Reducing hERG Inhibition in the Design of Potent and Bioavailable Indazole cGAS Inhibitors
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a key component of the cGAS-STING innate immunity pathway’s response to pathogens. Activation of cGAS triggers a cascade resulting in an increase of proinflammatory mediators, suggesting cGAS inhibition as an attractive therapeutic approach for a variety of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. The medicinal chemistry optimization of tetrahydrocarboline cGAS inhibitor 3 was performed with particular emphasis on mitigating hERG activity and improving bioavailability. Meticulous control of polarity was found to be essential to access acceptable in vitro permeability and stability profiles while mitigating hERG inhibition. Compound 26 was identified as a potent cGAS inhibitor displaying favorable hERG and mouse pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles.
Source: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Authors: Patrick Cyr, Amandine Chefson, Daniel V. Sietsema, Zenon Konteatis, Stéphane Ciblat, Nicolas Sgarioto, Philippe Le Gros, Kelly A. Pike, Marc-Olivier Boily, Mohamed Diallo, Ria Seliniotakis, Clayton Springer, Pradhyum Khandelwal, Ramsay E. Beveridge
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4417059230