Discovery of Spiro Oxazolidinediones as Selective, Orally Bioavailable Inhibitors of p300/CBP Histone Acetyltransferases

p300 and its paralog CBP can acetylate histones and other proteins and have been implicated in a number of diseases characterized by aberrant gene activation, such as cancer. A novel, highly selective, orally bioavailable histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain inhibitor has been identified through virtual ligand screening and subsequent optimization of a unique hydantoin screening hit. Conformational restraint in the form of a spirocyclization followed by substitution with a urea led to a significant improvement in potency. Replacement of the hydantoin moiety with an oxazolidinedione followed by fluoro substitution led to A-485, which exhibits potent cell activity, low clearance, and high oral bioavailability.