Hematopoietic growth factor mimetic small molecule compounds and their uses

1. A compound of Formula VIII:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein:

each E is separately selected from the group consisting of —CR 10a - and N (nitrogen);

each R 10a is separately selected from the group consisting of H (hydrogen), halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro;

R 10b is selected from the group consisting of R 10bb , H (hydrogen), halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro;

R 10c is selected from the group consisting of H (hydrogen), R U SO 2 —, R U C(═O)—, C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, or R 10c is R 10c when R 10b is R 10bb ;

R 10cc and R 10bb together with the atoms to which they are attached is a five-membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with one or more substituents each separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally substituted with up to five fluoro, C 1 -C 6 alkylC(═O)— and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC(═O)—;

A 4 is selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, —(CH 2 ) m NR P R L , heterocycle, polycyclic heterocyclyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, said C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, heterocycle, polycyclic heterocyclyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 ;

G 4 is selected from the group consisting of polycyclic heterocyclyl, phenyl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 ;

A 5 is selected from the group consisting of polycyclic heterocyclyl, aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 ;

each R B is separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, and an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

each —NR E R F is separately selected, wherein each R E is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an optionally C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and each R F is independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R F are each optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl, —C(═O)NR N R O , —OC(═O)NR N R O , —NHC(═O)NR N R O , —O(CH 2 ) q NR N R O , —NH(CH 2 ) q NR N R O , —(CH 2 ) p NR N R O , an optionally substituted aryl and an optionally substituted heteroaryl, and said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R F are each further optionally fused with an optionally substituted nonaromatic heterocycle or an optionally substituted nonaromatic carbocycle;

R G is selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkenyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkenyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkynyl, heterocycle, aryl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 , said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R G are each further optionally fused with an optionally substituted nonaromatic heterocycle or an optionally substituted nonaromatic carbocycle, or R G is —OR L or —NR P R L ;

R H is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, and C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, or —NR G R H is an optionally substituted non-aromatic heterocycle linked through a ring nitrogen atom;

each R 1 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, an optionally substituted aryl, and an optionally substituted heteroaryl;

each R 2 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, —O(CH 2 ) m OR I , —(CH 2 ) m OR I , —NR J R K , —(CH 2 ) m SR I , —C(═O)R L , —(CH 2 ) m R L , an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, and an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl where said C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl is further optionally fused with aryl or heteroaryl;

each R 3 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, —(CH 2 ) m OR G , —NR L C(═O)R M , —NR L C(═O)OR M , —NR L C(═O)NR N R O , —NR N R O , —(CH 2 ) m S(O) 0-2 0, —(CH 2 ) m NHS(O) 0-2 R M , —(CH 2 ) m NO 2 , —(CH 2 ) m CN, —(CH 2 ) m R P , C 1 -C 6 alkyl C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, polycyclic heterocyclyl, and heteroaryl, said heterocycle, aryl polycyclic heterocyclyl, and heteroaryl in the definition of R 3 are each optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxy, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, —C(═O)OR M , or —NR J R K ;

each R 4 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, an optionally substituted aryl, and an optionally substituted heteroaryl;

each R 5 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, —O(CH 2 ) m OR I , —(CH 2 ) m OR I , —NR J R K , —(CH 2 ) m SR I , —(CH 2 ) m C(═O)R L , —(CH 2 ) m R L , an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, and an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl;

each R 6 is separately selected from the group consisting of halogen, —(CH 2 ) m OR G , —NR L C(═O)R M , —NR L C(═O)OR M , —NR L C(═O)NR N R O , —NR N R O , —(CH 2 ) m S(O) 0-2 O, —(CH 2 ) m NHS(O) 0-2 R M , —(CH 2 ) m NO 2 , —(CH 2 ) m CN, —(CH 2 ) m R P , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, polycyclic heterocyclyl, and heteroaryl, said heterocycle, aryl, polycyclic heterocyclyl, and heteroaryl in the definition of R 6 are each optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, —C(═O)OR M , or —NR J R K ;

each R I is separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, C 2 -C 4 alkynyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, and C 1 -C 6 heterohaloalkyl;

