the patient. In yet another embodiment, “treatment” or “treating” refers to inhibiting the progression of a disease or disorder, either physically, e.g., stabilization of a discernible symptom, physiologically, e.g., stabilization of a physical parameter, or both. In yet another embodiment, “treatment” or “treating” refers to delaying the onset of a disease or disorder. For example, treating a cholesterol disorder may comprise decreasing blood cholesterol levels.

As used herein, “prevention” or “preventing” refers to a reduction of the risk of acquiring a given disease or disorder.

A dash (“-”) that is not between two letters or symbols is used to indicate a point of attachment for a substituent. For example, —CONH2is attached through the carbon atom.

By “optional” or “optionally” is meant that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which is does not. For example, “optionally substituted aryl” encompasses both “aryl” and “substituted aryl” as defined below. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, with respect to any group containing one or more substituents, that such groups are not intended to introduce any substitution or substitution patterns that are sterically impractical, synthetically non-feasible and/or inherently unstable.

As used herein, the term “hydrate” refers to a crystal form with either a stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amount of water is incorporated into the crystal structure.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein refers to an unsaturated straight or branched hydrocarbon having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, such as a straight or branched group of 2-8 carbon atoms, referred to herein as (C2-C8)alkenyl. Exemplary alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, allyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl butadienyl, pentadienyl, hexadienyl, 2-ethylhexenyl, 2-propyl-2-butenyl, and 4-(2-methyl-3-butene)-pentenyl.

The term “alkoxy” as used herein refers to an alkyl group attached to an oxygen (—O-alkyl-). “Alkoxy” groups also include an alkenyl group attached to an oxygen (“alkenyloxy”) or an alkynyl group attached to an oxygen (“alkynyloxy”) groups. Exemplary alkoxy groups include, but are not limited to, groups with an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group of 1-8 carbon atoms, referred to herein as (C1-C8)alkoxy. Exemplary alkoxy groups include, but are not limited to methoxy and ethoxy.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein refers to an unsaturated straight or branched hydrocarbon having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, such as a straight or branched group of 2-8 carbon atoms, referred to herein as (C2-C8)alkynyl. Exemplary alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, methylpropynyl, 4-methyl-1-butynyl, 4-propyl-2-pentynyl, and 4-butyl-2-hexynyl.

The term “amide” as used herein refers to the form —NRaC(O)(Rb)— or —C(O)NRbRc, wherein Ra, Rband Rcare each independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and hydrogen. The amide can be attached to another group through the carbon, the nitrogen, Rb, or Rc. The amide also may be cyclic, for example Rband Rc, may be joined to form a 3- to 8-membered ring, such as 5- or 6-membered ring. The term “amide” encompasses groups such as sulfonamide, urea, ureido, carbamate, carbamic acid, and cyclic versions thereof. The term “amide” also encompasses an amide group attached to a carboxy group, e.g., -amide-COOH or salts such as -amide-COONa, an amino group attached to a carboxy group (e.g., -amino-COOH or salts such as -amino-COONa).

The term “amine” or “amino” as used herein refers to the form —NRdReor —N(Rd)Re—, where Rdand Reare independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, carbamate, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, and hydrogen. The amino can be attached to the parent molecular group through the nitrogen. The amino also may be cyclic, for example any two of Rdand Remay be joined together or with the N to form a 3- to 12-membered ring (e.g., morpholino or piperidinyl). The term amino also includes the corresponding quaternary ammonium salt of any amino group. Exemplary amino groups include alkylamino groups, wherein at least one of Rdor Reis an alkyl group. In some embodiments Rd and Re each may be optionally substituted with hydroxyl, halogen, alkoxy, ester, or amino.

The term “aryl” as used herein refers to a mono-, bi-, or other multi-carbocyclic, aromatic ring system. The aryl group can optionally be fused to one or more rings selected from aryls, cycloalkyls, and heterocyclyls. The aryl groups of this present disclosure can be substituted with groups selected from alkoxy, aryloxy, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, amide, amino, aryl, arylalkyl, carbamate, carboxy, cyano, cycloalkyl, ester, ether, formyl, halogen, haloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, ketone, nitro, phosphate, sulfide, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonic acid, sulfonamide, and thioketone. Exemplary aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, tolyl, anthracenyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, azulenyl, and naphthyl, as well as benzo-fused carbocyclic moieties such as 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl. Exemplary aryl groups also include, but are not limited to a monocyclic aromatic ring system, wherein the ring comprises 6 carbon atoms, referred to herein as “(C6)aryl.”

The term “arylalkyl” as used herein refers to an alkyl group having at least one aryl substituent (e.g., -aryl-alkyl-). Exemplary arylalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, arylalkyls having a monocyclic aromatic ring system, wherein the ring comprises 6 carbon atoms, referred to herein as “(C6)arylalkyl.”

The term “carbamate” as used herein refers to the form —RgOC(O)N(Rh)—, —RgOC(O)N(Rh)Ri—, or —OC(O)NRhRi, wherein Rg, Rhand Riare each independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and hydrogen. Exemplary carbamates include, but are not limited to, arylcarbamates or heteroaryl carbamates (e.g., wherein at least one of Rg, Rhand Riare independently selected from aryl or heteroaryl, such as pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, and pyrazine).

The term “carbocycle” as used herein refers to an aryl or cycloalkyl group.

The term “carboxy” as used herein refers to —COOH or its corresponding carboxylate salts (e.g., —COONa). The term carboxy also includes “carboxycarbonyl,” e.g. a carboxy group attached to a carbonyl group, e.g., —C(O)—COOH or salts, such as —C(O)—COONa.

The term “cyano” as used herein refers to —CN.

The term “cycloalkoxy” as used herein refers to a cycloalkyl group attached to an oxygen.

The term “ester” refers to the structure —C(O)O—, —C(O)O—Rj-, —RkC(O)O—Rj-, or —RkC(O)O—, where O is not hound to hydrogen, and Rjand Rkcan independently be selected from alkoxy, aryloxy, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, amide, amino, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, ether, haloalkyl, heteroaryl and heterocyclyl. Rkcan be a hydrogen atom, but Rjcannot be a hydrogen atom. The ester may be cyclic, for example the carbon atom and Rj, the oxygen atom and Rk, or Rjand Rkmay be joined to form a 3- to 12-membered ring. Exemplary esters include, but are not limited to, alkyl esters wherein at least one of Rj or Rk is alkyl, such as —O—C(O)-alkyl, —C(O)—O-alkyl-, and -alkyl-C(O)—O-alkyl-. Exemplary esters also include aryl or heteroaryl esters, e.g. wherein at least one of Rj or Rk is a heteroaryl group such as pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine and pyrazine, such as a nicotinate ester. Exemplary esters also include reverse esters having the structure —RkC(O)O—, where the oxygen is bound to the parent molecule. Exemplary reverse esters include succinate, D-argininate, L-argininate, L-lysinate and D-lysinate. Esters also include carboxylic acid anhydrides and acid halides.

The terms “halo” or “halogen” as used herein refer to F, Cl, Br, or I.

The term “haloalkyl” as used herein refers to an alkyl group substituted with one or more halogen atoms, “Haloalkyls” also encompass alkenyl or alkynyl groups substituted with one or more halogen atoms.

The terms “hydroxy” and “hydroxyl” as used herein refer to —OH.

The term “hydroxyalkyl” as used herein refers to a hydroxy attached to an alkyl group.

The term “hydroxyaryl” as used herein refers to a hydroxy attached to an aryl group.

The term “ketone” as used herein refers to the structure —C(O)—Rn (such as acetyl, —C(O)CH3) or —Rn-C(O)—Ro-. The ketone can be attached to another group through Rnor Ro. Rnor Rocan be alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl or aryl, or Rnor Rocan be joined to form a 3- to 12-membered ring.

The term “monoester” as used herein refers to an analogue of a dicarboxylic acid wherein one of the carboxylic acids is functionalized as an ester and the other carboxylic acid is a free carboxylic acid or salt of a carboxylic acid. Examples of monoesters include, but are not limited to, to monoesters of succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, oxalic and maleic acid.

