U.S. patent application number 14/804024 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-18 for conjugation of pharmaceutically active agents with transthyretin ligands through adjustable linkers to increase serum half-life.
The applicant listed for this patent is MAMOUN M. ALHAMADSHEH. Invention is credited to MAMOUN M. ALHAMADSHEH, WILLIAM K. CHAN, XIAOLING LI, MARK R. MILLER, MIKI S. PARK, SRAVAN C. PENCHALA.
Application Number | 20160045609 14/804024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55301334 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160045609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ALHAMADSHEH; MAMOUN M. ; et
al. |
February 18, 2016 |
CONJUGATION OF PHARMACEUTICALLY ACTIVE AGENTS WITH TRANSTHYRETIN
LIGANDS THROUGH ADJUSTABLE LINKERS TO INCREASE SERUM HALF-LIFE
Abstract
A delivery system for active agents, and methods of making and
using the systems, are provided. The delivery systems have (i) a
ligand that is selective for an endogeneous plasma protein in the
serum of a subject; and, (ii) a linker configured for operatively
attaching the ligand covalently to an active agent to increase the
half-life of the active agent in the serum.
Inventors: |
ALHAMADSHEH; MAMOUN M.;
(STOCKTON, CA) ; PARK; MIKI S.; (STOCKTON, CA)
; CHAN; WILLIAM K.; (ELK GROVE, CA) ; LI;
XIAOLING; (DUBLIN, CA) ; PENCHALA; SRAVAN C.;
(STOCKTON, CA) ; MILLER; MARK R.; (STOCKTON,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ALHAMADSHEH; MAMOUN M. |
STOCKTON |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55301334 |
Appl. No.: |
14/804024 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62037592 |
Aug 14, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/9.6 ;
514/10.1; 514/21.9; 514/283; 514/9.9; 530/313; 530/327; 530/331;
546/48; 548/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 49/0052 20130101;
A61K 47/64 20170801; A61P 35/02 20180101; A61P 5/02 20180101; A61P
35/00 20180101; A61P 9/12 20180101; A61K 31/4745 20130101; A61K
38/00 20130101; A61K 47/545 20170801; C07D 231/12 20130101; A61P
1/04 20180101; A61K 31/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61K 47/48 20060101
A61K047/48; A61K 49/00 20060101 A61K049/00; A61K 38/24 20060101
A61K038/24; A61K 31/4745 20060101 A61K031/4745; A61K 38/06 20060101
A61K038/06; A61K 38/22 20060101 A61K038/22 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] The inventions disclosed herein were made with governmental
support under grant 1R15GM110677-01 from the National Institutes of
Health. The government has certain rights in the inventions.
Claims
1. A delivery system for an active agent, comprising: a ligand with
(i) a high selectivity for a plasma protein endogeneous to the
subject, the molecular weight of the plasma protein ranging from
about 30 kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a high binding affinity, Kd, of
at least 10.sup.-6 M for the plasma protein; and, (iii) a molecular
weight ranging from about 200 Da to about 2000 Da; and, a linker
that ranges in length from about 10 angstroms to about 50
angstroms, or from 8 atoms to 50 atoms; wherein, the active agent
has a structure selected from the group consisting of a peptide, an
oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations thereof.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The delivery system of claim 1, wherein the plasma protein is
TTR.
5. A delivery system for an active agent, comprising: a ligand that
is selective for transthyretin in the serum of a subject; and, a
linker configured for operatively attaching the ligand covalently
to an active agent, wherein the linker ranges in length from 14
angstroms to 30 angstroms, or from 10 atoms to 22 atoms; wherein,
the ligand has the following structure of Compound (I) ##STR00047##
where X.sub.a, X.sub.b and X.sub.c are independently selected from
C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5
are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; a ring is a 4 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments
the 4 to 12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;
each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted
alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl,
aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic
group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl,
alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted
aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted
acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester and cyano; c
is an integer ranging from 0 to 5; and, B ring is a hetercyclic
ring selected from the following (h1-h30): ##STR00048##
##STR00049## ##STR00050## ##STR00051## where R.sup.11-R.sup.16 are
independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; R.sup.17 is selected from a hydroxyl, alkyl, amino, and
alkyl amino; and at least one of R.sup.11-R.sup.16 is the linking
group to X.sub.c; or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
6. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the ligand has the
following structure of Compound (II), comprising: ##STR00052##
where, n is an integer ranging from 0 to 8; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and
R.sup.3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5
or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; A
is a 5 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments the 5 to
12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; each Y is
independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino,
sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester and cyano; and, c is a
number from zero to 5; or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt,
ester, enol ether, enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
7. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (Ill), comprising: ##STR00053## where, n is
an integer ranging from 0 to 7; Z is carbon and/or up to three of
the five Z may be nitrogen; R1, R2 and R3 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; Xa is C(R4)(R5), O, N--R5 or S; where R4 and R5 are
independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; and c is an integer ranging from 0 to 5; or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
8. (canceled)
9. The delivery system of claim 6; wherein, the ligand has the
structure of Compound (IV), comprising: ##STR00054## where, n is an
integer ranging from 1 to 4; R.sup.1 is a short chain alkyl having
1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is hydrogen; R.sup.3 is a short chain
alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5),
O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen,
acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group,
alkoxycarbonyl sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester and
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; and c is 2; or, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide,
ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or
prodrug thereof.
10. The delivery system of claim 9, wherein: R1 is methyl and R3 is
methyl; Xa is O, and, Y is fluoro or carboxyl.
11. The delivery system of claim 7, wherein the compound has
structure of Compound (V), comprising: ##STR00055## where, n is 1
to 8; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halo, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano;
X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4
and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; R.sup.a is CHO, COOH,
COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl, CONHOH,
B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3,
hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; R.sup.b is
CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3,
hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; R.sup.6 is
alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; R.sup.7 and R.sup.8
are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,
cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and, R.sup.9 is the side
chain of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
12. The delivery system of claim 11, wherein R.sup.b is selected
from bromo, chloro and fluoro.
13. The delivery system of claim 6, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VI), comprising: ##STR00056## where, n is 3;
R.sup.1 is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.2
is hydrogen; R.sup.3 is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon
atoms; X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; R.sup.a is CHO, COOH,
COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl, CONHOH,
B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, hydrogen, an
acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, heterocyclic
group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester, or substituted
alkoxycarbonyl; R.sup.b is CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6,
CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar,
CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, a halogen or heterocyclic group; R.sup.6 is
alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; R.sup.7 and R.sup.8
are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,
cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and R.sup.9 is the side
chain of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
14. The delivery system of claim 6, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VIIc): ##STR00057## or, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide,
ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or
prodrug thereof.
15. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VIIa), comprising: ##STR00058## where,
R.sup.a is OH, CHO, COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH), COOR.sup.6,
CONHR.sup.6; R.sup.6 is straight of branched alkyl of 1-3 carbon
atoms; or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether,
enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal,
hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
16. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VIIb), comprising: ##STR00059## where,
R.sup.a is COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH), COOR.sup.6, CONHR.sup.6;
R.sup.6 is straight of branched alkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms; or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
17. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the ligand is selected
from the group consisting of: ##STR00060## ##STR00061##
##STR00062## ##STR00063## and, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt,
ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, and, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
18. The delivery system of claim 6, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VIIIc): ##STR00064## or, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide,
ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or
prodrug thereof; and, the linker is attached to the ligand ortho at
C15 to the carboxyl group at C14.
19. The delivery system of claim 6, wherein the ligand has the
structure of Compound (VIIIc): ##STR00065## or, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide,
ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or
prodrug thereof; and, the linker is attached to the ligand meta at
C16 to the carboxy carbon at C14.
20. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active
agent, the method comprising covalently attaching the delivery
system of claim 5 to an active agent, the active agent comprising a
structure selected from the group consisting of a peptide, an
oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof.
21. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active
agent, the method comprising covalently attaching the delivery
system of claim 6 to an active agent, the active agent comprising a
structure selected from the group consisting of a peptide, an
oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof.
22. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active agent
in the blood serum of a subject, the method comprising covalently
attaching the delivery system of claim 7 to an active agent, the
active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
and combinations thereof.
23. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active agent
in the blood serum of a subject, the method comprising covalently
attaching the delivery system of claim 15 to a drug, the active
agent comprising a structure selected from the group consisting of
a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody,
an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a
small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent, and
combinations thereof.
24. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active agent
in the blood serum of a subject, the method comprising covalently
attaching the delivery system of claim 18 to an active agent;
wherein, the active agent comprises a structure selected from the
group consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a
protein, an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a
virus-like particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an
imaging agent, and combinations thereof.
25. A method of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active agent
in the blood serum of a subject, the method comprising covalently
attaching the delivery system of claim 19 to an active agent;
wherein, the active agent comprises a structure selected from the
group consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a
protein, an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a
virus-like particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an
imaging agent, and combinations thereof.
26. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 5 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent, the
active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
and combinations thereof; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
27. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 6 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent, the
active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
and combinations thereof; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
28. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 7 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent, the
active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
and combinations thereof; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
29. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 15 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent,
the active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
and combinations thereof; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
30. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 18 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent,
the active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof; and, administering the conjugated active agent to the
subject.
31. A method of administering an active agent to a subject, the
method comprising: covalently attaching the delivery system of
claim 19 to an active agent to create a conjugated active agent,
the active agent comprising a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof; and, administering the conjugated active agent to the
subject.
32. A method of reducing the immunogenicity of an active agent in a
subject, the method comprising: obtaining a delivery system having
a ligand with (i) a high selectivity for a plasma protein
endogeneous to the subject, the molecular weight of the plasma
protein ranging from about 30 kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a high
binding affinity, Kd, of at least 10.sup.-6 M for the plasma
protein; and, (iii) a molecular weight ranging from about 200 Da to
about 2000 Da; and, a linker the linker ranges in length from about
10 angstroms to about 50 angstroms, or from 10 atoms to 50 atoms;
covalently attaching the delivery system to an active agent to
create a conjugated active agent, the active agent comprising a
structure selected from the group consisting of a peptide, an
oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations thereof; and,
administering the conjugated active agent to the subject; wherein,
the plasma protein shields the active agent from antibody
generation in the subject after the administering.
33. (canceled)
34. (canceled)
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the plasma protein is TTR.
36. (canceled)
37. (canceled)
38. (canceled)
39. (canceled)
40. (canceled)
41. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/037,592, filed on Aug. 14, 2014, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in it's entirety.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0003] The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which
has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created
on Jul. 20, 2015, is named UOPDP001US01_SL.txt and is 1,588 in
size. The Sequence Listing is filed in accordance with WIPO
Handbook on Industrial Property Information and Documentation,
Standard ST.25 paragraph 39.
BACKGROUND
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The teachings provided herein are directed to a delivery
system for active agents having a ligand that is selective for
transthyretin (TTR) in the serum of a subject; and, a linker
configured for operatively attaching the ligand covalently to an
active agent to increase the half-life of the active agent in the
serum.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] Many seemingly useful drugs have not fulfilled their
potential due to their poor pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles. This is
true of many potentially useful drugs, for example, that are
comprised of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent,
or a combination thereof. For example, peptides, such as those less
than about 50 amino acids in length, play a crucial role in many
biochemical and physiological processes. Many FDA-approved drugs
are peptides used for a range of disorders, such as cancer,
diabetes, among others. In addition, peptides hold great potential
as both diagnostic agents and targeting ligands. The higher
potency, selectivity, and safety of peptides over small molecule
drugs have made peptides attractive as drug candidates and,
therefore, the number of new peptides entering clinical trials
continues to grow. Unfortunately, the poor pharmacokinetic profile
of many peptides represents a major challenge in their continued
development. This problem, in particular, has limited the ability
of many peptides to reach their tremendous therapeutic
potential.
[0008] The half-life of a peptide in the blood serum of a subject
is of serious concern. This is because many otherwise useful
peptides have a very short in vivo half-life of, perhaps, of 2-30
minutes. This is usually due to (i) enzymatic degradation by serum
proteases and/or (ii) fast renal clearance due to the molecular
weight cutoff for peptides and proteins to be cleared through
glomerular filtration being relatively high at approximately 30
kilodaltons. Those of skill in the art recognize that the short in
vivo half-life of peptides has limited their clinical potential by
increasing the size and frequencies of doses needed to achieve the
desired results, for example.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates the half-life problem and a
state-of-the-art remedy that has been used in the art to address
the problem by increasing the hydrodynamic size of a peptide
through PEGylation. The right panel of FIG. 1 shows the
inactivation of peptides by serum proteases and kidney filtration,
whereas the left panel shows a covalent conjugation of peptides to
macromolecules. The PEGylation shown in FIG. 1 is covalent
conjugation 105 of peptides 110 to polyethylene glycol (PEG)
polymers 115. This remedy has been used to the extent that a few
PEGylated peptides have reached the market, including peginesatide
(OMONTYS by Affymax, Cupertino, Calif.). Peginesatide is an example
of a .about.5 kDa peptide that is covalently linked to a PEG
polymer to increase it's half-life in blood serum. It has a
molecular weight of .about.45 kDa and has been used to treat anemia
associated with chronic kidney disease in adult patients on
dialysis. By increasing the hydrodynamic size of peptides through
covalent PEGylation, the in vivo half-life of the peptide increases
by reducing filtration 120 by the kidneys, for example. In
addition, the steric bulk of PEG moiety increases in vivo half-life
of the peptide 110 by protecting it against degradation 125 by
proteases. Unfortunately, PEGylation has introduced some problems
to art: (i) the steric hindrance 130 of the large PEG moiety often
harms the binding affinity of the peptide 110 to its extra-cellular
receptor 135 on a target cell 140, which compromises the
therapeutic pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of the peptide 110,
such that the the binding affinity of the peptides to its receptor
is compromised; (ii) renal tubular vacuolation that correlates to
the PEGylation has been reported in animal models (iii) animals and
humans could generate antibodies against PEG, resulting in an
undesirable immune response and, (iv) the manufacturing process and
refrigerated storage add significantly to the costs of making,
storing, and transporting the PEGylated peptides.
[0010] Serum proteins have also been conjugated to peptides, such
serum proteins selected as being too large to be filtered through
the kidneys. An example is the covalent peptide conjugation to a
recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA). Human serum albumin has a
molecular weight of 67 kDa, combining the long, .about.20 day serum
half-life of the HSA with the therapeutic effect of the peptide.
One problem is that the serum half-life of the HSA is a bit too
long for some peptide therapies, and other serum proteins, such as
recombinant transthyretin (TTR) have been investigated.
Transthyretin has a molecular weight of 55 kDa and a half-life of
.about.2 days. The covalent conjugation of TTR to peptides has been
successful at increasing their serum half-lives. Unfortunately,
however, both the rHSA and TTR conjugations share many of the
limitations of the PEGylation approach, including a decreased
binding affinity and potency of the peptide, in addition to
increased costs of making, storing, and transporting the peptide
for use.
[0011] AG10 (Compound VIIc) is a potent and selective
small-molecule TTR ligand. FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate the structure of
hTTR bound to AG10 (Compound VIIc) and the structure of AG10 with
potential sites for linker attachment are labeled as ortho &
meta, according to some embodiments. And, FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate
linker-modified AG10 analogs that enhance in vitro and in vivo
half-life of peptides, according to some embodiments. We refer to
these analogs as TTR ligands for half-life extension, or TLHEs. One
of skill will appreciate that we successfully demonstrate that
conjugation of a TLHE to a number of peptides enhances the in vitro
and in vivo half-life of the peptide without compromising its
target affinity, and that this translates into superior in vivo
efficacy.
[0012] Accordingly, and for at least the above reasons, the art
will appreciate having a delivery system that (i) improves the
half-life of active agents that are otherwise very useful; (ii)
avoids steric hindrance problems that affect binding affinity and
potency of the active agents; (iii) avoids the renal tubular
vacuolation caused by PEGylation; (iv) avoids the generation of
antibodies that create immune response problems; and (v) avoids the
manufacturing process and refrigerated storage that add
significantly to the costs of making, storing, and transporting the
PEGylated, Fc, and albumin conjugated peptides and active
agents.
SUMMARY
[0013] The teachings provided herein are directed to a delivery
system for active agents having a ligand that is selective for a
plasma protein, for example, transthyretin, in the serum of a
subject; and, a linker configured for operatively attaching the
ligand covalently to an active agent to increase the half-life of
the active agent in the serum.
[0014] The teachings include a delivery system for an active agent
comprising a ligand with (i) a high selectivity for a plasma
protein endogeneous to the subject, the molecular weight of the
plasma protein ranging from about 30 kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a
high binding affinity, Kd, of at least 10.sup.-6 M for the plasma
protein; and, (iii) a molecular weight ranging from about 200 Da to
about 2000 Da; and, a linker that ranges in length from about 10
angstroms to about 50 angstroms, or from 8 atoms to 50 atoms. The
active agent can have a structure selected from the group
consisting of a peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein,
an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like
particle, a small molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof.
[0015] In some embodiments, the plasma protein can be selected from
the group consisting of serum albumin, transferrin, Retinol binding
protein, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2 globulins, beta globulins, and
gamma globulins, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the
plasma protein is HSA. And, in some embodiments, the plasma protein
is TTR.
[0016] The teachings also include a delivery system for an active
agent comprising a ligand of particular interest which is selective
for transthyretin in the serum of a subject; and, a linker
configured for operatively attaching the ligand covalently to an
active agent. In some embodiments, the linker ranges in length from
10 angstroms to 50 angstroms, or from 10 atoms to 22 atoms. The
ligand can have the following structure of Compound (I)
##STR00001## [0017] where X.sub.a, X.sub.b and X.sub.c are
independently selected from C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or
S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano;
[0018] a ring is a 4 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments
the 4 to 12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;
[0019] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; [0020] c is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
and, [0021] B ring is a hetercyclic ring selected from the
following (h1-h30):
[0021] ##STR00002## ##STR00003## ##STR00004## ##STR00005## [0022]
where R.sup.11-R.sup.16are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; R.sup.17 is selected
from a hydroxyl, alkyl, amino, and alkyl amino; and at least one of
R.sup.11-R.sub.16 is the linking group to X.sub.c; [0023] or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0024] In some embodiments, the ligand can have the following
structure of Compound (II), comprising:
##STR00006##
where, [0025] n is an integer ranging from 0 to 8; [0026] R.sup.1,
R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; [0027] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O,
N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0028] A is a 5 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments
the 5 to 12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;
[0029] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; and, [0030] c is a number from zero to 5;
[0031] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether,
enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal,
hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0032] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (III), comprising:
##STR00007##
where, [0033] n is an integer ranging from 0 to 7; [0034] Z is
carbon and/or up to three of the five Z may be nitrogen; [0035] R1,
R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; [0036] Xa is
C(R4)(R5), O, N--R5 or S; where R4 and R5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0037] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; and [0038] c is an integer ranging from 0 to
5; [0039] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol
ether, enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal,
hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0040] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (III) is a
structure in which n is 3; and, X is O.
[0041] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (IV), comprising:
##STR00008##
where, [0042] n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; [0043] R.sup.1
is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0044] R.sup.2
is hydrogen; [0045] R.sup.3 is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4
carbon atoms; [0046] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5
or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano;
[0047] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen,
acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group,
alkoxycarbonyl sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester and
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; and [0048] c is 2; [0049] or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0050] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (IV) is a
structure in which R1 is methyl and R3 is methyl; Xa is O, and, Y
is fluoro or carboxyl.
