ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501079
Gang Zhao, Junyu Guo, Xinying Cheng, Renbing Wang, Ahmed R. Ali, Yucheng Tian, Zhiyu Li, Jinlei Bian, Huidan Huang
{"title":"New Binding Sites for JAK2 Inhibition in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Structural Insights, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Directions","authors":"Gang Zhao, Junyu Guo, Xinying Cheng, Renbing Wang, Ahmed R. Ali, Yucheng Tian, Zhiyu Li, Jinlei Bian, Huidan Huang","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202501079","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202501079","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal hematopoietic disorders driven in large part by aberrant activation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway via the JAK2 V617F and related mutations. The success of first-generation ATP competitive JAK2 inhibitors has validated JAK2 as a therapeutic target, yet clinical benefits remain constrained by issues of off target toxicity, limited mutation allele burden reduction, and the emergence of persistence or resistance. In this review, we focus on a rapidly emerging design paradigm: targeting novel binding sites on JAK2 beyond the canonical ATP pocket—including allosteric sites, covalent anchor residues, and pseudokinase regulatory domains. We summarize structural and computational insights into these new sites, compare mechanistic and therapeutic advantages (such as enhanced selectivity, reduced cross JAK inhibition and potential to overcome resistance) and evaluate preclinical and early clinical evidence. We further identify remaining challenges in the development of next generation JAK2 inhibitors—such as site validation, ligand residence time, covalent binding safety, and rational combination therapies—and propose future directions for translation into the MPN clinic. By refocusing the JAK2 inhibitor field around novel binding site exploitation, we suggest a path toward more potent, selective and enduring therapies for MPN patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202600008
Yanqing Li, Lingjie Zhang, Qunfeng Luo, Yanzi Li, Siqi Zhang, Jianghong Pei, Mingming Qi, Na Li, Li Chen
{"title":"Discovery of New CDDO-Imidazole Derivatives as Potential Antitumor Agents","authors":"Yanqing Li, Lingjie Zhang, Qunfeng Luo, Yanzi Li, Siqi Zhang, Jianghong Pei, Mingming Qi, Na Li, Li Chen","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202600008","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202600008","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the search for new CDDOs (2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid derivatives) with higher antitumor activity in vivo, thirty CDDO-imidazole derivatives (<b>1–30</b>) were designed and synthesized. Then, <b>8</b> was selected due to its superior anti-proliferative activity against three cancer cell lines (B16F10, A549, and HCT116) and its lower toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared to the other evaluated compounds. Further study found that <b>8</b> induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells by downregulating Bcl-2, upregulating Bax, and activating caspase-3 to kill cancer cells. Notably, <b>8</b> exhibited significant antitumor efficacy comparable to CDDO-Me (bardoxolone methyl), which had entered clinical trials. Taken together, <b>8</b> represents a promising candidate for the treatment of cancer and merits further study.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501071
Manisha Rathi, Jai Devi, Nishu Dhillayan, Sonika Asija
{"title":"Bioactive Transition Metal(II) Hydrazone Complexes: Spectral Elucidation, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities Correlated With Molecular Docking and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity","authors":"Manisha Rathi, Jai Devi, Nishu Dhillayan, Sonika Asija","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202501071","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202501071","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Resistance to conventional antimalarial remains a major challenge, and hydrazone-based metal chelates offer a promising strategy due to their flexibility, redox behavior, and improved pharmacological efficacy. Hydrazone ligands (<b>1-20</b>) were synthesized from ethylcarbazate and salicylaldehyde derivatives and subsequently coordinated with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) metals. The compounds were structurally characterized through NMR (<sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C), mass spectrometry, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), scanning electron microscopy, electron spin resonance, powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and conductivity studies, revealing an octahedral geometry. Biological activity of the synthesized compounds was analyzed for antimalarial, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties employing microassay, DPPH radical scavenging and serial dilution method, respectively. In vitro screening of the synthesized compounds for antimalarial and antimicrobial activities revealed that compounds (<b>15</b>) and (<b>16</b>) were most active, demonstrating superior IC<sub>50</sub> values 0.066–0.067 µg/mL against <i>P. falciparum</i> and (MIC values of 0.0332–0.0408 μmol/mL against bacterial strain and 0.0087 μmol/mL against fungal strain, respectively. The antioxidant assessments showed that complexes <b>(</b><b>17</b>), <b>(</b><b>19)</b>, and (<b>20</b>) were the most effective in attenuating oxidative stress, as indicated by their minimal IC<sub>50</sub> values (3.1 ± 0.026 μM–4.2 ± 0.0004 μM). Molecular docking supported the bioactivity, showing higher binding affinities for complexes (<b>15</b>) and (<b>16</b>). The compound's oral drug-like structure was confirmed by absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501099
