Computationally guided optimization of the antimalarial activity and physicochemical properties of...

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the most prevalent cause of malaria infections in humans. Due to the development of resistant strains, newer drugs, or drugs acting at novel targets are constantly being sought. Here, we report the design and preparation of 48 new 2,4-diaminopyrimidine derivatives targeting the Pf protein kinome. Bioinformatics methods have been used to identify the most probable target(s). Cheminformatics and molecular modelling have been used to guide the structural modifications. Our primary goal was to enhance the antimalarial activity of the series, reduce mammalian cytotoxicity, and increase aqueous solubility. The antimalarial activity of all 48 compounds has been assessed in chloroquine-resistant Pf3D7 strain and for their mammalian cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell lines. Phosphate buffer solubility, MDCK permeability, and metabolic clearance in human and rat microsomes were also assessed. Compounds 68 and 69 demonstrated good antimalarial activity (Pf IC₅₀) of 0.05 and 0.06 μM, respectively, and good selectivity over the mammalian cell line (SI >100 fold). The compounds also demonstrated much improved aqueous solubilities of 989.7 and 1573 μg mL^-1, respectively, along with moderate intrinsic clearance (∼3 mL min^-1 g^-1) and permeability (>60 nm s^-1).