The term “thioalkyl” as used herein refers to an alkyl group attached to a sulfur (—S-alkyl-).

As used herein, a suitable substitution on an optionally substituted substituent refers to a group that does not nullify the synthetic or pharmaceutical utility of the compounds of the present disclosure or the intermediates useful for preparing them. Examples of suitable substitutions include, but are not limited to: C1-8alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl; C1-6aryl, C2-5heteroaryl; C37cycloalkyl; C1-8alkoxy; C6aryloxy; —CN; —OH; oxo; halo, carboxy; amino, such as —NH(C1-8alkyl), —N(C1-8alkyl)2, —NH((C6)aryl), or —N((C6)aryl)2; formyl; ketones, such as —CO(C1-8alkyl), —CO((C6aryl) esters, such as —CO2(C1-8alkyl) and —CO2(C6aryl). One of skill in art can readily choose a suitable substitution based on the stability and pharmacological and synthetic activity of the compound of the present disclosure.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” as used herein refers to any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, that are compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. The compositions may also contain other active compounds providing supplemental, additional, or enhanced therapeutic functions.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable composition” as used herein refers to a composition comprising at least one compound as disclosed herein formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs” as used herein represents those prodrugs of the compounds of the present disclosure that are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the present disclosure. A discussion is provided in Higuchi et al., “Prodrugs as Novel Delivery Systems,”ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 14, and in Roche, E. B., ed.Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design, American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press, 1987, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s)” refers to salts of acidic or basic groups that may be present in compounds used in the present compositions. Compounds included in the present compositions that are basic in nature are capable of forming a wide variety of salts with various inorganic and organic acids. The acids that may be used to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of such basic compounds are those that form non-toxic acid addition salts, i.e., salts containing pharmacologically acceptable anions, including but not limited to sulfate, citrate, matate, acetate, oxalate, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, acid phosphate, isonicotinate, acetate, lactate, salicylate, citrate, tartrate, oleate tannate, pantothenate, bitartrate, ascorbate, succinate, maleate, gentisinate, fumarate, gluconate, glucaronate, saccharate, formate, benzoate, glutamate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate and pamoate (i.e., 1,1′-methylene-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate)) salts. Compounds included in the present compositions that include an amino moiety may form pharmaceutically acceptable salts with various amino acids, in addition to the acids mentioned above. Compounds included in the present compositions, that are acidic in nature are capable of forming base salts with various pharmacologically acceptable cations. Examples of such salts include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts and, particularly, calcium, magnesium, sodium, lithium, zinc, potassium, and iron salts.

The compounds of the disclosure may contain one or more chiral centers and/or double bonds and, therefore, exist as stereoisomers, such as geometric isomers, enantiomers or diastereomers. The term “stereoisomers” when used herein consist of all geometric isomers, enantiomers or diastereomers. These compounds may be designated by the symbols “R” or “S,” depending on the configuration of substituents around the stereogenic carbon atom. The present disclosure encompasses various stereoisomers of these compounds and mixtures thereof. Stereoisomers include enantiomers and diastereomers. Mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers may be designated “(±)” in nomenclature, but the skilled artisan will recognize that a structure may denote a chiral center implicitly.

Individual stereoisomers of compounds of the present disclosure can be prepared synthetically from commercially available starting materials that contain asymmetric or stereogenic centers, or by preparation of racemic mixtures followed by resolution methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These methods of resolution are exemplified by (1) attachment of a mixture of enantiomers to a chiral auxiliary, separation of the resulting mixture of diastereomers by recrystallization or chromatography and liberation of the optically pure product from the auxiliary, (2) salt formation employing an optically active resolving agent, or (3) direct separation of the mixture of optical enantiomers on chiral chromatographic columns. Stereoisomeric mixtures can also be resolved into their component stereoisomers by well-known methods, such as chiral-phase gas chromatography, chiral-phase high performance liquid chromatography, crystallizing the compound as a chiral salt complex, or crystallizing the compound in a chiral solvent. Stereoisomers can also be obtained from stereomerically-pure intermediates, reagents, and catalysts by weft-known asymmetric synthetic methods.

Geometric isomers can also exist in the compounds of the present disclosure. The present disclosure encompasses the various geometric isomers and mixtures thereof resulting from the arrangement of substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond or arrangement of substituents around a carbocyclic ring. Substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond are designated as being in the “Z” or “E” configuration wherein the terms “Z” and “E” are used in accordance with IUPAC standards. Unless otherwise specified, structures depicting double bonds encompass both the E and Z isomers.

Substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond alternatively can be referred to as “cis” or “trans,” where “cis” represents substituents on the same side of the double bond and “trans” represents substituents on opposite sides of the double bond. The arrangements of substituents around a carbocyclic ring are designated as “cis” or “trans.” The term “cis” represents substituents on the same side of the plane of the ring and the term “trans” represents substituents on opposite sides of the plane of the ring. Mixtures of compounds wherein the substituents are disposed on both the same and opposite sides of plane of the ring are designated “cis/trans.”

The compounds disclosed herein may exist as tautomers and both tautomeric forms are intended to be encompassed by the scope of the present disclosure, even though only one tautomeric structure is depicted.

Exemplary Embodiments

In certain aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a compound according to Formula I:

wherein:A is selected from aryl (C5-C10) and heteroaryl (C5-C10) optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —S(O)R1, and —NR1R2;B is selected from alkyl (C1-C6), benzyl, and phenyl optionally substituted with halogen;L is selected from —CH2— and —CH(CH3)— optionally substituted with halogen; or L may be absent in which case A is connected to X via a covalent bond;X is selected from —O— and —NH—;Y is selected from —O— and —NHMe meaning if Y═NHMe then B is absent;R1and R2are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl (C1-C6); andR3and R4are independently selected from alkyl (C1-C6) optionally substituted with halogen and hydroxyl.
In other embodiments of Formula I:A is selected from aryl (C5-C10), heteroaryl (C2-C5), and heteroaryl (C5-C10) optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —SO2R1, —S(O)R1, and —NR1R2;B is selected from alkyl (C1-C6), benzyl, and phenyl optionally substituted with halogen;L is selected from —CH2— and —CH(CH3)— optionally substituted with halogen; or L may be absent in which case A is connected to X via a covalent bond;X is selected from O—O— and —NH—;Y is selected from —O— and —NHMe, meaning if Y═NHMe then B is absent;R1and R2are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl (C1-C6); andR3and R4are independently selected from alkyl (C1-C6) optionally substituted with halogen and hydroxyl.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from optionally substituted bicyclic aryl and bicyclic heteroaryl groups; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from optionally substituted aryl groups; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from optionally substituted heteroaryl groups; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl groups; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl groups; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from, but not limited to, the following structures, which may be optionally substituted:

and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from the following structures, which may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —SO2R1, —S(O)R1, and —NR1R2:

and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from the following structures, which may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3—CN, —C(O)NHR1, —C(O)R1, —S(O)R1, —S(O)R1, and —NR1R2:

and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from the following structures, which may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen, alkyl (C1-C6), alkoxy (C1-C6), —CF3, —CN, and —C(O)NHR1:

and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is optionally substituted phenyl; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is phenyl; and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, A is selected from

and B, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, B is optionally substituted phenyl; and A, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, B is phenyl; and A, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, B is selected from optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl; and A, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, B is selected from methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl; and A, L, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, L is optionally substituted —CH2—; and A, B, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, L is —CH2—; and A, B, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments, L is optionally substituted —CH(CH3)—; and A, B, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments, L is —CH(CH3)—; and A, B, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, L is absent and A is connected to X via a covalent bond; and A, B, X, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, X is —O—; and A, B, L, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, X is —NH—; and A, B, L, Y, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, Y is —NHMe and B is absent; and A, B, L, X, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, Y is —O—; and A, B, L, X, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, R1and R2are hydrogen; and A, B, L, X, Y, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, R1and R2are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl; and A, B, L, X, Y, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, R3and R4are methyl; and A, B, L, X, Y, and R1and R2are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, R3and R4are independently selected from optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl; and A, B, L, X, Y, and R1and R2are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I, R3and R4are independently selected from methyl and —CH2OH; and A, B, L, X, Y, and R1and R2are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I,

A is selected from optionally substituted 6-membered aryl and heteroaryl groups;B—Y is selected from

L is —CH2—; andX, R1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I,A is

optionally substituted with Br, Cl, F, CN, MeO, CF3, Me, Me and CN, Me and C(O)NH2, or F and CN;B—Y is

X is —NH—;L is —CH2— or is absent; andR1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In some embodiments according to Formula I,A is

optionally substituted with halogen;B—Y is

X is —NH—;L is —CH2— or —CH(CH3)—; andR1and R2, and R3and R4are as defined in any one or combination of the paragraphs described herein.