[0051] In some embodiments, the ligand has structure of Compound
(V), comprising:
##STR00009##
where, [0052] n is 1 to 8; [0053] R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are
independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halo, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0054] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S;
where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; [0055] R.sup.a is CHO,
COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3,
hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0056]
R.sup.b is CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8,
tetrazolyl, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar,
CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3, hydrogen, halogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic
group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0057] R.sup.6 is alkyl, haloalkyl,
cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; [0058] R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each
independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,
heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and, [0059] R.sup.9 is the side chain
of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; [0060] or,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0061] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (V) is a
structure in which R.sup.b is selected from bromo, chloro and
fluoro.
[0062] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VI), comprising:
##STR00010##
where, [0063] n is 3; [0064] R.sup.1 is a short chain alkyl having
1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0065] R.sup.2 is hydrogen; [0066] R.sup.3 is
a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0067] X.sub.a is
C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5
are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0068] R.sup.a is CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6,
CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar,
CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, hydrogen, an acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl,
alkoxycarbonyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0069] R.sup.b is CHO,
COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, a halogen
or heterocyclic group; [0070] R.sup.6 is alkyl, haloalkyl,
cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; [0071] R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each
independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,
heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and [0072] R.sup.9 is the side chain
of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; [0073] or,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0074] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIc):
##STR00011## [0075] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0076] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIa), comprising:
##STR00012##
where, [0077] R.sup.a is OH, CHO, COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH),
COOR.sup.6, CONHR.sup.6; [0078] R.sup.6 is straight of branched
alkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms; [0079] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal,
orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug
thereof.
[0080] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIb), comprising:
##STR00013##
where, [0081] R.sup.a is COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH), COOR.sup.6,
CONHR.sup.6; [0082] R.sup.6 is straight of branched alkyl of 1-3
carbon atoms; [0083] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0084] In some embodiments, the ligand is selected from the group
consisting of:
##STR00014## ##STR00015## ##STR00016## ##STR00017## [0085] and, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0086] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIIc):
##STR00018## [0087] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof; and,
[0088] the linker is attached to the ligand ortho at C15 to the
carboxyl group at C14.
[0089] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIIc):
##STR00019## [0090] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof; and,
[0091] the linker is attached to the ligand meta at C16 to the
carboxy carbon at C14.
[0092] The teachings include a method of increasing the in vivo
half-life of an active agent, the method comprising covalently
attaching any of the delivery systems taught above to an active
agent.
[0093] The teachings include a method of administering an active
agent to a subject, the method comprising covalently attaching any
of the delivery systems taught above to an active agent to create a
conjugated active agent; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
[0094] The teachings include a method of reducing the
immunogenicity of an active agent in a subject, the method
comprising obtaining a delivery system having a ligand with (i) a
high selectivity for a plasma protein endogeneous to the subject,
the molecular weight of the plasma protein ranging from about 30
kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a high binding affinity, Kd, of at least
10.sup.-6 M for the plasma protein; and, (iii) a molecular weight
ranging from about 200 Da to about 2000 Da; and, a linker that
ranges in length from about 10 angstroms to about 50 angstroms, or
from 10 atoms to 50 atoms. The method also includes covalently
attaching the delivery system to an active agent to create a
conjugated active agent; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject; wherein, the plasma protein shields the
active agent from antibody generation in the subject after the
administering.
[0095] In some embodiments, the delivery system can be any of the
delivery systems taught above. In some embodiments, the plasma
protein can be selected from the group consisting of serum albumin,
transferrin, Retinol binding protein, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2
globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins, or a combination
thereof. In some embodiments, the plasma protein is HSA. And, in
some embodiments, the plasma protein is TTR.
[0096] Moreover, it should be appreciated that the active agent can
be any active agent known to one of skill that can benefit from the
delivery systems taught herein. In some embodiments, the active
agent comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a
peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0097] FIG. 1 illustrates the half-life problem and a
state-of-the-art remedy that has been used in the art to address
the problem by increasing the hydrodynamic size of a peptide
through PEGylation.
[0098] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the structure of hTTR bound to
AG10 (Compound VIIc) and the structure of AG10 with potential sites
for linker attachment are labeled as ortho & meta, according to
some embodiments.
[0099] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate linker-modified AG10 analogs that
enhance in vitro and in vivo half-life of peptides, according to
some embodiments.
[0100] FIG. 4 illustrates a reversible relationship between the
conjugated active agent and a plasma protein, according to some
embodiments.
[0101] FIGS. 5A and 5B show that (i) incubation of AG10 with hTTR
enhances stability against metabolism by human liver microsomes,
and (ii) intravenous administration of increasing doses of AG10 to
rats (5, 20, and 50 mg/kg) results in increasing concentration of
AG10 in rat plasma after 5 min, according to some embodiments.
[0102] FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate chemical structures of compound VIIIc
and designed hTTR ligands for half-life extension (TLHEs): TLHE1,
TLHE2, and TLHE3, according to some embodiments.
[0103] FIG. 7 shows the binding affinity of TLHE1 to TTR, according
to some embodiments.
[0104] FIG. 8 illustrates the change in fluorescence caused by
modification of hTTR in human serum by covalent-probe in the
presence of test compounds, according to some embodiments.
[0105] FIG. 9 illustrates a general synthetic scheme to conjugate
TLHEs to peptides, according to some embodiments.
[0106] FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate the structure of four TLHE1-peptide
conjugates, according to some embodiments.
[0107] FIGS. 11A-11F illustrate the structure of a TLHE1-small
molecule conjugate and five TLHE1-fluorescent dyes conjugates,
according to some embodiments.
[0108] FIG. 12 illustrates "Scheme 1" 1200 as a method of
generating a conjugated active agent, a modular approach for
assembly of an AG10-GnRH peptide conjugate (Conj3), according to
some embodiments.
[0109] FIG. 13 illustrates synthetic scheme for making for
conjugating the anticancer agent SM-38 to TLHE1 (i.e Conj 5),
according to some embodiments.
[0110] FIG. 14 illustrates the protection effect of binding to TTR
on the stability of Conj1 in vitro. hTTR protects Conj1 against
trypsin hydrolysis in buffer, according to some embodiments.
[0111] FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate the protection effect of
binding to TTR on the stability of (A) Conj2 and (B) Conj3 against
proteolytic hydrolysis in human serum (hTTR conc. .about.5 .mu.M),
according to some embodiments.
[0112] FIG. 16 illustrates the effect of binding to rTTR on
extending the half-life of Conj3 in rats, according to some
embodiments.
[0113] FIG. 17 illustrates that Conj4 displayed extended half-life
in rats, according to some embodiments.
[0114] FIG. 18 illustrates that Conj4 displayed extended and
superior efficacy in rats by measuring the increase in serm
testosterone levels, according to some embodiments.
[0115] FIG. 19 illustrates the chemical synthesis of an AG10
analogue that can covalently bind to TTR, according to some
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0116] A delivery system for active agents, and methods of making
and using the systems, are provided. The delivery systems have (i)
a ligand that is selective for an endogeneous plasma protein in the
serum of a subject; and, (ii) a linker configured for operatively
attaching the ligand covalently to an active agent to increase the
half-life of the active agent in the serum.
[0117] The term "half-life" can be used to refer to lose half of
its activity, for example, its pharmacologic, physiologic, or
radiologic activity. The term "half-life" can be used
interchangeably with the terms "biological half-life" or "terminal
half-life". In some embodiments, the half-life of a substance is
the time it takes for a substance, for example, a metabolite, drug,
signalling molecule, radioactive nuclide, or other substance, to
lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic
activity. In some embodiments, the term half-life can be used to
refer to the body's cleansing through the function of kidneys and
liver in addition to excretion functions to eliminate a substance
from the body. In some embodiments, the term "half-life" can be
used to refer to the time it takes for the blood plasma
concentration of a substance to halve (plasma half-life) its
steady-state. In some embodiments, the half-life of the activity of
the active agent can range from about 30 minutes to about 30 days
when administered to a subject with the delivery systems provided
herein. For example, the half-life of the activity of the active
agent can range from about 30 minutes to about 2 days when
administered to a subject with a delivery system taught herein
having a ligand that is highly selective for transthyretin, in some
embodiments. Likewise, the half-life of the activity of the active
agent can range from about 30 minutes to about 2 days when
administered to a subject with a delivery system taught herein
having a ligand that is highly selective for human serum albumin,
in some embodiments. As such, in some embodiments the half-life of
the activity of the active agent can be about 30 minutes, about 1
hour, about 2 hours, about 3 hours, about 4 hours, about 6 hours,
about 8 hours, about 10 hours, about 12 hours, about 18 hours,
about 24 hours, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5
days, about 6 days, about 10 days, about 12 days, about 16 days,
about 20 days, about 30 days, or any amount therein in increments
of 1 hour, when administered to a subject with a delivery system
taught herein. One of skill will appreciate that the half-life of
the activity of an active agent that is administered to a subject
using a delivery system taught herein can range from about 30
minutes to about 2 days, from about 1 hour to about 36 hours, from
about 2 hours to about 20 hours, from about 2 hours to about 10
hours, from about 3 hours to about 30 hours, from about 3 hours to
about 15 hours, from about 4 hours to about 40 hours, from about 4
hours to about 20 hours, from about 5 hours to about 50 hours, from
about 5 hours to about 25 hours, or any range or any amount therein
in increments of 1 hour.
[0118] The term "pharmaceutical agent" or "pharmaceutically active
agent" can be used interchangeably and refer to any diagnostic and
therapeutic substances for use, in vivo, in the diagnosis, cure,
treatment, management or prevention of conditions and diseases. In
some embodiments, the term "pharmaceutical agent" or
"pharmaceutically active agent" can be used interchangeably with
the term "drug". In some embodiments, the term "pharmaceutical
agent" or "pharmaceutically active agent" can be used
interchangeably with the term "imaging agent". And, in some
embodiments, the term "pharmaceutical agent" or "pharmaceutically
active agent" can be used interchangeably with the term "diagnostic
agent".
[0119] The term "active agent" includes pharmaceuticals agents and
pharmaceutically active agents, and can also be used to refer to
any substances, diagnostic, therapeutic, or otherwise, for use, in
vitro or in silico, for assessing the activity of the agent in the
diagnosis, cure, treatment, management or prevention of conditions
and diseases. In many embodiments, the molecular weight of an
active agent should be at or below about 40,000 Daltons to ensure
elimination of the agent from a subject. In some embodiments, the
molecular weight of the active agent ranges from about 200 Daltons
to about 40,000 Daltons, from about 8,000 Daltons to about 30,000
Daltons, from about 10,000 Daltons to about 20,000 Daltons, or any
range therein. In some embodiments, the methods taught herein can
further include the administration of an effective amount of an
additional active agent or therapeutic treatment, such as the
administration of an effective amount of an antiproliferative
and/or an effective amount of radiation therapy, for example. In
some embodiments, the terms "agent", "bioactive agent", "active
agent", and "therapy" can be interchangeable. For example, the
administration of radiation can be considered the administration of
a second agent, in some embodiments. A bioactive agent can be any
moiety capable of contributing to a therapeutic effect, a
prophylactic effect, both a therapeutic and prophylactic effect, or
other biologically active effect in a subject. A bioactive agent
can also have diagnostic properties. The general concept of the
delivery system design
[0120] Generally speaking, the delivery systems taught herein, and
conjugated active agents that are delivered by the delivery
systems, can be made using any synthesis technique known to one of
skill. For example, one can select an active agent, a ligand for a
plasma protein, and a linker for attaching the ligand to the active
agent. As taught herein, the ligand selected can be specific for
TTR, and the linker can be configured to attach the TTR ligand to
the active agent. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a simplified construction
of a delivery systems taught herein, according to some embodiments.
As shown in FIG. 3A, a linker is attached to the active agent, Y.
In FIG. 3B, a TTR ligand, referred to herein as Compound (VIIIc),
is attached to the linker to create the conjugated active agent in
FIG. 3C. One of skill will appreciate that the Y group can be any
active agent, for example, a peptide, a protein, an
oligonucleotide, an oligosaccharide, a virus-like particle, an
imaging agent, or a small molecule drug. And, one of skill will
appreciate that the linker can be any chemical moiety of the
desired length and functionality to position the active agent at a
desired location relative to the plasma protein.
[0121] FIG. 4 illustrates a reversible relationship between the
conjugated active agent and a plasma protein, according to some
embodiments. FIG. 4 shows a delivery system 410 taught herein in a
reversible relationship with TTR, the delivery system 410 having a
conjugated active agent 411, 412, 413 with a TTR ligand 411
attached to a linker 412 which is attached to a peptide 413 as the
active agent. The association between the plasma protein TTR 415
and the delivery system 410 increases in vivo half-life of the
peptide 413 by reducing filtration 420 by the kidneys, for example.
In addition, the steric bulk of TTR 415 increases in vivo half-life
of the peptide 413 by protecting it against degradation by serum
proteases 425. Ideally, the delivery system 410 will preserve the
binding affinity of the peptide 413 to its extra-cellular receptor
435 on a target cell 440.
[0122] The linker may be connected using any convenient chemical
modification chemistries, and the process of selecting the linker
chemistry can include the use of any convenient selection method,
such as but not limited to, modeling a X-ray crystal structure of
TTR (e.g., a co-crystal structure of TTR with a ligand) and
selecting one or more appropriate positions which are not involved
in contacts with the protein (e.g., solvent exposed positions)
which may be readily chemically modified. Further methods include
determining whether a modification of interest has an adverse
effect of the binding of the recruitment moiety to TTR using an in
vitro binding assay.
[0123] As used herein, the term "linker", "linkage" and "linking
group" refers to a chemical linking moiety that connects two groups
and has a backbone of 50 atoms or less in length. In some
embodiments, the linker or linkage may be a covalent bond that
connects two groups, or a chemical moiety having a chain of between
1 and 50 atoms in length, between 2 and 20 atoms in length, between
3 and 30 atoms in length, between 4 and 40 atoms in length, between
10 and 50 atoms in length, between 10 and 30 atoms in length,
between 12 and 26 atoms in length, between 14 and 30 atoms in
length, or any range therein in amounts of 1 atom in length. For
example, a linker or a portion of a linker can have a length that
is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30,
32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 45, or 50 carbon atoms in length, where the
linker may be linear, branched, cyclic, or a single atom. In some
embodiments, the linker may be 10 angstroms, 11 angstroms, 12
angstroms, 13 angstroms, 14 angstroms, 15 angstroms, 16 angstroms,
17 angstroms, 18 angstroms, 19 angstroms, 20 angstroms, 22
angstroms, 23 angstroms, 24 angstroms, 25 angstroms, 26 angstroms,
27 angstroms, 28 angstroms, 29 angstroms, 30 angstroms, 32
angstroms, 34 angstroms, 36 angstroms, 38 angstroms, 40 angstroms,
45 angstroms, 50 angstroms, or any amount therein in increments of
1 angstrom, in length. In some embodiments, one, two, three, four
or five or more carbon atoms of a linker backbone may be optionally
substituted with a sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen heteroatom. The bonds
between backbone atoms may be saturated or unsaturated, usually not
more than one, two, or three unsaturated bonds will be present in a
linker backbone. The linker may include one or more substituent
groups, for example with an alkyl, aryl or alkenyl group. A linker
may include, without limitations, oligo(ethylene glycol); ethers,
thioethers, tertiary amines, alkyls, which may be straight or
branched, e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl(iso-propyl),
n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl(t-butyl), and the like. The
linker backbone may include a cyclic group, for example, an aryl, a
heterocycle or a cycloalkyl group, where 2 or more atoms, e.g., 2,
3 or 4 atoms, of the cyclic group are included in the backbone. A
linker may be cleavable or non-cleavable.
[0124] The linking moiety may be conjugated to the TTR ligand and Y
using any convenient functional groups (carboxylic acids, amines,
alcohols, carbamates, esters, amide, ethers, thioethers,
maleimides, and the like), and linking chemistries. For example,
conjugation chemistry described by G. T. Hermanson ("Bioconjugate
Techniques", Academic Press, Second Edition, 2008) may be readily
adapted for use in preparing the subject heterobifunctional
compounds and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in it's
entirety.
[0125] "In combination with" as used herein refers to uses where,
for example, the first compound is administered during the entire
course of administration of the second compound; where the first
compound is administered for a period of time that is overlapping
with the administration of the second compound, e.g. where
administration of the first compound begins before the
administration of the second compound and the administration of the
first compound ends before the administration of the second
compound ends; where the administration of the second compound
begins before the administration of the first compound and the
administration of the second compound ends before the
administration of the first compound ends; where the administration
of the first compound begins before administration of the second
compound begins and the administration of the second compound ends
before the administration of the first compound ends; where the
administration of the second compound begins before administration
of the first compound begins and the administration of the first
compound ends before the administration of the second compound
ends. As such, "in combination" can also refer to regimen involving
administration of two or more compounds. "In combination with" as
used herein also refers to administration of two or more compounds
which may be administered in the same or different formulations, by
the same of different routes, and in the same or different dosage
form type.
[0126] As used herein, "pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives" of
a compound of the invention include salts, esters, enol ethers,
enol esters, acetals, ketals, orthoesters, hemiacetals, hemiketals,
acids, bases, solvates, hydrates or prodrugs thereof. Such
derivatives may be readily prepared by those of skill in this art
using known methods for such derivatization. The compounds produced
may be administered to animals or humans without substantial toxic
effects and either are pharmaceutically active or are prodrugs.
[0127] A "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" of a compound means a
salt that is pharmaceutically acceptable and that possesses the
desired pharmacological activity of the parent compound. Such salts
include: (1) acid addition salts, formed with inorganic acids such
as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid,
phosphoric acid, and the like; or formed with organic acids such as
acetic acid, propionic acid, hexanoic acid, cyclopentanepropionic
acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, malonic acid,
succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric
acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic acid,
cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic
acid, 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid,
benzenesulfonic acid, 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid,
2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-toluenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic
acid, glucoheptonic acid,
4,4'-methylenebis-(3-hydroxy-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid),
3-phenylpropionic acid, trimethylacetic acid, tertiary butylacetic
acid, lauryl sulfuric acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid,
hydroxynaphthoic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, muconic acid,
and the like; or (2) salts formed when an acidic proton present in
the parent compound either is replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an
alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth ion, or an aluminum ion; or
coordinates with an organic base such as ethanolamine,
diethanolamine, triethanolamine, tromethamine, N-methylglucamine,
and the like.
[0128] Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may also include, but are
not limited to, amine salts, such as but not limited to
N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, ammonia,
diethanolamine and other hydroxyalkylamines, ethylenediamine,
N-methylglucamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine,
1-para-chlorobenzyl-2-pyrrolidin-1'-ylmethyl-benzimidazole,
diethylamine and other alkylamines, piperazine and
tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; alkali metal salts, such as but
not limited to lithium, potassium and sodium; alkali earth metal
salts, such as but not limited to barium, calcium and magnesium;
transition metal salts, such as but not limited to zinc; and other
metal salts, such as but not limited to sodium hydrogen phosphate
and disodium phosphate; and also including, but not limited to,
salts of mineral acids, such as but not limited to hydrochlorides
and sulfates; and salts of organic acids, such as but not limited
to acetates, lactates, malates, tartrates, citrates, ascorbates,
succinates, butyrates, valerates and fumarates. Other
pharmaceutically acceptable salts include acid salts such as
acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate,
bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate,
cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate,
ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate,
hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide,
hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate,
methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate,
pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenyl-propionate, picrate,
pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate, thiocyanate, tosylate
and undecanoate; base salts including ammonium salts, alkali metal
salts, such as sodium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal
salts, such as calcium and magnesium salts, salts with organic
bases, such as dicyclohexylamine salts, N-methyl-D-glucamine, and
salts with amino acids such as arginine, lysine, and so forth.
