Development of Potent NEDD8-Activating Enzyme Inhibitors Bearing a Pyrimidotriazole Scaffold.

The ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 is a critical signaling molecule implicated in the functional maintenance and homeostasis of cells. Dysregulation of this process is involved in a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Therefore, NEDD8-activating enzyme E1 (NAE), the only activation enzyme of the neddylation pathway, has been an emergent anticancer target. In view of the single-agent modest response of the clinical NAE inhibitor, pevonedistat (compound 1, MLN4924), efforts on development of new inhibitors with both high potency and better safety profiles are urgently needed. Here, we report a structural hopping strategy by optimizing the central deazapurine framework and the solvent interaction region of compound 1, leading to compound 26 bearing a pyrimidotriazole scaffold. Compound 26 not only has compatible potency in the biochemical and cell assays but also possesses improved pharmacokinetic (PK) properties than compound 1. In vivo, compound 26 showed significant antitumor efficacy and good safety in xenograft models.