Rapid Evolution of a Fragment-like Molecule to Pan-Metallo-Beta-Lactamase Inhibitors: Initial Leads toward Clinical Candidates.
Mandal, M., Xiao, L., Pan, W., Scapin, G., Li, G., Tang, H., Yang, S.W., Pan, J., Root, Y., de Jesus, R.K., Yang, C., Prosise, W., Dayananth, P., Mirza, A., Therien, A.G., Young, K., Flattery, A., Garlisi, C., Zhang, R., Chu, D., Sheth, P., Chu, I., Wu, J., Markgraf, C., Kim, H.Y., Painter, R., Mayhood, T.W., DiNunzio, E., Wyss, D.F., Buevich, A.V., Fischmann, T., Pasternak, A., Dong, S., Hicks, J.D., Villafania, A., Liang, L., Murgolo, N., Black, T., Hagmann, W.K., Tata, J., Parmee, E.R., Weber, A.E., Su, J., Tang, H.(2022) J Med Chem 65: 16234-16251
- PubMed: 36475645 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00766
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7UOX, 7UOY, 7UP1, 7UP2, 7UP3 - PubMed Abstract: 
With the emergence and rapid spreading of NDM-1 and existence of clinically relevant VIM-1 and IMP-1, discovery of pan inhibitors targeting metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) became critical in our battle against bacterial infection. Concurrent with our fragment and high-throughput screenings, we performed a knowledge-based search of known metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors (MBLIs) to identify starting points for early engagement of medicinal chemistry. A class of compounds exemplified by 11 , discovered earlier as B. fragilis metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors, was selected for in silico virtual screening. From these efforts, compound 12 was identified with activity against NDM-1 only. Initial exploration on metal binding design followed by structure-guided optimization led to the discovery of a series of compounds represented by 23 with a pan MBL inhibition profile. In in vivo studies, compound 23 in combination with imipenem (IPM) robustly lowered the bacterial burden in a murine infection model and became the lead for the invention of MBLI clinical candidates.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey07033, United States.