Also, basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternized with such
agents as lower alkyl halides, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and
butyl chloride, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates, such as
dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates, long chain halides
such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and
iodides, aralkyl halides, such as benzyl and phenethyl bromides and
others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby
obtained.
[0129] Pharmaceutically acceptable esters include, but are not
limited to, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and cycloalkyl esters of
acidic groups, including, but not limited to, carboxylic acids,
phosphoric acids, phosphinic acids, sulfonic acids, sulfinic acids
and boronic acids.
[0130] Pharmaceutically acceptable enol ethers include, but are not
limited to, derivatives of formula C.dbd.C(OR) where R is hydrogen,
alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or cycloalkyl. Pharmaceutically acceptable
enol esters include, but are not limited to, derivatives of formula
C.dbd.C(OC(O)R) where R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or
cycloalkyl. Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and hydrates are
complexes of a compound with one or more solvent or water
molecules, or 1 to about 100, or 1 to about 10, or one to about 2,
3 or 4, solvent or water molecules.
[0131] A "pharmaceutically acceptable solvate or hydrate" of a
compound of the invention means a solvate or hydrate complex that
is pharmaceutically acceptable and that possesses the desired
pharmacological activity of the parent compound, and includes, but
is not limited to, complexes of a compound of the invention with
one or more solvent or water molecules, or 1 to about 100, or 1 to
about 10, or one to about 2, 3 or 4, solvent or water
molecules.
[0132] The term "organic group" and "organic radical" as used
herein means any carbon-containing group, including hydrocarbon
groups that are classified as an aliphatic group, cyclic group,
aromatic group, functionalized derivatives thereof and/or various
combination thereof. The term "aliphatic group" means a saturated
or unsaturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group and encompasses
alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups, for example. The term "alkyl
group" means a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated linear or
branched hydrocarbon group or chain (e.g., C.sub.1 to C.sub.8)
including, for example, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl,
heptyl, iso-propyl, n-octyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, amyl,
2-ethylhexyl, and the like. Suitable substituents include carboxy,
protected carboxy, amino, protected amino, halo, hydroxy, protected
hydroxy, nitro, cyano, monosubstituted amino, protected
monosubstituted amino, disubstituted amino, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7
alkoxy, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 acyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 acyloxy, and
the like. The term "substituted alkyl" means the above defined
alkyl group substituted from one to three times by a hydroxy,
protected hydroxy, amino, protected amino, cyano, halo,
trifloromethyl, mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino, lower
alkoxy, lower alkylthio, carboxy, protected carboxy, or a carboxy,
amino, and/or hydroxy salt. As used in conjunction with the
substituents for the heteroaryl rings, the terms "substituted
(cycloalkyl)alkyl" and "substituted cycloalkyl" are as defined
below substituted with the same groups as listed for a "substituted
alkyl" group. The term "alkenyl group" means an unsaturated, linear
or branched hydrocarbon group with one or more carbon-carbon double
bonds, such as a vinyl group. The term "alkynyl group" means an
unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon group with one or more
carbon-carbon triple bonds. The term "cyclic group" means a closed
ring hydrocarbon group that is classified as an alicyclic group,
aromatic group, or heterocyclic group. The term "alicyclic group"
means a cyclic hydrocarbon group having properties resembling those
of aliphatic groups. The term "aromatic group" or "aryl group"
means a mono- or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon group, and may
include one or more heteroatoms, and which are further defined
below. The term "heterocyclic group" means a closed ring
hydrocarbon in which one or more of the atoms in the ring are an
element other than carbon (e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc.),
and are further defined below.
[0133] "Organic groups" may be functionalized or otherwise comprise
additional functionalities associated with the organic group, such
as carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, and the like, which may be protected
or unprotected. For example, the phrase "alkyl group" is intended
to include not only pure open chain saturated hydrocarbon alkyl
substituents, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, t-butyl, and the like,
but also alkyl substituents bearing further substituents known in
the art, such as hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylsulfonyl, halogen atoms,
cyano, nitro, amino, carboxyl, etc. Thus, "alkyl group" includes
ethers, esters, haloalkyls, nitroalkyls, carboxyalkyls,
hydroxyalkyls, sulfoalkyls, etc.
[0134] The terms "halo" and "halogen" refer to the fluoro, chloro,
bromo or iodo groups. There can be one or more halogen, which are
the same or different. Halogens of particular interest include
fluoro, chloro and bromo groups.
[0135] The term "haloalkyl" refers to an alkyl group as defined
above that is substituted by one or more halogen atoms. The halogen
atoms may be the same or different. The term "dihaloalkyl " refers
to an alkyl group as described above that is substituted by two
halo groups, which may be the same or different. The term
"trihaloalkyl" refers to an alkyl group as describe above that is
substituted by three halo groups, which may be the same or
different. The term "perhaloalkyl" refers to a haloalkyl group as
defined above wherein each hydrogen atom in the alkyl group has
been replaced by a halogen atom. The term "perfluoroalkyl" refers
to a haloalkyl group as defined above wherein each hydrogen atom in
the alkyl group has been replaced by a fluoro group.
[0136] The term "cycloalkyl" means a mono-, bi-, or tricyclic
saturated ring that is fully saturated or partially unsaturated.
Examples of such a group included cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl,
cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, adamantyl, cyclooctyl, cis-
or trans decalin, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, cyclohex-1-enyl,
cyclopent-1-enyl, 1,4-cyclooctadienyl, and the like.
[0137] The term "(cycloalkyl)alkyl" means the above-defined alkyl
group substituted for one of the above cycloalkyl rings. Examples
of such a group include (cyclohexyl)methyl,
3-(cyclopropyl)-n-propyl, 5-(cyclopentyl)hexyl, 6-(adamantyl)hexyl,
and the like.
[0138] The term "substituted phenyl" specifies a phenyl group
substituted with one or more moieties, and in some instances one,
two, or three moieties, chosen from the groups consisting of
halogen, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl,
C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 alkyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 alkoxy, C.sub.1 to
C.sub.7 acyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 acyloxy, carboxy, oxycarboxy,
protected carboxy, carboxymethyl, protected carboxymethyl,
hydroxymethyl, protected hydroxymethyl, amino, protected amino,
(monosubstituted)amino, protected (monosubstituted)amino,
(disubstituted)amino, carboxamide, protected carboxamide,
N--(C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl)carboxamide, protected N--(C.sub.1 to
C.sub.6 alkyl)carboxamide, N,N-di(C.sub.1 to C.sub.6
alkyl)carboxamide, trifluoromethyl, N--((C.sub.1 to C.sub.6
alkyl)sulfonyl)amino, N-(phenylsulfonyl)amino or phenyl,
substituted or unsubstituted, such that, for example, a biphenyl or
naphthyl group results.
[0139] Examples of the term "substituted phenyl" includes a mono-
or di(halo)phenyl group such as 2, 3 or 4-chlorophenyl,
2,6-dichlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 2, 3 or
4-bromophenyl, 3,4-dibromophenyl, 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 2, 3 or
4-fluorophenyl and the like; a mono or di(hydroxy)phenyl group such
as 2, 3, or 4-hydroxyphenyl, 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl, the
protected-hydroxy derivatives thereof and the like; a nitrophenyl
group such as 2, 3, or 4-nitrophenyl; a cyanophenyl group, for
example, 2, 3 or 4-cyanophenyl; a mono- or di(alkyl)phenyl group
such as 2, 3, or 4-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2, 3 or
4-(iso-propyl)phenyl, 2, 3, or 4-ethylphenyl, 2, 3 or
4-(n-propyl)phenyl and the like; a mono or di(alkoxy)phenyl group,
for example, 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl, 2, 3 or 4-(isopropoxy)phenyl, 2,
3 or 4-(t-butoxy)phenyl, 3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl and the like; 2,
3 or 4-trifluoromethylphenyl; a mono- or dicarboxyphenyl or
(protected carboxy)phenyl group such as 2, 3 or 4-carboxyphenyl or
2,4-di(protected carboxy)phenyl; a mono- or di(hydroxymethyl)phenyl
or (protected hydroxymethyl)phenyl such as 2, 3 or 4-(protected
hydroxymethyl)phenyl or 3,4-di(hydroxymethyl)phenyl; a mono- or
di(aminomethyl)phenyl or (protected aminomethyl)phenyl such as 2, 3
or 4-(aminomethyl)phenyl or 2,4-(protected aminomethyl)phenyl; or a
mono- or di(N-(methylsulfonylamino))phenyl such as 2, 3 or
4-(N-(methylsulfonylamino))phenyl. Also, the term "substituted
phenyl" represents disubstituted phenyl groups wherein the
substituents are different, for example, 3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl,
3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-bromophenyl,
4-ethyl-2-hydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl,
2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl and the like.
[0140] The term "(substituted phenyl)alkyl" means one of the above
substituted phenyl groups attached to one of the above-described
alkyl groups. Examples of include such groups as
2-phenyl-1-chloroethyl, 2-(4'-methoxyphenyl)ethyl,
4-(2',6'-dihydroxy phenyl)n-hexyl,
2-(5'-cyano-3'-methoxyphenyl)n-pentyl,
3-(2',6'-dimethylphenyl)n-propyl, 4-chloro-3-aminobenzyl,
6-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxy(n-hexyl),
5-(4'-aminomethylphenyl)-3-(aminomethyl)n-pentyl,
5-phenyl-3-oxo-n-pent-1-yl, (4-hydroxynapth-2-yl)methyl and the
like.
[0141] As noted above, the term "aromatic" or "aryl" refers to six
membered carbocyclic rings. Also as noted above, the term
"heteroaryl" denotes optionally substituted five-membered or
six-membered rings that have 1 to 4 heteroatoms, such as oxygen,
sulfur and/or nitrogen atoms, in particular nitrogen, either alone
or in conjunction with sulfur or oxygen ring atoms.
[0142] Furthermore, the above optionally substituted five-membered
or six-membered rings can optionally be fused to an aromatic
5-membered or 6-membered ring system. For example, the rings can be
optionally fused to an aromatic 5-membered or 6-membered ring
system such as a pyridine or a triazole system, and preferably to a
benzene ring.
[0143] The following ring systems are examples of the heterocyclic
(whether substituted or unsubstituted) radicals denoted by the term
"heteroaryl": thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl,
isoxazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl,
thiatriazolyl, oxatriazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl,
pyridazinyl, oxazinyl, triazinyl, thiadiazinyl tetrazolo,
1,5-[b]pyridazinyl and purinyl, as well as benzo-fused derivatives,
for example, benzoxazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzimidazolyl and
indolyl.
[0144] Substituents for the above optionally substituted heteroaryl
rings are from one to three halo, trihalomethyl, amino, protected
amino, amino salts, mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino,
carboxy, protected carboxy, carboxylate salts, hydroxy, protected
hydroxy, salts of a hydroxy group, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,
(cycloalkyl)alkyl, substituted (cycloalkyl)alkyl, phenyl,
substituted phenyl, phenylalkyl, and (substituted phenyl)alkyl.
Substituents for the heteroaryl group are as heretofore defined, or
in the case of trihalomethyl, can be trifluoromethyl,
trichloromethyl, tribromomethyl, or triiodomethyl. As used in
conjunction with the above substituents for heteroaryl rings,
"lower alkoxy" means a C.sub.1 to .sub.C4 alkoxy group, similarly,
"lower alkylthio" means a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkylthio group.
[0145] The term "(monosubstituted)amino" refers to an amino group
with one substituent chosen from the group consisting of phenyl,
substituted phenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.4
acyl, C.sub.2 to C.sub.7 alkenyl, C.sub.2 to C.sub.7 substituted
alkenyl, C.sub.2 to C.sub.7 alkynyl, C.sub.7 to C.sub.16 alkylaryl,
C.sub.7 to C.sub.16 substituted alkylaryl and heteroaryl group. The
(monosubstituted) amino can additionally have an amino-protecting
group as encompassed by the term "protected
(monosubstituted)amino." The term "(disubstituted)amino" refers to
amino groups with two substituents chosen from the group consisting
of phenyl, substituted phenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, C.sub.1 to
C.sub.7 acyl, C.sub.2 to C.sub.7 alkenyl, C.sub.2 to C.sub.7
alkynyl, C.sub.7 to C.sub.16 alkylaryl, C.sub.7 to C.sub.16
substituted alkylaryl and heteroaryl. The two substituents can be
the same or different.
[0146] The term "heteroaryl(alkyl)" denotes an alkyl group as
defined above, substituted at any position by a heteroaryl group,
as above defined.
[0147] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently
described event, circumstance, feature or element may, but need
not, occur, and that the description includes instances where the
event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not.
For example, "heterocyclo group optionally mono- or di-substituted
with an alkyl group" means that the alkyl may, but need not, be
present, and the description includes situations where the
heterocyclo group is mono- or disubstituted with an alkyl group and
situations where the heterocyclo group is not substituted with the
alkyl group.
[0148] Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in
the nature or sequence of bonding of their atoms or the arrangement
of their atoms in space are termed "isomers." Isomers that differ
in the arrangement of their atoms in space are termed
"stereoisomers." Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of one
another are termed "diastereomers" and those that are
non-superimposable mirror images of each other are termed
"enantiomers." When a compound has an asymmetric center, for
example, it is bonded to four different groups, a pair of
enantiomers is possible. An enantiomer can be characterized by the
absolute configuration of its asymmetric center and is described by
the R- and S-sequencing rules of Cahn and Prelog, or by the manner
in which the molecule rotates the plane of polarized light and
designated as dextrorotatory or levorotatory (i.e., as (+) or
(-)-isomers respectively). A chiral compound can exist as either
individual enantiomer or as a mixture thereof. A mixture containing
equal proportions of the enantiomers is called a "racemic
mixture."
[0149] The compounds of this invention may possess one or more
asymmetric centers; such compounds can therefore be produced as
individual (R)- or (S)-stereoisomers or as mixtures thereof. Unless
indicated otherwise, the description or naming of a particular
compound in the specification and claims is intended to include
both individual enantiomers and mixtures, racemic or otherwise,
thereof. The methods for the determination of stereochemistry and
the separation of stereoisomers are well-known in the art (see,
e.g., the discussion in Chapter 4 of "Advanced Organic Chemistry",
4th edition J. March, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1992).
[0150] Except as otherwise noted, the methods and techniques of the
present embodiments are generally performed according to
conventional methods well known in the art and as described in
various general and more specific references that are cited and
discussed throughout the present specification. See, e.g., Loudon,
Organic Chemistry, Fourth Edition, New York: Oxford University
Press, 2002, pp. 360-361, 1084-1085; Smith and March, March's
Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure,
Fifth Edition, Wiley-Interscience, 2001.
[0151] Many general references providing commonly known chemical
synthetic schemes and conditions useful for synthesizing the
disclosed compounds are available (see, e.g., Smith and March,
March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and
Structure, Fifth Edition, Wiley-Interscience, 2001; or Vogel, A
Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, Including Qualitative
Organic Analysis, Fourth Edition, New York: Longman, 1978).
[0152] Compounds as described herein can be purified by any of the
means known in the art, including chromatographic means, such as
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), preparative thin
layer chromatography, flash column chromatography and ion exchange
chromatography. Any suitable stationary phase can be used,
including normal and reversed phases as well as ionic resins. See,
e.g., Introduction to Modern Liquid Chromatography, 2nd Edition,
ed. L. R. Snyder and J. J. Kirkland, John Wiley and Sons, 1979; and
Thin Layer Chromatography, ed E. Stahl, Springer-Verlag, New York,
1969.
[0153] During any of the processes for preparation of the compounds
of the present disclosure, it may be necessary and/or desirable to
protect sensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules
concerned. This can be achieved by means of conventional protecting
groups as described in standard works, such as T. W. Greene and P.
G. M. Wuts, "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", Fourth
edition, Wiley, New York 2006. The protecting groups can be removed
at a convenient subsequent stage using methods known from the
art.
[0154] The compounds described herein can contain one or more
chiral centers and/or double bonds and therefore, can exist as
stereoisomers, such as double-bond isomers (i.e., geometric
isomers), enantiomers or diastereomers. Accordingly, all possible
enantiomers and stereoisomers of the compounds including the
stereoisomerically pure form (e.g., geometrically pure,
enantiomerically pure or diastereomerically pure) and enantiomeric
and stereoisomeric mixtures are included in the description of the
compounds herein. Enantiomeric and stereoisomeric mixtures can be
resolved into their component enantiomers or stereoisomers using
separation techniques or chiral synthesis techniques well known to
the skilled artisan. The compounds can also exist in several
tautomeric forms including the enol form, the keto form and
mixtures thereof. Accordingly, the chemical structures depicted
herein encompass all possible tautomeric forms of the illustrated
compounds. The compounds described also include isotopically
labeled compounds where one or more atoms have an atomic mass
different from the atomic mass conventionally found in nature.
Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into the compounds
disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, .sup.2H, .sup.3H,
.sup.11C, .sup.13C, .sup.14C, .sup.15N, .sup.18F, .sup.18O,
.sup.17O, etc. Compounds can exist in unsolvated forms as well as
solvated forms, including hydrated forms. In general, compounds can
be hydrated or solvated. Certain compounds can exist in multiple
crystalline or amorphous forms. In general, all physical forms are
equivalent for the uses contemplated herein and are intended to be
within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0155] The Structure of the Delivery Systems Provided Herein
[0156] A delivery system for an active agent can be configured to
comprise a ligand with (i) a high selectivity for a plasma protein
endogeneous to the subject, the molecular weight of the plasma
protein ranging from about 30 kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a high
binding affinity, Kd, of at least 10.sup.-6 M for the plasma
protein; and, (iii) a molecular weight ranging from about 200 Da to
about 2000 Da; and, a linker that ranges in length from about 10
angstroms to about 50 angstroms, or from 8 atoms to 50 atoms. The
term "active agent" can be used, for example, to refer to a
structure selected from the group consisting of a peptide, an
oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an imaging agent, and combinations thereof. The term
"plasma protein" can be used to refer to a blood serum protein
selected from the group consisting of serum albumin, transferrin,
Retinol binding protein, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2 globulins, beta
globulins, and gamma globulins, or a combination thereof. In some
embodiments, the plasma protein is HSA. And, in some embodiments,
the plasma protein is TTR.
