WO2008056188A2 - Novel compounds and methods for their production - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to ansamycin analogues that are useful, e.g. in the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases or a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer. The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds and their use in medicine.

Description

NOVEL COMPOUNDS AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION

The present invention relates to ansamycin analogues that are useful, e.g. in the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer. The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds and their use in medicine.

Background of the invention The development of highly specific anticancer drugs with low toxicity and favourable pharmacokinetic characteristics comprises a major challenge in anticancer therapy.

The 90 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) is an abundant molecular chaperone involved in the folding and assembly of proteins, many of which are involved in signal transduction pathways (for reviews see Neckers, 2002; Sreedhar et al., 2004a; Wegele et al., 2004 and references therein). So far nearly 50 of these so-called client proteins have been identified and include steroid receptors, non-receptor tyrosine kinases e.g. src family, cyclin-dependent kinases e.g. cdk4 and cdkθ, the cystic transmembrane regulator, nitric oxide synthase and others (Donze and Picard, 1999; McLaughlin et al., 2002; Chiosis et al., 2004; Wegele et al., 2004; http://www.picard.ch/downloads/Hsp90interactors.pdf). Furthermore, Hsp90 plays a key role in stress response and protection of the cell against the effects of mutation (Bagatell and Whitesell, 2004; Chiosis et al., 2004). The function of Hsp90 is complicated and it involves the formation of dynamic multi-enzyme complexes (Bohen, 1998; Liu et al., 1999; Young et al., 2001 ; Takahashi et al., 2003; Sreedhar et al., 2004; Wegele et al., 2004). Hsp90 is a target for inhibitors (Fang et al., 1998; Liu et al., 1999; Blagosklonny, 2002; Neckers, 2003; Takahashi et al., 2003; Beliakoff and Whitesell, 2004; Wegele et al., 2004) resulting in degradation of client proteins, cell cycle dysregulation/or normalisation and apoptosis. More recently, Hsp90 has been identified as an important extracellular mediator for tumour invasion (Eustace et al., 2004). Hsp90 was identified as a new major therapeutic target for cancer therapy which is mirrored in the intense and detailed research about Hsp90 function (Blagosklonny et al., 1996; Neckers, 2002; Workman and Kaye, 2002; Beliakoff and Whitesell, 2004; Harris et al., 2004; Jez et al., 2003; Lee et al., 2004) and the development of high-throughput screening assays (Carreras et al., 2003; Rowlands et al., 2004). Hsp90 inhibitors include compound classes such as ansamycins, macrolides, purines, pyrazoles, coumarin antibiotics and others (for review see Bagatell and Whitesell, 2004; Chiosis et al., 2004 and references therein). The benzenoid ansamycins are a broad class of chemical structures characterised by an aliphatic ring of varying length joined either side of an aromatic ring structure. Naturally occurring ansamycins include: macbecin and 18,21-dihydromacbecin (also known as macbecin I and macbecin Il respectively) (1 & 2; Tanida et ai, 1980), geldanamycin (3; DeBoer ef a/., 1970; DeBoer and Dietz, 1976; WO 03/106653 and references therein), and the herbimycin family (4; 5, 6, Omura et al., 1979, Iwai et al., 1980 and Shibata et al, 1986a, WO 03/106653 and references therein).

II), 2

R₂=CH₃

herbimycin C, 6 R₁=OCH₃, R₂=H

Ansamycins were originally identified for their antibacterial and antiviral activity, however, recently their potential utility as anticancer agents has become of greater interest (Beliakoff and Whitesell, 2004). Many Hsp90 inhibitors are currently being assessed in clinical trials (Csermely and Soti, 2003; Workman, 2003). In particular, geldanamycin has nanomolar potency and apparent specificity for aberrant protein kinase dependent tumour cells (Chiosis et al., 2003; Workman, 2003).

It has been shown that treatment with Hsp90 inhibitors enhances the induction of tumour cell death by radiation and increased cell killing abilities (e.g. breast cancer, chronic myeloid leukaemia and non-small cell lung cancer) by combination of Hsp90 inhibitors with cytotoxic agents has also been demonstrated (Neckers, 2002; Beliakoff and Whitesell, 2004). The potential for anti-angiogenic activity is also of interest: the Hsp90 client protein HIF-1 α plays a key role in the progression of solid tumours (Hur et al., 2002; Workman and Kaye, 2002; Kaur ef a/., 2004). Hsp90 inhibitors also function as immunosuppressants and are involved in the complement-induced lysis of several types of tumour cells after Hsp90 inhibition (Sreedhar et al., 2004). Treatment with Hsp90 inhibitors can also result in induced superoxide production (Sreedhar et al., 2004a) associated with immune cell-mediated lysis (Sreedhar et al., 2004). The use of Hsp90 inhibitors as potential anti-malaria drugs has also been discussed (Kumar et al., 2003). Furthermore, it has been shown that geldanamycin interferes with the formation of complex glycosylated mammalian prion protein PrP^c (Winklhofer et al., 2003).

As described above, ansamycins are of interest as potential anticancer and anti-B-cell malignancy compounds, however the currently available ansamycins exhibit poor pharmacological or pharmaceutical properties, for example they show poor water solubility, poor metabolic stability, poor bioavailability or poor formulation ability (Goetz et al., 2003; Workman 2003; Chiosis 2004). Both herbimycin A and geldanamycin were identified as poor candidates for clinical trials due to their strong hepatotoxicity (review Workman, 2003) and geldanamycin was withdrawn from Phase I clinical trials due to hepatotoxicity (Supko et al., 1995; WO 03/106653).

Geldanamycin was isolated from culture filtrates of Streptomyces hygroscopicus and shows strong activity in vitro against protozoa and weak activity against bacteria and fungi. In 1994 the association of geldanamycin with Hsp90 was shown (Whitesell et al., 1994). The biosynthetic gene cluster for geldanamycin was cloned and sequenced (Allen and Ritchie, 1994; Rascher ef a/., 2003; WO 03/106653). The DNA sequence is available under the NCBI accession number AY179507. The isolation of genetically engineered geldanamycin producer strains derived from S. hygroscopicus subsp. duamyceticus JCM4427 and the isolation of 4,5- dihydro-7-O-descarbamoyl-7-hydroxygeldanamycin and 4,5-dihydro-7-O-descarbamoyl-7- hydroxy-17-O-demethylgeldanamycin were described recently (Hong et al., 2004). By feeding geldanamycin to the herbimycin producing strain Streptomyces hygroscopicus AM-3672 the compounds 15-hydroxygeldanamycin, the tricyclic geldanamycin analogue KOSN-1633 and methyl-geldanamycinate were isolated (Hu et al., 2004). The two compounds 17-formyl-17- demethoxy-18-0-21 -O-dihydrogeldanamycin and 17-hydroxymethyl-17- demethoxygeldanamycin were isolated from S. hygroscopicus K279-78. S. hygroscopicus K279-78 is S. hygroscopicus NRRL 3602 containing cosmid pKOS279-78 which has a 44 kbp insert which contains various genes from the herbimycin producing strain Streptomyces hygroscopicus AM-3672 (Hu et al., 2004). Substitutions of acyltransferase domains have been made in four of the modules of the polyketide synthase of the geldanamycin biosynthetic cluster (Patel et al., 2004). AT substitutions were carried out in modules 1 , 4 and 5 leading to the fully processed analogues 14-desmethyl-geldanamycin, 8-desmethyl-geldanamycin and 6- desmethoxy-geldanamycin and the not fully processed 4,5-dihydro-6-desmethoxy- geldanamycin. Substitution of the module 7 AT lead to production of three 2-desmethyl compounds, KOSN1619, KOSN1558 and KOSN1559, one of which (KOSN1559), a 2- demethyl-4,5-dihydro-17-demethoxy-21-deoxy derivative of geldanamycin, binds to Hsp90 with a 4-fold greater binding affinity than geldanamycin and an 8-fold greater binding affinity than 17-AAG. However this is not reflected in an improvement in the IC₅O measurement using SKBr3. Another analogue, a novel nonbenzoquinoid geldanamycin, designated KOS-1806 has a monophenolic structure (Rascher ef a/., 2005). No activity data was given for KOS-1806.

In 1979 the ansamycin antibiotic herbimycin A was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain No. AM-3672 and named according to its potent herbicidal activity. The antitumour activity was established by using cells of a rat kidney line infected with a temperature sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) for screening for drugs that reverted the transformed morphology of the these cells (for review see Uehara, 2003). Herbimycin A was postulated as acting primarily through the binding to Hsp90 chaperone proteins but the direct binding to the conserved cysteine residues and subsequent inactivation of kinases was also discussed (Uehara, 2003). Chemical derivatives have been isolated and compounds with altered substituents at

C19 of the benzoquinone nucleus and halogenated compounds in the ansa chain showed less toxicity and higher antitumour activities than herbimycin A (Omura et al., 1984; Shibata et al., 1986b). The sequence of the herbimycin biosynthetic gene cluster was identified in WO 03/106653 and in a recent paper (Rascher ef a/., 2005). The ansamycin compounds macbecin (1 ) and 18,21-dihydromacbecin (2) (C-14919E-1 and C-14919E-1 ), identified by their antifungal and antiprotozoal activity, were isolated from the culture supernatants of Nocardia sp No. C-14919 (Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp pretiosum ATCC 31280) (Tanida et al., 1980; Muroi et al., 1980; Muroi et al., 1981 ; US 4,315,989 and US 4,187,292). 18,21-Dihydromacbecin is characterized by containing the dihydroquinone form of the nucleus. Both macbecin and 18,21-dihydromacbecin were shown to possess similar antibacterial and antitumour activities against cancer cell lines such as the murine leukaemia P388 cell line (Ono et al., 1982). Reverse transcriptase and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activities were not inhibited by macbecin (Ono et al., 1982). The Hsp90 inhibitory function of macbecin has been reported in the literature (Bohen, 1998; Liu et al., 1999). The conversion of macbecin and 18,21-dihydromacbecin after adding to a microbial culture broth into a compound with a hydroxy group instead of a methoxy group at a certain position or positions is described in patents US 4,421 ,687 and US 4,512,975.

During a screen of a large variety of soil microorganisms, the compounds TAN-420A to E were identified from producer strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces (7-11, EP 0 1 10 710).

In 2000, the isolation of the geldanamycin related, non-benzoquinone ansamycin metabolite reblastatin from cell cultures of Streptomyces sp. S6699 and its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis was described (Stead et al., 2000).

A further Hsp90 inhibitor, distinct from the chemically unrelated benzoquinone ansamycins is Radicicol (monorden) which was originally discovered for its antifungal activity from the fungus Monosporium bonorden (for review see Uehara, 2003) and the structure was found to be identical to the 14-membered macrolide isolated from Nectria radicicola. In addition to its antifungal, antibacterial, anti-protozoan and cytotoxic activity it was subsequently identified as an inhibitor of Hsp90 chaperone proteins (for review see Uehara, 2003; Schulte et al., 1999). The anti-angiogenic activity of radicicol (Hur ef a/., 2002) and semi-synthetic derivates thereof (Kurebayashi et al., 2001 ) has also been described.

Recent interest has focussed on 17-amino derivatives of geldanamycin as a new generation of ansamycin anticancer compounds (Bagatell and Whitesell, 2004), for example 17-(allylamino)-17-desmethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG, 12) (Hostein et al., 2001 ; Neckers, 2002; Nimmanapalli et al., 2003; Vasilevskaya et al., 2003; Smith-Jones et al., 2004) and 17- desmethoxy-17-N,N-dimethylaminoethylamino-geldanamycin (17-DMAG, 13) (Egorin et al., 2002; Jez et al., 2003). More recently geldanamycin was derivatised on the 17-position to create 17-geldanmycin amides, carbamates, ureas and 17-arylgeldanamycin (Le Brazidec et al., 2003). A library of over sixty 17-alkylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin analogues has been reported and tested for their affinity for Hsp90 and water solubility (Tian et al., 2004). A further approach to reduce the toxicity of geldanamycin is the selective targeting and delivering of an active geldanamycin compound into malignant cells by conjugation to a tumour-targeting monoclonal antibody (Mandler et al., 2000).

Whilst many of these derivatives exhibit reduced hepatotoxicity they still have only limited water solubility. For example 17-AAG requires the use of a solubilising carrier (e.g. Cremophore®, DMSO-egg lecithin), which itself may result in side-effects in some patients (Hu et al., 2004).