In certain embodiments, the compound is 4,4′-(2-methoxy pyridine-3,5-diyl)bis(3,5-dimethyl isoxazole) or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof.

In certain embodiments, the compound is 5-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)-2-methoxy-N-phenethylpyridin-3-amine or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method for inhibition of BET protein function by binding to bromodomains, and their use in the treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions in a mammal (e.g., a human) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I or stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof.

In one embodiment, because of potent effects of BET inhibitors in vitro on IL-6 and IL-17 transcription, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I may be used as therapeutics for inflammatory disorders in which IL-6 and/or IL-17 have been implicated in disease. The following autoimmune diseases are amenable to therapeutic use of BET inhibition by administration of a compound of Formula I or stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof because of a prominent role of IL-6 and/or IL-17: Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (T. Ishizu et al., “CSF cytokine and chemokine profiles in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis,”J Neuroimmunol175(1-2): 52-8 (2006)), Agammaglobulinemia (M. Gonzalez-Serrano, et al., “Increased Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Production After Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation in Patients with X-linked Agammaglobulinemia,”J Clin Immunol32(5):967-74 (2012)), Allergic Disease (L. McKinley et al., “TH17 cells mediate steroid-resistant airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice,”J Immunol181(6):4089-97 (2008)), Ankylosing spondylitis (A. Taylan et al., “Evaluation of the T helper 17 axis in ankylosing spondylitis,”Rheumatol Int32(8):2511-5 (2012)), Anti-GBM/Anti-TBM nephritis (Y. Ito et al., “Pathogenic significance of interleukin-6 in a patient with antiglomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis with multinucleated giant cells,”Am J Kidney Dis26(1):72-9 (1995)), Anti-phospholipid syndrome (P. Soltesz et al. “Immunological features of primary anti-phospholipid syndrome in connection with endothelial dysfunction,”Rheumatology(Oxford) 47(11):1628-34 (2008)), Autoimmune aplastic anemia (Y. Gu et al., “Interleukin (IL)-17 promotes macrophages to produce IL-8, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in aplastic anemia,”Br J Haematol142(1):109-14 (2008)), Autoimmune hepatitis (L. Zhao et al., “Interleukin-17 contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis through inducing hepatic interleukin-6 expression,”PLoS One6(4):e18909 (2011)), Autoimmune inner ear disease (B. Gloddek et al., “Pharmacological influence on inner ear endothelial cells in relation to the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss,”Adv Otorhinolaryngol59:75-83 (2002)), Autoimmune myocarditis (T. Yamashita et al., “IL-6-mediated Th17 differentiation through RORgammat is essential for the initiation of experimental autoimmune myocarditis,”Cardiovasc Res91(4):640-8 (2011)), Autoimmune pancreatitis (J. Ni et al., “Involvement of Interleukin-17A in Pancreatic Damage in Rat Experimental Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis,”Inflammation(2012)), Autoimmune retinopathy (S. Hohki et al., “Blockade of interleukin-6 signaling suppresses experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by the inhibition of inflammatory Th17 responses,”Exp Eye Res91(2):162-70 (2010)), Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (D. Ma et al., “Profile of Th17 cytokines (IL-17, TGF-beta, IL-6) and Th1 cytokine (IFN-gamma) in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura,”Ann Hematol87(11):899-904 (2008)), Behcet's Disease (T. Yoshimura et al., “Involvement of Th17 cells and the effect of anti-IL-6 therapy in autoimmune uveitis,”Rheumatology(Oxford) 48(4):347-54 (2009)), Bullous pemphigoid (L. D'Auria et al., “Cytokines and bullous pemphigoid,”Eur Cytokine Netw10(2):123-34 (1999)), Castleman's Disease (H. El-Osta and R. Kurzrock, “Castleman's disease: from basic mechanisms to molecular therapeutics,”Oncologist16(4):497-511 (2011)), Celiac Disease (A. Landenpera et al., “Up-regulation of small intestinal interleukin-17 immunity in untreated coeliac disease but not in potential coeliac disease or in type 1 diabetes,”Clin Exp Immunol167(2):226-34 (2012)), Churg-Strauss syndrome (A. Fujioka et al., “The analysis of mRNA expression of cytokines from skin lesions in Churg-Strauss syndrome,”J Dermatol25(3):171-7 (1998)), Crohn's Disease (V. Holtta et al., “IL-23/IL-17 immunity as a hallmark of Crohn's disease,”Inflamm Bowel Dis14(9):1175-84 (2008)), Cogan's syndrome (M. Shibuya et al., “Successful treatment with tocilizumab in a case of Cogan's syndrome complicated with aortitis,”Mod Rheumatol(2012)), Dry eye syndrome (C. De Paiva et al., “IL-17 disrupts corneal barrier following desiccating stress,”Mucosal Immunol2(3):243-53 (2009)), Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (A. Antonelli et al., “Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in mixed cryoglobulinemia,”Arthritis Rheum60(12):3841-7 (2009)), Dermatomyositis (G. Chevrel et al., “Interleukin-17 increases the effects of IL-1 beta on muscle cells: arguments for the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of myositis,”J Neuroimmunol137(1-2):125-33 (2003)), Devic's Disease (U. Linhares et al., “The Ex Vivo Production of IL-6 and IL-21 by CD4(+) T Cells is Directly Associated with Neurological Disability in Neuromyelitis Optica Patients,”J Clin Immunol(2012)), Encephalitis (D. Kyburz and M. Corr, “Th17 cells generated in the absence of TGF-beta induce experimental allergic encephalitis upon adoptive transfer,”Expert Rev Clin Immunol7(3):283-5 (2011)), Eosinophlic esophagitis (P. Dias and G. Banerjee, “The Role of Th17/IL-17 on Eosinophilic Inflammation,” Autoimmun (2012)), Eosinophilic fasciitis (P. Dias and G. Banerjee,J Autoimmun(2012)), Erythema nodosum (I. Kahawita and D. Lockwood, “Towards understanding the pathology of erythema nodosum leprosum,”Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg102(4):329-37 (2008)), Giant cell arteritis (J. Deng et al., “Th17 and Th1 T-cell responses in giant cell arteritis,”Circulation121(7):906-15 (2010)), Glomerulonephritis (J. Ooi et al., “Review: T helper 17 cells: their role in glomerulonephritis,”Nephrology(Carlton) 15(5):513-21 (2010)), Goodpasture's syndrome (Y. Ito et al., “Pathogenic significance of interleukin-6 in a patient with antiglomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis with multinucleated giant cells,”Am J Kidney Dis26(1):72-9 (1995)), Granulomatosis with Polyanglitis (Wegener's) (H. Nakahama et al., “Distinct responses of interleukin-6 and other laboratory parameters to treatment in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis,”Intern Med32(2):189-92 (1993)), Graves' Disease (S. Kim et al., “Increased serum interleukin-17 in Graves' ophthalmopathy,”Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol250(10):1521-6 (2012)), Guillain-Barre syndrome (M. Lu and J. Zhu, “The role of cytokines in Guillain-Barre syndrome,”J Neural258(4):533-48 (2011)), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (N. Figueroa-Vega et al., “Increased circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and Th17 lymphocytes in Hashimoto's thyroiditis,”J Clin Endocrinol Metab95(2):953-62 (2009)), Hemolytic anemia (L. Xu et al., “Critical role of Th17 cells in development of autoimmune hemolytic anemia,”Exp Hematol(2012)), Henoch-Schonlein purpura (H. Jen et al., “Increased serum interleukin-17 and peripheral Th17 cells in children with acute Henoch-Schonlein purpura,”Pediatr Allergy Immunol22(8):862-8 (2011)), IgA nephropathy (F. Lin et al., “Imbalance of regulatory cells to Th17 cells in IgA nephropathy,”Scand J Clin Lab Invest72(3):221-9 (2012)), Inclusion body myositis (P. Baron et al., “Production of IL-6 by human myoblasts stimulated with Abeta: relevance in the pathogenesis of IBM,”Neurology57(9):1561-5 (2001)), Type I diabetes (A. Belkina and G. Denis,Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012)), Interstitial cystitis (L. Lamale et al., “Interleukin-6, histamine, and methylhistamine as diagnostic markers for interstitial cystitis,”Urology68(4):702-6 (2006)), Kawasaki's Disease (S. Jia et al., “The T helper type 17/regulatory T cell imbalance in patients with acute Kawasaki disease,”Clin Exp Immunol162(1):131-7 (2010)), Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (Min, C. K., et al., “Cutaneous leucoclastic vasculitis (LV) following bortezomib therapy in a myeloma patient; association with pro-inflammatory cytokines,”Eur J Haematol76(3):265-8 (2006)), Lichen planus (N. Rhodus et al., “Proinflammatory cytokine levels in saliva before and after treatment of (erosive) oral lichen planus with dexamethasone,”Oral Dis12(2):112-6 (2006)), Lupus (SLE) (M. Mok et al., “The relation of interleukin 17 (IL-17) and IL-23 to Th1/Th2 cytokines and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus,”J Rheumatol37(10):2046-52 (2010)), Microscopic polyangitis (A. Muller Kobold et al., “In vitro up-regulation of E-selectin and induction of interleukin-6 in endothelial cells by autoantibodies in Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangitis,”Clin Exp Rheumatol17(4):433-40 (1999)), Multiple sclerosis (F. Jadidi-Niaragh and A. Mirshafiey, “Th17 cell, the new player of neuroinflammatory process in multiple sclerosis,”Scand J Immunol74(1):1-13 (2011)), Myasthenia gravis (R. Aricha et al., “Blocking of IL-6 suppresses experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis,”J Autoimmun36(2):135-41 (2011)), myositis (G. Chevrel et al., “Interleukin-17 increases the effects of IL-1 beta on muscle cells: arguments for the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of myositis,”J Neuroimmunol137(1-2):125-33 (2003)), Optic neuritis (S. Icoz et al., “Enhanced IL-6 production in aquaporin-4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica patients,”Int J Neurosci120(1):71-5 (2010)), Pemphigus (E. Lopez-Robles et al., “TNFalpha and IL-6 are mediators in the blistering process of pemphigus,”Int J Dermatol40(3):185-8 (2001)), POEMS syndrome (K. Kallen et al., “New developments in IL-6 dependent biology and therapy: where do we stand and what are the options?”Expert Opio Investig Drugs8(9):1327-49 (1999)), Polyarteritis nodosa (T. Kawakami et al., “Serum levels of interleukin-6 in patients with cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa,”Acta Derm Venereal92(3):322-3 (2012)), Primary biliary cirrhosis (K. Harada et al., “Periductal interleukin-17 production in association with binary innate immunity contributes to the pathogenesis of cholangiopathy in primary biliary cirrhosis,”Clin Exp Immunol157(2):261-70 (2009)), Psoriasis (S. Fujishima et al., “Involvement of IL-17F via the induction of IL-6 in psoriasis,”Arch Dermatol Res302(7):499-505 (2010)), Psoriatic arthritis (S. Raychaudhuri et al. IL-17 receptor and its functional significance in psoriatic arthritis,”Mol Cell Biochem359(1-2):419-29 (2012)), Pyoderma gangrenosum (T. Kawakami et al., “Reduction of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and anti-phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex antibody by granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis in a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum and ulcerative colitis,”Am J Gastraenterol104(9):2363-4 (2009)), Relapsing polychondritis (M. Kawai et al., “Sustained response to tocilizumab, anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, in two patients with refractory relapsing polychondritis,”Rheumatology(Oxford) 48(3):318-9 (2009)), Rheumatoid arthritis (Z. Ash and P. Emery, “The role of tocilizumab in the management of rheumatoid arthritis,”Expert Opin Biol Ther,12(9):1277-89 (2012)), Sarcoidosis (F. Belli et al., “Cytokines assay in peripheral blood and bronchioalveolar lavage in the diagnosis and staging of pulmonary granulomatous diseases,”Int J Immunopathol Pharmacy13(2):61-67 (2000)), Scleroderma (T. Radstake et al., “The pronounced Th17 profile in systemic sclerosis (SSc) together with intracellular expression of TGFbeta and IFNgamma distinguishes SSc phenotypes,”PLoS One,4(6): e5903 (2009)), Sjogren's syndrome (G. Katsifis et al., “Systemic and local interleukin-17and linked cytokines associated with Sjogren's syndrome immunopathogenesis,” Am J Pathol 175(3):1167-77 (2009)), Takayasu's arteritis (Y. Sun et al., “MMP-9 and IL-6 are potential biomarkers for disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis,”Int J Cardiol156(2):236-8 (2012)), Transverse myelitis (J. Graber et al., “Interleukin-17 in transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis,”J Neuroimmunol196(1-2):124-32 (2008)), Ulcerative colitis (J. Mudter and M. Neurath, “11-6 signaling in inflammatory bowel disease: pathophysiological role and clinical relevance,”Inflamm Bowel Dis13(8):1016-23 (2007)), Uveitis (H. Haruta et al., “Blockade of interleukin-6 signaling suppresses not only th17 but also interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein-specific Th1 by promoting regulatory T cells in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis,”Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci52(6):3264-71 (2011)), and Vitiligo (D. Bassiouny and O. Shaker, “Role of interleukin-17 in the pathogenesis of vitiligo,”Clin Exp Dermatol36(3):292-7 115. (2011)). Thus, the invention includes compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of those compounds; and methods of using those compounds or compositions for treating these diseases.

