The goal of this project is to develop a c-jun N-terminal kinase 2/3 (JNK2/3) inhibitor that may be used in the treatment of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Development of a drug that prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration would be first in class for halting progression of the disease and a clinical complement to existing medication used in symptomatic treatment of PD. We have assembled a team of biochemists, cell biologists, medicinal chemists, structural biologists, pharmacologists, analytical chemists, and behavioral pharmacologists with extensive pharmaceutical experience to execute this drug development program.
In Aim 1 (years 1-2) we will optimize JNK2/3 inhibitors to select a preclinical development candidate. By the end of year 2 we anticipate having one or more compounds that: 1) are potent and selective JNK2/3 inhibitors, 2) promote primary dopaminergic neuronal survival, and 3) have good pharmacokinetic properties and brain penetration.
This aim will be accomplished by utilizing medicinal chemistry and structure-based drug design supported by biochemical and cell-based assays, and pharmacokinetics to develop structure-activity-relationships (SAR). During Aim 2 (year 3) we will demonstrate efficacy in MPTP-mouse models of PD for greater than or equal to three compounds, demonstrate lack of interaction with human CYP450s, and evaluate five to ten compounds in preliminary toxicity studies. The reason for evaluating five to ten of our most promising compounds is to optimize the chance for clinical success and mitigate the risk of developing a single molecule that may fail in development.
In Aim 3 (years 4-5) we will conduct Investigation New Drug enabling genotoxicity, safety pharmacology, and toxicology studies aimed at helping select a clinical candidate that has the best metabolic profile and widest therapeutic index. Collectively these studies are intended at generating a lead clinical candidate (and back ups) that have sufficient data to meet Food and Drug Administration standards to support up through Phase II human clinical trials in Parkinson's disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01NS057153-04
Application #
8299542
Study Section
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial Review Group (NSD)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$1,620,133
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
781613492
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Iqbal, Sarah; Howard, Shannon; LoGrasso, Philip V (2015) Serum- and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase 1 Confers Protection in Cell-Based and in In Vivo Neurotoxin Models via the c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathway. Mol Cell Biol 35:1992-2006
He, Yuanjun; Duckett, Derek; Chen, Weimin et al. (2014) Synthesis and SAR of novel isoxazoles as potent c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 24:161-4
Chambers, Jeremy W; Howard, Shannon; LoGrasso, Philip V (2013) Blocking c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) translocation to the mitochondria prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo. J Biol Chem 288:1079-87
Chambers, Jeremy W; Pachori, Alok; Howard, Shannon et al. (2013) Inhibition of JNK mitochondrial localization and signaling is protective against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. J Biol Chem 288:4000-11
Feng, Yangbo; Chambers, Jeremy W; Iqbal, Sarah et al. (2013) A small molecule bidentate-binding dual inhibitor probe of the LRRK2 and JNK kinases. ACS Chem Biol 8:1747-54
Figuera-Losada, Mariana; LoGrasso, Philip V (2012) Enzyme kinetics and interaction studies for human JNK1?1 and substrates activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (c-Jun). J Biol Chem 287:13291-302
Laughlin, John D; Nwachukwu, Jerome C; Figuera-Losada, Mariana et al. (2012) Structural mechanisms of allostery and autoinhibition in JNK family kinases. Structure 20:2174-84
Zhang, Tinghu; Inesta-Vaquera, Francisco; Niepel, Mario et al. (2012) Discovery of potent and selective covalent inhibitors of JNK. Chem Biol 19:140-54
Chambers, Jeremy W; Cherry, Lisa; Laughlin, John D et al. (2011) Selective inhibition of mitochondrial JNK signaling achieved using peptide mimicry of the Sab kinase interacting motif-1 (KIM1). ACS Chem Biol 6:808-18
Crocker, Candice E; Khan, Susan; Cameron, Michael D et al. (2011) JNK Inhibition Protects Dopamine Neurons and Provides Behavioral Improvement in a Rat 6-hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2:207-212

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