Overcoming Preclinical Safety Obstacles to Discover (S)-N-((1,2,3,5,6,7-Hexahydro-s-indacen-4-yl)carbamoyl)-6-(methylamino)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[5,1-b][1,3]oxazine-3-sulfonamide (GDC-2394): A Potent and Selective NLRP3 Inhibitor

Inappropriate activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in multiple inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Herein, we aimed to develop novel NLRP3 inhibitors that could minimize the risk of drug-induced liver injury. Lipophilic ligand efficiency was used as a guiding metric to identify a series of 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[5,1-b][1,3]oxazinesulfonylureas. A leading compound from this series was advanced into safety studies in cynomolgus monkeys, and renal toxicity, due to compound precipitation, was observed. To overcome this obstacle, we focused on improving the solubility of our compounds, specifically by introducing basic amine substituents into the scaffold. This led to the identification of GDC-2394, a potent and selective NLRP3 inhibitor, with an in vitro and in vivo safety profile suitable for advancement into human clinical trials.