Acute and chronic (non-autoimmune) inflammatory diseases characterized by increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-17, would also be amenable to therapeutic BET inhibition. These include, but are not limited to, sinusitis (D. Bradley and S. Kountakis, “Role of interleukins and transforming growth factor-beta in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis,” Laryngoscope 115(4):684-6 (2005)), pneumonitis (Besnard A. G., et al., “Inflammasome-IL-1-Th17response in allergic lung inflammation” J. Mol Cell Biol4(1):3-10 (2012)), osteomyelitis (T. Yoshii et al., “Local levels of interleukin-1beta, -4, -6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in an experimental model of murine osteomyelitis due tostaphylococcus aureus,” Cytokine19(2):59-65 2002), gastritis (T. Bayraktaroglu et al., “Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 are not increased in dyspeptic patients withHelicobacter pylori-associated gastritis,”Mediators Inflamm13(1):25-8 (2004)), enteritis (K. Mitsuyama et al., “STAT3 activation via interleukin 6 trans-signalling contributes to ileitis in SAMP1/Yit mice,”Gut55(9):1263-9. (2006)), gingivitis (R. Johnson et al., “Interleukin-11 and IL-17 and the pathogenesis of periodontal disease,”J Periodontol75(1):37-43 (2004)), appendicitis (S. Latifi et al., “Persistent elevation of serum interleukin-6 in intraabdominal sepsis identifies those with prolonged length of stay,”J Pediatr Surg39(10):1548-52 (2004)), irritable bowel syndrome (M. Ortiz-Lucas et al., “Irritable bowel syndrome immune hypothesis. Part two: the role of cytokines,”Rev Esp Enferm Dig102(12):711-7 (2010)), tissue graft rejection (L. Kappel et al., “IL-17 contributes to CD4-mediated graft-versus-host disease,”Blood113(4):945-52 (2009)), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (S. Traves and L. Donnelly, “Th17 cells in airway diseases,”Curr Mol Med8(5):416-26 (2008)), septic shock (toxic shock syndrome, SIRS, bacterial sepsis, etc) (E. Nicodeme et al.,Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010)), osteoarthritis (L. Chen et al., “IL-17RA aptamer-mediated repression of IL-6 inhibits synovium inflammation in a murine model of osteoarthritis,”Osteoarthritis Cartilage19(6):711-8 (2011)), acute gout (W. Urano et al., “The inflammatory process in the mechanism of decreased serum uric acid concentrations during acute gouty arthritis,”J Rheumatol29(9):1950-3 (2002)), acute lung injury (S. Traves and L. Donnelly, “Th17 cells in airway diseases,”Curr Mol Med8(5):416-26 (2008)), acute renal failure (E. Simmons et al., “Plasma cytokine levels predict mortality in patients with acute renal failure,”Kidney Int65(4):1357-65 (2004)), burns (P. Paquet and G. Pierard, “Interleukin-6 and the skin,”Int Arch Allergy Immunol109(4):308-17 (1996)), Herxheimer reaction (G. Kaplanski et al., “Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction complicating the treatment of chronic Q fever endocarditis: elevated TNFalpha and IL-6 serum levels,”J Infect37(1):83-4 (1998)), and SIRS associated with viral infections (A. Belkinaand G. Denis,Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012)). Thus, the invention includes compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of those compounds; and methods of using those compounds or compositions for treating these diseases.