[0157] Generally speaking, the delivery system are generally
directed to a system comprising a ligand of particular interest
which is selective for transthyretin in the serum of a subject;
and, a linker configured for operatively attaching the ligand
covalently to an active agent. In some embodiments, the linker
ranges in length from 14 angstroms to 30 angstroms, or from 10
atoms to 22 atoms. The ligand can have the following structure of
Compound (I)
##STR00020## [0158] where X.sub.a, X.sub.b and X.sub.c are
independently selected from C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or
S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano;
[0159] a ring is a 4 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments
the 4 to 12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;
[0160] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; [0161] c is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
and, [0162] B ring is a hetercyclic ring selected from the
following (h1-h30):
[0162] ##STR00021## ##STR00022## ##STR00023## ##STR00024## [0163]
where R.sup.11-R.sup.16are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; R.sup.17 is selected
from a hydroxyl, alkyl, amino, and alkyl amino; and at least one of
R.sup.11-R.sup.16 is the linking group to X.sub.c; [0164] or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0165] In some embodiments, the ligand can have the following
structure of Compound (II), comprising:
##STR00025##
where, [0166] n is an integer ranging from 0 to 8; [0167] R.sup.1,
R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; [0168] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O,
N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0169] A is a 5 to 12-membered ring, in certain embodiments
the 5 to 12-membered ring is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;
[0170] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; and, [0171] c is a number from zero to 5;
[0172] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether,
enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal,
hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0173] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (III), comprising:
##STR00026##
where, [0174] n is an integer ranging from 0 to 7; [0175] Z is
carbon and/or up to three of the five Z may be nitrogen; [0176] R1,
R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; [0177] Xa is
C(R4)(R5), O, N--R5 or S; where R4 and R5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0178] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester and cyano; and [0179] c is an integer ranging from 0 to
5; [0180] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol
ether, enol ester, amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal,
hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0181] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (III) is a
structure in which n is 3; and, X is O.
[0182] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (IV), comprising:
##STR00027##
where, [0183] n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; [0184] R.sup.1
is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0185] R.sup.2
is hydrogen; [0186] R.sup.3 is a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4
carbon atoms; [0187] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5
or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from
hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,
alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy,
aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl,
substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted
alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino,
substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano;
[0188] each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen,
acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group,
alkoxycarbonyl sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester and
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; and [0189] c is 2; [0190] or, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0191] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (IV) is a
structure in which R1 is methyl and R3 is methyl; Xa is O, and, Y
is fluoro or carboxyl.
[0192] In some embodiments, the ligand has structure of Compound
(V), comprising:
##STR00028##
where, [0193] n is 1 to 8; [0194] R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are
independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halo, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0195] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S;
where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,
substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,
hydroxyl, heterocyclic group, halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl,
aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl, amino, substituted amino,
acylamino, substituted acylamino, and cyano; [0196] R.sup.a is CHO,
COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3,
hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0197]
R.sup.b is CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8,
tetrazolyl, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar,
CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3, hydrogen, halogen, alkyl,
substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic
group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride, thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0198] R.sup.6 is alkyl, haloalkyl,
cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; [0199] R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each
independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,
heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and, [0200] R.sup.9 is the side chain
of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; [0201] or,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
amide, acetal, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0202] In some embodiments, the ligand of Compound (V) is a
structure in which R.sup.b is selected from bromo, chloro and
fluoro.
[0203] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VI), comprising:
##STR00029##
where, [0204] n is 3; [0205] R.sup.1 is a short chain alkyl having
1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0206] R.sup.2 is hydrogen; [0207] R.sup.3 is
a short chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; [0208] X.sub.a is
C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O, N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5
are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,
alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0209] R.sup.a is CHO, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6,
CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar,
CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, hydrogen, an acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl,
alkoxycarbonyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0210] R.sup.b is CHO,
COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, a halogen
or heterocyclic group; [0211] R.sup.6 is alkyl, haloalkyl,
cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; [0212] R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each
independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,
heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl; and [0213] R.sup.9 is the side chain
of a naturally occurring .alpha.-amino carboxylic acid; [0214] or,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0215] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIc):
##STR00030## [0216] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0217] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIc), comprising:
##STR00031##
where, [0218] R.sup.a is OH, CHO, COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH),
COOR.sup.6, CONHR.sup.6; [0219] R.sup.6 is straight of branched
alkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms; [0220] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal,
orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug
thereof.
[0221] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIb), comprising:
##STR00032##
where, [0222] R.sup.a is COOH, CONH.sub.2, CONH(OH), COOR.sup.6,
CONHR.sup.6; [0223] R.sup.6 is straight of branched alkyl of 1-3
carbon atoms; [0224] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0225] In some embodiments, the ligand is selected from the group
consisting of:
##STR00033## ##STR00034## ##STR00035## ##STR00036## [0226] and, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, enol ether, enol ester,
acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester, hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate,
solvate or prodrug thereof.
[0227] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIIc):
##STR00037## [0228] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof; and,
[0229] the linker is attached to the ligand ortho at C15 to the
carboxyl group at C14.
[0230] In some embodiments, the ligand has the structure of
Compound (VIIIc):
##STR00038## [0231] or, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,
enol ether, enol ester, acetal, amide, ketal, orthoester,
hemiacetal, hemiketal, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof; and,
[0232] the linker is attached to the ligand meta at C16 to the
carboxy carbon at C14.
[0233] Uses and Methods of Administration
[0234] The delivery systems provided herein can provide a
therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect in the treatment of a
disease, or ameliorization of one or more symptoms of a disease in
a subject. The term "subject" and "patient" are used
interchangeably and refer to an animal such as a mammal including,
but not limited to, non-primates such as, for example, a cow, pig,
horse, cat, dog, rabbit, rat and mouse; and primates such as, for
example, a monkey or a human.
[0235] Methods of increasing the in vivo half-life of an active
agent are provided, the methods comprising covalently attaching any
of the delivery systems taught above to an active agent.
[0236] Method of administering an active agent to a subject are
provided, the methods comprising covalently attaching any of the
delivery systems taught above to an active agent to create a
conjugated active agent; and, administering the conjugated active
agent to the subject.
[0237] Methods of reducing the immunogenicity of an active agent in
a subject are provided, the methods comprising obtaining a delivery
system having a ligand with (i) a high selectivity for a plasma
protein endogeneous to the subject, the molecular weight of the
plasma protein ranging from about 30 kDa to about 80 kDa; (ii) a
high binding affinity, Kd, of at least 10.sup.-6 M for the plasma
protein; and, (iii) a molecular weight ranging from about 200 Da to
about 2000 Da; and, a linker that ranges in length from about 10
angstroms to about 50 angstroms, or from 10 atoms to 50 atoms. The
method also includes covalently attaching the delivery system to an
active agent to create a conjugated active agent; and,
administering the conjugated active agent to the subject; wherein,
the plasma protein shields the active agent from antibody
generation in the subject after the administering.
[0238] In some embodiments, the delivery system can be any of the
delivery systems taught above. In some embodiments, the plasma
protein can be selected from the group consisting of serum albumin,
transferrin, Retinol binding protein, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2
globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins, or a combination
thereof. In some embodiments, the plasma protein is HSA. And, in
some embodiments, the plasma protein is TTR.
[0239] Moreover, it should be appreciated that the active agent can
be any active agent known to one of skill that can benefit from the
delivery systems taught herein. In some embodiments, the active
agent comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a
peptide, an oligopeptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an
oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a virus-like particle, a small
molecule, an oligosaccharide, an imaging agent, and combinations
thereof.
[0240] Formulations
[0241] The delivery systems disclosed herein can be formulated into
pharmaceutical compositions by combining them with appropriate,
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, excipients, and/or
adjuvants. The formulations can be administered by any route known
to one of skill including, but not limited to, oral, parenteral,
transdermal, intrathecal, ophthalmic, topical, pulmonary, nasal,
rectal, or depot administration.
[0242] The delivery systems, for example, can be formulated into
suitable pharmaceutical preparations such as solutions,
suspensions, tablets, dispersible tablets, pills, capsules,
powders, sustained release formulations or elixirs, for oral
administration or in sterile solutions or suspensions for
parenteral administration, as well as transdermal patch preparation
and dry powder inhalers. Generally speaking, the compounds
described above can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions
using techniques and procedures well known in the art (see, e.g.,
Ansel Introduction to Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Fourth Edition
1985, 126). In some embodiments, the compounds are formulated into
suitable pharmaceutical preparations for oral administration to a
subject.
[0243] In some embodiments, the delivery systems are mixed with a
suitable pharmaceutical carrier. And, any component of the delivery
systems can be derivatized as the corresponding salts, esters, enol
ethers or esters, acetals, ketals, orthoesters, hemiacetals,
hemiketals, acids, bases, solvates, hydrates or prodrugs prior to
formulation, as described above. The concentrations of the
conjugated active agents that are administered with the delivery
systems are delivered in an effective amount that treats, prevents,
or ameliorates one or more of the symptoms of diseases or disorders
treated.
[0244] The bioactive agents include, but are not limited to, small
molecules, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, amino
acids, oligopeptides, polypeptides, and proteins. Bioactive agents
can include, but are not limited to, antiproliferatives,
antineoplastics, antimitotics, anti-inflammatories, antiplatelets,
anticoagulants, antifibrins, antithrombins, antibiotics,
antiallergics, antioxidants, and any prodrugs, codrugs,
metabolites, analogs, homologues, congeners, derivatives, salts and
combinations thereof. It is to be appreciated that one skilled in
the art should recognize that some of the groups, subgroups, and
individual bioactive agents may not be used in some embodiments of
the present invention.
[0245] Antiproliferatives include, for example, actinomycin D,
actinomycin IV, actinomycin I1, actinomycin X1, actinomycin C1, and
dactinomycin (Cosmegen.TM., Merck & Co., Inc.). Antineoplastics
or antimitotics include, for example, paclitaxel (TAXOL,
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.), docetaxel (TAXOTERE, Aventis S.A.),
methotrexate, irinotecan, SN-38, azathioprine, vincristine,
vinblastine, fluorouracil, doxorubicin hydrochloride (ADRIAMYCIN,
Pfizer, Inc.) and mitomycin (MUTAMYCIN, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.),
and any prodrugs, codrugs, metabolites, analogs, homologues,
congeners, derivatives, salts and combinations thereof.
Antiplatelets, anticoagulants, antifibrin, and antithrombins
include, for example, sodium heparin, low molecular weight
heparins, heparinoids, hirudin, argatroban, forskolin, vapiprost,
prostacyclin and prostacyclin analogues, dextran,
D-phe-pro-arg-chloromethylketone (synthetic antithrombin),
dipyridamole, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet membrane receptor
antagonist antibody, recombinant hirudin, and thrombin inhibitors
(ANGIOMAX, Biogen, Inc.), and any prodrugs, codrugs, metabolites,
analogs, homologues, congeners, derivatives, salts and combinations
thereof. Cytostatic or antiproliferative agents include, for
example, angiopeptin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors such
as captopril (CAPOTEN and CAPOZIDE, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.),
cilazapril or lisinopril (PRINVIL and PRINZIDE, Merck & Co.,
Inc.); calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine; colchicines;
fibroblast growth factor (FGF) antagonists, fish oil (omega 3-fatty
acid); histamine antagonists; lovastatin (MEVACOR, Merck & Co.,
Inc.); monoclonal antibodies including, but not limited to,
antibodies specific for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
receptors; nitroprusside; phosphodiesterase inhibitors;
prostaglandin inhibitors; suramin; serotonin blockers; steroids;
thioprotease inhibitors; PDGF antagonists including, but not
limited to, triazolopyrimidine; and nitric oxide, and any prodrugs,
codrugs, metabolites, analogs, homologues, congeners, derivatives,
salts and combinations thereof. Antiallergic agents include, but
are not limited to, pemirolast potassium (ALAMAST, Santen, Inc.),
and any prodrugs, codrugs, metabolites, analogs, homologues,
congeners, derivatives, salts and combinations thereof.
[0246] Antibody therapy provides additional bioactive agents that
may be useful when administered in combination with the methods
taught herein. AVASTATIN, for example, is a human monoclonal
antibody to VEGF, has provided beneficial results in colorectal
cancer, increasing survival time by more than 30% when used in
combination with the standard Saltz regime of irinotecan,
5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin. One of skill will appreciate that
several monoclonal antibodies would be useful, the following
providing further examples:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE mAb name Trade name Cancer treated: rituximab
RITUXAN non-Hodgkin lymphoma trastuzumab HERCEPTIN breast cancer
gemtuzumab MYLOTARG acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) ozogamicin*
alemtuzumab CAMPATH chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) ibritumomab
ZEVALIN non-Hodgkin lymphoma tiuxetan* tositumomab* BEXXAR
non-Hodgkin lymphoma cetuximab ERBITUX colorectal cancer; head
& neck cancers bevacizumab AVASTIN colorectal cancer; non-small
cell lung cancer; breast cancer; glioblastoma; kidney cancer
panitumumab VECTIBIX colorectal cancer ofatumumab ARZERRA chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) *refers to a conjugated monoclonal
antibody
[0247] It should be appreciated that, a bioactive agent can be
given alone or in combination with other bioactive agents, with the
compositions and methods taught herein. Chemotherapy drugs, for
example, are sometimes most effective when given in combination, as
a combination chemotherapy regime. The rationale for combination
chemotherapy is to use drugs that work by different mechanisms of
action, thereby decreasing the likelihood that resistant cancer
cells will develop. When drugs having different effects are
combined, each drug can be used at its optimal dose, sometimes
without, and sometimes reducing, intolerable side effects.
[0248] The active agent can be included, for example, in a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the active agent conjugated
with the delivery system in an amount sufficient to exert a
therapeutically useful effect in the absence of undesirable side
effects on the patient treated. The therapeutically effective
concentration may be determined empirically by testing the
compounds in in vitro and in vivo systems described and then
extrapolated therefrom for dosages for humans.
[0249] Consistent with the purpose of the delivery systems, e.g.,
increasing half-life of the active agent, the concentration of
active agent administered will depend on absorption, inactivation
and excretion rates of the active compound, the physicochemical
characteristics of the compound, the dosage schedule, and amount
administered as well as other factors known to those of skill in
the art.
[0250] The delivery systems provided herein can be administered to
a subject using any manner of administration known to one of skill.
For example, in some embodiments, a localized administration is
used and, in some embodiments a systemic administration is used. In
some embodiments, a combination of system and local administration
is used. One of skill will appreciate that the therapeutic program
selected, the agents administered, the condition of the subject,
and the effects desired, can affect the administration schedule and
program used.
[0251] One of skill understands that the amount of the agents
administered can vary according to factors such as, for example,
the type of disease, age, sex, and weight of the subject, as well
as the method of administration. For example, local and systemic
administration can call for substantially different amounts to be
effective. Dosage regimens may also be adjusted to optimize a
therapeutic response. In some embodiments, a single bolus may be
administered; several divided doses may be administered over time;
the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased; or, any
combination thereof, as indicated by the exigencies of the
therapeutic situation and factors known one of skill in the art. It
is to be noted that dosage values may vary with the severity of the
condition to be alleviated. Dosage regimens may be adjusted over
time according to the individual need and the professional judgment
of the person administering or supervising the administration of
the compositions, and the dosage ranges set forth herein are
exemplary only and do not limit the dosage ranges that may be
selected by medical practitioners.
[0252] The terms "administration" or "administering" refer to a
method of incorporating a composition into the cells or tissues of
a subject, either in vivo or ex vivo to diagnose, prevent, treat,
or ameliorate a symptom of a disease. In one example, a compound
can be administered to a subject in vivo parenterally. In another
example, a compound can be administered to a subject by combining
the compound with cell tissue from the subject ex vivo for purposes
that include, but are not limited to, assays for determining
utility and efficacy of a composition. When the compound is
incorporated in the subject in combination with one or active
agents, the terms "administration" or "administering" can include
sequential or concurrent incorporation of the compound with the
other agents such as, for example, any agent described above. A
pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to be
compatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of
routes of administration include, but are not limited to,
parenteral such as, for example, intravenous, intradermal,
intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection; oral; inhalation;
intranasal; transdermal; transmucosal; and rectal
administration.
[0253] An "effective amount" of a compound of the invention can be
used to describe a therapeutically effective amount or a
prophylactically effective amount. An effective amount can also be
an amount that ameliorates the symptoms of a disease. A
"therapeutically effective amount" refers to an amount that is
effective at the dosages and periods of time necessary to achieve a
desired therapeutic result and may also refer to an amount of
active compound, prodrug or pharmaceutical agent that elicits any
biological or medicinal response in a tissue, system, or subject
that is sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or
other clinician that may be part of a treatment plan leading to a
desired effect. In some embodiments, the therapeutically effective
amount may need to be administered in an amount sufficient to
result in amelioration of one or more symptoms of a disorder,
prevention of the advancement of a disorder, or regression of a
disorder. In some embodiments, for example, a therapeutically
effective amount can refer to the amount of an agent that provides
a measurable response of at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%,
at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least
40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at
least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%,
at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of a desired action of
the composition. The term "treating" refers to the administering
one or more therapeutic or prophylactic agents taught herein.
[0254] A "prophylactically effective amount" refers to an amount
that is effective at the dosages and periods of time necessary to
achieve a desired prophylactic result such as, preventing,
inhibiting, or reversing angiogenesis, tumor growth, or tumor
invasion. Typically, a prophylactic dose is used in a subject prior
to the onset of a disease, or at an early stage of the onset of a
disease, to prevent or inhibit onset of the disease or symptoms of
the disease. A prophylactically effective amount may be less than,
greater than, or equal to a therapeutically effective amount.
[0255] The administration can be local or systemic. In some
embodiments, the administration can be oral. In other embodiments,
the administration can be subcutaneous injection. In other
embodiments, the administration can be intravenous injection using
a sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. In another embodiment, the
administration can include a solubilizing agent and a local
anesthetic such as lignocaine to ease discomfort at the site of
injection. In other embodiments, the administrations may be
parenteral to obtain, for example, ease and uniformity of
administration.
[0256] The compounds can be administered in dosage units. The term
"dosage unit" refers to discrete, predetermined quantities of a
compound that can be administered as unitary dosages to a subject.
A predetermined quantity of active compound can be selected to
produce a desired therapeutic effect and can be administered with a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The predetermined quantity in
each unit dosage can depend on factors that include, but are not
limited to, (a) the unique characteristics of the active compound
and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the
limitations inherent in the art of creating and administering such
dosage units.
[0257] A "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" is a diluent,
adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the composition is
administered. A carrier is pharmaceutically acceptable after
approval by a state or federal regulatory agency or listing in the
U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention or other generally recognized sources
for use in subjects.
[0258] The pharmaceutical carriers include any and all
physiologically compatible solvents, dispersion media, coatings,
antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption
delaying agents, and the like. Examples of pharmaceutical carriers
include, but are not limited to, sterile liquids, such as water,
oils and lipids such as, for example, phospholipids and
glycolipids. These sterile liquids include, but are not limited to,
those derived from petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin
such as, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame
oil, and the like. Water can be a preferred carrier for intravenous
administration. Saline solutions, aqueous dextrose and glycerol
solutions can also be liquid carriers, particularly for injectable
solutions.
[0259] Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include, but are not
limited to, starch, sugars, inert polymers, glucose, lactose,
sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium
stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim
milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol, and the like.
The composition can also contain minor amounts of wetting agents,
emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, or a combination thereof.
The compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions,
emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-release
formulations and the like. Oral formulations can include standard
carriers such as, for example, pharmaceutical grades mannitol,
lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose,
magnesium carbonate, and the like. See Martin, E. W. Remington's
Pharmaceutical Sciences. Supplementary active compounds can also be
incorporated into the compositions.
[0260] In some embodiments, the carrier is suitable for parenteral
administration. In other embodiments, the carrier can be suitable
for intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, sublingual or oral
administration. In other embodiments, the pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier may comprise pharmaceutically acceptable
salts.
[0261] Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration
may include liposomes. Liposomes and emulsions are delivery
vehicles or carriers that are especially useful for hydrophobic
drugs. Depending on biological stability of the therapeutic
reagent, additional strategies for protein stabilization may be
employed. Furthermore, one may administer the drug in a targeted
drug delivery system such as, for example, in a liposome coated
with target-specific antibody. The liposomes can be designed, for
example, to bind to a target protein and be taken up selectively by
the cell expressing the target protein.
