GNE-7915

GNE-7915 is a highly potent, selective, and brain-penetrable leucine-rich repeat kinase2 (LRRK2) inhibitor, with Ki and IC50 of 1 nM and 9 nM, respectively.
GEN-7915 is extensive inhibitor across 187 screened kinases, except TTK kinase. In an extended profile across 392 kinases, GNE-7915 only bound to 10 enzymes to a significant extent (>50% probe displaced at 100 nM). GNE-7915 and its progenitors are the first selective LRRK2 inhibitors to penetrating the brain barrier. [1]
GEN-7915 has been shown to induce dephosphorylation of LRRK2 in the brain of transgenic mice. GNE-7915 is not reported to cause cellular or genetic toxicity, and has progressed into preclinical studies in cynomolgus monkeys [3]. The use of in silico modelling, extensive in vitro assays and resource-efficient in vivo techniques to produce GNE-7915, reflects a trend towards the concerted optimisation of potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetic properties in early-stage drug development [1]. GNE-7915 can inhibit TNFαand CXCL10 at higher concentrations (≥ 3 μM) in both WT and LRRK2 KO experiments [2].
References:
1.Kavanagh ME, Doddareddy MR, Kassiou M. The development of CNS-active LRRK2 inhibitors using property-directed optimisation. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2013 Jul 1;23(13):3690-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.04.086. Epub 2013 May 9.
2.Luerman GC, Nguyen C, Samaroo H et al. Phosphoproteomic evaluation of pharmacological inhibition of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 reveals significant off-target effects of LRRK-2-IN-1. J Neurochem. 2014 Feb;128(4):561-76. doi: 10.1111/jnc.12483. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
3.Estrada AA, Liu X, Baker-Glenn C et al. Discovery of highly potent, selective, and brain-penetrable leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) small molecule inhibitors. J Med Chem. 2012 Nov 26;55(22):9416-33. doi: 10.1021/jm301020q. Epub 2012 Oct 15.

LRRK2 G2019S-induced mitochondrial DNA damage is LRRK2 kinase dependent and inhibition restores mtDNA integrity in Parkinson's disease.[Pubmed:28973664]

Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Nov 15;26(22):4340-4351.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are associated with increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD). Previously, we found that LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers have increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and after zinc finger nuclease-mediated gene mutation correction, mtDNA damage was no longer detectable. While the mtDNA damage phenotype can be unambiguously attributed to the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, the underlying mechanism(s) is unknown. Here, we examine the role of LRRK2 kinase function in LRRK2 G2019S-mediated mtDNA damage, using both genetic and pharmacological approaches in cultured neurons and PD patient-derived cells. Expression of LRRK2 G2019S induced mtDNA damage in primary rat midbrain neurons, but not in cortical neuronal cultures. In contrast, the expression of LRRK2 wild type or LRRK2 D1994A mutant (kinase dead) had no effect on mtDNA damage in either midbrain or cortical neuronal cultures. In addition, human LRRK2 G2019S patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) demonstrated increased mtDNA damage relative to age-matched controls. Importantly, treatment of LRRK2 G2019S expressing midbrain neurons or patient-derived LRRK2 G2019S LCLs with the LRRK2 kinase inhibitor GNE-7915, either prevented or restored mtDNA damage to control levels. These findings support the hypothesis that LRRK2 G2019S-induced mtDNA damage is LRRK2 kinase activity dependent, uncovering a novel pathological role for this kinase. Blocking or reversing mtDNA damage via LRRK2 kinase inhibition or other therapeutic approaches may be useful to slow PD-associated pathology.

Effects of LRRK2 Inhibitors on Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Neurotransmission.[Pubmed:27943591]

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2017 Feb;23(2):162-173.

INTRODUCTION: Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most prevalent cause of familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). Because most pathogenic LRRK2 mutations result in enhanced kinase activity, it suggests that LRRK2 inhibitors may serve as a potential treatment for PD. To evaluate whether LRRK2 inhibitors are effective therapies for PD, it is crucial to know whether LRRK2 inhibitors will affect dopaminergic (DAergic) neurotransmission. However, to date, there is no study to investigate the impact of LRRK2 inhibitors on DAergic neurotransmission. AIMS: To address this gap in knowledge, we examined the effects of three types of LRRK2 inhibitors (LRRK2-IN-1, GSK2578215A, and GNE-7915) on dopamine (DA) release in the dorsal striatum using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and DA neuron firing in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) using patch clamp in mouse brain slices. RESULTS: We found that LRRK2-IN-1 at a concentration higher than 1 muM causes off-target effects and decreases DA release, whereas GSK2578215A and GNE-7915 do not. All three inhibitors at 1 muM have no effect on DA release and DA neuron firing rate. We have further assessed the effects of the inhibitors in two preclinical LRRK2 mouse models (i.e., BAC transgenic hG2019S and hR1441G) and demonstrated that GNE-7915 enhances DA release and synaptic vesicle mobilization/recycling. CONCLUSION: GNE-7915 can be validated for further therapeutic development for PD.

The development of CNS-active LRRK2 inhibitors using property-directed optimisation.[Pubmed:23721803]

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2013 Jul 1;23(13):3690-6.

Mutations in PARK8/LRRK2 are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity has neuroprotective benefits, and provides a means of addressing the underlying biochemical cause of Parkinson's disease for the first time. Initial attempts to develop LRRK2 inhibitors were largely unsuccessful and highlight shortcomings intrinsic to traditional, high throughput screening methods of lead discovery. Recently, amino-pyrimidine GNE-7915 was reported as a potent (IC50=9 nM) selective (1/187 kinases), brain-penetrant and non-toxic inhibitor of LRRK2. The use of in silico modelling, extensive in vitro assays and resource-efficient in vivo techniques to produce GNE-7915, reflects a trend towards the concerted optimisation of potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetic properties in early-stage drug development.

Discovery of highly potent, selective, and brain-penetrable leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) small molecule inhibitors.[Pubmed:22985112]

J Med Chem. 2012 Nov 26;55(22):9416-33.

There is a high demand for potent, selective, and brain-penetrant small molecule inhibitors of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) to test whether inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity is a potentially viable treatment option for Parkinson's disease patients. Herein we disclose the use of property and structure-based drug design for the optimization of highly ligand efficient aminopyrimidine lead compounds. High throughput in vivo rodent cassette pharmacokinetic studies enabled rapid validation of in vitro-in vivo correlations. Guided by this data, optimal design parameters were established. Effective incorporation of these guidelines into our molecular design process resulted in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors such as GNE-7915 (18) and 19, which possess an ideal balance of LRRK2 cellular potency, broad kinase selectivity, metabolic stability, and brain penetration across multiple species. Advancement of GNE-7915 into rodent and higher species toxicity studies enabled risk assessment for early development.