Most of the ansamycin class of Hsp90 inhibitors bear the common structural moiety: the benzoquinone which is a Michael acceptor that can readily form covalent bonds with nucleophiles such as proteins, glutithion, etc. The benzoquinone moiety also undergoes redox equilibrium with dihydroquinone, during which oxygen radicals are formed, which give rise to further unspecific toxicity (Dikalov et al., 2002).

Therefore, there remains a need to identify novel ansamycin derivatives, which may have utility in the treatment of cancer and / or B-cell malignancies, preferably such ansamycins have improved water solubility, an improved pharmacological profile and reduced side-effect profile for administration. The present invention discloses novel ansamycin analogues generated by biotransformation and optionally genetic engineering of the parent producer strain. In particular the present invention discloses novel 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues and other ansamycin analogues, which generally may have improved pharmaceutical properties compared with the presently available ansamycins; in particular they are expected show improvements in respect of one or more of the following properties: activity against different cancer sub-types, toxicity, water solubility, metabolic stability, bioavailability and formulation ability. Preferably the ansamycin analogues (such as 18, 21-didesoxy- ansamycin analogues) show improved bioavailability.

Summary of the invention

In the present invention non-natural starter units have been fed to a geldanamycin producing strain, optionally in combination with targeted inactivation or deletion of the genes responsible for the post-PKS modifications of geldanamycin, and optionally with the introduction of appropriate post-PKS genes to effect post-PKS modifications in order to produce novel ansamycin analogues formed by incorporation of a non natural starter unit and, for example, which results in 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin compounds which may optionally be substituted by fluorine or other substituents. Optionally the genes or regulators responsible for starter unit (starter acid) biosynthesis may be manipulated by targeted inactivation or deletion or modified by other means such as exposing cells to UV radiation and selection of the phenotype indicating that starter unit biosynthesis has been disrupted. The approach may be applied to other ansamycins such as herbimycin and reblastatin as well as autolytimycin. The optional targetting of the post-PKS genes may occur via a variety of mechanisms, e.g. by integration, targeted deletion of a region of the geldanamycin cluster including all or some of the post-PKS genes optionally followed by insertion of gene(s) or other methods of rendering the post-PKS genes or their encoded enzymes non-functional e.g. chemical inhibition, site- directed mutagenesis or mutagenesis of the cell for example by the use of UV radiation. Additionally, post-PKS genes from the geldanamycin cluster or another ansamycin cluster such as, but not limited to the macbecin, herbimycin, reblastatin or TAN clusters may be reintroduced to effect specific post-PKS modifications. As a result, the present invention provides ansamycin analogues such as 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues, methods for the preparation of these compounds, and methods for the use of these compounds in medicine or as intermediates in the production of further compounds.

Therefore, in a first aspect the present invention provides analogues of geldanamycin or other ansamycins which are lacking the usual starter unit, and which have instead incorporated a starter unit which, for example, results in 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin compounds which may optionally be substituted by fluorine or other substituents.

Thus in one aspect of the invention there is provided a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

(I) wherein:

Ri represents H, OH, OMe; R₂ represents H or Me; R₃ represents H or CONH₂,

R₄ and R₅ either both represent H or together they represent a bond (i.e. C4 to C5 is a double bond);

R₆ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OaRna; R₇ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1ObRnb;

R₈ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OcRnc;

R₉ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OdRnd;

Rioa, Rna, Riob, Rub, Rioc, Rue, Riod, Rnd independently represent H, CH₃ or CH₂CH₃; provided however that: (i) when R₆ represents H, R₇ represents OH and R₃ represents OH then R₉ does not represent H;

(ii); when R₇ represents OH, R₈ represents H and R₉ represent H, then R₆ does not represent H, OH or OMe; and

(iii) when R₇ represents OMe, R₈ represent H and R₉ represents H, then R₆ does not represent OMe.

The compound of proviso (i) is 18,21-dihydrogeldanamycin, a known compound. The compounds of provisos (ii) and (iii) are disclosed in WO2005/061461.

Suitably:

(iv) when R₆ represents H, OH, or OMe, R₇ represents H and R₈ represents H then R₉ does not represent OH, Cl or NH₂; and (v) when R₆ represents H, OH, or OMe, R₈ represents H and R₉ represents H then R₇ does not represent NH₂.

Suitably

(vi) when R₆ represents H or OH, then R₇, R₈ and R₉ do not all represent H.

The compounds of proviso (vi) are disclosed in Kim et al ChemBioChem (2007) 8,

1491-1494. However they are also disclosed in an earlier patent application filed by the present inventors.

In a more specific aspect the present invention provides 18,21 -didesoxy-ansamycin analogues according to the formula (IA) below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

(IA) wherein:

Ri represents H, OH, OMe;

R₂ represents H or Me;

R₃ represents H or CONH₂,

R₄ and R₅ either both represent H or together they represent a bond (i.e. C4 to C5 is a double bond);

R₆ represents H, OH, OMe or F;

R₇ represents H or F;

R₈ represents H or F.

Ansamycin analogues such as 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues are also referred to herein as "compounds of the invention", such terms are used interchangeably herein.

The above structure shows a representative tautomer and the invention embraces all tautomers of the compounds of formula (I) for example keto compounds where enol compounds are illustrated and vice versa.

The invention embraces all stereoisomers of the compounds defined by structure (I) as shown above.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides ansamycin analogues such as compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use as a pharmaceutical.

Definitions

The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. at least one) of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example "an analogue" means one analogue or more than one analogue. As used herein the term analogue(s) refers to chemical compounds that are structurally similar to another but which differ slightly in composition (as in the replacement of one atom by another or in the presence or absence of a particular functional group).

The term "18,21 -didesoxy-ansamycin analogue" as used in this application refers to compounds according to the formula (IA).

As used herein, the term "homologue(s)" refers a homologue of a gene or of a protein encoded by a gene disclosed herein from either an alternative macbecin biosynthetic cluster from a different macbecin producing strain or a homologue from an alternative ansamycin biosynthetic gene cluster e.g. from geldanamycin, herbimycin, autolytimycin or reblastatin. Such homologue(s) encode a protein that performs the same function of can itself perform the same function as said gene or protein in the synthesis of macbecin or a related ansamycin polyketide. Preferably, such homologue(s) have at least 40% sequence identity, preferably at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% sequence identity to the sequence of the particular gene disclosed herein (Table 3, SEQ ID NO: 1 1 which is a sequence of all the genes in the cluster, from which the sequences of particular genes may be deduced). Percentage identity may be calculated using any program known to a person of skill in the art such as BLASTn or BLASTp, available on the NCBI website.

As used herein, the term "cancer" refers to a benign or malignant new growth of cells in skin or in body organs, for example but without limitation, breast, prostate, lung, kidney, pancreas, brain, stomach or bowel. A cancer tends to infiltrate into adjacent tissue and spread (metastasise) to distant organs, for example to bone, liver, lung or the brain. As used herein the term cancer includes both metastatic tumour cell types, such as but not limited to, melanoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and mastocytoma and types of tissue carcinoma, such as but not limited to, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, renal cancer, gastric cancer, gliobastoma, primary liver cancer and ovarian cancer.

As used herein the term B-cell malignancies" includes a group of disorders that include chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). They are neoplastic diseases of the blood and blood forming organs. They cause bone marrow and immune system dysfunction, which renders the host highly susceptible to infection and bleeding.

As used herein, the term "bioavailability" refers to the degree to which or rate at which a drug or other substance is absorbed or becomes available at the site of biological activity after administration. This property is dependent upon a number of factors including the solubility of the compound, rate of absorption in the gut, the extent of protein binding and metabolism etc. Various tests for bioavailability that would be familiar to a person of skill in the art are described in Egorin et al. (2002). The term "water solubility" as used in this application refers to solubility in aqueous media, e.g. phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.3.

The term "ansamycin producing strain" as used in this application refers to strains, for example wild type strains as exemplified by a streptomycete such as geldanamycin producing strains, herbimycin producing strains, reblastatin producing strains and autolytimycin producing strains. Thus examples include Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699 which produce ansamycins such as geldanamycin or herbimycins (eg herbimycin A, B or C) and Streptomyces sp. S6699 or Streptomyces autolyticus JX-47 which produce ansamycins such as or reblastatin or autolytimycin when cultured under suitable conditions, for example when fed the natural starter feed 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid.

Thus the term "geldanamycin producing strain" as used in this application refers to strains, for example wild type strains as exemplified by a streptomycete such as Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699 which produce geldanamycin when cultured under suitable conditions, for example when fed the natural starter feed 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid.

The term "herbimycin producing strain" as used in this application refers to strains, for example wild type strains as exemplified by Streptomyces hygroscopicus AM-3672, which produce herbimycins eg herbimycin A, B or C when cultured under suitable conditions, for example when fed the natural starter feed 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid.

As used herein the term "post-PKS genes(s)" refers to the genes required for post- polyketide synthase modifications of the polyketide, for example but without limitation monooxygenases, O-methyltransferases and carbamoyltransferases. Specifically, in the macbecin system these modifying genes include mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450.

As used herein the term "starter unit biosynthesis gene(s)" refers to the genes required for the production of the starter unit naturally incorporated, 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA). Specifically, in the macbecin system these starter unit biosynthesis genes include AHk (AHBA kinase), Adh (aDHQ dehydrogenase), AHs (AHBA synthase), OX (oxidoreductase), PH (Phosphatase). Specifically in the geldanamycin system the gene gdmO is proposed to to encode the amino dehydroquinate synthase needed for AHBA synthesis (Rascher ef a/., 2003) and in the herbimycin system hbmO has been identified (Rascher ef a/., 2005). Other strains that produce AHBA also contain AHBA biosynthesis genes.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of the invention such as the compounds of formula (I) include conventional salts formed from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic acids or bases as well as quaternary ammonium acid addition salts. More specific examples of suitable acid salts include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric, perchloric, fumaric, acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, formic, lactic, maleic, tartaric, citric, palmoic, malonic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, naphthalene-2-sulfonic, benzenesulfonic hydroxynaphthoic, hydroiodic, malic, steroic, tannic and the like. Other acids such as oxalic, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be useful in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. More specific examples of suitable basic salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, magnesium, aluminium, calcium, zinc, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine and procaine salts. References hereinafter to a compound according to the invention include both compounds of formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 : Representation of the biosynthesis of geldanamycin showing the first putative enzyme free intermediate, progeldanamycin and the post-PKS processing to geldanamycin. The list of PKS processing steps in the figure is not intended to represent the order of events. The following abbreviations are used for particular genes in the cluster: ALO - AHBA loading domain; ACP - Acyl Carrier Protein; KS - β-ketosynthase; AT - acyl transferase; DH - dehydratase; ER - enoyl reductase; KR - β-ketoreductase.

Figure 2: Depiction of the sites of post-PKS processing of pro-geldanamycin to give geldanamycin.

Figure 3: Structures of the compounds(14-25) described in the Examples. Figure 4: Structures of the compounds(26-37) described in the Examples.

Description of the Invention

The present invention provides ansamycin analogues, as set out above, methods for the preparation of these compounds, methods for the use of these compounds in medicine and the use of these compounds as intermediates or templates for further semi-synthetic derivatisation.

Suitably Ri represents H or OH. In one embodiment R₁ represents H. In another embodiment R₁ represents OH. Suitably R₂ represents H. Suitably R₃ represents CONH₂ In one embodiment suitably R₄ and R₅ together represent a bond

In another embodiment, suitably R₄ and R₅ each represent H. In one embodiment, suitably Ri represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂ and R₄ and R₅ each represent H.

In one embodiment, suitably Ri represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂ and R₄ and R₅ each represent H. In one embodiment, suitably Ri represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂,

R₄ and R₅ each represent H and Re represents OH.

Suitably R₆ represents H, F, Me, Br, Cl, OH, OMe, NH₂, more suitably H, F, Me, Br, Cl,

OH or OMe, yet more suitably H or F.

Alternatively suitably R₆ represents CF₃ or CH₂CH₃. Suitably R₇ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl or NH₂, more suitably H, F, OH, OMe, Br or Cl, yet more suitably H, F, OH or OMe, especially OH (or alternatively H or F).

