Development of Gleevec Analogues for Reducing Production of β‑Amyloid Peptides through Shifting β‑Cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Proteins

Imatinib mesylate, 1a, inhibits production of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides both in cells and in animal models. It reduces both the β-secretase and γ-secretase cleavages of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and mediates a synergistic effect, when combined with a β-secretase inhibitor, BACE IV. Toward developing more potent brain-permeable leads, we have synthesized and evaluated over 75 1a-analogues. Several compounds, including 2a–b and 3a–c, inhibited production of Aβ peptides with improved activity in cells. These compounds affected β-secretase cleavage of APP similarly to 1a. Compound 2a significantly reduced production of the Aβ42 peptide, when administered (100 mg/kg, twice daily by oral gavage) to 5 months old female mice for 5 days. A combination of compound 2a with BACE IV also reduced Aβ levels in cells, more than the additive effect of the two compounds. These results open a new avenue for developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease using 1a-analogues.