In one embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Strong proprietary data exist for the utility of BET inhibitors in preclinical models of RA and MS. R. Jahagirdar et al., “An Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule RVX-297 Significantly Decreases Disease in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis,”World Congress of Inflammation, Paris, France (2011). Both RA and MS are characterized by a dysregulation of the IL-6 and IL-17 inflammatory pathways (A. Kimura and T. Kishimoto, “IL-6: regulator of Treg/Th17 balance,”Eur J Immunol40(7):1830-5 (2010)) and thus would be especially sensitive to BET inhibition. In another embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I may be used for treating sepsis and associated afflictions, BET inhibition has been shown to inhibit development of sepsis, in part, by inhibiting IL-6 expression, in preclinical models in both published (E. Nicodeme et al.,Nature468(7327):1119-23 (2010)) and proprietary data.

In one embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used to treat cancers that result from an aberrant regulation (overexpression, translocation, etc) of BET proteins. These include, but are not limited to, NUT midline carcinoma (Brd3 or Brd4 translocation to nutlin 1 gene) (C. FrenchCancer Genet Cytogenet203(1):16-20 (2010)), B-cell lymphoma (Brd2 overexpression) (R. Greenwald et al.,Blood103(4):1475-84 (2004)), non-small cell lung cancer (BrdT overexpression) (C. Grunwald et al., “Expression of multiple epigenetically regulated cancer/germline genes in nonsmall cell lung cancer,”Int J Cancer118(10):2522-8 (2006)), esophageal cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (BrdT overexpression) (M. Scanlan et al., “Expression of cancer-testis antigens in lung cancer: definition of bromodomain testis-specific gene (BRUT) as a new CT gene, CT9,”Cancer Lett150(2):55-64 (2000)), and colon cancer (Brd4) (R. Rodriguez et al., “Aberrant epigenetic regulation of bromodomain BRD4 in human colon cancer,”J Mol Med(Berl) 90(5):587-95 (2012)).

In one embodiment, because BET inhibitors decrease Brd-dependent recruitment of pTEFb to genes involved in cell proliferation, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used to treat cancers that rely on pTEFb (Cdk9/cyclin T) and BET proteins to regulate oncogenes. These cancers include, but are not limited to, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma (W. Tong et al., “Phase land pharmacologic study of SNS-032, a potent and selective Cdk2, 7, and 9 inhibitor, in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma,”J Clin Oncol28(18):3015-22 (2010)), follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma with germinal center phenotype, Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, follicular lymphomas and activated, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C. Behan et al., “CDK9/CYCLIN T1 expression during normal lymphoid differentiation and malignant transformation,”J Pathol203(4):946-52 (2004)), neuroblastoma and primary neuroectodermal tumor (G. De Falco et al., “Cdk9 regulates neural differentiation and its expression correlates with the differentiation grade of neuroblastoma and PNET tumors,”Cancer Biol Ther4(3):277-81 (2005)), rhabdomyosarcoma (C. Simone and A. Giordano, “Abrogation of signal-dependent activation of the cdk9/cyclin T2a complex in human RD rhabdomyosarcoma cells,”Cell Death Differ14(1):192-5 (2007)), prostate cancer (D. Lee et al, “Androgen receptor interacts with the positive elongation factor P-TEFb and enhances the efficiency of transcriptional elongation,”J Biol Chem276(13):9978-84 (2001)), and breast cancer (K. Bartholomeeusen et al., “BET bromodomain inhibition activates transcription via a transient release of P-TEFb from 7SK snRNP,”J Biol Chem(2012)).

Published and proprietary data have shown direct effects of BET inhibition on cell proliferation in various cancers. In one embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used to treat cancers for which exist published and, for some, proprietary, in vivo and/or in vitro data showing a direct effect of BET inhibition on cell proliferation. These cancers include NMC (NUT-midline carcinoma), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), Burkitt's Lymphoma, B-cell Lymphoma Melanoma, mixed lineage leukemia, multiple myeloma, pro-myelocytic leukemia (PML), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. P. Filippakopoulos et al.,Nature468(7327):1067-73 (2010); M. Dawson et al.,Nature478(7370):529-33 (2011); Zuber, J., et al., “RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia,”Nature478(7370):524-8 (2011); M. Segura, et al,Cancer Research.72(8):Supplement 1 (2012). The compounds of the invention have a demonstrated BET inhibition effect on cell proliferation in vitro for the following cancers: Neuroblastoma, Medulloblastoma, lung carcinoma (NSCLC, SCLC), and colon carcinoma.

In one embodiment, because of their ability to up-regulate ApoA-1 transcription and protein expression (O. Mirguet et al.,Bioorg Med Chem Lett22(8):2963-7 (2012); C. Chung et al.,J Med Chem54(11):3827-38 (2011)), BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used to treat cardiovascular diseases that are generally associated with including dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, and metabolic syndrome (A. Belkina and G. Denis,Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012); G. DenisDiscov Med10(55):489-99 (2010)). In another embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I may be used to treat non-cardiovascular disease characterized by deficits in ApoA-1, including Alzheimer's disease. D. Elliott et al.,Clin Lipidol51(4):555-573 (2010).

In one embodiment, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I as described herein, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used in patients with insulin resistance and type II diabetes. A. Belkina and G. Denis,Nat Rev Cancer12(7):465-77 (2012); G. DenisDiscov Med10(55):489-99 (2010); F. Wang et al.,Biochem J425(1):71-83 (2010); G. Denis et al,FEBS Lett584(15):3260-8 (2010). The anti-inflammatory effects of BET inhibition would have additional value in decreasing inflammation associated with diabetes and metabolic disease. K. Alexandraki et al., “inflammatory process in type 2 diabetes: The role of cytokines,”Ann NY Acad Sci1084:89-117 (2006).

