Discovery of GBT440, an Orally Bioavailable R-State Stabilizer of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin.
Metcalf, B., Chuang, C., Dufu, K., Patel, M.P., Silva-Garcia, A., Johnson, C., Lu, Q., Partridge, J.R., Patskovska, L., Patskovsky, Y., Almo, S.C., Jacobson, M.P., Hua, L., Xu, Q., Gwaltney, S.L., Yee, C., Harris, J., Morgan, B.P., James, J., Xu, D., Hutchaleelaha, A., Paulvannan, K., Oksenberg, D., Li, Z.(2017) ACS Med Chem Lett 8: 321-326
- PubMed: 28337324
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00491
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
5U3I, 5UFJ - PubMed Abstract:
We report the discovery of a new potent allosteric effector of sickle cell hemoglobin, GBT440 ( 36 ), that increases the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen and consequently inhibits its polymerization when subjected to hypoxic conditions. Unlike earlier allosteric activators that bind covalently to hemoglobin in a 2:1 stoichiometry, 36 binds with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Compound 36 is orally bioavailable and partitions highly and favorably into the red blood cell with a RBC/plasma ratio of ∼150. This partitioning onto the target protein is anticipated to allow therapeutic concentrations to be achieved in the red blood cell at low plasma concentrations. GBT440 ( 36 ) is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of sickle cell disease (NCT03036813).
Organizational Affiliation:
Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. , South San Francisco, California 94080, United States.