Mareike Riedel, Christian Kersten
{"title":"Snake Venom Protease Detection and Inhibition in Serum","authors":"Mareike Riedel, Christian Kersten","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202501099","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202501099","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Snake bites remain major threats with only limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Current antibody-based antivenoms show only limited effectiveness against local tissue damage and require complex manufacturing and cold chain logistics. To overcome these limitations, a fluorescence-based assay was established to enable the sensitive detection of snake venom metalloprotease (SVMP) and serine protease (SVSP) activities in crude viper venoms from <i>Crotalus atrox</i>, <i>Bothrops jararaca,</i> and <i>Echis carinatus</i>. The assays showed species-specific activity profiles with detection limits in the sub-microgram per 45 and 100 µL range for SVSP and SVMP, respectively. Notably, protease activity in bovine and human blood sera, with only a slight loss of sensitivity compared to isolated venom in buffer, can be measured. Inhibitory effects of small molecule protease inhibitors, batimastat, marimastat, ilomastat, nafamostat, and leupeptin, were determined, showing strong SVMP or SVSP inhibition, respectively. Based on this proof-of-concept, the combination of such activity-based assays with selective small-molecule inhibitors could open new opportunities for rapid venom detection in diagnosis and complementary therapy, particularly in resource-poor settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13037691/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501062
Shuai Wen, Yingping Li, Xi Li, Fan Huo, Qiulan Chen, Hongkai Sha, Yan Wang, Yao Zhao, Zhengyu Jiang, Yi Mou
{"title":"Discovery of a Prodrug of Bardoxolone Methyl for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury","authors":"Shuai Wen, Yingping Li, Xi Li, Fan Huo, Qiulan Chen, Hongkai Sha, Yan Wang, Yao Zhao, Zhengyu Jiang, Yi Mou","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202501062","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202501062","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bardoxolone methyl, also known as CDDO-Me, has demonstrated protective and therapeutic effects on a variety of lung diseases, especially showing great promise for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). However, concerns regarding safety and tissue specificity still remain. Herein, we designed and synthesized an H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-sensitive CDDO-Me prodrug <b>2</b>. Results indicated that prodrug <b>2</b> can be activated by H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and exhibited the high drug release rate. In RAW 264.7 cells, prodrug <b>2</b> demonstrated lower cytotoxicity compared to CDDO-Me. Moreover, prodrug <b>2</b> concentration-dependently inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells. In an ALI mouse model, prodrug <b>2</b> exhibited therapeutic efficacy comparable to CDDO-Me and significantly attenuated the symptoms of LPS-induced lung injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147580008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-30DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.70274
Patrick Werner, Leif Schröder
{"title":"Front Cover: Comprehensive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Relaxometry of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents: A Systematic Study of Transmetallation and Transchelation Processes With Zinc Ions and Heparin (ChemMedChem 6/2026)","authors":"Patrick Werner, Leif Schröder","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.70274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.70274","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In their Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501096) using MRI relaxometry, Patrick Werner and Leif Schröder monitor the transmetallation and transchelation of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents (GBCAs) in the presence of zinc ions and the glycosaminoglycan heparin. The competition between GBCAs and heparin for Gd ions is revealed by significant changes in relaxation rates. The study highlights stability patterns of linear versus macrocyclic agents and establishes a versatile platform that can illuminate another aspect of GBCA safety and guide the design of more stable agents.\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cmdc.70274","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-30DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202500862
Melinda Nonn, Marta Denel-Bobrowska, Balázs Volk, Agnieszka B. Olejniczak, Loránd Kiss
