Abstact

Small molecules that inhibit the metabolic enzyme NAMPT have emerged as potential therapeutics in oncology. As part of our effort in this area, we took a scaffold morphing approach and identified 3-pyridyl azetidine ureas as a potent NAMPT inhibiting motif. We explored the SAR of this series, including 5 and 6 amino pyridines, using a convergent synthetic strategy. This lead optimization campaign yielded multiple compounds with excellent in vitro potency and good ADME properties that culminated in compound 27.