Suitably R₈ represents H, F, Me, Cl, Br, OH or NH₂, more suitably H, F, Me, Cl, Br or

OH, yet more suitably H or F.

Suitably R₉ represents H, F, Me, Cl, Br, OH or NH₂, more suitably H, F, Me, Cl, Br or OH, yet more suitably H or F especially H.

Suitably Ri_Oa, Rna, Riob, Rub, Rioc, Rue, Riod, Rn_d represent H.

Suitably when R₇ represents OH, then one or more of R₆, R₃ or R₉ represents F, Br, Me or NH₂, and the remainder represent H

Suitably if R₆ represents Me, then R₇ represents OH, H or F, and R₃ and R₉ represent H Suitably if R₆ represents CF₃, then R₇ represents OH, H or F, and R₈ and R₉ represent

H

Suitably if R₆ represents CH₂CH₃, then R₇ represents OH, H or F, and R₈ and R₉ represent H

In one suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇ and R₈ each represent H, eg as represented by the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OH and R₇ and R₈ each represent H, eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F and R₇ and R₈ each represent H, eg as represented by the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R_a represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F and R₇ and R₈ each represent H, eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H, eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OH, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H, eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ and R₇ each represent F and R₈ represents H, eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ and R₇ each represent F and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆, R₇ and R₈ each represent F, eg as represented in the following structure,

In one embodiment of the invention R₆, R₇ and R₈ do not all represent H, and in particular at least one of R₆, R₇ and R₈ represents F.

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents Me, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents CF₃, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents CH₂CH₃, R₇ represents OH and Rs represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents Me, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents CF₃, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents CH₂CH₃, R₇ represents OH and Rs represents H eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OMe, R₇ represents H and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OH, R₇ represents H and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents H and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents Cl and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents F eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents Cl eg as represented in the following structure,

In another suitable embodiment of the invention R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OMe, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents OH eg as represented in the following structure,

In another embodiment of the invention R₆, R₇ and R₈ all represent H.

In another embodiment R₇ and R₈ do not represent OH, R₉ represents H and one or more of R₆, R₇ and R₈ represent F.

In another embodiment of the invention when R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ represents H, R₆ represents H and R₇ represents H then R₈ does not represent H.

Further suitable embodiments are described in the Examples and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The preferred stereochemistry of the non-hydrogen sidechains to the ansa ring is as shown in Figures 1 and 2 below (that is to say the preferred stereochemistry follows that of geldanamycin).

The present invention also provides for the use of an ansamycin analogue as a substrate for further modification either by biotransformation or by synthetic chemistry. In one aspect the present invention provides an ansamycin analogue for use as a medicament. In a specific embodiment the present invention provides an ansamycin analogue for use in the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases and/or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer.

In another aspect the present invention provides for the use of an ansamycin analogue in the manufacture of a medicament. In a specific embodiment the present invention provides for the use of an ansamycin analogue in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases and/or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer. In a further embodiment the present invention provides a method of treatment of cancer,

B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases or a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an ansamycin analogue. As noted above, compounds of the invention may be expected to be useful in the treatment of cancer and B-cell malignancies. Compounds of the invention and especially those which may have improved selectivity for Hsp90 and/or an improved toxicology profile and/or improved pharmacokinetics may also be effective in the treatment of other indications for example, but not limited to malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer.

Diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, prion diseases, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Diseases dependent on angiogenesis include, but are not limited to, Age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and various other ophthalmic disorders, atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis,

"Patient" embraces human and other animal (especially mammalian) subjects, preferably human subjects. Accordingly the methods and uses of the ansamycin analogues of the invention are of use in human and veterinary medicine, preferably human medicine.

The aforementioned compounds of the invention or a formulation thereof may be administered by any conventional method for example but without limitation they may be administered parenterally (including intravenous administration), orally, topically (including buccal, sublingual or transdermal), via a medical device (e.g. a stent), by inhalation, or via injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular). The treatment may consist of a single dose or a plurality of doses over a period of time.

Whilst it is possible for a compound of the invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to present it as a pharmaceutical formulation, together with one or more acceptable diluents or carriers. Thus there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers. The diluents(s) or carrier(s) must be "acceptable" in the sense of being compatible with the compound of the invention and not deleterious to the recipients thereof. Examples of suitable carriers are described in more detail below.

The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. Co-administration of two (or more) agents may allow for significantly lower doses of each to be used, thereby reducing the side effects seen. There is also provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention and a further therapeutic agent together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides for the use of a compound of the invention in combination therapy with a second agent eg for the treatment of cancer or B-cell malignancies.

In one embodiment, a compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent, for example a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer or B-cell malignancies. Preferred agents include, but are not limited to, the conventional chemotherapeutics such as bleomycin, capecitabine, cisplatin, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, leucovorin, methotrexate, mitoxantone, the taxanes including paclitaxel and docetaxel, vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine; the hormonal therapies, anastrozole, goserelin, megestrol acetate, prenisone, tamoxifen and toremifene; the monoclonal antibody therapies such as trastuzumab (ani-Her2), cetuximab (ant-EGFR) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF); and protein kinase inhibitors such as imatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib, lapatinib, temsirolimus; the proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib; histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as vorinostat; angiogenesis inhibitors such as sunitinib, sorafenib, lenalidomide. Additionally, a compound of the invention may be administered in combination with other therapies including, but not limited to, radiotherapy or surgery. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. Such methods include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient (compound of the invention) with the carrier which constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The compounds of the invention will normally be administered orally or by any parenteral route, in the form of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the active ingredient, optionally in the form of a non-toxic organic, or inorganic, acid, or base, addition salt, in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form. Depending upon the disorder and patient to be treated, as well as the route of administration, the compositions may be administered at varying doses. For example, the compounds of the invention can be administered orally, buccally or sublingually in the form of tablets, capsules, ovules, elixirs, solutions or suspensions, which may contain flavouring or colouring agents, for immediate-, delayed- or controlled-release applications.

Such tablets may contain excipients such as microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, sodium citrate, calcium carbonate, dibasic calcium phosphate and glycine, disintegrants such as starch (preferably corn, potato or tapioca starch), sodium starch glycollate, croscarmellose sodium and certain complex silicates, and granulation binders such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxy-propylcellulose (HPC), sucrose, gelatin and acacia. Additionally, lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, glyceryl behenate and talc may be included.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in gelatin capsules. Preferred excipients in this regard include lactose, starch, a cellulose, milk sugar or high molecular weight polyethylene glycols. For aqueous suspensions and/or elixirs, the compounds of the invention may be combined with various sweetening or flavouring agents, colouring matter or dyes, with emulsifying and/or suspending agents and with diluents such as water, ethanol, propylene glycol and glycerin, and combinations thereof.

A tablet may be made by compression or moulding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder (e.g. povidone, gelatin, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose), lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, disintegrant (e.g. sodium starch glycolate, cross-linked povidone, cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), surface-active or dispersing agent. Moulded tablets may be made by moulding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. The tablets may optionally be coated or scored and may be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein using, for example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose in varying proportions to provide desired release profile. Formulations in accordance with the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient; as a powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid or a non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water liquid emulsion or a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. The active ingredient may also be presented as a bolus, electuary or paste.

Formulations suitable for topical administration in the mouth include lozenges comprising the active ingredient in a flavoured basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth; pastilles comprising the active ingredient in an inert basis such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia; and mouth-washes comprising the active ingredient in a suitable liquid carrier. It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularly mentioned above the formulations of this invention may include other agents conventional in the art having regard to the type of formulation in question, for example those suitable for oral administration may include flavouring agents.

Pharmaceutical compositions adapted for topical administration may be formulated as ointments, creams, suspensions, lotions, powders, solutions, pastes, gels, impregnated dressings, sprays, aerosols or oils, transdermal devices, dusting powders, and the like. These compositions may be prepared via conventional methods containing the active agent. Thus, they may also comprise compatible conventional carriers and additives, such as preservatives, solvents to assist drug penetration, emollient in creams or ointments and ethanol or oleyl alcohol for lotions. Such carriers may be present as from about 1% up to about 98% of the composition. More usually they will form up to about 80% of the composition. As an illustration only, a cream or ointment is prepared by mixing sufficient quantities of hydrophilic material and water, containing from about 5-10% by weight of the compound, in sufficient quantities to produce a cream or ointment having the desired consistency. Pharmaceutical compositions adapted for transdermal administration may be presented as discrete patches intended to remain in intimate contact with the epidermis of the recipient for a prolonged period of time. For example, the active agent may be delivered from the patch by iontophoresis.

For applications to external tissues, for example the mouth and skin, the compositions are preferably applied as a topical ointment or cream. When formulated in an ointment, the active agent may be employed with either a paraffinic or a water-miscible ointment base. Alternatively, the active agent may be formulated in a cream with an oil-in-water cream base or a water-in-oil base.

For parenteral administration, fluid unit dosage forms are prepared utilizing the active ingredient and a sterile vehicle, for example but without limitation water, alcohols, polyols, glycerine and vegetable oils, water being preferred. The active ingredient, depending on the vehicle and concentration used, can be either suspended or dissolved in the vehicle. In preparing solutions the active ingredient can be dissolved in water for injection and filter sterilised before filling into a suitable vial or ampoule and sealing.

Advantageously, agents such as local anaesthetics, preservatives and buffering agents can be dissolved in the vehicle. To enhance the stability, the composition can be frozen after filling into the vial and the water removed under vacuum. The dry lyophilized powder is then sealed in the vial and an accompanying vial of water for injection may be supplied to reconstitute the liquid prior to use.

Parenteral suspensions are prepared in substantially the same manner as solutions, except that the active ingredient is suspended in the vehicle instead of being dissolved and sterilization cannot be accomplished by filtration. The active ingredient can be sterilised by exposure to ethylene oxide before suspending in the sterile vehicle. Advantageously, a surfactant or wetting agent is included in the composition to facilitate uniform distribution of the active ingredient. The compounds of the invention may also be administered using medical devices known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention can be administered with a needleless hypodermic injection device, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. 5,399,163; U.S. 5,383,851 ; U.S. 5,312,335; U.S. 5,064,413; U.S. 4,941 ,880; U.S. 4,790,824; or U.S. 4,596,556. Examples of well-known implants and modules useful in the present invention include : US 4,487,603, which discloses an implantable micro-infusion pump for dispensing medication at a controlled rate; US 4,486,194, which discloses a therapeutic device for administering medicaments through the skin; US 4,447,233, which discloses a medication infusion pump for delivering medication at a precise infusion rate; US 4,447,224, which discloses a variable flow implantable infusion apparatus for continuous drug delivery; US 4,439,196, which discloses an osmotic drug delivery system having multi-chamber compartments; and US

4,475,196, which discloses an osmotic drug delivery system. Many other such implants, delivery systems, and modules are known to those skilled in the art.

The dosage to be administered of a compound of the invention will vary according to the particular compound, the disease involved, the subject, and the nature and severity of the disease and the physical condition of the subject, and the selected route of administration. The appropriate dosage can be readily determined by a person skilled in the art. The compositions may contain from 0.1% by weight, preferably from 5-60%, more preferably from 10-30% by weight, of a compound of invention, depending on the method of administration.

It will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the optimal quantity and spacing of individual dosages of a compound of the invention will be determined by the nature and extent of the condition being treated, the form, route and site of administration, and the age and condition of the particular subject being treated, and that a physician will ultimately determine appropriate dosages to be used. This dosage may be repeated as often as appropriate. If side effects develop the amount and/or frequency of the dosage can be altered or reduced, in accordance with normal clinical practice.

In a further aspect the present invention provides methods for the production of ansamycin analogues.

Ansamycin polyketides for example geldanamycin and herbimycin are synthesised by polyketide biosynthetic clusters which are well known in the art. Geldanamycin can be considered to be biosynthesised in two stages. In the first stage the core-PKS genes assemble the macrolide core by the repeated assembly of simple carboxylic acid precursors to give a polyketide chain which is then cyclised to form the first enzyme-free intermediate "progeldanamycin", see Figure 1. In the second stage a series of "post-PKS" tailoring enzymes (e.g. a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, methyltransferases, FAD-dependent oxygenases and a carbamoyltransferase) act to add the various additional groups to the progeldanamycin template resulting in the final parent compound structure, see Figure 2. The ansamycin analogues may be biosynthesised in a similar manner. This biosynthetic production may be exploited by biotransformation optionally combined with genetic engineering of suitable producer strains to result in the production of novel compounds. Surprisingly the inventors have found that by feeding ansamycin producing strains with non-natural starter units (starter acids or analogues thereof such as esters), these starter units may be incorporated into ansamycin structures to produce novel ansamycin analogues.