{"title":"Functionalized Cyclic Beta-Amino Acid Derivatives With Antiviral Potential","authors":"Melinda Nonn, Marta Denel-Bobrowska, Balázs Volk, Agnieszka B. Olejniczak, Loránd Kiss","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202500862","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202500862","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Selected highly functionalized cyclic beta (β)-amino acid derivatives have been synthesized according to modified and improved literature synthetic protocols and subjected to various antiviral studies. The model compounds were regio- and stereoisomers of azido-functionalized β-amino esters, orthogonally protected diamino esters, an oxirane-fused cyclic β-amino ester, 1,2,3-triazole-substituted β-amino esters, mono- and difluorinated cyclic β-amino esters, mono and dihydroxylated cyclic β-amino esters, dihydroxylated lactams, and β-amino esters with piperidine and azepane skeletons. Formed compounds have been investigated and their anti-HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus), anti-HRV8 (Human rhinovirus 8), and anti-HSV-1 (Human herpesvirus 1) activities were tested (CC50 and IC50 determinations) during screening studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13035932/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design and Discovery of Substituted 1,3,4-Thiadiazole–1,3,5-Triazine Hybrids as Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Antibacterial Activities","authors":"Saumya Singh, Kumar Saurabh Srivastava, Mukesh Kumar Kumawat, Hans Raj Bhat, Angela Corona, Enzo Tramontano, Debashis Mitra, Udaya Pratap Singh","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.202501109","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cmdc.202501109","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A new series of substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole–1,3,5-triazine hybrids was rationally designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antiviral and antibacterial potential. The target di-substituted (<b>9a–e</b>) and tri-substituted (<b>11a–e</b>) derivatives were obtained via a stepwise nucleophilic substitution strategy from cyanuric chloride and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Molecular docking studies against human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) revealed that <i>para</i>-substituted analogs displayed superior binding within the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor pocket through key hydrogen bonding, <i>π–π</i> stacking, and electrostatic interactions. In vitro evaluation identified compounds <b>11a</b> as the most active candidate. Compound <b>11a</b> exhibited 83.93% inhibition of RT activity at 1 μM, an EC<sub>50</sub> of 72.7 nM, and effective suppression of HIV-1 replication in CEM–GFP T cells (85.19% p24 inhibition) with a favorable therapeutic index (TI = 471). Both compounds also demonstrated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effects in Vero E6 cells at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, several derivatives showed moderate to good antibacterial activity against tested bacterial strains, with SAR analysis highlighting the importance of substituent electronics and positional effects on bioactivity. Overall, this study establishes substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole–1,3,5-triazine hybrids as promising multifunctional scaffolds for antiviral and antibacterial drug development.</p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cover Feature: Novel Vancomycin-β-Lactam Hybrids: Structure–Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Potential Against VISA and VRE (ChemMedChem 6/2026)","authors":"Taopeng Chang, Fang Li, Chengtao Feng, Xiaowen Wang, Dongliang Guan","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.70276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.70276","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The cover illustrates a novel vancomycin–β-lactam hybrid antibiotic simultaneously targeting Lipid II and PBP on the bacterial cell membrane, thereby exerting a synergistic antibacterial effect through dual inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis. In the Research article (DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501084), Chengtao Feng, Xiaowen Wang, Dongliang Guan, and co-workers systematically constructed and evaluated a series of hybrid molecules, identifying the C-terminally modified compound 6a as exhibiting significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against resistant strains such as VISA and VRE. These findings provide a promising strategy for the development of next-generation antibiotics against antimicrobial resistance. The inspiration for this cover design comes from Dongliang Guan.\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cmdc.70276","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ChemMedChemPub Date : 2026-03-30DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.70275
Yazhou Wang, Chao Wang, Xiaomin Wang, Tingting Liu, Xin Cai, Man Zhang, Alex Aliper, Feng Ren, Xiao Ding, Alex Zhavoronkov
{"title":"Cover Feature: An Internal Sulfur–Lone Pair Interaction Enabled the Discovery of Potent and Sub-Family Selective PKMYT1 Inhibitors (ChemMedChem 6/2026)","authors":"Yazhou Wang, Chao Wang, Xiaomin Wang, Tingting Liu, Xin Cai, Man Zhang, Alex Aliper, Feng Ren, Xiao Ding, Alex Zhavoronkov","doi":"10.1002/cmdc.70275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.70275","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study reports the discovery of a novel class of potent and selective PKMYT1 inhibitors enabled by the deliberate exploitation of an intramolecular sulfur–lone pair interaction. By assistance of AI-powered generative chemistry, comprehensive SAR analysis, and structure guided optimization, a thiazole based scaffold was identified that enforces a near coplanar conformation. The lead compound A4 with favorable structural novelty exhibits strong PKMYT1 potency, high selectivity over WEE1, and potential drug-like properties. This work highlights the utility of nonclassical intramolecular interactions as an effective strategy in kinase inhibitor design. More details can be found in the Research Article by Xiao Ding, Alex Zhavoronkov, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202501029).\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":147,"journal":{"name":"ChemMedChem","volume":"21 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cmdc.70275","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}