{"title":"Chelator Optimization and Therapeutic Potential of 188Re-FAPI for FAP-Targeted Radionuclide Therapy","authors":"Steven H. Liang*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00486","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00486","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has emerged as a highly promising molecular target for cancer theranostics, with current research prioritizing the optimization of FAP-targeted radiopharmaceutical pharmacokinetics. The development of diverse FAP inhibitor (FAPI) probes conjugated with therapeutic radionuclides has significantly advanced the field of FAP-targeted radionuclide therapy (FAP-TRT). Among available radionuclides, rhenium-188 has emerged as a particularly valuable theranostic radionuclide, offering the rare combination of economical availability, therapeutic β<sup>–</sup> emissions (<i>E</i><sub>max</sub> = 2.12 MeV), and γ emissions suitable for SPECT imaging (155 keV, 15% abundance). The strategic development of <sup>188</sup>Re-labeled FAPI compounds represents a promising approach to enhance the efficacy and clinical translation of FAP-targeted radionuclide therapy. A recent study has developed and evaluated four novel <sup>188</sup>Re-labeled FAP inhibitors through rational structure optimization, which provided a cost-effective viable alternative to established therapeutic radionuclides in clinical oncology.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1697–1702"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00486","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Bench to Browser: How Reddit Chemists Are Shaping AI, Flow Chemistry, ASOs, and Sustainability in Medicinal Chemistry","authors":"Harsh Mehta*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00483","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00483","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Online forums like Reddit, particularly subreddits such as r/chemistry and r/medchem, offer an unfiltered look at the practical optimizms, frustrations, and originations of medicinal chemists across academia and industry. This Viewpoint captures practitioner sentiment and explanation on four pivotal trends─AI/ML tools, flow chemistry, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and sustainability─based on methodical Reddit discourse review between 2022 and 2024. Through these candid deliberations, the identified innovation meets bottleneck, highlighting fears over AI’s black-box nature, enthusiasm over continuous flow synthesis, debates on RNA-targeted therapies, and growing advocacy for circular chemistry. These grassroots signals offer appreciated early indicators for the medicinal chemistry community, urging superior integration of practitioner insight in research priority setting and policy preparation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1693–1696"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Renn A. Duncan, Daniel H. Haymer, Roman M. Lazarenko, Liangping Li, Yvette Blackwell, Emily L. Days, Srinivasan Krishnan, Analisa Thompson Gray, Olivier Boutaud, Darren W. Engers, Craig W. Lindsley*, Jerod S. Denton* and Aaron M. Bender*,
{"title":"Characterization of Next-Generation Inhibitors for the Inward-Rectifier Potassium Channel Kir2.1: Discovery of VU6080824","authors":"Renn A. Duncan, Daniel H. Haymer, Roman M. Lazarenko, Liangping Li, Yvette Blackwell, Emily L. Days, Srinivasan Krishnan, Analisa Thompson Gray, Olivier Boutaud, Darren W. Engers, Craig W. Lindsley*, Jerod S. Denton* and Aaron M. Bender*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00297","url":null,"abstract":"<p >ML133 is a selective inhibitor of the inward-rectifier potassium channel K<sub>ir</sub>2.1 and has found extensive use as a tool with which to probe K<sub>ir</sub> biology. Despite its utility as a tool compound, ML133 has only modest on-target potency (manual patch clamp (MPC) K<sub>ir</sub>2.1 IC<sub>50</sub> = 1.5 μM, pH 7.4), and its <i>in vivo</i> pharmacokinetics (PK) were previously uncharacterized. In the present study, we report a next-generation series of K<sub>ir</sub>2.1 inhibitors based on the ML133 scaffold, along with the rat PK of ML133 and selected analogs. Compound <b>5s</b> (VU6080824) was ultimately identified as having superior potency to ML133 in both the thallium flux and MPC functional assays and has excellent PK properties suitable for use as an improved K<sub>ir</sub>2.1 tool compound in rodents.