each —NR J R K is separately selected, wherein R J and R K are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to 5 fluoro, —(CH 2 ) m OR JA , —(CH 2 ) m NR JB R JC , —(CH 2 ) m R R , C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl and heteroaryl, said C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R J and R K are each independently optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl substituent off of R J and R K are each optionally substituted with one or more halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, or —(CH 2 ) m NR KA R KB ; or —NR J R K is an optionally substituted non-aromatic heterocycle linked through a ring nitrogen atom;

each R JA is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

each —NR JB R JC is separately selected, wherein R JB and R JC are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

each —NR KA R KB is separately selected, wherein R KA and R KB are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

each R M is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, an optionally substituted C 2 -C 4 alkynyl, an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, an optionally substituted C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl, and —(CH 2 ) m R P ;

each —NR N R O is separately selected, wherein R N and R O are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —(CH 2 ) m NR NA R NB , aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R N and R O are each independently optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) m NR OA R OB , halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl substituent off of R N and R O are each optionally substituted with one or more halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, or —NR NA R NB ,

each —NR NA R NB is separately selected, wherein R NA and R NB are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

each —NR OA R OB is separately selected, wherein R OA and R OB are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

each R P is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

each R L is independently selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, —(CH 2 ) m OR LA , (CH 2 ) m NR LB R LC , aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R L are each independently optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, —(CH 2 ) m NR LD R LE , aryl and heteroaryl, said aryl and heteroaryl substituent off of R L are each optionally substituted with one or more halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, or —(CH 2 ) m NR LF R LG ;

each R LA is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl;

R LB and R LC are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, and C 1 -C 6 heteroalkenyl, said C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, and C 1 -C 6 heteroalkenyl each optionally substituted with one or more halogen, cyano, or —(CH 2 ) m C(═O)OH; or —NR LB R LC is an optionally substituted non-aromatic heterocycle linked through a ring nitrogen atom;

each —NR LD R LE is separately selected, wherein R LD and R LE are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, and optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, said aryl and heteroaryl in the definition of R LD and R LE are each optionally substituted with C 1 -C 6 alkyl or C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; or —NR LD R LE is an optionally substituted non-aromatic heterocycle linked through a ring nitrogen atom;

each —NR LF R LG is separately selected, wherein R LF and R LG are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and C 1 -C 6 alkyl; or —NR LF R LG is an optionally substituted non-aromatic heterocycle linked through a ring nitrogen atom;

R R is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, an optionally substituted aryl, and an optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R U is selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with up to 5 fluoro, and an optionally substituted heteroaryl;

each m is independently 0, 1, 2, or 3;

each p is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and

each q is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

2. The compound of claim 1 , having the formula VIIIa:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

3. The compound of claim 2 , having the formula VIIIaa:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

4. The compound of claim 3 , having the formula VIIIab:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

5. The compound of claim 3 ,

wherein:

A 4 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, where at least one atom forming the heteroaryl aromatic ring is a N (nitrogen), and said aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , and;

G 4 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 .

6. The compound of claim 3 ,

wherein:

A 4 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, where at least one atom forming the heteroaryl aromatic ring is a N (nitrogen), and said aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , and;

G 4 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl, where at least one atom forming the heteroaryl aromatic ring is a N (nitrogen), and said aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 .

7. A compound of claim 1 that is an HGF mimetic, an HGF receptor agonist or an HGF receptor antagonist.

8. A compound of claim 1 that is a hematopoietic growth factor mimetic, a hematopoietic growth factor receptor agonist or a a hematopoietic growth factor receptor antagonist.

9. A compound of claim 1 that is an EPO mimic.

10. A compound of claim 1 that is a selective EPO receptor agonist.

11. A compound of claim 1 that is a selective EPO receptor partial agonist.

12. A compound of claim 1 that is a selective EPO receptor antagonist.

13. A compound of claim 1 that is a selective EPO receptor binding compound.

14. A method for modulating an EPO activity in a cell comprising contacting a cell with a compound of claim 1 .

15. A method for identifying a compound that modulates an EPO activity, comprising contacting a cell that expresses an EPO receptor with a compound of claim 1 ; and monitoring an effect of the compound on the cell.

16. A method of treating thrombocytopenia in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the thrombocytopenia results from radiation or chemotherapy.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising harvesting cells from the patient.

19. A method of treating a patient suffering from an anemia, a neutropenia, a cardiovascular disorder, an immune/autoimmune disorder, or a neurologic disorder, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient; and a compound of claim 1 .

21. The compound of claim 1 , having the structure:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.