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  2. Small-molecule factor B inhibitor for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases

Small-molecule factor B inhibitor for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases

  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Apr 16;116(16):7926-7931. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1820892116.
Anna Schubart 1 Karen Anderson 2 3 Nello Mainolfi 2 4 Holger Sellner 1 Takeru Ehara 2 5 Christopher M Adams 2 Aengus Mac Sweeney 1 6 Sha-Mei Liao 2 Maura Crowley 2 Amanda Littlewood-Evans 1 Sophie Sarret 1 Grazyna Wieczorek 1 Ludovic Perrot 1 Valérie Dubost 1 Thierry Flandre 1 Yuzhou Zhang 7 Richard J H Smith 7 Antonio M Risitano 8 Rajeshri G Karki 2 Chun Zhang 2 Eric Valeur 1 9 Finton Sirockin 1 Bernd Gerhartz 1 10 Paulus Erbel 1 Nicola Hughes 1 Thomas M Smith 2 Frederic Cumin 1 Upendra A Argikar 2 Börje Haraldsson 1 Muneto Mogi 2 Richard Sedrani 1 Christian Wiesmann 1 Bruce Jaffee 2 Jürgen Maibaum 1 Stefanie Flohr 1 Richard Harrison 1 11 Jörg Eder 12
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
  • 2 Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139.
  • 3 Ophthalmology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA 02142.
  • 4 Kymera Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA 02139.
  • 5 PeptiDream Inc., Kawasaki-shi, 210-0821 Kanagawa, Japan.
  • 6 Drug Discovery Biology, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
  • 7 Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratories, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.
  • 8 Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy.
  • 9 Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden.
  • 10 Protein Sciences, Abcam PLC, CB4 0GZ Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • 11 Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CF14 4XN Cardiff, United Kingdom.
  • 12 Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; joerg.eder@novartis.com.
Abstract

Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway (AP) predisposes individuals to a number of diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and C3 glomerulopathy. Moreover, glomerular Ig deposits can lead to complement-driven nephropathies. Here we describe the discovery of a highly potent, reversible, and selective small-molecule inhibitor of factor B, a serine Protease that drives the central amplification loop of the AP. Oral administration of the inhibitor prevents KRN-induced arthritis in mice and is effective upon prophylactic and therapeutic dosing in an experimental model of membranous nephropathy in rats. In addition, inhibition of factor B prevents complement activation in sera from C3 glomerulopathy patients and the hemolysis of human PNH erythrocytes. These data demonstrate the potential therapeutic value of using a factor B inhibitor for systemic treatment of complement-mediated diseases and provide a basis for its clinical development.

Keywords

alternative pathway; complement; drug discovery; factor B; nephropathy.

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