352228-58-1

By applying a novel cell- and caspase-based HTS assay, a series of N-phenyl nicotinamides has been identified as a new class of potent inducers of apoptosis. Through SAR studies, a 20-fold increase in potency was achieved from a screening hit N-(4-methoxy-2-nitrophenyl)-pyridine-3-carboxamide (1) to lead compound 6-methyl-N-(4-ethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)pyridine-3- carboxamide (10), with an EC50 of 0.082 μM in the caspase activation assay in T47D breast cancer cells. The N-phenyl nicotinamides also were found to be active in the growth inhibition assay where compound 10 had a GI50 value of 0.21 μM in T47D cells. More importantly, compound 10 was found to be equipotent in MES-SA cells and paclitaxel-resistant, p-glycoprotein overexpressed MES-SA/DX5 cells. Compounds 1 and 6-chloro-N-(4-ethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)pyridine-3-carboxamide (8), a more potent analogue, were found to arrest T47D cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle followed by induction of apoptosis as measured by flow cytometry. Compound 8, which was more potent than 1 in the caspase activation assay, also was found to be more potent in G2/M arrest and apoptosis assay. These data confirm that the cell-based caspase activation assay is useful for screening for inducers of apoptosis, as well as for SAR studies and lead optimization. Upon further characterization, N-phenyl nicotinamides were found to be inhibitors of microtubule polymerization in vitro. The identification of N-phenyl nicotinamides as a novel series of inducers of apoptosis demonstrates that our cell- and caspase-based HTS assay is useful for the discovery and optimization of potentially novel anticancer agents.

The present invention is directed to substituted nicotinamides and analogs thereof, represented by Formula V: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, wherein: Ar′ and Ar are independently optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl, provided that the ring structure of said optionally substituted heteroaryl comprises not more than two nitrogen atoms; and R11 is hydrogen; or alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each of which is optionally substituted. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula V are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the compounds of this invention may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.