In one embodiment, because of their ability to down-regulate viral promoters, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used as therapeutics for cancers that are associated with viruses including Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), hepatitis virus (HBV, HCV), Kaposi's sarcoma associated virus (KSHV), human papilloma virus (HPV), Merkel cell polyomavirus, and human cytomegalovirus (CMV). D. Gagnon et al.,J Virol83(9):4127-39 (2009); J. You et al.,J Virol80(18):8909-19 (2006); R. Palermo et al., “RNA polymerase II stalling promotes nucleosome occlusion and pTEFb recruitment to drive immortalization by Epstein-Barr virus,”PLoS Pathog7(10):e1002334 (2011); E. Poreba et al., “Epigenetic mechanisms in virus-induced tumorigenesis,”Clin Epigenetics2(2):233-47. 2011. In another embodiment, because of their ability to reactivate HIV-1 in models of latent T cell infection and latent monocyte infection, BET inhibitors could be used in combination with anti-retroviral therapeutics for treating HIV. J. Zhu, et al.,Cell Rep(2012); C. Banerjee et al.,J Leukoc Biol(2012); K. Bartholomeeusen et al.,J Biol Chem(2012); Z. Li et al.,Nucleic Acids Res(2012.)

In one embodiment, because of the role of epigenetic processes and bromodomain-containing proteins in neurological disorders, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used to treat diseases including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, and epilepsy. R. Prinjha et al.,Trends Pharmacol Sci33(3):146-53 (2012); S. Muller et al., “Bromodomains as therapeutic targets,”Expert Rev Mol Med13:e29 (2011).

In one embodiment, because of the effect of BRUT depletion or inhibition on spermatid development, BET inhibitor compounds of Formula I, stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or hydrates thereof, or compositions comprising one or more of those compounds may be used as reversible, male contraceptive agents. M. Matzuk et al., “Small-Molecule Inhibition of BRDT for Male Contraception,”Cell150(4): p. 673-684 (2012); B. Berkovits et al., “The testis-specific: double bromodomain-containing protein BRAT forms a complex with multiple spliceosome components and is required for mRNA splicing and 3′-UTR truncation in round spermatids,”Nucleic Acids Res40(15):7162-75 (2012).

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present disclosure comprise at least one compound of Formula I, or tautomer, stereoisomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These formulations include those suitable for oral, rectal, topical, buccal and parenteral (e.g., subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous) administration. The most suitable form of administration in any given case will depend on the degree and severity of the condition being treated and on the nature of the particular compound being used.

Formulations suitable for oral administration may be presented in discrete units, such as capsules, cachets, lozenges, or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of a compound of the present disclosure as powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. As indicated, such formulations may be prepared by any suitable method of pharmacy which includes the step of bringing into association at least one compound of the present disclosure as the active compound and a carrier or excipient (which may constitute one or more accessory ingredients). The carrier must be acceptable in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and must not be deleterious to the recipient. The carrier may be a solid or a liquid, or both, and may be formulated with at least one compound described herein as the active compound in a unit-dose formulation, for example, a tablet, which may contain from about 0.05% to about 95% by weight of the at least one active compound, Other pharmacologically active substances may also be present including other compounds. The formulations of the present disclosure may be prepared by any of the well-known techniques of pharmacy consisting essentially of admixing the components.

For solid compositions, conventional nontoxic solid carriers include, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, talc, cellulose, glucose, sucrose, magnesium carbonate, and the like. Liquid pharmacologically administrable compositions can, for example, be prepared by, for example, dissolving or dispersing, at least one active compound of the present disclosure as described herein and optional pharmaceutical adjuvants in an excipient, such as, for example, water, saline, aqueous dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, and the like, to thereby form a solution or suspension. In general, suitable formulations may be prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the at least one active compound of the present disclosure with a liquid or finely divided solid carrier, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product. For example, a tablet may be prepared by compressing or molding a powder or granules of at least one compound of the present disclosure, which may be optionally combined with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, at least one compound of the present disclosure in a free-flowing form, such as a powder or granules, which may be optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent and/or surface active/dispersing agent(s). Molded tablets may be made by molding, in a suitable machine, where the powdered form of at least one compound of the present disclosure is moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

Formulations suitable for buccal (sub-lingual) administration include lozenges comprising at least one compound of the present disclosure in a flavored base, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth, and pastilles comprising the at least one compound in an inert base such as gelatin and glycerin or sucrose and acacia.

Formulations of the present disclosure suitable for parenteral administration comprise sterile aqueous preparations of at least one compound of Formula I or tautomers, stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and hydrates thereof, which are approximately isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. These preparations are administered intravenously, although administration may also be effected by means of subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intradermal injection. Such preparations may conveniently be prepared by admixing at least one compound described herein with water and rendering the resulting solution sterile and isotonic with the blood. Injectable compositions according to the present disclosure may contain from about 0.1 to about 5% w/w of the active compound.

Formulations suitable for rectal administration are presented as unit-dose suppositories. These may be prepared by admixing at least one compound as described herein with one or more conventional solid carriers, for example, cocoa butter, and then shaping the resulting mixture.

Formulations suitable for topical application to the skin may take the form of an ointment, cream, lotion, paste, gel, spray, aerosol, or oil. Carriers and excipients which may be used include Vaseline, lanoline, polyethylene glycols, alcohols, and combinations of two or more thereof. The active compound (i.e., at least one compound of Formula I or tautomers, stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and hydrates thereof) is generally present at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 15% w/w of the composition, for example, from about 0.5 to about 2%.

The amount of active compound administered may be dependent on the subject being treated, the subject's weight, the manner of administration and the judgment of the prescribing physician. For example, a dosing schedule may involve the daily or semi-daily administration of the encapsulated compound at a perceived dosage of about 1 μg to about 1000 mg. In another embodiment, intermittent administration, such as on a monthly or yearly basis, of a dose of the encapsulated compound may be employed. Encapsulation facilitates access to the site of action and allows the administration of the active ingredients simultaneously, in theory producing a synergistic effect. In accordance with standard dosing regimens, physicians will readily determine optimum dosages and will be able to readily modify administration to achieve such dosages.

A therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition disclosed herein can be measured by the therapeutic effectiveness of the compound. The dosages, however, may be varied depending upon the requirements of the patient, the severity of the condition being treated, and the compound being used. In one embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount of a disclosed compound is sufficient to establish a maximal plasma concentration. Preliminary doses as, for example, determined according to animal tests, and the scaling of dosages for human administration is performed according to art-accepted practices.

Data obtained from the cell culture assays or animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in humans. Therapeutically effective dosages achieved in one animal model may be converted for use in another animal, including humans, using conversion factors known in the art (see, e.g., Freireich et al.,Cancer Chemother, Reports50(4):219-244 (1966) and Table 1 for Equivalent Surface Area Dosage Factors).

The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED50with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. Generally, a therapeutically effective amount may vary with the subject's age, condition, and gender, as well as the severity of the medical condition in the subject. The dosage may be determined by a physician and adjusted, as necessary, to suit observed effects of the treatment.

In one embodiment, a compound of Formula I or a tautomer, stereoisomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, is administered in combination with another therapeutic agent. The other therapeutic agent can provide additive or synergistic value relative to the administration of a compound of the present disclosure alone. The therapeutic agent can be, for example, a statin; a PPAR agonist, e.g., a thiazolidinedione or fibrate; a niacin, a RVX, FXR or LXR agonist; a bile-acid reuptake inhibitor; a cholesterol absorption inhibitor; a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor; a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), an ion-exchange resin; an antioxidant; an inhibitor of AcylCoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT inhibitor); a tyrophostine; a sulfonylurea-based drug; a biguanide; an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor; an apolipoprotein E regulator; a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; an LDL-lowing drug; an HDL-raising drug; an HDL enhancer; a regulator of the apolipoprotein A-IV and/or apolipoprotein genes; or any cardiovascular drug.

EXAMPLES

General Methods

Unless otherwise noted, reagents and solvents were used as received from commercial suppliers. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were obtained on a Bruker AVANCE 300 spectrometer at 300 MHz or Bruker AVANCE 500 spectrometer at 500 MHz or a Bruker AVANCE 300 spectrometer at 300 MHz. Spectra are given in ppm (δ) and coupling constants, J values, are reported in hertz (Hz). Tetramethylsilane was used as an internal standard for1H nuclear magnetic resonance. Mass spectra analyses were performed on Waters Aquity UPLC Mass Spectrometer in ESI or APC mode when appropriate, Agilent 6130A Mass Spectrometer in ESI, APCI, or MultiMode mode when appropriate or Applied Biosystems API-150EX Spectrometer in ESI or APCI mode when appropriate.