[0262] Therapeutic compositions typically must be sterile and
stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage. The
composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion,
liposome, or other ordered structure suitable for a high drug
concentration. In some embodiments, the carrier can be a solvent or
dispersion medium including, but not limited to, water; ethanol; a
polyol such as for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid
polyethylene glycol, and the like; and, combinations thereof. The
proper fluidity can be maintained in a variety of ways such as, for
example, using a coating such as lecithin, maintaining a required
particle size in dispersions, and using surfactants.
[0263] In some embodiments, isotonic agents can be used such as,
for example, sugars; polyalcohols that include, but are not limited
to, mannitol, sorbitol, glycerol, and combinations thereof; and
sodium chloride. Sustained absorption characteristics can be
introduced into the compositions by including agents that delay
absorption such as, for example, monostearate salts, gelatin, and
slow release polymers. Carriers can be used to protect active
compounds against rapid release, and such carriers include, but are
not limited to, controlled release formulations in implants and
microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable and biocompatible
polymers can be used such as, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate,
polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters,
polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyglycolic copolymer (PLG),
and the like. Such formulations can generally be prepared using
methods known to one of skill in the art.
[0264] The compounds may be administered as suspensions such as,
for example, oily suspensions for injection. Lipophilic solvents or
vehicles include, but are not limited to, fatty oils such as, for
example, sesame oil; synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl
oleate or triglycerides; and liposomes. Suspensions that can be
used for injection may also contain substances that increase the
viscosity of the suspension such as, for example, sodium
carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, a
suspension may contain stabilizers or agents that increase the
solubility of the compounds and allow for preparation of highly
concentrated solutions.
[0265] In one embodiment, a sterile and injectable solution can be
prepared by incorporating an effective amount of an active compound
in a solvent with any one or any combination of desired additional
ingredients described above, filtering, and then sterilizing the
solution. In another embodiment, dispersions can be prepared by
incorporating an active compound into a sterile vehicle containing
a dispersion medium and any one or any combination of desired
additional ingredients described above. Sterile powders can be
prepared for use in sterile and injectable solutions by vacuum
drying, freeze-drying, or a combination thereof, to yield a powder
that can be comprised of the active ingredient and any desired
additional ingredients. Moreover, the additional ingredients can be
from a separately prepared sterile and filtered solution. In
another embodiment, the extract may be prepared in combination with
one or more additional compounds that enhance the solubility of the
extract.
[0266] In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective dosage
should produce a serum concentration of active ingredient of from
about 0.1 ng/ml to about 50-100 .mu.g/ml. The pharmaceutical
compositions, in another embodiment, should provide a dosage of
from about 0.001 mg to about 2000 mg of compound per kilogram of
body weight per day. Pharmaceutical dosage unit forms are prepared
to provide from about 0.01 mg, 0.1 mg or 1 mg to about 500 mg, 1000
mg or 2000 mg, and in one embodiment from about 10 mg to about 500
mg of the active ingredient or a combination of essential
ingredients per dosage unit form.
[0267] In some embodiments, a therapeutically or prophylactically
effective amount of a composition may range in concentration from
about 0.001 nM to about 0.10 M; from about 0.001 nM to about 0.5 M;
from about 0.01 nM to about 150 nM; from about 0.01 nM to about 500
.mu.M; from about 0.01 nM to about 1000 nM, 0.001 .mu.M to about
0.10 M; from about 0.001 .mu.M to about 0.5 M; from about 0.01
.mu.M to about 150 .mu.M; from about 0.01 .mu.M to about 500 .mu.M;
from about 0.01 .mu.M to about 1000 nM, or any range therein. In
some embodiments, the compositions may be administered in an amount
ranging from about 0.001 mg/kg to about 500 mg/kg; from about 0.005
mg/kg to about 400 mg/kg; from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 300 mg/kg;
from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 250 mg/kg; from about 0.1 mg/kg to
about 200 mg/kg; from about 0.2 mg/kg to about 150 mg/kg; from
about 0.4 mg/kg to about 120 mg/kg; from about 0.15 mg/kg to about
100 mg/kg, from about 0.15 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, from about 0.5
mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, or any range therein, wherein a human
subject is assumed to average about 70 kg.
[0268] In some embodiments, the compounds can be administered by
inhalation through an aerosol spray or a nebulizer that may include
a suitable propellant such as, for example,
dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane,
dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide, or a combination
thereof. In one example, a dosage unit for a pressurized aerosol
may be delivered through a metering valve. In another embodiment,
capsules and cartridges of gelatin, for example, may be used in an
inhaler and can be formulated to contain a powderized mix of the
compound with a suitable powder base such as, for example, starch
or lactose.
[0269] The teachings herein encompass sustained release
formulations for the administration of one or more agents. In some
embodiments, the sustained release formulations can reduce the
dosage and/or frequency of the administrations of such agents to a
subject.
[0270] The compositions can be administered as a pharmaceutical
formulation by injection. In some embodiments, the formulation can
comprise the extract in combination with an aqueous injectable
excipient. Examples of suitable aqueous injectable excipients are
well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, and they, and
the methods of formulating the formulations, may be found in such
standard references as Alfonso A R: Remington's Pharmaceutical
Sciences, 17th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton Pa., 1985.
Suitable aqueous injectable excipients include water, aqueous
saline solution, aqueous dextrose solution, and the like,
optionally containing dissolution enhancers for the acid-modified
arabinogalactan protein composition, such as solution of mannitol
or other sugars, or a solution of glycine or other amino acids.
[0271] Typically, a composition taught herein can be administered
by subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, or
intravenously, injecting. A localized administration can, in some
embodiments, include direct injection of an agent into the region
of the tissue to be treated such as, for example, a solid tumor. In
some embodiments, intravenous administration is used, and it can be
continuous intravenous infusion over a period of a few minutes to
an hour or more, such as around fifteen minutes. The amount
administered may vary widely depending on the type of formulation,
size of a unit dosage, kind of excipients, and other factors well
known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The formulation may
comprise, for example, from about 0.0001% to about 10% (w/w), from
about 0.01% to about 1%, from about 0.1% to about 0.8%, or any
range therein, with the remainder comprising the excipient or
excipients.
[0272] In some embodiments, the composition can be administered in
conjunction with at least one other therapeutic agent for the
disease state being treated, especially another agent capable of
treating cancer such as, for example, a chemotherapeutic agent. The
amounts of the agents needed can be reduced, even substantially,
such that the amount of the agent or agents required is reduced to
the extent that a significant response is observed from the
subject. A significant response can include, but is not limited to,
a reduction or elimination of nausea, a visible increase in
tolerance, a faster response to the treatment, a more selective
response to the treatment, or a combination thereof.
[0273] The methods can further comprise the administration of an
effective amount of an antiproliferative, an effective amount of
radiation therapy, surgical therapy, or a combination thereof. The
teachings are also directed to a method of treating a cancer. In
some embodiments, the method comprises administering an agent to a
subject in need of a cancer treatment, wherein the dose of the
agent is selected to reduce or eliminate an immunosuppression that
would otherwise occur when administering a substantially higher
dose of the agent in the subject; and administering radiation
therapy in combination with the agent, wherein the reduction or
elimination of the immunosuppression enhances the efficacy of the
radiation therapy when compared to the efficacy of the radiation
therapy otherwise observed when administered in combination with
the substantially higher dose of the agent in the subject. In some
embodiments, the agent comprises one or more chemotherapeutic
agents in combination with the agents provided herein. In these
embodiments, the agent can be selected from the group consisting of
dacarbazine, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, or a combination thereof.
[0274] In some embodiments, an effective amount can range, for
example, from about 1 mg/day to about 1000 mg/day, from about 10
mg/day to about 500 mg/day, from about 50 mg/day to about 250
mg/day, or any range therein, for a human of average body mass. For
treating a solid tumor, a similar amount will be therapeutically
effective. A person of ordinary skill in the art will be able
without undue experimentation, having regard to that skill and this
disclosure, to determine a therapeutically effective amount of the
compositions of this invention for a given disease.
[0275] In some embodiments, G-CSF is administered in combination
with a composition taught herein using any amount, time, and method
of administration known to be effective by one of skill. The G-CSF
can be NEUPOGEN, for example, administered in an amount ranging
from about 0.1 .mu.g/kg to about 1 mg/kg, from about 0.5 .mu.g/kg
to about 500 .mu.g/kg, from about 1 .mu.g/kg to about 250 .mu.g/kg,
from about 1 .mu.g/kg to about 100 .mu.g/kg from about 1 .mu.g/kg
to about 50 .mu.g/kg, or any range therein.
[0276] In some embodiments, the radiation therapy can be
administered in a single, localized high-dose ranging, for example,
from about 20 Gy to about 100 Gy. In some embodiments, the
radiation therapy can be administered in a total dose ranging from
about 20 Gy to about 100 Gy using a modified hypofractionation
regime of dosing comprising from about 2 doses to about 5 doses
during a time frame of one week. In some embodiments, the radiation
therapy can be administered in a total dose ranging from about 20
Gy to about 100 Gy using a modified hypofractionation regime of
dosing comprising from 2 doses to 3 doses during a time frame
ranging from about 2 days to about 3 days. The radiation therapy
can also be administered in a total dose ranging from about 45 Gy
to about 60 Gy using a modified hypofractionation regime of dosing
comprising administering a single dose ranging from about 15 Gy to
about 20 Gy for each day during a 3-day time frame.
[0277] The compositions and therapies taught herein can be
administered in combination. For example, the combinations can be
administered, for example, for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4
hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days,
5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks,
4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months 1 year, any combination
thereof, or any amount of time considered necessary by one of
skill. The agents can be administered concomitantly, sequentially,
or cyclically to a subject. Cycling therapy involves the
administering a first agent for a predetermined period of time,
administering a second agent or therapy for a second predetermined
period of time, and repeating this cycling for any desired purpose
such as, for example, to enhance the efficacy of the treatment. The
agents can also be administered concurrently. The term
"concurrently" is not limited to the administration of agents at
exactly the same time, but rather means that the agents can be
administered in a sequence and time interval such that the agents
can work together to provide additional benefit. Each agent can be
administered separately or together in any appropriate form using
any appropriate means of administering the agent or agents.
[0278] Articles of Manufacture
[0279] The present invention provides for articles of manufacture
that encompass finished, packaged and labelled pharmaceutical
products. The articles of manufacture include the appropriate unit
dosage form in an appropriate vessel or container such as, for
example, a glass vial or other container that is hermetically
sealed. In the case of dosage forms suitable for parenteral
administration, the active ingredient, e.g. one or more agents
including an extract taught herein, is sterile and suitable for
administration as a particulate-free solution. In other words, the
invention encompasses both parenteral solutions and lyophilized
powders, each being sterile, and the latter being suitable for
reconstitution prior to injection. Alternatively, the unit dosage
form may be a solid suitable for oral, transdermal, topical or
mucosal delivery.
[0280] In some embodiments, the unit dosage form is suitable for
intravenous, intramuscular, topical or subcutaneous delivery. Thus,
the invention encompasses solutions, which are preferably sterile
and suitable for each route of delivery. The concentration of
agents and amounts delivered are included as described herein.
[0281] As with any pharmaceutical product, the packaging material
and container are designed to protect the stability of the product
during storage and shipment. In addition, the articles of
manufacture can include instructions for use or other information
material that can advise the user such as, for example, a
physician, technician or patient, regarding how to properly
administer the composition as a prophylactic, therapeutic, or
ameliorative treatment of the disease of concern. In some
embodiments, instructions can indicate or suggest a dosing regimen
that includes, but is not limited to, actual doses and monitoring
procedures.
[0282] In other embodiments, the instructions can include
informational material indicating that the administering of the
compositions can result in adverse reactions including but not
limited to allergic reactions such as, for example, anaphylaxis.
The informational material can indicate that allergic reactions may
exhibit only as mild pruritic rashes or may be severe and include
erythroderma, vasculitis, anaphylaxis, Steven-Johnson syndrome, and
the like. The informational material should indicate that
anaphylaxis can be fatal and may occur when any foreign protein is
introduced into the body. The informational material should
indicate that these allergic reactions can manifest themselves as
urticaria or a rash and develop into lethal systemic reactions and
can occur soon after exposure such as, for example, within 10
minutes. The informational material can further indicate that an
allergic reaction may cause a subject to experience paresthesia,
hypotension, laryngeal edema, mental status changes, facial or
pharyngeal angioedema, airway obstruction, bronchospasm, urticaria
and pruritus, serum sickness, arthritis, allergic nephritis,
glomerulonephritis, temporal arthritis, eosinophilia, or a
combination thereof.
[0283] In some embodiments, the articles of manufacture can
comprise one or more packaging materials such as, for example, a
box, bottle, tube, vial, container, sprayer, insufflator,
intravenous (I.V.) bag, envelope, and the like; and at least one
unit dosage form of an agent comprising an extract taught herein
within the packaging material. In other embodiments, the articles
of manufacture may also include instructions for using the
composition as a prophylactic, therapeutic, or ameliorative
treatment for the disease of concern.
[0284] In other embodiments, the articles of manufacture can
comprise one or more packaging materials such as, for example, a
box, bottle, tube, vial, container, sprayer, insufflator,
intravenous (I.V.) bag, envelope, and the like; and a first
composition comprising at least one unit dosage form of an agent
comprising an extract as taught herein within the packaging
material, along with a second composition comprising a second agent
such as, for example, a glycosaminoglycan, phospholipid,
poly(alkylene glycol), any other bioactive agent taught herein, or
any prodrugs, codrugs, metabolites, analogs, homologues, congeners,
derivatives, salts and combinations thereof. In other embodiments,
the articles of manufacture may also include instructions for using
the composition as a diagnostic, prophylactic, therapeutic, or
ameliorative treatment for the disease of concern.
[0285] The following examples are put forth so as to provide those
of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and
description of how to make and use the present invention, and are
not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as
their invention nor are they intended to represent that the
experiments below are all or the only experiments performed.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Binding to TTR Prolongs the in vitro and in vivo Half-Life of AG10
(VIIc)
[0286] FIGS. 5A and 5B show that (i) incubation of AG10 with hTTR
enhances stability against metabolism by human liver microsomes,
and (ii) intravenous administration of increasing doses of AG10 to
rats (5, 20, and 50 mg/kg) results in increasing concentration of
AG10 in rat plasma after 5 min, according to some embodiments.
[0287] A. in vitro experiment: We found that the in vitro
microsomal half-life of AG10 is significantly enhanced in the
presence of hTTR. As shown in FIG. 5A, the % AG10 remaining after 2
hrs was as follows: AG10 pre-incubated with TTR was 96%; AG10 alone
was 79%, and AG10 pre-incubated with human serum albumin (HSA) was
77%.
[0288] B. in vivo Experiment: Intravenous administration of
increasing doses of AG10 to rats (5, 20, and 50 mg/kg) resulted in
increasing plasma concentration of AG10 (concentrations at 5 min
are 47.+-.6 .mu.M, 200.+-.30 .mu.M, and 620.+-.80 .mu.M,
respectively). As shown in FIG. 5B, at concentrations >10 .mu.M,
AG10 saturates rTTR binding sites with the remaining free AG10
available for distribution into tissue. This is illustrated by
initial rapid decline in AG10 total plasma concentration (initial
half-life=5-20 min). When the concentration of AG10 reached
.about.10.mu.M (similar to serum rTTR concentration), there was a
major decrease in AG10 elimination. The terminal elimination phase
(the second phase of the biphasic profile) has a much shallower
slope and therefore longer elimination half-life (terminal
half-life=550 min). The biphasic pharmacokinetic profiles for AG10,
in addition to knowledge about the high selectivity of AG10 to TTR
(.about.1:1 binding), are characteristic of target-mediated drug
disposition (TMDD). These experiments indicate that the extended in
vivo half-life of AG10 is mainly due to its binding to rTTR in rat
plasma. As shown in FIG. 5B, intravenous administration of
increasing doses of AG10 to rats (5, 20, and 50 mg/kg) resulted in
increasing concentration of AG10 in rat plasma after 5 min.
Interestingly, the concentration of AG10 after 24 hours was similar
for all the doses (.about.5 .mu.M). These two experiments show that
the extended half-life of AG10 is due to its binding to rTTR in
rats' plasma (plasma concentration of TTR in rat is similar to
human (.about.5 .mu.M).
Example 2
Development of (AG10)-(Linkers) (Also Reffered to as "TTR Ligands
for Half-Life Extension "TLHEs")
[0289] The fluorine atom of AG10 (VIIc) does not make major
interaction with TTR. Therefore, we removed the fluorine atom from
AG10 to give compound VIIIc. Compound VIIIc displayed a very good
binding affinity to hTTR in buffer (K.sub.d=22 nM) and selectivity
to hTTR in human serum (95.+-.0.2% hTTR binding). Based on the
AG10-hTTR crystal structure (FIG. 2A), there are two positions on
the phenyl ring that could potentially be utilized for this purpose
(i.e. ortho- and meta-positions-relative to the carboxyl group,
FIG. 2B). These two positions are not involved in any significant
interactions within the hTTR T.sub.4 pocket. Importantly, the two
positions are pointing out towards the solvent and therefore
attaching a linker will project it outside of the T.sub.4 binding
pocket without major steric clashes with residues at the periphery
of the T.sub.4 pocket. We successfully developed linker-modified
AG10 analogs that we term TTR ligands for half-life extension,
TLHEs (FIG. 3).
Example 3
Determine the Optimal Linker Length that Will Preserve the Maximum
Binding Affinity and Selectivity of (AG10)-(Linker)-(Active Agent)
Conjugates to TTR in Serum
[0290] The linker length is also very important. If the linker is
too short, the peptide will sterically hinder the binding of the
AG10 part of the conjugate to hTTR. Our in silico modeling studies
indicate that a linker length of .about.20 .ANG. (the distance from
the phenyl ring carbon of AG10 to residues at the outermost of the
binding pockets) is sufficient to clear the T.sub.4 binding site
and allow the terminal end of the linker to be modified with the
desired peptide without affecting the conjugate binding to hTTR. We
also synthesized linkers that are shorter (10-18 .ANG.) and also
longer (22 and 30 .ANG.) than the 20 .ANG. length predicted by
modeling.
[0291] FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate chemical structures of compound VIIIc
and designed hTTR ligands for half-life extension (TLHEs): TLHE1,
TLHE2, and TLHE3, according to some embodiments. FIG. 6A shows
compound VIIIc. FIG. 6B illustrates an alkyne functionalized short
linker attached to the meta-position (TLHE1). The terminal end of
the linker on TLHE1 can be functionalized with an alkyne group that
would be coupled through "click" reaction to an azide modified
peptide). FIG. 6C illustrates an alkyne functionalized short linker
attached to the ortho-position (TLHE2) of VIIIc. FIG. 6D
illustrates a linker length of .about.20 .ANG. which should be
sufficient to clear out of the hTTR T4 binding sites and
potentially be functionalized with peptides (TLHE3).
[0292] FIG. 7 shows the binding affinity of TLHE1 to TTR, according
to some embodiments. Calorimetric titration (ITC) of TLHE1 against
hTTR (K.sub.d=32.+-.6 nM). Raw data (Upper) and integrated heats
(Lower) from the titration of hTTR (2 .mu.M) with TLHE1 (25 .mu.M).
One of skill will appreciate that TLHE1 shows a very good binding
affinity in FIG. 7.