Thus according to the invention there is provided a method for preparing an ansamycin analogue which comprises: a) providing a strain that produces an ansamycin such as geldanamycin, a herbimycin

(herbimycin A, B or C) or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions b) feeding a starter unit which is not AHBA to said strain such that the starter unit is incorporated into said ansamycin analogue; c) culturing said strain under suitable conditions for the production of an ansamycin analogue; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced. Suitably the strain of a) is characterised by being a strain which one or more AHBA biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated. This may avoid competition for incorporation of a non-natural starter unit by AHBA which would decrease yield. Alternatively, the strain of a) may be mutated to lower the efficiency of AHBA biosynthesis. Suitably the conditions of step c) are such that the efficiency of AHBA biosynthesis is sub-optimal. Thus desirably AHBA is produced by the strain to a level which nevertheless allows incorporation of the fed non-natural starter unit. Typically the amount of incorporated fed non natural starter unit is > 20%, preferably >50% of the total starter unit incorporation.

Suitably the starter unit is selected from

wherein R₆, R₇, Rs and R₉ are as defined above. or an analogue thereof in which the acid moiety is derivatised such as an ester (eg the methyl or ethyl ester).

Suitably the starter unit is not: 3,5-diamino benzoic acid, 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid or 3-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid.

In one embodiment the starter unit is a compound of formula (II) in which R₆, R₇, Rs and Rg all represent H.

In another embodiment the starter unit is a compound of formula (II) in which R₆, R₇, Rs and Rg do not all represent H. Further exemplary start units include, but are not limited to those compounds shown in the second columns of Tables 4 and 5 below, as well as appropriate derivatives thereof (such as salts and esters etc).

In one embodiment the strain is an ansamycin producing strain (eg a geldanamycin or herbimycin producing strain) and the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue.

In one embodiment the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21- didesoxy-ansamycin analogue which is optionally substituted by fluorine.

In one embodiment the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21- didesoxy-ansamycin analogue which is substituted by fluorine. In another embodiment the strain is a macbecin producing strain and the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a macbecin analogue which is not substituted at positions 18 or 21 of the benzene ring. Suitably the method (i) further comprises the step of subjecting the product of step (d) to a process of chemical modification or biotransformation optionally followed by the step of isolating the resultant compounds or (ii) further comprises the step of subjecting the product of step (c) to a process of chemical modification or biotransformation prior to step (d). According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the generation of analogues such as 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues, said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces an ansamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions in which optionally one or more post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated and/or one or more starter unit biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated; b) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain c) culturing said modified host strain under suitable conditions for the production of ansamycin analogues such as 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced. Suitably the fed starter unit is a starter acid.

In particular, the present invention provides a method of producing 18,21-didesoxy- ansamycin analogues said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces an ansamycin such as geldanamycin, herbimycins (eg herbimycin A, B or C) or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions b) feeding a non-natural starter acid to said strain; c) culturing said strain under suitable conditions for the production of 18,21-didesoxy- ansamycin analogues; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

Suitably the method additionally comprises the steps of: e) deleting or inactivating one or more of the starter unit biosynthesis genes, or a homologue thereof, said step usually occurring prior to step c). Suitably the method additionally, or instead, comprises the step of: f) deleting or inactivating one or more post-PKS genes, said step usually occurring prior to step c).

In step (a) by "a host strain that produces an ansamycin such as geldanamycin, herbimycins (eg herbimycin A, B or C) or an analogue thereof" includes a strain that produces an ansamycin such as geldanamycin, a herbimycin (eg herbimycin A, B or C) or the ansamycin compounds that are embraced by the definitions of R₁-R₁₁ when cultured under appropriate conditions. Appropriate conditions (and suitable conditions in step (c)) include the provision of a suitable starter feed and growth media of suitable composition (which will be known to a skilled person or may be determined by methods known per se).

For example the in step (a) the first host strain may produce geldanamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions. Suitably the non-natural starter feed is a substituted benzoic acid (not being 3-amino-5- hydroxy-benzoic acid which is the natural starter acid), most suitably a 3-amino-benzoic acid optionally substituted further around the ring. Suitably the non-natural starter feed is 3-amino- benzoic acid substituted by none, one, two or three fluorine atoms.

In a suitable embodiment the non-natural starter acid feed is 3-amino benzoic acid. In another suitable embodiment the non-natural starter acid feed is 5-amino-2- fluorobenzoic acid.

In another suitable embodiment the non-natural starter acid feed is 5-amino-3- fluorobenzoic acid.

In another suitable embodiment the non-natural starter acid feed is 5-amino-2,3-di- fluorobenzoic acid.

In another suitable embodiment the non-natural starter acid feed is 5-amino-2,3,6-tri- fluorobenzoic acid.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are alternative non-natural starter units that could be fed to the host strain to produce the same compound(s) for example, but not limited to, the methyl ester, the ethyl ester ,the N-acetyl-cysteamine thioester of the substituted benzoic acid and the diketide analogue of the biosynthetic intermediate activated appropriately for incorporation for example as the N-acetyl-cysteamine thioester. Acid compounds may also be supplied as corresponding salt forms.

The host strain may, for example, be an ansamycin producing strain such as geldanamycin producing strain or a herbimycin producing strain. Alternatively, the host strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain such as a geldanamycin producing strain (or a herbimycin producing strain) in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic genes have been deleted or inactivated. In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which gdmM has been deleted or inactivated.

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

In one embodiment of the invention the host strain is a geldanamycin producing strain. In an alternative embodiment, the host strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic genes have been deleted or inactivated.

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which gdmM has been deleted or inactivated.

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which gdmM and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated and then post-PKS genes are re-introduced to effect specific post-PKS modifications. Post-PKS genes from the geldanamycin cluster or another ansamycin clusters such as, but not limited to the macbecin or herbimycin clusters may be used.

In a further embodiment the host strain is a herbimycin (eg herbimycin A, B or C) producing strain.

In a further embodiment the host strain is a autolytimycin producing strain.

In a further embodiment the host strain is a reblastatin producing strain. In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a herbimycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue has been deleted or inactivated.

In a further embodiment the host strain is an engineered strain based on a herbimycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated. Starter unit biosynthetic genes that may be deleted or inactivated include, for example, genes known as ahba-3, ahba-1c, ahba-4, ahba-b, ahba-1a, ahba-1 b of the ahba-B cluster in the geldanamycin producing strain, S. hygroscopicus AM 3602 (see Rascher ef a/2005), or genes PH, OX, Ahs, Adh and AHk in the macbecin producing strain, Actinosynnema pretiosum ATCC 31280 (see table 3), as well as those homologues in other strains which have similar function. For example, all genes of the ahba-B cluster in the geldanamycin producing strain, S. hygroscopicus AM 3602 may be deleted or inactivated.

The aforementioned deletions may be combined eg the host strain may be an engineered strain based on a ansamycin producing strain (eg a geldanamycin or herbimycin producing strain) in which gdmM or a homologue thereof and one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic genes and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

Suitably the one or more starter unit biosynthetic genes or post-PKS genes will be deleted or inactivated selectively. In a further embodiment, one or more starter unit biosynthetic genes or post-PKS genes are inactivated in said engineered strain by integration of DNA into the gene(s) such that functional protein is not produced. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of said starter unit biosynthetic genes or post -PKS genes are deleted in said engineered strain by making a targeted deletion or deletions. In a further embodiment one or more starter unit biosynthetic genes or post-PKS genes are inactivated in said engineered strain by site-directed mutagenesis. In a further embodiment a geldanamycin producing host strain is subjected to mutagenesis, chemical or UV, and a modified strain is selected in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic enzymes or post-PKS enzymes are not functional. The present invention also encompasses mutations of the regulators controlling the expression of one or more of the post-PKS genes, a person of skill in the art will appreciate that deletion or inactivation of a regulator may have the same outcome as deletion or inactivation of the gene. The post-PKS genes may be introduced into said host cell under an appropriate promoter. In a preferred embodiment one or more of the deleted genes may be introduced into the chromosomal phage attachment site of the Streptomyces phage phiBTI (Gregory et al., 2003). One skilled in the art will appreciate that complementation in trans is not limited to this phage attachment site, or indeed to the use of an attachment site. Therefore, complementation of deleted auxiliary genes can also be effected by, but not limited to, introduction of one or more auxiliary genes under an appropriate promoter into other phage attachment sites such as the attachment site for Streptomyces phage phiC31 for example by using a derivative of pSET152 (Bierman et al., 1992). One skilled in the art will recognise that there are further phages already known, and many more phages may be expected to contain integration functions that could be transferred to a delivery vector along with a suitable promoter to generate further systems that can be used to introduce genes into the host strain (Smovkina et al., 1990, Matsuura et al., 1996, Van Mellaert et al., 1998, Lee et al., 1991 ) . As more phages are characterised one would expect there to be further available integrases that could be used similarly. Introduction of post-PKS genes under an appropriate promoter can also be effected by, without limitation, homologous recombination into a neutral position in the chromosome, homologous recombination into a non-neutral position in the chromosome (for example to disrupt a chosen gene). Self-replicating vectors can also be used for example, but not limited to, vectors containing the Streptomyces origin of replication from pSG5 (e.g. pKC1 139 Bierman et al., 1992), plJ101 (e.g. plJ487, Kieser ef a/., 2000) and SCP2^* (e.g. plJ698, Kieser ef a/., 2000).

In a further embodiment an engineered strain in which one or more post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated as above, has re-introduced into it one or more of the same post PKS genes, or homologues thereof from an alternative geldanamycin producing strain.

In a further embodiment an engineered strain in which one or more genes has been deleted or inactivated is complemented by one or more of the post PKS genes from a heterologous PKS cluster including, but not limited to the clusters directing the biosynthesis of rifamycin, ansamitocin, macbecin or herbimycin.

A method of selectively deleting or inactivating a post PKS gene comprises: (i) designing specific oligos based on the sequence of the gene of interest, isolating the internal fragment of the gene of interest from a suitable geldanamycin producing strain using PCR,

(ii) integrating a plasmid containing this fragment into either the same, or a different geldanamycin producing strain followed by homologous recombination, which results in the disruption of the targeted gene, (iii) culturing the strain thus produced under conditions suitable for the production of the ansamycin analogues.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that an equivalent strain may be achieved using alternative methods to that described above, e.g.:

^■ Degenerate oligos based on homologue(s) of the gene of interest may be designed (e.g. from the rifamycin, macbecin or herbimycin biosynthetic clusters and/or other available sequences) and the internal fragment of the gene of interest may be isolated from a suitable geldanamycin producing strain using PCR. Different degenerate oligos may be designed which will successfully amplify an appropriate region of the post-PKS gene, or a homologue thereof, of a geldanamycin producer, or strain producing a homologue thereof.

^■ The sequence of the gene of the Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 strain may be used to generate the oligos which may be specific to the gene of Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 and then the internal fragment may be amplified from any geldanamycin producing strain e.g Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or

Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699, .

^■ The sequence of the gene of the Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 strain may be used along with the sequence of homologous genes (eg from the geldanamycin biosynthesis clusters of Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699) to generate degenerate oligos to the gene of

Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 and then the internal fragment may be amplified from any geldanamycin producing strain e.g Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699.

Figure 2 shows the activity of the post-PKS genes in the geldanamycin biosynthetic cluster. A person of skill in the art would thus be able to identify which additional post-PKS genes would need to be deleted or inactivated in order to arrive at a strain that will produce the compound(s) of interest.

It may be observed in these systems that when a strain is generated in which one or more of the post-PKS genes does not function as a result of one of the methods described including inactivation or deletion, that more than one ansamycin analogue may be produced. There are a number of possible reasons for this which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example there may be a preferred order of post-PKS steps and removing a single activity leads to all subsequent steps being carried out on substrates that are not natural to the enzymes involved. This can lead to intermediates building up in the culture broth due to a lowered efficiency towards the novel substrates presented to the post-PKS enzymes, or to shunt products which are no longer substrates for the remaining enzymes possibly because the order of steps has been altered.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the ratio of compounds observed in a mixture can be manipulated by using variations in the growth conditions. One skilled in the art will appreciate that in a biosynthetic cluster some genes are organised in operons and disruption of one gene will often have an effect on expression of subsequent genes in the same operon.