To a solution of 24 (7.2 g, 29.0 mmol) in ethanol (150 mL) was added granular tin (10.3 g, 87.1 mmol) followed by dropwise addition of concentrated HCl (15.5 mL, 174 mmol). The suspension was vigorously stirred at rt for 24 h. The reaction was concentrated and the resulting residue was treated with aqueous saturated NaHCO3to bring the pH to˜8. The solution was further treated with 3N NaOH to bring the pH to˜10 and the resulting aqueous solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3×150 mL). The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica gel, 95:5 dichloromethane/methanol to 90:10 dichloromethane/methanol) to give 12 (4.9 g, 77%) as a dark solid:1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.67 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.73 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.28 (br s, 1H), 3.27 (br s, 2H), 3.05 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.24 (s, 3H); ESI MS m/z 219 [M+H]+.

Example 70: Inhibition of Tetra-Acetylated Histone H4 Binding Individual BET Bromodomains

Proteins were cloned and overexpressed with a N-terminal 6×His tag, then purified by nickel affinity followed by size exclusion chromatography. Briefly,E. coliBL21(DE3) cells were transformed with a recombinant expression vector encoding N-terminally Nickel affinity tagged bromodomains from Brd2, Brd3, Brd4. Cell cultures were incubated at 37° C. with shaking to the appropriate density and induced overnight with IPTG. The supernatant of lysed cells was loaded onto Ni-IDA column for purification, Eluted protein was pooled, concentrated and further purified by size exclusion chromatography. Fractions representing monomeric protein were pooled, concentrated, aliquoted, and frozen at −80° C. for use in subsequent experiments.

Binding of tetra-acetylated histone H4 and BET bromodomains was confirmed by a Homogenous Time Resolved Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (HTRF®) method, N-terminally His-tagged bromodomains (200 nM) and biotinylated tetra-acetylated histone H4 peptide (25-50 nM, Millipore) were incubated in the presence of Europium Cryptate-labeled streptavidin (Cisbio Cat, #610SAKLB) and XL665-labeled monoclonal anti-His antibody (Cisbio Cat.1461HISXLB) in a white 96 well microtiter plate (Greiner). For inhibition assays, serially diluted test compound was added to these reactions in a 0.2% final concentration of DMSO. Duplicate wells were used for each concentration tested. Final buffer concentrations were 30 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 30 mM NaCl, 0.3 mM CHAPS, 20 mM phosphate pH 7.0, 320 mM KF, 0.08% BSA. After a 2 h incubation at room temperature, fluorescence was measured at 665 and 620 nm with a SynergyH4 plate reader (Biotek). The binding inhibitory activity was shown by a decrease in 665 am relative to 620 nm fluorescence. IC50values were determined from a dose response curve.

Compounds with an IC50value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++); compounds with an IC50value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an IC50value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Example 71: Inhibition of cMYC Expression in Cancer Cell Lines

MV4-11 cells (CRL-9591) were plated at a density of 2.5×104cells per well in 96 well U-bottom plates and treated with increasing concentrations of test compound or DMSO (0.1%) in IMDM media containing 10% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin, and incubated for 3 h at 37° C. Triplicate wells were used for each concentration. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation and harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA isolated was then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction, using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for cMYC and Cyclophilin, Real-time PCR plates were run on a ViiA™7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems), data was analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for cMYC to an internal control, prior to determining the fold expression of each sample, relative to the control.

Compounds with an IC50value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++); compounds with an IC50value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an IC50value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Example 72: Inhibition of Cell Proliferation in Cancer Cell Lines

MV4-11 cells (CRL-9591) were plated at a density of 5×104cells per well in 96 well flat bottom plates and treated with increasing concentrations of test compound or DMSO (0.1%) in IMDM media containing 10% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin. Triplicate wells were used for each concentration and a well containing only media was used as a control. Plates were incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2for 72 h before adding 20 μL of the CellTiter Aqueous One Solution (Promega) to each well and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2for an additional 3-4 h. The absorbance was read at 490 nm in a spectrophotometer and the percentage of cell titer relative to DMSO-treated cells was calculated after correcting for background by subtracting the blank well's signal. IC50values were calculated using the GraphPad Prism software.

Compounds with an IC50value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++); compounds with an IC50value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an IC50value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Example 73: Inhibition of hIL-6 mRNA Transcription

Human leukemic monocyte lymphoma U937 cells (CRL-1593.2) were plated at a density of 3.2×104 cells per well in a 96-well plate in 100 μL RPMI-1640 containing 10% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin, and differentiated into macrophages for 3 days in 60 ng/mL PMA (phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate) at 37° C. in 5% CO2 prior to the addition of compound. The cells were pretreated for 1 h with increasing concentrations of test compound in 0.1% DMSO prior to stimulation with 1 ug/mL lipopolysaccharide fromEscherichia coli. Triplicate wells were used for each concentration. The cells were incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2 for 3 h before the cells were harvested. At time of harvest, media was removed and cells were rinsed in 200 μL PBS. Cells were harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA was then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for hIL-6 and Cyclophilin. Real-time PCR plates were run on a ViiA™7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems), data was analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for hIL-6 to an internal control, prior to determining the fold expression of each sample, relative to the control.

Compounds with an IC50value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++); compounds with an IC50value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an IC50value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Example 74: Inhibition of hIL-17 mRNA Transcription

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were plated (2.0×105cells per well) in a 96-well plate in 45 μL OpTimizer T Cell expansion media (Life Technologies) containing 20 ng/ml IL-2 and penicillin/streptomycin. The cells were treated with increasing concentrations of the test compound or DMSO (0.1%), and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2 for 1 h before addition of 10× stock OKT3 antibody at 10 ug/ml in media. Triplicate wells were used for each concentration, Cells were incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2 for 6 h before the cells were harvested. At time of harvest, cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 800 rpm for 5 min. Cells were harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA was then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction, using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for hIL-17 and Cyclophilin. Real-time PCR plates were run on a ViiA™ 7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems), data was analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for hIL-17 to an internal control, prior to determining the fold induction of each unknown sample, relative to the control.

Compounds with an IC50value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++) compounds with an IC50value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an IC50value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Example 75: Inhibition of hVCAM mRNA Transcription

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are plated in a 96-well plate (4.0×103cells per well) in 100 μL EGM media and incubated for 24 h prior to the addition of increasing concentrations of the compound of interest or DMSO (0.1%). Triplicate wells are used for each concentration. The cells are pretreated for 1 h with the test compound prior to stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α when they are incubated for an additional 24 h before the cells are harvested. At time of harvest, the spent media is removed and HUVECs are rinsed in 200 μL. PBS. Cells are harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA is then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction, using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for hVCAM and Cyclophilin. Real-time PCR plates are run on a ViiA™ 7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems). The resulting data are analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for hVCAM to an internal control, prior to determining the fold induction of each unknown sample, relative to the control.

Example 76: Inhibition of hMCP-1 mRNA Transcription

Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells are plated at a density of 1.0×105cells per well in a 96-well plate in RPM-1640 containing 10% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin. The cells are treated with increasing concentrations of the compound or DMSO (0.1%), and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2 for 3 h before the cells are harvested. At time of harvest, cells are transferred to off-bottom plates and pelleted by centrifugation at 800 rpm for 5 min. Cells are harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA is then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction, using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for hMCP-1 and Cyclophilin. Real-time PCR plates are run on a ViiA™ 7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems). The resulting data are analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for hMCP-1 to an internal control, prior to determining the fold induction of each unknown sample, relative to the control.

In this example, hApoA-I mRNA in tissue culture cells was quantitated to measure the transcriptional up-regulation of hApoA-I when treated with a compound of the present disclosure.