[0293] FIG. 8 illustrates the change in fluorescence caused by
modification of hTTR in human serum by covalent-probe in the
presence of test compounds, according to some embodiments. We have
tested the selectivity of our ligands to TTR in human serum using
this selectivity assay. Fluorescence change caused by modification
of hTTR in human serum (hTTR conc. .about.5 .mu.M) by
covalent-probe monitored for 6 h in the presence of covalent-probe
alone (DMSO) or covalent-probe and hTTR ligands (10 .mu.M). The
lower the binding and fluorescence of covalent-probe, the higher
binding selectivity of ligand to hTTR. Each bar shows the mean
(.+-.SD) of three replicates. One of skill will appreciate that
TLHE1 shows a very good selectivity in FIG. 8.
Example 4
Chemical Synthesis of AG10-Alkyne Linkers
[0294] We have designed a general synthetic route for the
AG10-alkyne linkers. The first step was attaching the alkyne linker
(after activating the alcohol with p-sCl) to one of the equivalent
phenolic hydroxyl groups on methyl-3,5-dihydroxybenzoate
(generating the building block for the linker at the
meta-position). For the ortho-position, we used
methyl-2,5-dihydroxybenzoate. Additional protection of the 5-OH
group using MOM ether was needed before attaching the linker at the
2-(ortho)-position. The following steps in the synthesis are
similar to what we reported recently for AG10 synthesis. The alkyne
linker was used to control the length of the overall conjugate
linker. The advantage of our synthetic strategy is that it will
allow for inexpensive generation of various AG10-alkyne linkers in
few synthetic steps. By following this approach, we have
successfully synthesized compound TLHE1 (C5-alkyne linker
conjugated to the meta-positions of VIIIc; n=3) and TLHE2
(C5-alkyne linker conjugated to the ortho-positions of VIIIc). All
synthetic compounds were purified by chromatography and the
chemical structures of TLHE1 and TLHE2 were confirmed by .sup.1H
NMR, .sup.13C NMR and mass spectrometry and the purity (>95%)
was confirmed by HPLC.
Example 5
Synthesis of TLHE-(Active Agent) Conjugates
[0295] We used a modular approach for the assembly of TLHE-(Active
agent) conjugates using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition
"Click chemistry".
[0296] FIG. 9 illustrates a general synthetic scheme to conjugate
TLHEs to peptides, according to some embodiments. First, a short
azide linker VIIId will be attached to the peptide or active agent
of interest through an amide bond to give Active agent-linker. This
Active agent-linker will be coupled, by click reaction, to TLHE1 to
give a linker that is .about.20 .ANG. (<350 Da). This assembled
linker should be sufficient to clear the linker out of the TTR
T.sub.4 pocket.
[0297] FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate the structure of four
TLHE1-peptideconjugates, according to some embodiments. We
conjugated TLHE1 to four different peptides to give four
TLHE1-peptide conjugates: Conj1 to RGK-MCA (FIG. 10A), Conj2 to
Neurotensin (NT) (FIG. 10B), Conj3 to GnRH (FIG. 10C), and Conj4 to
D6-GnRH (FIG. 10D). All four conjugates displayed good binding
affinity to hTTR in buffer (K.sub.d ranging from 200 to 400 nM as
determined by SPR) and selectivity for hTTR in human serum
(.about.46 to 57% binding to hTTR in human serum) (FIG. 8).
[0298] FIGS. 11A-11F illustrate the structure of a TLHE1-small
molecule conjugate and five TLHE1-fluorescent dyes conjugates,
according to some embodiments. We also conjugated TLHE1 to Conj5 to
the anticancer agent SN-38, as well as to five fluorescent dyes
that could be used for diagnostic purposes: Conj6 to Fluorescein,
Conj7 to Fluorescein, Conj8 to Fluorescein diacetate, Conj9 to
Cy3B, and Conj10 to IRdye.
[0299] FIG. 12 illustrates "Scheme 1" 1200 as a method of
generating a conjugated active agent, a modular approach for
assembly of an AG10-GnRH peptide conjugate (Conj3), according to
some embodiments. We used VIIIc 1255 as the TTR ligand. First, a
COOH-PEG.sub.4-azide linker 1202 was attached to the N-terminus of
GnRH 1204 through an amide linkage to give GnRH-PEG.sub.4-azide
1206. The same linker 1202 was also attached to the .epsilon.-amino
of lysine in [D-lys.sup.6]-GnRH 507 to give
[D-lys.sup.6]-GnRH-PEG.sub.4-azide 1209. These two GnRH-linker
intermediates 1206, 1209 were coupled to all the TLHEs we
synthesized. The TTR binding pocket is relatively hydrophobic and,
therefore, we will use alkyl chains 1211 of various lengths, n=1,
3, 5, 7, and 9 carbon atoms, for example; where, 5 carbons
conjugated to PEG.sub.4 will result in a linker that is .about.20
.ANG. in length. The length of the linker 1266 can be used as an
adjustment to clear the linker 1266 out of the T.sub.4 pocket of
TTR. At the end of these short alkyl chains 1211 there will be a
terminal alkyne which will be conjugated to the azide group of the
GnRH linkers 1202 using our "click chemistry". These conjugates
were synthesized using short alkyl/PEG-linker (<400 daltons),
like the linker 566 shown in Scheme 1, which will be attached to
the ortho- or meta-positions of VIIIc 1255 and to the N-terminus of
GnRH or .epsilon.-amine of lysine in [D-lys.sup.6]-GnRH as shown in
FIG. 12.
Example 6
Chemical Synthesis of TLHE1-Peptide Conjugates (Conj1, Conj2,
Conj3, and Conj4)
[0300] We have successfully accomplished the synthesis of four
TLHE1-peptide conjugates (FIG. 10). Conj1 is TLHE1 conjugated to
the fluorogenic tri-peptide Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA. Conj1 stability is
evaluated in the in vitro trypsin assay in the presence of hTTR.
Conj2 is TLHE1 conjugated to the N-terminus of neurotensin (NT).
Conj2 stability is evaluated in the human serum protease assay.
Conj3 is TLHE1 conjugated to the N-terminus of native GnRH. Conj3
stability is evaluated in the human serum protease assay and its
pharmacokinetic properties are evaluated in vivo in rats. Conj4 is
TLHE1 conjugated to the .epsilon.-amino group of Lys6 in the GnRH
agonist, GnRH-A. Conj4 pharmacokinetic properties and efficacy are
evaluated in vivo in rats. Click chemistry was used to directly
couple TLHE1 to peptide-PEG4-azide linkers (Scheme 1).
Example 7
Chemical Synthesis of TLHE1-Small Molecule Drug Conjugate
(Conj5)
[0301] FIG. 13 illustrates synthetic scheme for making for
conjugating the anticancer agent SM-38 to TLHE1 (i.e Conj 5),
according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 13, linker modified
SN-38 was coupled to TLHE1.
Example 8
Chemical Synthesis of TLHE1-Imaging Agents Conjugates (Conj6 to
Conj10)
[0302] The conjugates Conj6, Conj7, Conj8, Conj9, and Conj10 (FIG.
11) were synthesized using Click chemistry. Linker modified
Fluoresent dyes were coupled to TLHE1 similar to what is described
in Scheme 1 (FIG. 12).
Example 9
Evaluation of the Chemical Stability and Cytotoxicity of TLHE1
[0303] TLHE1 is stable in serum and simulated gastric acid for at
least 48 h (<3% degradation) and has very low cytotoxicity (%
cell viability at 100 .mu.M=96.+-.4%). Therefore, TLHE1 is a very
good candidate for conjugation to peptides.
Example 10
hTTR Protects Conj1 Against Proteolysis in Buffer
[0304] We used trypsin to test the ability of hTTR to protect
TLHE1-peptide conjugate (Conj1) from proteolysis in buffer. FIG. 14
illustrates the protection effect of binding to TTR on the
stability of Conj1 in vitro. hTTR protects Conj1 against trypsin
hydrolysis in buffer, according to some embodiments. While there
was no protection against proteolysis for Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA in the
presence of hTTR, there was significant protection against
proteolytic hydrolysis for Conj1 when hTTR is present
(Conj1=310.+-.5 AFU; Conj1+hTTR=160.+-.15 AFU). The protective
effect of hTTR was eliminated when the reaction mixture was
incubated with AG10 (Conj1+hTTR+AG10=290.+-.20 AFU). This shows
that the protection effect was mainly due to binding of Conj1 to
hTTR.
[0305] Proteolysis of Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA and Conj1 (10 .mu.M) by
trypsin in buffer in the presence and absence of hTTR (10 .mu.M) or
AG10 (20 .mu.M). The mixture was incubated at 37.degree. C. for 30
min and the proteolytic release of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (7-AMC)
was evaluated by measuring the 7-AMC fluorescence (.lamda.ex 345 nm
and .lamda.em 440 nm). AFU is arbitrary fluorescence units. Each
bar shows the mean (.+-.SD) of four replicates.
Example 11
hTTR Protects Conj2 and Conj3 Against Serum Proteases
[0306] To test the ability of hTTR to protect peptides against
proteolytic hydrolysis in serum, we used two peptides, neurotensin
(NT; 13 amino-acid neuropeptide) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH; 10 amino-acid peptide hormone). We conjugated TLHE1, through
a short linker (.about.230 Da), to the N-terminus of NT to give
Conj2 and to the N-terminus of GnRH to give Conj3 (FIG. 10). For
control, we synthesized Linker modified NT and GnRH (NT-Linker and
GnRH-Linker) that does not have TLHE1.
[0307] FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate the effect of binding to TTR on
the stability of (A) Conj2 and (B) Conj3 against proteolytic
hydrolysis in human serum (hTTR conc. .about.5 .mu.M), according to
some embodiments. Test compounds (5 .mu.M) were added to serum and
to serum pre-incubated with AG10 (10 .mu.M). The amounts of
compounds remaining in serum were quantitated at different
time-points. Each point shows the mean (.+-.SD) of three
replicates.
[0308] The stability of Conj2 and Conj3 was evaluated in human
serum (hTTR conc. .about.5 .mu.M) and in serum samples that are
pre-incubated with AG10. NT and GnRH have the lowest stability in
serum (no detectable amounts of NT and GnRH after 4 h and 2 h,
respectively, FIGS. 15A and 15B). Attaching a short linker to NT
(NT-Linker) and GnRH (GnRH-Linker) enhanced their stability
(38.+-.2% of NT-Linker remaining at 4 h and 85.+-.4% of GnRH-Linker
remaining at 2 h). In comparison, Conj2 (22.+-.1% remaining at 48
h) and Conj3 (58.+-.4% remaining at 48 h) have the most protection
against serum proteases. There was no difference in NT-Linker and
GnRH-Linker stability between normal serum and serum incubated with
AG10. On the other hand, the stability of Conj2 and Conj3 in normal
serum was higher than that in serum samples pre-incubated with AG10
(no detectable amount of Conj2 and Conj3 after 24 h and 48 h,
respectively). Our data shows that the majority of conjugates
protection is the the result of binding to >50% of hTTR (FIG.
8).
Example 12
TTR Extends the Circulation Half-Life of Conj3 in Rats
[0309] FIG. 16 illustrates the effect of binding to rTTR on
extending the half-life of Conj3 in rats, according to some
embodiments. Equivalent amounts of GnRH and Conj3 were administered
at time 0 (single i.v. bolus; 3.3 .mu.mole/kg of each compound) to
two groups of male rats (N=4 for each group); one group was
pretreated with vehicle (untreated) while the other group was
pretreated with AG10 (AG10-treated group; 17.1 .mu.mole/kg, i.v.).
The concentration of test compounds in plasma was determined using
validated HPLC method and plotted as a function of time after
dosing. Concentrations are expressed as means (.+-.SEM).
[0310] Equivalent amounts of GnRH, GnRH-Linker, and Conj3 were
administered as a single i.v. bolus to a group of male rats and the
plasma concentrations of test compounds were measured at different
time points. For control, another set of rats were co-administered
with same test compounds (GnRH, GnRH-Linker, and Conj3) but in the
presence of AG10. Pharmacokinetic evaluation showed that there was
no measurable amount of GnRH at 15 min after administration, which
is consistent with the reported short in vivo half-life. The
half-life of GnRH-Linker was similar in AG10-treated and untreated
rats (half-life=4.2 min & 3.5 min, respectively). In contrast,
Conj3 displayed initial rapid distribution phase (half-life=12 min)
followed by a longer terminal half-life(46.+-.3 min). The terminal
half-life of Conj3 is at least 13-fold longer than that of GnRH or
GnRH-Linker. The biphasic profile of Conj3 is similar to what we
have observed for AG10 and indicates a TMDD. There was
.about.3-fold decrease in the half-life of Conj3 in the presence of
AG10 (half-life=16.+-.1 min.
Example 13
rTTR Extends the Circulation Half-Life of Conj4 in Rats
[0311] FIG. 17 illustrates that Conj4 displayed extended half-life
in rats, according to some embodiments. Equivalent amounts of
GnRH-A and Conj4 were administered at time 0 (single i.v. bolus;
3.3 .mu.mole/kg of each compound) to two groups of male rats (N=3
for each group); one group was pretreated with vehicle (untreated)
while the other group was pretreated with AG10 (AG10-treated group;
17.1 .mu.mole/kg, i.v.). The concentration of test compounds in
plasma was determined using validated HPLC method and plotted as a
function of time after dosing. Concentrations are expressed as
means (.+-.SEM).
[0312] We used Conj4 (FIG. 10) to perform the in vivo efficacy and
determine if the efficacy correlates with extended in vivo
half-life. Conj4 is the product of conjugating TLHE1 to the
.epsilon.-amino group of Lys6 in the GnRH analog,
[D-Lys.sup.6]-GnRH (GnRH-A). The pharmacokinetic properties of
GnRH-A, GnRH-A-Linker, and Conj4 were evaluated in rats, in the
absence and presence of AG10 (FIG. 17). The half-life of GnRH-A was
55.+-.11 min and there was no detectable levels in plasma after 2 h
of administration. Similar half-life for GnRH-A was observed in
AG10-treated rats (half-life=49.+-.4 min). The PK profile and
half-life of GnRH-A-Linker (half-life=58.+-.7 min) was comparable
to that of GnRH-A, and there was no detectable levels of
GnRH-A-Linker after 2 h in both AG10-treated and untreated rats. In
comparison, Conj4 displayed initial rapid distribution phase
(half-life=14 min) followed by a much longer terminal half-life
(180.+-.12 min) which is >3-fold longer than the half-life of
GnRH-A. While there were no detectable plasma levels of GnRH-A
after 2 h, Conj4 was present in circulation for at least 12 h (FIG.
19A). The half-life of Conj4 in AG10-treated rats
(half-life=102.+-.7 min) was significantly lower than that in
AG10-untreated rats. These data strongly support and validate our
novel approach that TTR recruitment can indeed enhance the
half-life of peptides in vivo.
Example 14
Conj4 Maintains its GnRH-R Efficacy in Rats Over a Prolonged
Period
[0313] FIG. 18 illustrates that Conj4 displayed extended and
superior efficacy in rats by measuring the increase in serm
testosterone levels, according to some embodiments. Administration
of Conj4 (single i.v. bolus; 225 ng/kg, 120 picomoles/kg) to
gonad-intact male rats (N=4) stimulated the release of testosterone
and maintains higher levels of testosterone in circulation compared
to administration of equivalent dose of GnRH-A (single i.v. dose;
150 ng/kg, 120 picomoles/kg) to a second group of rats (N=4). For
control, a third group (N=3) of rats was administered only vehicle.
Testosterone levels in serum were determined using ELISA and
concentrations were expressed as means (.+-.SEM).
[0314] GnRH agonists interact with GnRH-R in the pituitary gland.
Acute dosing of exogenous GnRH agonists is known to cause prompt
increase in testosterone levels in male rats. Therefore, the in
vivo efficacy of Conj4 on circulating levels of testosterone was
evaluated in male rats. Conj4, GnRH-A, or vehicle were administered
to three groups of rats, and the serum concentration of
testosterone was determined at various time points. In vehicle
treated rats, a normal circadian rhythm of testosterone was
observed (normal range of serum testosterone in rat is 0.7-5
ng/ml).
[0315] Administration of equivalent doses of GnRH-A or Conj4
resulted in significant increase of testosterone levels within 1 h
after injection (35.8.+-.1.7 ng/ml and 35.6.+-.3.2 ng/ml,
respectively FIG. 18). The comparable efficacy at 1 h for both
compounds is consistent with the similar in vitro GnRH-R binding
affinity for GnRH-A (K.sub.d=1.8 nM) and Conj4 (K.sub.d=4.9 nM).
While testosterone levels in both treated groups started decreasing
after 1 h, the decline in GnRH-A treated rats was significantly
faster than that for Conj4 treated rats. At 6 h, there was a
significant difference in testosterone levels between GnRH-A
(13.2.+-.1.3 ng/ml) and Conj4 (25.6.+-.2.8 ng/ml) treated rats. For
GnRH-A, the circulating testosterone levels returned to vehicle
treated levels (3.6.+-.0.6 ng/ml) within 8 h after dosing. In
contrast, the testosterone levels in Conj4 treated rats at 8 h
(18.9.+-.1.0 ng/ml) were significantly higher compared to that of
GnRH-A or vehicle treated rats. Importantly, the testosterone level
for Conj4 treated rats was still elevated at 12 h post dosing
(12.7.+-.2.3 ng/ml) compared to vehicle treated rats (0.8.+-.0.3
ng/ml) (increase of .about.16 fold above basal levels). The
circulating testosterone levels of Conj4 treated rats returned to
the pretreatment range within 24 h. This efficacy data correlates
well with our pharmacokinetic data (FIG. 18) and strongly shows
that the enhanced efficacy of Conj4 is a result of extended
circulating half-life, mainly due to its binding to rTTR.
Example 15
AG10-Bifunctional Conjugates Capable of Forming Irreversible
Covalent Adducts with TTR in Serum
[0316] TTR ligands bearing a carboxylic acid moiety at the
appropriate position (such as AG10) bind to TTR and, through the
carboxylic acid moiety, form electrostatic interaction with Lysine
15 (K15) in the TTR T.sub.4 pocket. See Choi S., et al. Nat Chem
Biol. 6:133-9 (2010); and, Penchala S., et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA. 11:9992-7 (2013); each of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety. It has been shown that some of these small
molecules can be converted to irreversible TTR ligand by converting
the carboxylic acid into a reactive moiety (X) capable of
covalently modifying K15 through an amide bond. When these TTR
ligand are administered by oral or parenteral routes, they would
bind to TTR and form covalent adduct with TTR in serum. The same
principle could be applied to the bifunctional TTR-therapeutic
agents by converting the carboxylic acid moiety of the AG10 part of
the bifunctional molecule to a reactive group (X) capable of
covalently binding to TTR through K15. Upon formation of the
bifunctional molecule-TTR conjugate in serum, the bifunctional
molecule-TTR conjugate would have similar pharmacokinetic
properties to that of the protein carrier, TTR (i.e. maximal in
vivo serum half-life of 24 hours and drug concentration of 10
.mu.M). The covalent conjugate would still have some activity since
the therapeutic agents (Y) (e.g. peptides, proteins,
oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides, virus like particle, imaging
agents, and other small molecule drugs) would still be extended,
through appropriate linkers, beyond the surface of TTR. However,
due to the steric bulk of TTR (56 KDa), it is anticipated that the
activity of these covalent conjugates to be less than that of their
non-covalent (reversible) counterparts.
