Saturday, May 10, 2025
5/10/2025
Nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers for ADRD - Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) constitutes a growing health crisis. Equally, chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) are increasing, because of the prevalence of obesity and other risk factors. T2D is a risk factor for ADRD and both T2D and ADRD share common causal mechanisms: insulin resistance; impaired glucose metabolism; inflammation; dyslipidemia; and impaired cholesterol mobilization. The APOE4 allele is the greatest genetic risk factor for AD. ApoE4 is poorly lipidated and lipidation of apoE, required for stability and positive function, is controlled by the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1. Deletion of ABCA1 in FAD mouse models exacerbates pathology and behavioral deficits; and rare human loss-of-function mutations in ABCA1 increase ADRD risk. ABCA1 is a gene product of liver X receptor (LXR); however, induction of lipogenesis in the liver (steatosis and triglyceride elevation) by LXR agonists has hindered progress. A nonlipogenic ABCA1-inducer (NLAI) would address multiple causal factors in T2D and ADRD, including APOE4 risk in AD. We have optimized a phenotypic drug discovery strategy for NLAIs, yielding hit series that enhanced cholesterol mobilization, attenuated inflammation, and improved biomarkers of glucose metabolism. One hit and an early lead derived from it (CL2-57), increased ABCA1 and APOE, without upregulating lipogenic genes. CL2- 57 administered orally in the high-fat diet (HFD) model of obesogenic T2D, attenuated insulin resistance, reduced weight gain, and from full metabolomic analysis improved biomarkers and lipid profiles. Aim 1: To optimize NLAIs. Phenotypic optimization will be driven by reporter assays (induction of ABCA1 in CCF cells, with minimal effects on SREBP1c in HepG2 cells) and secondary assays in the testing funnel validated in development of CL2-57. In silico and in vitro predictors of oral/brain bioavailability and SAR will guide optimization. Validation by PCR/immunoassay will extend to ABCG1/APOE and FAS/SCD1 in cell cultures. Aim 2: In vivo PK/PD and safety. NLAI treatment of mice for 3 days ± LPS is sufficient to assess target engagement and pharmacodynamics in the liver and brain with a safety readout (no triglyceride elevation nor neutropenia) suitable to define PK/PD and dosing. Aim 3: In vivo efficacy will be measured A) in 5xFAD mice (Aβ, cognition, and disease-associated microglia) and B) in HFD-treated mice (WT, hAPOE3-KI, and hAPOE4-KI) to identify APOE genotype specific interactions with HFD and NLAI treatment in vivo and ex vivo in astrocytes and neurons. These mouse models will establish the efficacy of an NLAI development lead. Aim 4: Pretox and target deconvolution will be used to identify CYP liabilities and any off-targets that will inform future safety pharmacology. The following Milestones are proposed: #1 lead NLAI meeting in vitro TPP with brain bioavailability; #2 orally bioavailable lead NLAI that shows dose-dependent target engagement in the brain without lipogenesis, elevated triglycerides or neutropenia; #3 nomination of a development lead that meets the in vivo TPP with data on targets and CYPs.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).