When a mixture of compounds is observed these can be readily separated using standard techniques some of which are described in the following examples. Ansamycin analogues may be screened by a number of methods, as described herein, and in the circumstance where a single compound shows a favourable profile a strain can be engineered to make this compound preferably. In the unusual circumstance when this is not possible, an intermediate can be generated which is then biotransformed to produce the desired compound. The present invention provides novel ansamycin analogues generated by culturing a strain producing an ansamycin polyketide or an analogue thereof, for example geldanamycin or an analogue thereof, the strain optionally having selected deletion or inactivation of one or more post-PKS genes from the PKS gene cluster and providing an acid feed for incorporation as the starter unit. In particular, the present invention relates to novel ansamycin analogues produced by feeding a non-natural starter unit to a geldanamycin producing strain, optionally combined with the selected deletion or inactivation of one or more post-PKS genes, from the geldanamycin PKS gene cluster. Additionally, one or more post-PKS genes from an ansamycin biosynthetic cluster may be re-introduced.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that a gene does not need to be completely deleted for the gene product to be rendered non-functional, consequentially the term "deleted or inactivated" as used herein encompasses any method by which the gene product is rendered non-functional including but not limited to: deletion of the gene in its entirety, deletion of part of the gene, inactivation by insertion into the target gene, site-directed mutagenesis which results in the gene either not being expressed or being expressed to produce inactive protein, mutagenesis of the host strain which results in the gene either not being expressed or being expressed to produce inactive protein (e.g. by radiation or exposure to mutagenic chemicals, protoplast fusion or transposon mutagenesis). Alternatively the function of an active gene product can be impaired chemically with inhibitors, for example metapyrone (alternative name 2-methyl-1 ,2-di(3-pyridyl-1-propanone), EP 0 627 009) and ancymidol are inhibitors of oxygenases and these compounds can be added to the production medium to generate analogues. Additionally, sinefungin is a methyl transferase inhibitor that can be used similarly but for the inhibition of methyl transferase activity in vivo (McCammon and Parks, 1981 ).

In an alternative embodiment, all of the post-PKS genes may be deleted or inactivated and then one or more of the genes may then be reintroduced by complementation (e.g. at an attachment site, on a self-replicating plasmid or by insertion into a homologous region of the chromosome). Therefore, in a particular embodiment the present invention relates to methods for the generation of ansamycin analogues (eg 18, 21-didesoxyansamycin analogues), said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces geldanamycin when cultured under appropriate conditions b) optionally selectively deleting or inactivating all the post-PKS genes, c) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain d) culturing said modified host strain under suitable conditions for the production of ansamycin analogues; and e) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the deleted post-PKS genes are reintroduced. In a further embodiment one or more post-PKS genes from the geldanamycin cluster from a different producing organism are reintroduced In a further embodiment, one or more of the post-PKS genes selected from the macbecin biosynthetic cluster are introduced, this group consisting of mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450 are reintroduced. In a further embodiment, 2 or more of the post-PKS genes selected from the group consisting of mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450 are reintroduced. In a further embodiment, 3 or more of the post-PKS genes selected from the group consisting of mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450 are reintroduced. In a further embodiment, 4 or more of the post-PKS genes selected from the group consisting of mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450 are reintroduced. In a further alternative embodiment, 5 or more of the post-PKS genes selected from the group consisting of mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMTI, mbcMT2 and mbcP450 are reintroduced. Additionally, it will be apparent to a person of skill in the art that a subset of the post-PKS genes, could be deleted or inactivated and optionally a smaller subset of said post-PKS genes could be reintroduced to arrive at a strain that, when fed a non-natural starter unit, produces ansamycin analogues such as 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to methods for the generation of ansamycin analogues (eg 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues), said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces geldanamycin when cultured under appropriate conditions b) selectively deleting or inactivating gdmM, c) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain d) culturing said modified host strain under suitable conditions for the production of ansamycin analogues (eg18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues); and e) optionally isolating the compounds produced. In a further preferred embodiment the present invention relates to methods for the generation of ansamycin analogues (eg 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues), said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces geldanamycin when cultured under appropriate conditions b) selectively deleting or inactivating gdmM c) optionally selectively deleting or inactivating further post-PKS genes d) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain e) culturing said modified host strain under suitable conditions for the production of ansamycin analogues (eg 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogues); and f) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that polyketide gene clusters may be expressed in heterologous hosts (Pfeifer and Khosla, 2001 ). Accordingly, the present invention includes the transfer of the ansamycin polyketide biosynthetic cluster for example the geldanamycin biosynthetic gene cluster, with or without resistance and regulatory genes, either otherwise complete or containing deletions, into a heterologous host. Alternatively, the complete ansamycin polyketide biosynthetic cluster for example the complete geldanamycin biosynthetic cluster can be transferred into a heterologous host, with or without resistance and regulatory genes, and it can then be manipulated by the methods described herein to delete or inactivate one or more of the post-PKS genes or starter unit biosynthesis genes. Methods and vectors for the transfer as defined above of such large pieces of DNA are well known in the art (Rawlings, 2001 ; Staunton and Weissman, 2001 ) or are provided herein in the methods disclosed. In this context a preferred host cell strain is a prokaryote, more preferably an actinomycete or Escherichia coli, still more preferably include, but are not limited to Actinosynnema mirum (A. mirum), Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. pretiosum (A. pretiosum), S. hygroscopicus, S. hygroscopicus sp. , S. hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus, Streptomyces tsukubaensis, Streptomyces violaceusniger, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces lividans, Saccharopolyspora erythraea, Streptomyces fradiae, Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces cinnamonensis, Streptomyces rimosus, Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces griseofuscus, Streptomyces longisporoflavus, Streptomyces venezuelae, Streptomyces albus, Micromonospora sp., Micromonospora griseorubida, Amycolatopsis mediterranei or A ctinoplanes sp. N902- 109.

In one embodiment the entire biosynthetic cluster is transferred. In an alternative embodiment the entire PKS is transferred without any of the associated starter unit biosynthesis genes and/or post-PKS genes.

In a further embodiment the entire geldanamycin biosynthetic cluster is transferred and then manipulated according to the description herein.

In a further embodiment the entire PKS is transferred without any of the associated starter unit biosynthesis genes and/or post-PKS genes and selected post-PKS genes, for example but not limited to gdmN, mbcN, hbmN, gdmL, and/or mbcP450 are introduced into the new host. In an alternative aspect of the invention, the ansamycin analogue(s) of the present invention may be further processed by biotransformation with an appropriate strain. The appropriate strain either being an available wild type strain for example, but without limitation Actinosynnema mirum, Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. pretiosum, S. hygroscopicus, S. hygroscopicus sp. Streptomyces violaceusniger. Alternatively, an appropriate strain may be engineered to allow biotransformation with particular post-PKS enzymes for example, but without limitation, those encoded by mbcM, mbcN, mbcP, mbcMT2, mbcP450 (as defined herein), gdmN, gdmM, gdmL, gdmP, (Rascher ef al., 2003) the geldanamycin O-methyl transferase, hbmN, hbmL, hbmP, (Rascher et al., 2005) herbimycin O-methyl transferases and further herbimycin mono-oxygenases, asm7, asm10, asm11, asm12, asm19 and asm21 (Cassady et al., 2004, Spiteller et al., 2003). Where genes have yet to be identified or the sequences are not in the public domain it is routine to those skilled in the art to acquire such sequences by standard methods. For example the sequence of the gene encoding the geldanamycin O-methyl transferase is not in the public domain, but one skilled in the art could generate a probe, either a heterologous probe using a similar O-methyl transferase, or a homologous probe by designing degenerate primers from available homologous genes to carry out Southern blots on a geldanamycin producing strain and thus acquire this gene to generate biotransformation systems. In a particular embodiment the strain may have had one or more of its native polyketide clusters deleted, either entirely or in part, or otherwise inactivated, so as to prevent the production of the polyketide produced by said native polyketide cluster. Said engineered strain may be selected from the group including, for example but without limitation, Actinosynnema mirum, Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. pretiosum, S. hygroscopicus, S. hygroscopicus sp., S. hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus, Streptomyces tsukubaensis, Streptomyces violaceusniger, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces lividans, Saccharopolyspora erythraea, Streptomyces fradiae, Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces cinnamonensis, Streptomyces rimosus, Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces griseofuscus, Streptomyces longisporoflavus, Streptomyces venezuelae, Micromonospora sp., Micromonospora griseorubida, Amycolatopsis mediterranei or Actinoplanes sp. N902-109.

A person skilled in the art will recognise that other ansamycin polyketide biosynthetic clusters for example the herbimycin, reblastatin or TAN clusters could equally be used to generate the compounds of the invention. By using a herbimycin producing strain for example, but not limited to Streptomyces hygroscopicus AM3672 (Rascher et al., 2005) or a strain producing a herbimycin analogue for example, but not limited to an engineered Streptomyces hygroscopicus AM-3672 in which one or more of the post-PKS genes or starter unit biosynthesis genes have be inactivated or deleted optionally with one or more homologous or heterologous post-PKS genes reintroduced and fed with a starter acid as described herein. The sequence of the herbimycin PKS cluster is deposited in GenBank (accession number AY947889) (Rascher et al., 2005), Where genes not located in this sequence are required, they are located by the use of homologous or heterologous probes generated by designing degenerate oligos using homologous sequences as described herein. A person skilled in the art will recognise that the reblastatin cluster could equally be used to generate the compounds of the invention, by using a reblastatin producing strain for example, but not limited to Streptomyces sp. S6699 (Stead et al., 2000) or a strain producing a reblastatin analogue for example, but not limited to an engineered Streptomyces sp. S6699 in which one or more of the post-PKS genes or starter unit biosynthesis genes have be inactivated or deleted optionally with one or more homologous or heterologous post-PKS genes reintroduced and fed with a starter acid as described herein.

A person skilled in the art will recognise that there will be multiple further strains that produce natural products which can be used to produce the compounds of this invention when the methods of this invention are applied. Although the process for preparation of the ansamycin analogues of the invention as described above is substantially or entirely biosynthetic, it is not ruled out to produce or interconvert ansamycin analogues of the invention by a process which comprises standard synthetic chemical methods.

In order to allow for the genetic manipulation of the geldanamycin PKS gene cluster, the gene cluster sequence deposited in GenBank (accession number AY179507) was used (Rascher et al., 2003) . Where genes not located in this sequence are required, they are located by the use of homologous or heterologous probes generated by designing degenerate oligos using homologous sequences as described herein.

In order to use the post-PKS genes of the macbecin cluster, the macbecin gene cluster was sequenced from Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. pretiosum this is described in example 1., A person of skill in the art will appreciate that there are alternative strains which produce macbecin, for example but without limitation Actinosynnema mirum. The macbecin PKS gene cluster from these strains may be sequenced as described herein for Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. pretiosum, and the information used to generate equivalent strains. Further aspects of the invention include: -An engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain (eg a geldanamycin or a herbimycin (eg herbimycin A, B or C) producing strain in which the gdmM homologue and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated, particularly such an engineered strain in which the gdmM homologue has been deleted or inactivated. Suitably the ansamycin producing strain is a strepromycete such as Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699.

-An engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated eg a geldanamycin producing strain, for example in which gdmO is deleted or inactivated or a herbimycin producing strain, for example in which hbmO is deleted or inactivated.

-An engineered strain based on a ansamycin producing strain (eg a geldanamycin or herbimycin producing strain) in which gdmM or a homologue thereof and one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic genes and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated. For example, all genes of the ahba-B cluster in the geldanamycin producing strain, S. hygroscopicus AM 3602 (or homologue in other strains) may be deleted or inactivated.

Alternatively some of the ahba-B cluster in the geldanamycin producing strain, S. hygroscopicus AM 3602 (or homologue in other strains) may be deleted or inactivated leading to a strain in which AHBA biosynthesis is reduced or eliminated which can be experimentally confirmed when feeding AHBA to such a strain restores good production of geldanamycin or other ansamycin. -Use of such an engineered strain in the preparation of an ansamycin analogue (eg a

18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue).