Huh7 cells (2.5×105per well) were plated in a 96-well plate using 100 μL DMEM per well, (Gibco DMEM supplemented with penicillin/streptomycin and 10% FBS), 72 h before the addition of the compound. The cells are treated with increasing concentrations of the compound or DISC (0.1%), and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO2 for 48 h. Spent media was removed from the Huh-7 cells and placed on ice for immediate use with the “LDH cytotoxicity assay Kit II” from Abcam. The cells remaining in the plate were rinsed with 100 μL PBS. Cells were harvested using the mRNA Catcher PLUS kit according to manufacturer's instructions. The eluted mRNA was then used in a one-step quantitative real-time PCR reaction, using components of the RNA UltraSense™ One-Step Kit (Life Technologies) together with Applied Biosystems TaqMan® primer-probes for hApoA-I and Cyclophilin. Real-time PCR plates were run on a ViiA™7 real time PCR machine (Applied Biosystems), data was analyzed, normalizing the Ct values for hApoA-1 to an internal control, prior to determining the fold induction of each unknown sample, relative to the control.

Compounds with an EC170value less than or equal to 0.3 μM were deemed to be highly active (+++); compounds with an EC170value between 0.3 and 3 μM were deemed to be very active (++); compounds with an EC170value between 3 and 30 μM were deemed to be active (+).

Examples 78: In Vivo Efficacy in Athymic Nude Mouse Strain of an Acute Myeloid Leukemia Xenograft Model Using MV4-11 Cells

MV4-11 cells (ATCC) are grown under standard cell culture conditions and (NCr) nu/nu fisol strain of female mice age 6-7 weeks are injected with 5×106cells/animal in 100 μL PBS+100 μL Matrigel in the lower left abdominal flank. By approximately day 18-21 after MV4-11 cells injection, mice are randomized based on tumor volume (L×W×H)/2) of average˜100-300 mm3. Mice are dosed orally with compound at 5 to 120 mg/kg b.i.d and/or q.d. on a continuous dosing schedule and at 2.5 to 85 mg/kg q.d, on a 5 day on 2 day off, 100 mg/kg q.d. on a 4 day on and 3 day off, 135 mg/kg q.d. on a 3 day on and 4 day off, 180 mg/kg on a 2 day on and 5 day off and 240 mg/kg on a 1 day on and 6 days off dosing schedules in EA006 formulation at 10 mL/kg body weight dose volume. Tumor measurements are taken with electronic micro calipers and body weights measured on alternate days beginning from dosing period. The average tumor volumes, percent Tumor Growth Inhibition (TGI) and % change in body weights are compared relative to Vehicle control animals. The means, statistical analysis and the comparison between groups are calculated using Student's t-test in Excel.

Example 79: In Vivo Efficacy in Athymic Nude Mouse Strain of an Acute Myeloid Leukemia Xenograft Model Using OCI-3 AML Cells

OCI-3 AML cells (DMSZ) are grown under standard cell culture conditions and (NCr) nu/nu fisol strain of female mice age 6-7 weeks are injected with 10×106cells/animal in 100 μL PBS+100 μL Matrigel in the lower left abdominal flank. By approximately day 18-21 after OCI-3 AML cells injection, mice are randomized based on tumor volume (L×W×H)/2) of average˜100-300 mm3, Mice are dosed orally with compound at 30 mg/kg b.i.d on a continuous dosing schedule and at 2.5 to 45 mg/kg q.d. on a 5 day on and 2 day off dosing schedule in EA006 formulation at 10 mL/kg body weight dose volume. Tumor measurements are taken with electronic micro calipers and body weights measured on alternate days beginning from dosing period. The average tumor volumes, percent Tumor Growth Inhibition (TGI) and % change in body weights are compared relative to Vehicle control animals. The means, statistical analysis and the comparison between groups are calculated using Student's t-test in Excel.

Example 80: Evaluation of Target Engagement

MV4-11 and MM1.s cells (ATCC) are grown under standard cell culture conditions and (NCr) nu/nu fisol strain of female mice age 6-7 weeks are injected with 5×106cells/animal in 100 μL A PBS+100 μL A Matrigel in the lower left abdominal flank. By approximately day 28 after MV4-11 and MM1.s cells injection, mice are randomized based on tumor volume (L×W×H)/2) of average˜500 mm3. Mice are dosed orally with compound in EA006 formulation at 10 mL/kg body weight dose volume and tumors harvested 3, 6, 12, 24 hrs post dose for Bcl2 and c-myc gene expression analysis as PD biomarkers.

Example 81: In Viva Efficacy in Mouse Endotoxemia Model Assay

Sub lethal doses of Endotoxin (E. Colibacterial lipopolysaccharide) are administered to animals to produce a generalized inflammatory response which is monitored by increases in secreted cytokines. Compounds are administered to C57/Bl6 mice at T=4 hours orally at 75 mg/kg dose to evaluate inhibition in IL-6 and IL-17 and MCP-1 cytokines post 3-h challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at T=0 hours at 0.5 mg/kg dose intraperitoneally.

Example 82: In Viva Efficacy in Rat Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Rat collagen-induced arthritis is an experimental model of polyarthritis that has been widely used for preclinical testing of numerous anti-arthritic agents. Following administration of collagen, this model establishes a measurable polyarticular inflammation, marked cartilage destruction in association with pannus formation and mild to moderate bone resorption and periosteal bone proliferation. In this model, collagen are administered to female Lewis strain of rats on Day 1 and 7 of study and dosed with compounds from Day 11 to Day 17. Test compounds are administered at 25 mg/kg to 120 mg/kg b.i.d and 7.5 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg q.d dose to assess the potential to inhibit the inflammation (including paw swelling), cartilage destruction and bone resorption in arthritic rats, using a model in which the treatment is administered after the disease has been established.

Example 83: In Vivo Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) Model of MS

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the CNS which shares many clinical and histopathological features with human multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE is the most commonly used animal model of MS. T cells of both Th1 and Th17 lineage have been shown to induce EAE. Cytokines IL-23, IL-6 and IL-17, which are either critical for Th1 and Th17 differentiation or produced by these T cells, play a critical and non-redundant role in EAE development. Therefore, drugs targeting production of these cytokines are likely to have therapeutic potential in treatment of MS.

Compounds of Formula I are administered at 50 to 125 mg/kg b.i.d. from time of immunization to EAE mice to assess anti-inflammatory activity. In this model, EAE is induced by MOG35-55/CFA immunization and pertussis toxin injection in female C57Bl/6 mice.

Example 84: Ex Vivo Effects on T Cell Function from Splenocyte and Lymphocyte Cultures Stimulated with External MOG Stimulation

Mice are immunized with MOG/CFA and simultaneously treated with the compound for 11 days on a b.i.d regimen. Inguinal Lymph node and spleen are harvested, cultures are set up for lymphocytes and splenocytes and stimulated with external antigen (MOO) for 72 hours. Supernatants from these cultures are analyzed for TH1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines using a Cytometric Bead Array assay.

Example 85: In Vivo Efficacy in Athymic Nude Mouse Strain of Multiple Myeloma Xenograft Model Using MM1.s Cells

MM1.s cells (ATCC) are grown under standard cell culture conditions and SCID-Beige strain of female mice age 6-7 weeks are injected with 10×105cells/animal in 100 μL PBS+100 μL Matrigel in the lower left abdominal flank. By approximately day 21 after MM1.s cells injection, mice are randomized based on tumor volume (L×W×H)/2) of average˜120 mm3. Mice are dosed orally with compound at 25 to 90 mg/kg b.i.d and or q.d in EA006 formulation at 10 mL/kg body weight dose volume. Tumor measurements are taken with electronic micro calipers and body weights measured on alternate days beginning from dosing period. The average tumor volumes, percent Tumor Growth Inhibition (TGI) and % change in body weights are compared relative to Vehicle control animals. The means, statistical analysis and the comparison between groups are calculated using Student's t-test in Excel.