[0317] The following structure of Compound (IX), is an example of a
ligand type that may covalently bond to TTR:
##STR00039##
wherein, [0318] R.sup.b can be any one or any combination of CHO,
COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COOR.sup.6, CONR.sup.7R.sup.8, tetrazolyl,
CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, CONHCH(R.sup.9)COOH, CF.sub.3,
hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted
acyl, carboxyl, heterocyclic group, sulfonamide, sulfonyl fluoride,
thioester, alkoxycarbonyl or substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0319] X
can be any one or any combination of reactive substituents, such as
CHO, CONHOH, B(OH).sub.2, CONHSO.sub.2Ar, carboxylic acid ester,
carboxylic acid thioester, N-hydroxysuccinimido group,
N-hydroxymaleimido group, 2-hydroxypropylene, 1-, 3- or 4-azetidine
group, and an a-halomethylcarbonyl (a-haloacetyl) group, where the
halo group is preferably bromo or chloro; a Michael acceptor group,
such as a substituent that reacts with K15 amine nitrogen in a
Michael addition reaction, including a --C(O)CH.dbd.CH2 (acryloyl)
group, a --S(0)2CH.dbd.CH2 (vinylsulfonyl) group,
--NHC(O)CH.dbd.CH2 (acrylamido) group and --NHS(0)2CH.dbd.CH2
(vinylsulfonamido) group; [0320] X.sub.a is C(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5), O,
N--R.sup.5 or S; where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently
selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,
substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,
substituted aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hydroxyl, heterocyclic group,
halogen, nitro, acyl, substituted acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl,
substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminoacyl, substituted aminoacyl,
amino, substituted amino, acylamino, substituted acylamino, and
cyano; [0321] n is an integer ranging from 0 to 8; [0322] each of
R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 group can be independently selected
as any one or any combination of an epoxide, an aziridine or an
episulfide group that are present in a glycidyl, aziridinylmethyl
or thiiranylmethyl group, as well as a sulfonamide, a vinyl
sulfonamide, a sulfonyl fluoride, an alkoxycarbonyl or a
substituted alkoxycarbonyl; [0323] Y can be any one or any
combination of a peptide, a protein, an oligonucleotide, an
oligosaccharide, a virus-like particle, an imaging agents, or a
small molecule drug; and, [0324] the linker linking can be any
moiety that connects two groups and has a backbone of 30 atoms or
less in length.
[0325] FIG. 19 illustrates the chemical synthesis of an AG10
analogue (IXa) capabale of forming covalent bond with the K15 of
TTR, according to some embodiments.
Example 16
Reducing the Immunogenicity of an Active Agent by Binding to
TTR
[0326] It should be appreciated that repeated dosing of therapeutic
peptides of any origin might elicit an immune response. It has been
shown that this immunogenicity can also reduce the efficacy of
therapeutic agents, including peptides, by lowering the molecule's
in vivo half-life due to rapid clearance by immune cells. Several
strategies have been proposed to address immunogenicity of
therapeutic peptides including PEGylation, humanization, exon
shuffling, etc. Another approach is the covalent chemical
conjugation of the peptide to a serum protein such as HSA. This
increase in the bulk of peptides results in masking of the antigen
epitope thereby reduces immune responses. For example, it has been
shown that conjugating a HIV fusion inhibitor peptide to HSA
increased its serum half-life and also lowered immunogenicity.
[0327] Therefore, the (TTR ligand)-(active agent) conjugates taught
herein can be administered to lower immunogenicity in subjects by
recruiting the bulk of TTR, and this is to be proven by
administering a control of the active agent by itself (i.e. without
conjugation to the TTR ligand) and comparing the results to the
administration of the (TTR ligand)-(active agent) conjugates taught
herein.
Example 17
Some Advantages of the Approaches Taught Herein Over Other
Approaches Used for Half-Life Extension of Active Agents
[0328] Besides maintaining potency, the approaches taught herein
offer a number of advantages over traditional genetic fusion and
PEGylation approaches, for example:
[0329] (i) Our approach involves a simple chemical conjugation of
peptides to TLHE1, and the products are homogeneous and can be
easily characterized and purified (purity >98%) using harsh
conditions such as HPLC. The modular nature of the synthesis offers
flexibility of attachment sites and incorporation of unnatural
amino acids or non-peptidic functionality into the peptide
backbone;
[0330] (ii) Unlike HSA peptide fusions, where the three-dimensional
structure of the fusion partner needs to be maintained, conjugation
to TLHE1 results in stable products that do not require
refrigeration. This would decrease the cost of production and
storage of peptide conjugates;
[0331] (iii) Because of the smaller size of our conjugates (<3%
the size of HSA conjugates), we anticipate it to penetrate solid
tumors efficiently;
[0332] (iv) Due to its non-peptidic nature and small size, it is
unlikely that TLHE1 can cause immunogenic response; and,
[0333] (v) The TLHE system would be preferred for certain
applications where prolonged exposure to peptides is
undesirable.
Example 17
General Experimental
Methods
[0334] Materials: Human hTTR (purified from human plasma) was
purchased from Sigma (#P1742). Human serum was purchased from Sigma
(#H4522) [hTTR concentration is serum was measured using
nephelometric analyzer (28 mg/dL or 5 .mu.M)]. HSA was obtained
from Sigma (#A3782; Albumin from human serum, .gtoreq.99%).
Thyroxine (T.sub.4) was purchased from Fisher Scientific. HPLC
analysis of PK studies rat plasma was performed on an Agilent 1100
series HPLC system connected to a diode array detector operating
between the UV ranges of 200-400 nm and quantified using Agilent
Chemstation software. The mobile phase was composed of solvent A
consisting methanol-water (5:95, v/v) containing 0.1%
trifluoroacetic acid and solvent B consisting methanol-water (95:5,
v/v) containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Protected amino acids
and peptide coupling reagents were purchased from Chem-Impex
International. The 2-chlorotrityl resin was purchased from Advanced
Chem Tech (#SC5055, 1.6 mmol/g) and Rink amide MBHA resin was
purchased from Novobiochem (#855003, 0.79 mmol/g).
[0335] Animal: Adult jugular vein cannulated male Sprague-Dawley
(SD) rats purchased from Charles River Laboratories (Hollister,
Calif.). All animals were maintained in a temperature-controlled
room (22.2.degree. C.) with a photoperiod of 12-h light/12-h dark
(lights on at 6:00 AM). Rat chow (Lab diet.TM. #5001) and tap water
were provided ad libitum. Animal supplies including catheter
maintenance solutions were purchased from SAI infusion
technologies. Sterile IV fluids were obtained from Patterson
Veterinary. All animal protocols were approved by the Animal Care
Committee of the University of the Pacific and complied with the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Eighth Edition,
2011).
[0336] Metabolism Study of AG10 in Human Liver Microsomes (HLM):
Microsomal incubations were conducted for AG10 in the absence and
presence of hTTR or human serum albumin (HSA). Incubation mixtures
consisted of human liver microsomes (1 mg/mL), AG10 (5 .mu.M), hTTR
or HSA (5 .mu.M), MgCl.sub.2 (4 mM), and NADPH (1.6 mM) in a total
volume of 500 .mu.L potassium phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 7.4).
Incubation mixtures were preincubated at 37.degree. C. for
approximately 10-15 minutes then reaction was started by addition
of NADPH (or buffer for negative control). At 0 h and 2 h, 80 .mu.L
aliquots were taken and added to equal volume of methanol. Samples
were centrifuged at 16,000.times.g for 10 minutes and supernatants
were stored at -20.degree. C. until analysis by HPLC.
[0337] Dose escalation of AG10 in rats: Adult male Wistar rats,
body weight ranging 160-200 g, were used for the study. Escalating
single i.v. doses of 5, 20, and 50 mg/kg of AG10 (sodium salt
solution in water) were administered to three groups of rats (3
rats per group). Blood samples were collected at 0.08, 2, 4, 8, and
24 hour time intervals. The plasma samples were prepared by
centrifugation at 15,000 RPM for 5 min. The resultant plasma was
precipitated using 2.times. solvent B (95:5, Methanol-Water, 0.1%
TFA). Samples were centrifuged at 15,000 RPM for 5 minutes and
supernatants were stored at -20.degree. C. until analysis by
HPLC.
[0338] Stability of Conj2, and Conj3 in serum: The stability of
Conj2 and Conj3 (5 .mu.M) in serum was performed in the presence
and absence of AG10 (10 .mu.M). Conj2 and Con3 were incubated in
0.5 mL of human serum at 37.degree. C. and samples (50 .mu.L) were
assayed at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h time intervals. Samples were
processed by adding 200 .mu.L of Solvent B (95% Methanol and 0.1%
TFA in Water) followed by centrifuging at 16,000.times.g for 5 min
and analyzing the supernatant using the previously described
validated HPLC method.
[0339] Trypsin Cleavage Experiment for Conj1: In 96-well clear
bottom plate, a solution of test compound (10 .mu.M of
Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA or Conj1) (with or without 20 .mu.M AG10) in PBS
(87.5 .mu.L) was incubated with Trypsin (TrypLE.TM. Express,
Gibco.RTM., 12.5 .mu.L, 1.times.) in the presence and absence of
hTTR (10 .mu.M). The mixture was incubated at 37.degree. C. for 30
min. The release of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (7-AMC) was evaluated
by measuring the fluorescence (.lamda..sub.ex 345 nm and
.lamda..sub.em=440 nm) using a microplate spectrophotometer reader
(Molecular Devices SpectraMax M5). The fluorescence signals of
7-AMC were measured against a blank with buffer and substrates but
without Trypsin. The experiment was performed in quadruplicate.
[0340] Evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of Conj3 and Conj4
in rats: Jugular vein cannulated Sprague-Dawley male rats (200-220
g, 49-52 days old) were used for this study. An extension catheter
was attached to the indwelling jugular vein cannula to facilitate
remote sampling. The animals were randomly divided into two groups
(N=3 or 4): control group and treatment group. The treatment group
was pretreated intravenously with AG10 (5.0 mg/kg body weight; 17.1
.mu.mole/kg; in 200 .mu.L sterile water) followed by a single
combined intravenous dose of molar equivalent (as a single i.v.
dose; 3.3 .mu.mole/kg of each compound) of all test compounds: For
Conj3 study [GnRH (3.87 mg/kg), GnRH-linker (4.68 mg/kg), Conj3
(8.83 mg/kg)] and for Conj4 study [GnRH-A (4.1 mg/kg),
GnRH-A-linker (4.85 mg/kg), Conj4 (6.0 mg/kg)] (in 38% PEG-400, 5%
DMSO in saline). Simultaneously, the control group was pretreated
with vehicle (sterile water) followed by a single combined
intravenous dose of molar equivalent of all test compounds as
described above. Plasma was collected from each rat andprecipitated
using 2.times. solvent B (95:5, Methanol-Water, 0.1% TFA). Samples
were centrifuged at 15,000 RPM for 5 minutes and
[0341] Evaluation of the efficacy of Conj4 in rats: Jugular vein
cannulated Sprague-Dawley male rats (300-325 g, 68-73 days old)
were used for this study. Group one (N=4) was a control group
treated only vehicle (200 .mu.L of 30% PEG in saline; i.v.); Group
two (N=4) was treated with GnRH-A (150 ng/kg, 120 picomoles/kg);
Group three (N=4) was treated with equivalent dose of Conj4 (225
ng/kg, 120 picomoles/kg; i.v.). The GnRH-A and Conj4 samples were
also prepared in the same vehicle as the control (i.e. 200 .mu.L of
30% PEG-400 in saline). Serum samples were collected, for each rat
and stored in a -20.degree. C. until assayed for testosterone.
Serum testosterone levels were measured using an established rat
ELISA assay (ALPCO Diagnostics, New Hampshire, cat #55-TESMS-E01).
The testosterone ELISA assay is a competitive immunoassay for the
quantitative measurement of testosterone in rat serum. The assay
was performed according to the kit manufacturer's protocol. Known
concentrations of testosterone were used to generate a standard
curve. The sensitivity of the kit was 0.066 ng/ml. Testosterone
levels were expressed as means (.+-.SEM). Significant differences
between groups of animals were determined by one way analysis of
variance with post hoc Dunnett's multiple comparisons test at each
particular time point (GraphPad Prism).
Chemical Synthesis
[0342] 3-(3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)benzoic acid
(VIIIc): VIIIc was synthesized starting with 3-hydroxybenzoic acid
using a similar approach as described for VIIc. VIIIc is a white
solid; .sup.1H NMR (CD.sub.3OD, 600 MHz) .delta. 7.58-7.56 (m, 1H),
7.50-7.49 (m, 1H), 7.34-7.49 (t, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.13-7.10 (m, 1H),
3.93 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 2.58 (t, 2H, J=7.2 Hz), 2.12 (s, 6H),
1.95-1.90 (m, 2H); HRMS m/z: calcd for
C.sub.15H.sub.18N.sub.2O.sub.3+H.sup.+ 275.1396; found 275.1390
(M+H.sup.+).
##STR00040##
[0343] Methyl 3-hydroxy-5-(pent-4-yn-1-yloxy)benzoate (IXc): To a
solution of methyl 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate IXb (0.77 g, 4.58 mmol, 1
equiv) and 4-Pentynyl p-Tosylate (0.98 g, 4.12 mmol, 0.9 equiv) in
anhydrous MeCN (30 ml) was added K.sub.2CO.sub.3 (1.267 g, 9.16
mmol, 2 equiv) and Kl (0.153 g, 0.92 mmol, 0.2 equiv). The
suspension was heated to reflux for 16 h, filtered, and the solid
was rinsed with MeCN. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced
pressure. Water was added to the residue and the aqueous phase was
extracted with EtOAc, washed brine and dried with Na.sub.2SO.sub.4.
Concentrationa and purification flash chromatography (silica gel,
1-10% EtOAc/hexanes) gave compound IXc (0.684 g, 71% yield);
.sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 600 MHz) .delta. 7.16-7.14 (m, 2H), 6.62
(t, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 4.08 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H), 2.42-2.38
(m, 2H), 2.02-1.96 (m, 3H); (ESI) m/z: calcd for
C.sub.13H.sub.14O.sub.4+H+.sup.+ 235.0970; found 235.0961
(M+H.sup.+).
[0344] Methyl 3-hydroxy-5-(pent-4-yn-1-yloxy)benzoate (IXd): To a
solution of IXc (360 mg, 1.54 mmol, 1 equiv) and 1,3-dibromopropane
(0.78 ml, 7.7 mmol, 5 equiv) in DMF (5 ml) was added
K.sub.2CO.sub.3 (256 mg, 1.85 mmol, 1.2 equiv). The reaction
mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The mixture
was diluted with EtOAc (150 ml), washed with brine (3.times.50 ml)
and dried with Na.sub.2SO.sub.4. Concentrationa and purification by
flash column chromatography (silica gel, 1-10% EtOAc/hexanes) gave
compound IXd (468 mg, 86% yield); .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 600 MHz)
.delta. 7.19-7.17 (m, 2H), 6.64 (t, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 4.12 (t, 2H,
J=5.8 Hz), 4.08 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.59 (t, 2H, J=6.4
Hz), 2.42-2.38 (m, 2H), 2.33-2.29 (m, 2H), 2.02-1.96 (m, 3H);
(ESI.sup.+) m/z: calcd for C16H19BrO.sub.4+H.sup.+355.0545; found
355.0529 (M+H.sup.+).
[0345] Methyl
3-(3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)-5-(pent-4-yn-1-yloxy)benzoate
(IXe): A solution of IXc (450 mg, 1.27 mmol, 1 equiv) in benzene (3
ml) was added dropwise to a solution of acetyl acetone (0.26 ml,
2.54 mmol, 2 equiv) and DBU (0.38 ml, 2.54 mmol, 2 equiv) in
benzene (7 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 3 days. The mixture was filtered and passed through
a pad of silica gel. The solvent were removed and the residue was
dissolved in in ethanol (5 ml). Hydrazine hydrate (0.17 ml, 3.18
mmol, 2.5 equiv) was added and the reaction was heated under reflux
for 4 hours. Concentration and purification by flash column
chromatography (silica gel, 1-20% MeOH/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2) gave
compound IXe (150 mg, 32% yield) in two steps; .sup.1H NMR
(CD.sub.3OD, 600 MHz) .delta. 7.13-7.08 (m, 2H), 6.67 (t, 1H,
J=2.34 Hz), 4.07 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.90 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.86
(s, 3H), 2.56 (t, 2H, J=7.2 Hz), 2.38-2.34 (m, 2H), 2.23 (t, 1H,
J=2.6 Hz), 2.11 (s, 6H), 1.97-1.88 (m, 4H); HRMS (DART) m/z: calcd
for C.sub.21H.sub.26N.sub.2O.sub.4+H.sup.+ 371.1971; found 371.1968
(M+H.sup.+).
[0346]
3-(3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)-5-(pent-4-yn-1-yloxy)be-
nzoic acid (TLHE1): To a suspension of IXe (85 mg, 0.23 mmol, 1
equiv) in a mixture of THF (3 ml) and water (3 ml) was added
LiOH.H.sub.2O (19 mg, 0.46 mmol, 2 equiv). The reaction mixture was
stirred at room temperature for 14 hr after which it was cooled to
0.degree. C. and carefully acidified to pH 2-3 with 1N aqueous HCl.
The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3.times.20 ml) and the
combined organic extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate.
Concentration and purification by flash column chromatography
(silica gel, 10-50% MeOH/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2) gave TLHE1 (59 mg, 73%
yield) as a white solid; .sup.1H NMR (CD.sub.3OD, 600 MHz) .delta.
7.14-7.10 (m, 2H), 6.66 (t, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 4.07 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz),
3.90 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 2.57 (t, 2H, J=7.2 Hz), 2.38-2.35 (m, 2H),
2.24 (t, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 2.12 (s, 6H), 1.97-1.88 (m, 4H); HRMS
(DART) m/z: calcd for C.sub.20H.sub.24N.sub.2O.sub.4+H.sup.+
357.1814; found 357.1818 (M+H.sup.+).
##STR00041##
[0347]
5-(3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)-2-(pent-4-yn-1-yloxy)be-
nzoic acid (TLHE2): TLHE2 was synthesized starting with IXf {using
a similar approach as described for TLHE1 above. TLHE2 is a white
solid; .sup.1H NMR (CD.sub.3OD, 600 MHz) .delta. 7.29-7.28 (m, 1H),
7.04-7.02 (m, 2H), 4.10 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.85 (t, 2H, J=6.0 Hz),
2.55 (t, 2H, J=7.2 Hz), 2.40-2.37 (m, 2H), 2.21 (t, 1H, J=2.7 Hz),
2.11 (s, 6H), 1.98-1.93 (m, 2H), 1.90-1.84 (m, 2H); HRMS (DART)
m/z: calcd for C.sub.20H.sub.24N.sub.2O.sub.4+H.sup.+357.1814;
found 357.1817 (M+H.sup.+).
[0348] Synthesis of TLHE3:
3-(3-(1-(2-(2-(2-(2-carboxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-
-yl)propoxy)-5-(3-(3,5-di methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propoxy)benzoic
acid (TLHE3): The click (CuAAC) reaction was carried out by
reacting TLHE1 (49 mg, 0.138 mmol) with azide linker
3-(2-(2-(2-azidoethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)propanoic acid (VIIId, 68 mg,
0.276 mmol) with, CuSO.sub.4 (22 mg, 0.138 mmol), and sodium
ascorbate (54 mg, 0.276 mmol) in a mixture of H.sub.2O/THF (2:1) (5
ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h.