-Ansamycin analogues obtained or obtainable by any of the aforementioned methods. Compounds of the invention are advantageous in that they may be expected to have one or more of the following properties: tight binding to Hsp90, fast on-rate of binding to Hsp90, good solubility, good stability, good formulation ability, good oral bioavailability, good pharmacokinetic properties including but not limited to low glucuronidation, good cell up-take, good brain pharmacokinetics, low binding to erythrocytes, good toxicology profile, good hepatotoxicity profile, good nephrotoxicity profile, low side effects and low cardiac side effects.

EXAMPLES

General Methods Medium 1 - MAM

In 1 L of distilled water

Sterilsation by autoclaving at 121⁰C for 20 minutes.

Medium 2 - R6

To 70OmL of distilled water

^*Trace elements 1g/L of each of FeSO₄JH₂O, MnCI₂.4H₂0 and ZnSO₄JH₂O.

Sterilsation by autoclaving at 121⁰C for 20 minutes.

Following sterilisation add the following sterile solutions (note glutamic acid is filter sterilised)

Extraction of culture broths for LCMS analysis

Culture broth (1 mL) and ethyl acetate (1 mL) were mixed vigorously for 15-30 min followed by centrifugation for 10 min. 0.5 mL of the organic layer was collected, evaporated to dryness and then re-dissolved in 0.25 mL of methanol.

LCMS analysis procedure

Analytical LCMS was performed using LCMS method 1 on an Agilent HP1100 HPLC system in combination with a Bruker Daltonics Esquire 3000+ electrospray mass spectrometer operating in positive and/or negative ion mode. LCMS method 1 : chromatography was achieved over a Phenomenex Hyperclone column (Cis BDS, 3 micron particle size, 15O x 4.6 mm) eluting at a flow rate of 1 mL/min using the following gradient elution process; T=O, 10%B;

T=2, 10%B; T=20, 100%B; T=22, 100%B; T=22.05, 10%B; T=25, 10%B. Mobile phase A = water + 0.1% formic acid; mobile phase B = acetonitrile + 0.1 % formic acid. UV spectra were recorded between 190 and 400 nm, with extracted chromatograms taken at 210, 254 and 276 nm. Mass spectra were recorded between 100 and 1500 amu.

NMR structure elucidation methods

NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Advance 500 spectrometer at 298 K operating at 500 MHz and 125 MHz for ¹H and ¹³C respectively. Standard Bruker pulse sequences were used to acquire ¹H-¹H COSY, APT, HMBC and HMQC spectra. NMR spectra were referenced to the residual proton or standard carbon resonances of the solvents in which they were run.

Assessment of compound purity

Purified compounds were analysed using LCMS method 2 described. LCMS method 2: chromatography was achieved over a Phenomenex HyperClone C-is-BDS column (4.6 x 150 mm, 3 micron particle size) eluting with a gradient of water + 0.1% formic acid:acetonitrile + 0.1 % formic acid, (90:10) to (0:100), at 1 mL/min over 20 min. Purity was assessed by MS and at multiple wavelengths (210, 254 & 276 nm). All compounds were >95% pure at all wavelengths. Purity was finally confirmed by inspection of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra.

In vitro bioassay for anticancer activity

In vitro evaluation of compounds for anticancer activity in a panel of human tumour cell lines in a monolayer proliferation assay were carried out at the Oncotest Testing Facility, Institute for Experimental Oncology, Oncotest GmbH, Freiburg. The characteristics of the selected cell lines are summarised in Table 1. Table 1 - Test cell lines

# Cell line Characteristics

1 CNXF 498NL CNS

2 CXF HT29 Colon

3 LXF 1 121 L Lung, large cell ca

4 MCF-7 Breast, NCI standard

5 MEXF 394NL Melanoma

6 DU145 Prostate - PTEN positive

The Oncotest cell lines were established from human tumor xenografts as described by Roth et al., (1999). The origin of the donor xenografts is described by Fiebig et al., (1999). Other cell lines were either obtained from the NCI (DU 145, MCF-7) or purchased from DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany.

All cell lines, unless otherwise specified, were grown at 37 ⁰C in a humidified atmosphere (95 % air, 5 % CO₂) in a 'ready-mix' medium containing RPMI 1640 medium, 10 % fetal calf serum, and 0.1 mg/mL gentamicin (PAA, Colbe, Germany).

A modified propidium iodide assay was used to assess the effects of the test compound(s) on the growth of human tumour cell lines (Dengler et al., (1995)).

Briefly, cells were harvested from exponential phase cultures by trypsinization, counted and plated in 96 well flat-bottomed microtitre plates at a cell density dependent on the cell line (5 - 10.000 viable cells/well). After 24 h recovery to allow the cells to resume exponential growth, 0.010 mL of culture medium (6 control wells per plate) or culture medium containing the ansamycin analogue was added to the wells. Each concentration was plated in triplicate. Compounds were be applied in five concentrations (100; 10; 1 ; 0,1 and 0,01 μM). Following 4 days of continuous exposure, cell culture medium with or without test compound was replaced by 0.2 mL of an aqueous propidium iodide (Pl) solution (7 mg/L). To measure the proportion of living cells, cells may be permeabilized by freezing the plates. After thawing the plates, fluorescence was measured using the Cytofluor 4000 microplate reader (excitation 530 nm, emission 620 nm), giving a direct relationship to the total number of viable cells.

Growth inhibition may be expressed as treated/control x 100 (% T/C).

Example 1 - Sequencing of the Macbecin PKS gene cluster

Genomic DNA was isolated from Actinosynnema pretiosum (ATCC 31280) and Actinosynnema mirum (DSM 43827, ATCC 29888) using standard protocols described in Kieser et al., (2000). DNA sequencing was carried out by the sequencing facility of the Biochemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1 QW using standard procedures.

Primers BIOSG104 δ'-GGTCTAGAGGTCAGTGCCCCCGCGTACCGTCGT-S' (SEQ ID NO: I ) AND BIOSG105 δ'-GGCATATGCTTGTGCTCGGGCTCAAC-S' (SEQ ID NO: 2) were employed to amplify the carbamoyltransferase-encoding gene gdmN from the geldanamycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces hygroscopicus NRRL 3602 (Accession number of sequence: AY179507) using standard techniques. Southern blot experiments were carried out using the DIG Reagents and Kits for Non-Radioactive Nucleic Acid Labelling and Detection according to the manufacturers' instructions (Roche). The DIG-labelled gdmN DNA fragment was used as a heterologous probe. Using the gdmN generated probe and genomic DNA isolated from A. pretiosum 21 12 an approximately 8 kb EcoRI fragment was identified in Southern blot analysis. The fragment was cloned into Litmus 28 applying standard procedures and transformants were identified by colony hybridization. The clone p3 was isolated and the approximately 7.7 kb insert was sequenced. DNA isolated from clone p3 was digested with EcoRI and EcoRI/Sacl and the bands at around 7.7 kb and at about 1.2 kb were isolated, respectively. Labelling reactions were carried out according to the manufacturers' protocols. Cosmid libraries of the two strains named above were created using the vector SuperCos 1 and the Gigapack III XL packaging kit (Stratagene) according to the manufacturers' instructions. These two libraries were screened using standard protocols and as a probe, the DIG-labelled fragments of the 7.7 kb EcoRI fragment derived from clone p3 were used.

Cosmid 52 was identified from the cosmid library of A. pretiosum and submitted for sequencing to the sequencing facility of the Biochemistry Department of the University of Cambridge. Similarly, cosmid 43 and cosmid 46 were identified from the cosmid library of A. mirum. All three cosmids contain the 7.7 kb EcoRI fragment as shown by Southern Blot analysis. An around 0.7 kbp fragment of the PKS region of cosmid 43 was amplified using primers BIOSG124 δ'-CCCGCCCGCGCGAGCGGCGCGTGGCCGCCCGAGGGC-S' (SEQ ID NO: 3) and BIOSG125 5'- GCGTCCTCGCGCAGCCACGCCACCAGCAGCTCCAGC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 4) applying standard protocols, cloned and used as a probe for screening the A. pretiosum cosmid library for overlapping clones. The sequence information of cosmid 52 was also used to create probes derived from DNA fragments amplified by primers BIOSG130 5'- CCAACCCCGCCGCGTCCCCGGCCGCGCCGAACACG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 5) and BIOSG131 δ'-GTCGTCGGCTACGGGCCGGTGGGGCAGCTGCTGT-δ' (SEQ ID NO: 6) as well as BIOSG132 5'- GTCGGTGGACTGCCCTGCGCCTGATCGCCCTGCGC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 7) and BIOSG133 5'- GGCCGGTGGTGCTGCCCGAGGACGGGGAGCTGCGG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 8) which were used for screening the cosmid library of A. pretiosum. Cosmids 311 and 352 were isolated and cosmid 352 was sent for sequencing. Cosmid 352 contains an overlap of approximately 2.7 kb with cosmid 52. To screen for further cosmids, an approximately 0.6 kb PCR fragment was amplified using primers BIOSG136 5'-

CACCGCTCGCGGGGGTGGCGCGGCGCACGACGTGG CTGC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 9) and BIOSG 137 5'- CCTCCTCGGACAGCGCGATCAGCGCCGCGC ACAGCGAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) and cosmid 311 as template applying standard protocols. The cosmid library of A. pretiosum was screened and cosmid 410 was isolated. It overlaps approximately 17 kb with cosmid 352 and was sent for sequencing. The sequence of the three overlapping cosmids (cosmid 52, cosmid 352 and cosmid 410) was assembled. The sequenced region spans about 100 kbp and 23 open reading frames were identified potentially constituting the macbecin biosynthetic gene cluster. The location of each of the open reading frames within SEQ ID NO: 1 1 is shown in Table 3

Table 2 - Summary of the cosmids

Table 3 - location of each of the open reading frames for the post-PKS genes and the starter unit biosynthesis genes

[Note 1 : c indicates that the gene is encoded by the complement DNA strand; Note 2: it is sometimes the case that more than one potential candidate start codon can been identified. One skilled in the art will recognise this and be able to identify alternative possible start codons. We have indicated those genes which have more than one possible start codon with a '^*' symbol. Throughout we have indicated what we believe to be the start codon, however, a person of skill in the art will appreciate that it may be possible to generate active protein using an alternative start codon.]

Example 2 - Generation of a gdmM inactivated strain

An in-frame deletion of gdmM is carried out as follows.

2.1 Cloning of DNA homologous to the upstream flanking region of gdmM.

Oligos gdm1for (SEQ ID NO: 12) and gdm1 rev (SEQ ID NO: 13) are used to amplify a 2268 bp region of DNA from Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) in a standard PCR reaction using genomic as the template and Pfu DNA polymerase. A 5' extension in each oligo introduces restriction sites to aid cloning of the amplified fragment. The PCR product (PCRgdmi ) covers a region of homology upstream of gdmM up to an including the first 2 amino acids of gdmM. This 2268 bp fragment is cloned into pUC18 that is linearised with Sma\ and dephosphorylated, to give pUC18gdm1.

gdml for TTAAGCTTGGACCGGCGCGAACTCGCGGACACCCACCT

Hindτττ (SEQ ID NO: 12) gdml rev TTTCTAGAGGTCATGCGCCCGCCAGGATCAGGTCGACC

Xbal

(SEQ ID NO: 13)

Plasmid pUC18gdm1 is identified by restriction enzyme digestion with Nde\ and Sma\ which gives the three fragments of 439bp, 1687bp and 2828bp.

2.2 Cloning of DNA homologous to the downstream flanking region of gdmM. Oligos gdm2for (SEQ ID NO: 14) and gdm2rev (SEQ ID NO: 15) are used to amplify a

2267 bp region of DNA from Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) in a standard PCR reaction using genomic as the template and Pfu DNA polymerase. A 5' extension is designed in each oligo to introduce restriction sites to aid cloning of the amplified fragment. The amplified PCR product (PCRgdm2) covers a region from the last 2 amino acids of gdmM, the stop codon and a region of homology downstream of gdmM. This 2267bp fragment is cloned into pUC18 that is linearised with Sma\, resulting in plasmid pUC18gdm2.

gdm2 for TTTCTAGACCTTCGTAAGGCTCCCCTGCCTGGGCATGG

Xbal (SEQ ID NO: 14)

gdm2 rev TTGAATTCTCTGCTCGGCTACGGCTTCGGCGACGAGTA

EcoRI

(SEQ ID NO: 15)

Plasmid pUC18gdm2 is identified by restriction enzyme digestion with Nde\ and Sma\ which gives the three fragments of 440bp, 1594bp and 2919bp.