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1762–1771"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00297","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel Pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine Compounds as KRAS Inhibitors","authors":"Jian Rong, and , Steven H. Liang*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00493","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00493","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This highlight describes novel substituted pyrido[4,3-<i>d</i>]pyrimidine compounds as KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) inhibitors. The invention provides details about novel pyrido[4,3-<i>d</i>]pyrimidine compounds, their pharmaceutical composition, potential use, and treatment for KRAS-related diseases, such as various cancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1738–1739"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel Cyclic Peptides Trapping Interleukin-1β to Relieve Inflammatory and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease","authors":"Qilong Hu, and , Steven H. Liang*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00495","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00495","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This patent application discloses a novel class of cyclic peptides, represented by Formula I, designed to selectively trap Interleukin-1β (IL-1β). These peptides offer promising therapeutic potential for slowing the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1733–1735"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel Indazole Propionic Acid Derivatives as AMPK Activators","authors":"Jian Rong, and , Steven H. Liang*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00494","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This highlight describes novel indazole propionic acid derivatives as AMPK activators. It details the synthesis, pharmaceutical compositions, use, and therapeutic applications of these compounds, particularly for the treatment for AMPK-related diseases, such as inflammatory, autoimmune, and gastrointestinal disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1736–1737"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of Bicyclic Compounds Containing a Tertiary Amine Moiety as T Cell Activators","authors":"Taoqian Zhao, and , Steven H. Liang*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00496","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This invention relates to a series of bicyclic compounds substituted with a tertiary amine, represented by formula I, that activate T cells, promote their proliferation, and/or exhibit antitumor effects. These compounds show significant promise as therapeutic agents for managing proliferative conditions, such as cancer, and viral infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1731–1732"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xue Song, Chen-Guo Feng, Chen Wang, Jay Cheng* and Guo-Qiang Lin*,
{"title":"Discovery of Potent and Selective Quinoline-Based Toll-like Receptor 9 Antagonists","authors":"Xue Song, Chen-Guo Feng, Chen Wang, Jay Cheng* and Guo-Qiang Lin*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00248","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The Toll-like receptor (TLR) family are critical components of the innate immune system, acting as pattern recognition receptors that detect microbial components and initiate immune responses. In humans, 10 TLRs have been identified, each recognizing distinct pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Among these, TLR9 is unique in its ability to sense CpG motifs, playing a crucial role in the detection of bacterial and viral DNA. Despite its significance, targeting TLR9 for therapeutics has proven to be challenging. Herein we describe the discovery of a series of potent and selective TLR9 antagonists, represented by 5-(hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-<i>b</i>]pyrrol-1(2<i>H</i>)-yl)quinoline (<b>38</b>), with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.1 nM against hTLR9 and >10,000-fold selectivity over hTLR2/4/5/7/8. Compound <b>38</b> demonstrated good pharmacokinetic and excellent pharmacodynamic features, indicating its potential utility as a pharmacological tool and a therapeutic candidate for TLR9 related disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1747–1755"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Sulfonamide Derivatives as Potent CDK9 Inhibitors","authors":"Yifang Liu, Zexu Wang, Yifan Xu, Liyan Yang, Xiaolei Yang, Zhiyu Li, Jinlei Bian, Jubo Wang*, Lixia Pan* and Tizhi Wu*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00430","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Targeting CDK9 has become an attractive strategy for antitumor drug development. To obtain CDK9 inhibitors with high activity and safety, we designed and synthesized a series of sulfonamide derivatives as CDK9 inhibitors based on BAY1143572, the first selective CDK9 inhibitor to enter clinical trials. Among them, the representative compound <b>L18</b> was identified as a potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor (IC<sub>50</sub> = 3.8 nM). Biological evaluation showed that <b>L18</b> significantly inhibited the growth of various tumor cells and induced apoptosis by down-regulating the levels of Myc-1 and c-Myc in MV4-11 cells. Further studies showed that <b>L18</b> possessed moderate metabolic properties and exhibited an in vivo safety profile superior to that of the positive control. This study provides a potential lead compound for the development of CDK9 inhibitors for cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":20,"journal":{"name":"ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"16 9","pages":"1860–1867"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}