The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to give of TLHE3
(53 mg, 64% yield); .sup.1H NMR (CD.sub.3OD, 600 MHz) .delta. 7.81
(1H, s), 7.10 (2H, d, J=2.4 Hz), 6.66 (1H, t, J=2.4 Hz), 4.51 (2H,
t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.01 (2H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 3.90 (2H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 3.84
(2H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 3.68 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 3.55-3.52 (8H, m), 2.88
(2H, t, J=7.8 Hz), 2.56 (2H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 2.49 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz),
2.15-2.10 (m, 8H), 1.93-1.88 (2H, m); HRMS (DART) m/z: calcd for
C.sub.29H.sub.41N.sub.5O.sub.9+H.sup.+ 604.2982; found 604.2969
(M+H.sup.+).
##STR00042## ##STR00043##
[0349] Synthesis of fluorogenic compounds Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA and
Conj1: The synthesis of Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA and Conj1was carried out by
employing standard Fmoc/Boc protocols using solid phase synthesis
(SCHEME 4). The synthesis was carried out on a 2-chlorotrityl resin
(resin loading, 1.6 mmol/g) which was swollen in dichloromethane
(DCM) for .about.30 min. For the resin loading step, the resin
(312.5 mg, 0.5 mmol) was reacted with Fmoc-Lys(Boc)-OH (1171.5 mg,
2.5 mmol) in DCM (3 ml) and N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA)
(0.827 ml, 5 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken overnight at
room temperature. After the Lys amino acid is loaded to the resin,
the un-reacted sites of the resin were end-capped with HPLC grade
MeOH (0.6 ml) in a solution of DCM (5 ml) and DIPEA (0.4 ml) for 30
min. The resin was then washed to remove any remaining MeOH and
DIPEA. The Fmoc group of Lys was deprotected using 2.times.3 ml 20%
piperidine in DMF for 30 min. The loaded resin was reacted with
Fmoc-Gly-OH (336.6 mg, 1.13 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) preactivated with
1-Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt; 153.2 mg, 1.13 mmol),
2-(1H-7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium
hexafluorophosphate methanaminium (HATU; 430.5 mg, 1.13 mmol) and
DIPEA (0.375 ml, 2.26 mmol). The resin-bound dipeptide was Fmoc
deprotected and then reacted for 2 h at rt with Fmoc-Arg(Pbf)-OH
(735 mg, 1.13 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) preactivated with HOBt (153.2 mg,
1.13 mmol), HATU (430.5 mg, 1.13 mmol) and DIPEA (0.375 ml, 2.26
mmol). The coupling and deprotection reactions were monitored by
performing the Kaiser test (i.e. deprotection of Fmoc group lead to
a positive Kaiser test, indicated by the development of a purple
color, while completion of coupling yielded a negative test,
indicated by a yellow color). The resin-bound tripeptide was Fmoc
deprotected followed by acetylation of the N-terminus with azide
linker VIIId (343 mg, 1.13 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) preactivated with
HOBt (153.2 mg, 1.13 mmol), HATU (430.5 mg, 1.13 mmol) and DIPEA
(0.375 ml, 2.26 mmol). The protected tripetide-linker was cleaved
from the support resin by treating with 1% TFA in DCM (4 ml) for 10
min and draining the solution into an ice-cooled flask containing
pyridine (1 ml). The deprotection step was repeated 4 times. The
combined solutions were dried and the residue was washed with
hexanes to give IXg (360 mg; 76.5% yield with respect to the
2-chlorotrityl resin) [IXg: ESI-MS: calculated for
C.sub.41H.sub.68N.sub.10O.sub.13S [M+H].sup.+ 941.5;
[M+Na].sup.+963.5. Found: 941.7, 963.7]. IXg (180 mg, 0.19 mmol)
was conjugated to 7-AMC (34 mg, 0.19 mmol) by activating the Lys
COOH group in DMF (1.5 ml) using HATU (87 mg, 0.23 mmol) and DIPEA
(0.2 ml, 1.2 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature
overnight. The DMF was removed under reduced pressure and the crude
product was purified on silica gel column using 2-10% MeOH in DCM
to give IXh (97 mg, 46% yield). [IXg: ESI-MS: calculated for
C.sub.51H.sub.75N.sub.11O.sub.14S [M+H].sup.+ 1098.5;[M+Na].sup.+
1120.5. Found: 1098.7, 1120.7]. IXh (61 mg, 0.056 mmol) was reacted
with TLHE1 (20 mg, 0.056 mmol), CuI (27 mg), DIPEA (0.076 ml, 0.46
mmol) and DMF (2 ml). The mixture was stirred overnight at room
temperature (38 mg, 39% yield). [IXi: ESI-MS calculated for
C.sub.71H.sub.99N.sub.13O.sub.18S [M-H].sup.- 1452.7. Found:
1452.8]. Deprotection of IXh and IXi was performed using 95% TFA
for 2 h at room temperature to give Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA and Conj1,
respectively (SCHEME 4).
[0350] Arg-Gly-Lys-MCA: yield=21 mg, 22%; HPLC (0-100% solv. B
[Solv. A: 95% Water 5% Methanol 0.1% TFA; Solv. B: 95% Methanol 5%
Water 0.1% TFA], t.sub.R (column) (C18)=29.9 min; t.sub.R (C4)=21.4
min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.33H.sub.51N.sub.11O.sub.9
[M+H]+ 746.4; [M+Na].sup.+ 768.4. Found: 746.5, 768.7]. Conj1:
yield=8 mg, 20%; HPLC (0-100% solv. B [Solv. A: 95% Water 5%
Methanol 0.1% TFA; Solv. B: 95% Methanol 5% Water 0.1% TFA],
t.sub.R (column) (C18)=32.8 min; t.sub.R (C4)=26.5 min; ESI-MS:
Exact mass calcd for C.sub.53H.sub.75N.sub.13O.sub.13
[M+H].sup.+1102.6. Found: 1102.7].
##STR00044##
[0351] Synthesis of neurotensin (NT): The NT peptide was
synthesized employing the standard Fmoc/tBu protocols using solid
phase synthesis. Purification by preparative HPLC gave NT. NT:
purified yield=92 mg, 58%; (97% purity by HPLC): t.sub.R (column)
(C18)=21.8 min; t.sub.R (C4)=16.3 min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for
C.sub.78H.sub.122N.sub.21O.sub.20 [M+H].sup.+ 1672.9; [M+2H].sup.2+
837.0; [M+3H].sup.3+ 558.3. Found: 1673.2, 837.5, 558.8.
[0352] Synthesis of NT-Linker: The NT peptide used was synthesized
in a similar way to what is describe above for NT, expect using
Glutamic acid instead of Pyroglutamic acid at the N-terminus. The
azide PEG-linker (VIIId, 141 mg, 0.571 mmol) was activated with
HATU (141 mg, 0.571 mmol), HOBt (77 mg, 0.571 mmol), and DIPEA (126
.mu.L, 0.76 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) before adding to the NT-conjugated
resin (0.19 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken for 20 h. The
product was then cleaved from the resin and deprotection of side
chain groups was performed by treating with a cleavage cocktail,
containing TFA, phenol, deionized water and TIS (88:5:5:2 ratio).
Purification by preparative HPLC gave NT-Linker. NT-Linker:
purified yield=170 mg, 47%; (99% purity by HPLC): t.sub.R (column)
(C18)=23.2 min; t.sub.R (C4)=17.7 min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for
C.sub.87H.sub.139N.sub.24O.sub.25 [M+H].sup.+ 1920.0; [M+2H].sup.2+
960.5; [M+3H].sup.3+ 640.7. Found: 1920.2, 961.0, 641.0.
[0353] Synthesis of Conj2: The click (CuAAC) reaction was carried
out by reacting NT-Linker (17.3 mg, 0.009 mmol) with TLHE1 (10 mg,
0.028 mmol), Cul (8 mg, 0.042 mmol), and sodium ascorbate (8.4 mg,
0.042 mmol) DMF/piperidine (4:1) (0.5 ml). The mixture was shaken
at room temperature for 16 h. The product (Conj2) was purified by
preparative HPLC. Conj2: purified yield=4.5 mg, 22%; (99% purity by
HPLC): t.sub.R (column) (C18)=26 min; t.sub.R (C4)=18.4 min;
ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.107H.sub.163N.sub.26O.sub.29
[M+H].sup.+ 2276.2; [M+2H].sup.2+ 1139.1; [M+3H].sup.3+ 759.7.
Found: 1139.7, 760.1.
##STR00045##
[0354] Synthesis of GnRH: The GnRH was synthesized employing the
standard Fmoc/tBu protocols using solid phase synthesis. The
synthesis was carried out on a Rink amide MBHA resin (Novobiochem
#855003, 0.79 mmol/g). Once the GnRH deca-peptide synthesis was
completed, it was cleaved from the resin and deprotection of side
chain groups was performed by treating with a cleavage cocktail,
containing TFA, phenol, deionized water and TIS (88:5:5:2 ratio).
After cleavage, the resulting peptide was precipitated by
collecting onto cold ether and washed again with ether. Then, the
precipitate was separated by centrifugation, dissolved in water,
lyophilized. Purification by preparative HPLC gave GnRH. GnRH: (98%
purity by HPLC): t.sub.R (column) (C18)=28.3 min; t.sub.R (C4)=20.2
min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.55H.sub.75N.sub.17O.sub.13
[M+H].sup.+ 1182.6; [M+2H].sup.2+ 591.8. Found: 1182.9, 592.2.
[0355] Synthesis of GnRH-Linker: The GnRH peptide used was
synthesized in a similar way to what is describe above for GnRH,
expect using Glutamic acid instead of Pyroglutamic acid at the
N-terminus. The azide PEG-linker (2, 130 mg, 0.526 mmol) was
activated with HATU (130 mg, 0.526 mmol), HOBt (71 mg, 0.526 mmol),
and DIPEA (116 .mu.L, 0.70 mmol) in DMF (2 ml) before adding to the
GnRH-conjugated resin (0.175 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken
for 20 h. The product was then cleaved from the resin and
deprotection of side chain groups was performed by treating with a
cleavage cocktail, containing TFA, phenol, deionized water and TIS
(88:5:5:2 ratio). After cleavage, the resulting peptide was
precipitated by collecting onto cold ether and washed again with
ether. Then, the precipitate was separated by centrifugation,
dissolved in water, lyophilized. Purification by preparative HPLC
gave GnRH-Linker. GnRH-Linker: purified yield=77 mg, 31%; (97%
purity by HPLC): t.sub.R (column) (C18)=33.8 min; t.sub.R (C4)=26.2
min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.64H.sub.92N.sub.20O.sub.18
[M+H].sup.+ 1429.6; [M+2H].sup.2+ 715.3. Found: 1429.5, 715.6.
[0356] Synthesis of Conj3. The click (CuAAC) reaction was carried
out by reacting resin bound GnRH-Linker (0.044 mmol) with TLHE1 (47
mg, 0.13 mmol), Cul (42 mg, 0.22 mmol), and sodium ascorbate (43.6
mg, 0.22 mmol) DMF/piperidine (4:1) (0.5 ml). The mixture was
shaken at rt for 16 h. The product was then cleaved from the resin
and deprotection of side chain groups was performed by treating
with a cleavage cocktail, containing TFA, phenol, deionized water
and TIS (88:5:5:2 ratio). After cleavage, the resulting peptide was
precipitated by collecting onto cold ether and washed again with
ether. Then, the precipitate was separated by centrifugation,
dissolved in water, lyophilized. Purification by preparative HPLC
gave Conj3. Conj3: purified yield=19.6 mg, 25%; (95.3% purity by
HPLC): t.sub.R (column) (C18)=35.5 min; t.sub.R (C4)=29.3 min;
ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.84H.sub.116N.sub.22O.sub.22
[M+H].sup.+ 1785.9; [M+2H].sup.2+ 893.4. Found: 1786.0, 893.7.
##STR00046##
[0357] Synthesis of GnRH-A: The GnRH peptides were synthesized
employing the standard Fmoc/tBu protocols using solid phase
synthesis. The synthesis was carried out on a Rink amide MBHA resin
(Novobiochem #855003, 0.79 mmol/g). For the resin loading step, the
resin (250 mg, 0.175 mmol) was reacted with Fmoc-Gly-OH (260 mg,
0.875 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) and N,N'-Diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC)
(0.137 ml, 0.875 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken for 5 h,
rt. The peptide was built by coupling Fmoc protected (L)-amino acid
monomers (except D-Lys6) to the rink amide resin using DIC and
HOBT, in DMF and shaking for 2 h. Once the GnRH deca-peptide
synthesis was completed, it was cleaved from the resin and
deprotection of side chain groups was performed by treating with a
cleavage cocktail, containing TFA, phenol, deionized water and TIS
(88:5:5:2 ratio). After cleavage, the resulting peptide was
precipitated by collecting onto cold ether and washed again with
ether. Then, the precipitate was separated by centrifugation,
dissolved in water and lyophilized to give (D-Lys6)-GnRH (GnRH-A).
[D-Lys.sup.6]-GnRH (GnRH-A): purified yield=133.7 mg, 61%; (97.9%
purity by HPLC): t.sub.R (column) (C18)=28.9 min; t.sub.R (C4)=19.5
min; ESI-MS: Exact mass calcd for C.sub.59H.sub.84N.sub.18O.sub.13
[M+H].sup.+ 1253.7; [M+2H].sup.2+ 627.3. Found: 1253.9, 627.7.
[0358] Synthesis of GnRH-A-Linker: The azide PEG-linker (VIIId, 119
mg, 0.48 mmol) was activated with NHS (70 mg, 0.6 mmol), DMAP (10
mg, 0.08 mmol), and DCC (600 .mu.L of 1M solution in
dichloromethane) in DMF (5 ml) for 20 h. Purification by flash
silica gel chromatography gave (2-NHS) which was used directly. The
linker was conjugated to the .epsilon.-amino group of lysine in
GnRH-A (300 mg, 0.24 mmol) by reaction with VIIId-NHS (165 mg, 0.48
mmol) and trimethylamine (37 .mu.L, 0.26 mmol) in DMF (3 ml).
Purification by preparative HPLC gave GnRH-A-linker. GnRH-A-Linker:
purified yield=126 mg, 37%; (97.2% purity by HPLC): t.sub.R
(column) (C18)=33.9 min; t.sub.R (C4)=26.5 min; ESI-MS: Exact mass
calcd for C.sub.68H.sub.99N.sub.21O.sub.17 [M+H].sup.+ 1482.7;
[M+2H].sup.2+ 741.8. Found: 1482.5, 742.1.
[0359] Synthesis of Conj4: The click (CuAAC) reaction was carried
out by reacting GnRH-A-Linker (60 mg, 0.04 mmol) with TLHE1 (43 mg,
0.12 mmol), Cul (38 mg, 0.2 mmol), and sodium ascorbate (39.6 mg,
0.2 mmol) DMF/piperidine (4:1) (0. 5 ml). The mixture was shaken at
room temperature for 16 h. The product (Conj4) was purified by
preparative HPLC and analyzed as described above for GnRH-A-Linker.
Conj4: purified yield=24 mg, 34%; (98.1% purity by HPLC): t.sub.R
(column) (C18)=35.2 min; t.sub.R (C4)=29.4 min; ESI-MS: Exact mass
calcd for C.sub.88H.sub.125N.sub.23O.sub.21 [M+H].sup.+1840.9;
[M+2H].sup.2+ 920.9. Found: 1839.3, 920.6.
[0360] Synthesis of TLHE1-small molecule drug conjugate (Conj5):
Linker modified SN-38 was coupled to TLHE1 as described in FIG. 13.
To a suspension of SN38 (Mwt: 392, 49.36 mg, 0.1259 mmoles) in 3 mL
of anhydrous DCM were added di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (165 uL, 1.3
eq) and anhydrous pyridine (250 uL, 24 eq). The suspension was
stirred o/n at RT. The solution was then filtered and washed with
0.5 N HCl (3.times.10 mL) and saturated NaHCO.sub.3 (1.times.10
mL). The organic phase was separated and dried over anhydrous
sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum pressure to
yield VIIIe (51.72 mg, 83% yield). MS confirmed [M+H].sup.+: 492.
To a solution of VIIIe (Mwt: 492, 48.5 mg, 0.09857 mmol) in 2 mL of
anhydrous DCM, PEG-linker (32.66 mg, 1.34 eq), EDC (29.5 mg, 1.56
eq), DMAP (3.7 mg, 0.31 eq) were added and stirred for 3 hours. The
reaction mixture was washed with 1% NaHCO.sub.3 (2.times.10 mL),
water (1.times.10 mL), and 0.1 N HCl (2.times.10 mL). The organic
phase was separated and dried over NaSO.sub.4, filtered, and
evaporated under vacuum pressure to yield VIIIf (Mwt: 721, 36 mg,
50.6% yield). MS confirmed [M+H].sup.+: 722.1. To a solution of
VIIIf (Mwt: 721, 10 mg, 0.0138 mmol) and TLHE1 (Mwt: 356, 5 mg,
0.014 mmol) in 2 mL of anhydrous THF were added sodium ascorbate
(0.8 mg, 0.3 eq) and copper sulfate (0.35 mg, 0.1 eq) in H.sub.2O
(0.5 mL). The solution was evaporated fully under vacuum pressure
and purified via preparative HPLC to yield VIIIg (13 mg, 86.6%
yield). MS confirmed [M+H].sup.+: 1078.5. To VIIIg (Mwt: 1078, 10
mg, 0.009 mmol) was added 20% TFA in DCM and stirred for 3 hours.
The solution was then evaporated under vacuum pressure to yield
Conj5 (8.5 mg, 93.7% yield). MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.51H.sub.59N.sub.7O.sub.13 [M+H].sup.+: 978.4.
[0361] Chemical synthesis of TLHE1-imaging agents conjugates (Conj6
to Conj10): Conj6, Conj7, Conj8, Conj9, and Conj10 (FIG. 11) were
synthesized using Click chemistry. Linker modified Fluoresent dyes
were coupled to TLHE1 similar to what is described in Scheme 1
(FIG. 12). The solution was evaporated under vacuum pressure and
the resulting mixture was purified by HPLC and concentrated to
yield the final product. The products were confirmed by ESI mass
spectrometry. Conj6: MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.44H.sub.43N.sub.7O.sub.9S [M+H].sup.+: [M +H].sup.+(846.2).
Conj7: MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.50H.sub.53N.sub.7O.sub.11 [M+H].sup.+: [M+H].sup.+(928.3).
Conj8: MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.48H.sub.47N.sub.7O.sub.11S [M+H].sup.+: [M+H].sup.+(930.3).
Conj9: MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.54H.sub.63N.sub.8O.sub.9S [M+H].sup.+: [M+H].sup.+(999.4).
Conj10: MS (ESI.sup.+) m/z: found for
C.sub.69H.sub.85N.sub.8O.sub.18S.sub.4 [M+H].sup.+:
[M+H].sup.+(1441.5).
Sequence CWU 1
1
4113PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic peptide 1Glu Leu Tyr Glu Asn Lys Pro Arg Arg Pro Tyr Ile
Leu 1 5 10 210PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial
Sequence Synthetic peptide 2Glu His Trp Ser Tyr Gly Leu Arg Pro Gly
1 5 10 310PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic peptide 3Glu His Trp Ser Tyr Lys Leu Arg Pro Gly 1 5 10
410PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic peptide 4Glu His Trp Ser Tyr Lys Leu Arg Pro Gly 1 5
10
* * * * *