2.3 Generation of a plasmid for effecting an in-frame deletion of gdmM The products PCRgdmi and PCRgdm2 are cloned into pKC1139 in one step as follows. pKC1139 is digested with Hinύ\\\ and EcoRI and the backbone fragment generated is ligated with PCRgdmi on a Hind\\\/Xba\ fragment and PCRgdm2 on an Xba\/EcoR\ fragment in a single three part ligation. Restriction enzyme digestion is used to confirm the final plasmid, pKC1 139gdm1gdm2.

2.4 Transformation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) and selection of a gdmM deletion mutant Escherichia coli ET12567, harbouring the plasmid pUZ8002 is transformed with pKC1 139gdm1 gdm2 by electroporation to generate the E. coli donor strain for conjugation. This strain is used to transform Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) by conjugation using standard methods (Kieser ef a/, (2000) Practical Streptomyces Genetics). Exconjugants are plated on medium 2 and incubated at 28⁰C. Plates are overlayed after 24 h with 50 mg/L apramycin and 25 mg/L nalidixic acid. pKC1 139-based vectors self-replicate at 28⁰C, so transformants are anticipated to contain pKC1 139gdm1 gdm2 as a self-replicating plasmid. After 4-7 days colonies are patched onto medium 2 plates containing apramycin (50 mg/L) and nalidixic acid (25 mg/L). The plates are then incubated at 37°C for 3-4 days - the increase in temperature stops replication of the pKC1 139 based free plasmid, the replicon of which does not function at 37°C and therefore continued selection with apramycin selects for integration into the chromosome via one of the regions of homology. The colonies are then re- patched onto medium 2 plates containing apramycin and nalidixic acid and incubated at 37°C for 3-4 days to ensure that no E. coli cells are passaged further.

Sub-culturing for secondary recombinants

After further 3-4 days of incubation, sub-culturing steps are carried out using medium 2 plates without antibiotic. To do this, material from each patch is scraped off and plated on a medium 2 agar plate and incubated at 37°C until good growth is visible, typically on day three. A second third and fourth sub-culturing step is performed using the same technique. The fourth sub- culturing step is incubated at 28°C to allow sporulation. When sporulation is visible after several days (typically 7-10 days), spore suspensions are isolated and dilution series carried out using standard techniques. Aliquots of the dilution series are spread on medium 1 plates and incubated at 28⁰C until colonies were visible. Single colonies are picked and patched in parallel on medium 1 plates with and without apramycin.

Patches that grow on the no antibiotic plate but do not grow on the apramycin plate are re-patched onto +/- apramycin plates to confirm loss of the antibiotic marker. The mutant strain encodes an inactive GdmM protein with an in-frame deletion of 543 amino acids. gdmM deletion mutants are patched onto Medium 1 and grown at 28⁰C for four days. A

6 mm circular plug from each patch is used to inoculate individual 50 mL falcon tubes containing 10 mL seed medium (per litre; glucose 4Og, beet molasses 10g, yeast extract 2.5g, peptone 2.5g, tryptone 2.5g, oatmeal 5g). These seed cultures are incubated for 36-72h at 28⁰C, 300 rpm with a 1 inch throw. These are then used to inoculate (0.5 mL into 10 mL) production medium (same as seed medium) and are grown at 28⁰C for 6 days. Secondary metabolites are extracted and analysed by LCMS for production of geldanamycin analogues as described in the General Methods. One mutant is designated S. hygroscopicus gdmM^" that should produce compound, 1 , which is expected to be indistinguishable from KOS-1806 (Rascher et ai, 2005). One skilled in the art can readily design alternative gdmM inactivation strategies for example by integration or by generating a disruption mutant by insertion of a resistance gene as published by Rascher (2005).

Example 3 - Generation of novel geldanamycin analogues by feeding AHBA analogues to the gdmM knockout strain S. hygroscopicus gdmM^"

3.1 Biotransformation using S. hygroscopicus gdmM^"

S. hygroscopicus gdmM^", generation of which is described in example 2 above, is patched onto MAM plates (medium 1 ) and grown at 28⁰C for three days. A 6 mm circular plug is used to inoculate individual 50 ml. falcon tubes containing 10 ml. seed medium (per litre; glucose 4Og, beet molasses 10g, yeast extract 2.5g, peptone 2.5g, tryptone 2.5g, oatmeal 5g). These seed cultures are incubated for 36-72h at 28⁰C, 300 rpm with a 1 inch throw. These are then used to inoculate (0.5 ml. into 10 ml.) production medium (same as seed medium) and are grown at 28⁰C for 24 h.. 0.1 ml. of a 200 mM feed stock solution (in methanol - see list in table 4) is added to each falcon tube to give a final feed concentration of 2 mM. Tubes are incubated for a further 6 days at 28⁰C.

3.2 Identification of novel geldanamvcin analogues by LCMS in culture extracts

Extracts of the fermentation described in example 3.1 are generated and assayed by LCMS as described in General Methods. In all cases, the major ansamycins expected to be observed are described in table 4. The table describes the substituted benzoic acid analogue which is fed to the strain, the major LCMS masses, and the mass of the major compounds. Figures 3 and 4 shows the structures of the compounds expected to be produced.

Table 4 - compounds identified by LCMS

Example 4 - Generation of a strain with inactivation of AHBA biosynthesis

An advantage of producing a strain with gene/s involved in AHBA synthesis inactivated is that there is less competition from natural AHBA within the strain. Feeding with substituted benzoic acid analogues can therefore be more efficient, also leading to simpler purification. The method below is adapted from Rascher ef a/ 2005.

4.1 Construction of the plasmid pKC1139AHBAdel Oligos LHS for (SEQ ID NO: 16) and LHSrev (SEQ ID NO: 17) are used to amplify a

-1.65 kbp region of DNA from Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) in a standard PCR reaction using genomic DNA as the template and KOD DNA polymerase. A 5' extension is designed in each oligo to introduce restriction sites to aid cloning of the amplified fragment. The amplified PCR product (PCR LHS) covers a region of the left hand side of the AHBA 'B' cluster associated with the production of AHBA. This -1.65 kbp fragment is cloned into pUC18 which has previously been digested with Sma\ and dephosphorylated, giving PUC18LHS

LHS fo r CGCAAGCTTAGACCTCGACCACCGGTGTCTGGA H±ndl l l

(SEQ ID NO: 16)

LHS rev CCGTCTAGACACGATTTCCAGCGCATGGCCCA

Xbal (SEQ ID NO: 17)

Oligos RHSfor (SEQ ID NO: 18) and RHSrev (SEQ ID NO: 19) are used to amplify a -0.98 kbp region of DNA from Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) in a standard PCR reaction using genomic DNA as the template and KOD DNA polymerase. A 5' extension is designed in each oligo to introduce restriction sites to aid cloning of the amplified fragment. The amplified PCR product (PCR LHS) covers a region of the right hand side of the AHBA 'B' cluster associated with the production of AHBA. This -0.98 kbp fragment is cloned into pUC18 which has previously been digested with Sma\ and dephosphorylated, giving pUC18RHS. RHS fo r TGCTCTAGACTCACCCGCTCGCCTTCGTCA

Xbal (SEQ ID NO: 18) RHS rev TGCGAATTCTGAGCCACCACGGCGTGTGACA

EcoRI

(SEQ ID NO: 19)

The products PCRLHS and PCRRHS are cloned into pKC1 139 in one step as follows. pKC1 139 is digested with Hinύ\\\ and EcoRI and the backbone fragment generated is ligated with PCRLHS on a H/ndlll/Xbal fragment and PCRRHS on an Xba\/EcoR\ fragment, each PCR fragment taken from the pUC18 clone, in a single three part ligation. Restriction enzyme digestion is used to confirm the final plasmid which is designated pKC1139AHBAdel.

4.2 Transformation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) and selection of an AHBA 'B' deletion mutant

Escherichia coli ET12567, harbouring the plasmid pUZ8002 was transformed with pKC1 139AHBAdel by electroporation to generate the E. coli donor strain for conjugation. This strain is used to transform Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) by conjugation (Kieser ef a/, (2000) Practical Streptomyces Genetics). Exconjugants are plated on medium 2 and incubated at 28⁰C. Plates are overlayed after 24 h with 50 mg/L apramycin and 25 mg/L nalidixic acid. pKC1 139-based vectors self-replicate at 28⁰C, so transformants are anticipated to contain pKC1 139AHBAdel as a self-replicating plasmid. After 4-7 days colonies are patched onto medium 2 plates containing apramycin (50 mg/L) and nalidixic acid (25 mg/L). The plates are then incubated at 37°C for 3-4 days. Integration of the plasmid into the chromosome then occurs by homologous recombination. The colonies are then re-patched onto medium 2 plates containing apramycin and nalidixic acid and incubated at 37°C for 3-4 days to ensure that no E. coli cells are passaged further.

Sub-culturing for secondary recombinants

After further 3-4 days of incubation, sub-culturing steps are carried out using medium 1 plates without antibiotic. To do this, material from each patch is scraped off and plated on a medium 1 agar plate and incubated at 37°C until good growth is visible, typically on day three. A second third and fourth sub-culturing step is performed using the same technique. The fourth sub- culturing step is incubated at 28°C to allow sporulation. When sporulation is visible after several days (typically 7-10 days), spore suspensions are isolated and dilution series carried out using standard techniques. Aliquots of the dilution series are spread on medium 1 plates and incubated at 28⁰C until colonies were visible. Single colonies are picked and patched in parallel on medium 1 plates with and without apramycin. Patches that grow on the no antibiotic plate but do not grow on the apramycin plate are re-patched onto +/- apramycin plates to confirm loss of the antibiotic marker. The mutant strain contains a large deletion in the AHBA 'B' biosynthetic region.

Deletion mutants are patched onto Medium 1 and grown at 28⁰C for four days. A 6 mm circular plug from each patch is used to inoculate individual 50 ml. falcon tubes containing 10 ml. seed medium (per litre; glucose 4Og, beet molasses 10g, yeast extract 2.5g, peptone 2.5g, tryptone 2.5g, oatmeal 5g). These seed cultures are incubated for 36-72h at 28⁰C, 300 rpm with a 1 inch throw. These are then used to inoculate (0.5 ml. into 10 ml.) production medium (same as seed medium) and are grown at 28⁰C for 6 days. Secondary metabolites are extracted and analysed by LCMS for production of geldanamycin analogues as described in the General Methods. One mutant is designated S. hygroscopicus AHBA and is characterised by the lack of production of geldanamycin. Further, geldanamycin production should be restored by feeding AHBA at 24 hours into production.

Example 5 Generation of a strain with both gdmM and AHBA synthesis inactivated by transformation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^" with pKC1139AHBAdel.

The success of feeding to Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^" can be improved by removing competition by AHBA. Therefore using exactly the same procedure as for example 4 an AHBA 'B' deletion is carried out in Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^" to generate a superior strain for the production of compounds of the invention.

Escherichia coli ET12567, harbouring the plasmid pUZ8002 was transformed with pKC1 139AHBAdel by electroporation to generate the E. coli donor strain for conjugation. This strain is used to transform Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus (NRRL 3602) by conjugation using standard methods (Kieser ef a/, (2000) Practical Streptomyces Genetics).

Exconjugants were selected as described above (example 4) and secondary recombinants selected as described above.

The final double deletion strain is designated Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^'AHBAB^" and is characterised by its lack of production of geldanamycin or geldanamycin analogues. When production cultures are supplemented with AHBA, KOS-1806 production is restored (Rascher et al. 2005).

Example 6 Generation of novel Geldanamycin analogues by feeding to a strain with both gdmM and AHBA synthesis inactivated - Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^" AHBAB^" 16.1 Biotransformation using Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^'AH BAB^'

Streptomyces hygroscopicus gdmM^'AHBAB^" , generation of which is described in example 5 above, is patched onto MAM plates (medium 1 ) and grown at 28⁰C for three days. A 6 mm circular plug is used to inoculate individual 50 ml. falcon tubes containing 10 ml. seed medium (per litre; glucose 4Og, beet molasses 10g, yeast extract 2.5g, peptone 2.5g, tryptone 2.5g, oatmeal 5g). These seed cultures are incubated for 36-72h at 28⁰C, 300 rpm with a 1 inch throw. These are then used to inoculate (0.5 ml. into 10 ml.) production medium (same as seed medium) and are grown at 28⁰C for 24 h.. 0.1 ml. of a 200 mM feed stock solution (in methanol - see list in table 5) is added to each falcon tube to give a final feed concentration of 2 mM. Tubes are incubated for a further 6 days at 28⁰C.

16.2 Identification of novel geldanamvcin analogues by LCMS in culture extracts

Extracts of the fermentation described in example 16.1 are generated and assayed by LCMS as described in General Methods. In all cases, the major ansamycin expected to be observed is described in table 5, and these ansamycins should not be seen in extracts of fermentations which are unfed. The table describes the substituted benzoic acid analogue which is fed to the strain, the LCMS masses, and the mass of the compound. Figures 3 and 4 show the structures of the compounds expected to be produced Table 5 - compounds identified by LCMS

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Claims

Claims

1. A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

(I) wherein:

Ri represents H, OH, OMe;

R₂ represents H or Me; R₃ represents H or CONH₂,

R₄ and R₅ either both represent H or together they represent a bond (i.e. C4 to C5 is a double bond);

R₆ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OaRna;

R₇ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1ObRnb; R₈ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OcRnc;

R₉ represents H, F, OH, OMe, Br, Cl, CF₃, CH₃, SH, CH₂CH₃ or NR_1OdRnd;

Rioa, Rna, Riob, Rub, Rioc, Rue, Riod, Rnd independently represent H, CH₃ or CH₂CH₃; provided however that:

(i) when R₆ represents H, R₇ represents OH and R₈ represents OH then R₉ does not represent H;

(ii) when R₇ represents OH, R₈ represents H and R₉ represent H, then R₆ does not represent H, OH or OMe; and (iii) when R₇ represents OMe, R₈ represent H and R₉ represents H, then R₆ does not represent OMe.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein:

(iv) when R₆ represents H, OH, or OMe, R₇ represents H and R₈ represents H then R₉ does not represent OH, Cl or NH₂; and (v) when R₆ represents H, OH, or OMe, R₈ represents H and R₉ represents H then R₇ does not represent NH₂.

3. A compound according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein:

(vi) when R₆ represents H or OH, then R₇, R₈ and R₉ do not all represent H.

4. A compound according to claim 1 which is a compound of formula (IA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

(IA) wherein:

Ri represents H, OH, OMe; R₂ represents H or Me;

R₃ represents H or CONH₂,

R₄ and R₅ either both represent H or together they represent a bond (i.e. C4 to C5 is a double bond);

R₆ represents H, OH, OMe or F; R₇ represents H or F;

R₈ represents H or F;

R₉ represents H.

5. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R₁ represents H.

6. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R₁ represents OH.

7. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein R₂ represents H.

8. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein R₃ represents CONH₂

9. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein R₄ and R₅ together represent a bond.

10. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein R₄ and R₅ each represent H.

1 1. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R₆, R₇ and R₈ do not all represent H.

12. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R₆, R₇ and R₈ all represent H.

13. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein when R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ represents H, R₆ represents H and R₇ represents H then R₈ does not represent H.

14. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂ and R₄ and R₅ each represent H.

15. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H and R₃ represents CONH₂ and R₄ and R₅ each represent H.

16. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R₆ represents H or F.

17. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16 wherein R₇ represents H or F.

18. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16 wherein R₇ represents OH.

19. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16 to 18 wherein R₈ represents H or F.

20. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16 to 19 wherein R₉ represents H.

21. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16 to 20 wherein R_1Oa, Rna, R-iob, Rub, R-ioc, R-i-ic, Riod, Rnd represent H.

22. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H and R₃ represents CONH₂ and R₄ and R₅ each represent H and R₆ represents OH.

23. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇ and R₈ each represent H.

24. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OH and R₇ and R₈ each represent H.

25. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F and R₇ and R₈ each represent H,

26. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents F and R₇ and R₈ each represent H.

27. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H,

28. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents OH, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H,

29. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ represents H, R₇ represents F and R₈ represents H.

30. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ and R₇ each represent F and R₈ represents H,

31. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents OH, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆ and R₇ each represent F and R₈ represents H.

32. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R₁ represents H, R₂ represents H, R₃ represents CONH₂, R₄ and R₅ each represent H, R₆, R₇ and R₈ each represent F,

33. A compound according to claim 4 which is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

34. A compound according to claim 4 which is selected from

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any one thereof.

35. A compound according to claim 1 selected from

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any one thereof.

36. A compound according to claim 1 selected from

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any one thereof.

37. A compound according to claim 1 selected from compounds 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 36 and 37 as shown in Figure 4 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any one thereof.

38. A method for preparing an ansamycin analogue which comprises: a) providing a strain that produces an ansamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions b) feeding a starter unit which is not AHBA to said strain such that the starter unit is incorporated into said ansamycin analogue. c) culturing said strain under suitable conditions for the production of an ansamycin analogue; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the starter unit fed in step (b) is not 3- aminobenzoic acid.

40. A method according to claim 38 or 39 wherein the starter unit fed in step (b) is not 3,5- diamino benzoic, 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid or 3-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid.

41. The method of any one of claims 38 to claim 40 wherein the strain of a) is characterised by being a strain which one or more AHBA biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated

42. The method of any one of claims 38 to claim 40 wherein the strain of a) is mutated to lower the efficiency of AHBA biosynthesis.

43. The method of any one of claim 38 to 40 or claim 42 wherein the conditions of step c) are such that the efficiency of AHBA biosynthesis is sub-optimal.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein AHBA is produced by the strain to a level which nevertheless allows incorporation of the fed non-natural starter unit.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the amount of incorporated fed non natural starter unit is >20%, preferably >50% of the total starter unit incorporation.

46. The method of any one of claims 38 to 45 wherein the starter unit is selected from

wherein R₆, R₇, Rs and R₉ are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 37; or an analogue thereof in which the acid moiety is derivatised.

47. A method according to claim 46 wherein R₆, R₇, Rs and R₉ do not all represent H.

48. A method according to claim 46 wherein R₆, R₇, R₈ and R₉ all represent H.

49. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 48 wherein the strain is an ansamycin producing strain and the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21- didesoxyansamycin analogue.

50. A method according to claim 49 wherein the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21-didesoxyansamycin analogue which is optionally substituted by fluorine.

51. A method according to claim 50 wherein the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces a 18,21-didesoxyansamycin analogue which is substituted by fluorine.

52. A method according to any one of claims 49 to 51 wherein the strain is an ansamycin producing strain and the starter unit is selected such that the strain produces an ansamycin analogue which is not substituted at positions 18 or 21 of the benzene ring.

53. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 52 which (i) further comprises the step of subjecting the product of step (d) to a process of chemical modification or biotranformation optionally followed by the step of isolating the resultant compounds or (ii) further comprises the step of subjecting the product of step (c) to a process of chemical modification or biotransformation prior to step (d).

54. A method for the generation of ansamycin analogues, said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces an ansamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions in which optionally one or more post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated and/or one or more starter unit biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated; b) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain c) culturing said modified host strain under suitable conditions for the production of ansamycin analogues; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein the starter unit is not 3,5-diamino benzoic, 3- amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid or 3-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid.

56. A method according to claim 54 or claim 55 wherein the starter unit is not 3 amino benzoic acid..

57. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 56 wherein the fed starter unit is a starter acid.

58. An ansamycin analogue obtainable by the process of any one of claims 38 to 57.

59. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers.

60. An ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58 for use as a medicament.

61. The use of an ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases and/or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer.

62. An ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58 for use as a medicament for the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases and/or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer.

63. A method of treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases or a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer, which comprises administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58.

64. An ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, composition, use or method according to any one of claims 1 to 63, wherein the ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in combination with another treatment.

65. An ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, composition, use or method according to claim 64 where the other treatment is selected from the group consisting of: bleomycin, capecitabine, cisplatin, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, leucovorin, methotrexate, mitoxantone, the taxanes including paclitaxel and docetaxel, vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine; the hormonal therapies, anastrozole, goserelin, megestrol acetate, prenisone, tamoxifen and toremifene; the monoclonal antibody therapies such as trastuzumab (ani-Her2), cetuximab (ant-EGFR) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF); and protein kinase inhibitors such as imatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib, lapatinib, temsirolimus; the proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib; histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as vorinostat; angiogenesis inhibitors such as sunitinib, sorafenib, lenalidomide, radiotherapy and surgery

66. A method for the production of an 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 37 and 58, said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces an ansamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions b) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain c) culturing said host strain under suitable conditions for the production of 18,21 - didesoxy-ansamycin analogues; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

67. A method for the production of an 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 66, said method comprising: a) providing a first host strain that produces geldanamycin or an analogue thereof when cultured under appropriate conditions b) feeding a non-natural starter unit to said strain c) culturing said host strain under suitable conditions for the production of 18,21 - didesoxy-ansamycin analogues; and d) optionally isolating the compounds produced.

68. The method according to claim 66 or 67 wherein the method additional comprises the step of: e) deleting or inactivating one or more of the starter unit biosynthesis genes, or a homologue thereof, said step usually occurring prior to step c).

69. The method according to any one of claims 66 to 68 wherein the method additionally comprises the step of: f) deleting or inactivating one or more post-PKS genes, said step usually occurring prior to step c).

70. The method of any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the non-natural starter unit of step b) is 3-amino benzoic acid

71. The method of any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the non-natural starter unit of step b) is 5-amino-2-fluorobenzoic acid.

72. The method of any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the non-natural starter unit of step b) is 5-amino-3-fluorobenzoic acid.

73. The method of any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the non-natural starter unit of step b) is 5-amino-2,3-di-fluorobenzoic acid.

74. The method of any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the non-natural starter unit of step b) is 5-amino-2,3,6-tri-fluorobenzoic acid.

75. The method according to any one of claims 66 to 74 wherein in step (a) the strain is an ansamycin producing strain.

76. The method according to claim 75 wherein in step (a) the strain is a geldanamycin producing strain.

77. The method according to claim 75 wherein in step (a) the strain is a herbimycin producing strain.

78. The method according to any one of claim 66 to 77 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated.

79. The method according to claim 78 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which one or more of the starter unit biosynthesis genes have been deleted or inactivated.

80. The method according to any one of claim 66 to 79 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

81. The method according to claim 80 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

82. The method according to claim 80 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a herbimycin producing strain in which one or more of the post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

83. The method according to any one of claim 66 to 82 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

84. The method according to claim 83 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which gdmM and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

85. The method according to claim 83 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a herbimycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

86. The method according to claim 83 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on an ansamycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue has been deleted or inactivated.

87 The method according to claim 86 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a geldanamycin producing strain in which gdmM has been deleted or inactivated.

88 The method according to claim 86 wherein in step (a) the strain is an engineered strain based on a herbimycin producing strain in which the gdmM homologue has been deleted or inactivated.

89. An engineered strain based on a ansamycin producing strain in which gdmM or a homologue thereof and one or more of the starter unit biosynthetic genes and optionally further post-PKS genes have been deleted or inactivated.

90 A strain according to claim 89 wherein all genes of the ahba-B cluster of S. hygroscopicus AM3602, or homologue in other strains, have been deleted or inactivated.

91. A strain according to claim 89 or claim 90 which is a geldanamycin producing strain.

92. A strain according to claim 89 or claim 90 which is a herbimycin producing strain.

93. A strain according to claim 91 wherein gdmO is deleted or inactivated.

94. A strain according to claim 92 wherein hbmO is deleted or inactivated.

95. An engineered strain according to any one of claims 89 to 94 wherein the ansamycin producing strain is a streptomycete.

96. An engineered strain according to claim 95 wherein the strain is a geldanamycin producing strain which is Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. geldanus NRRL3602 or Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 or Streptomyces violaceusniger DSM40699.

97. Use of an engineered strain according to any one of claims 89 to 96 in the preparation of an ansamycin analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

98. Use of an engineered strain according to claim 97 wherein the ansamycin analogue is a 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue

99. Use according to claim 98 wherein the 18,21-didesoxy-ansamycin analogue is defined by any one of claims 1 to 37.