AbstractBruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) has emerged as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Compounds were designed and evaluated in CADD based on published crystal structure. Selected compounds were synthesized and evaluated by BTK enzymatic assay. A chemical series where the central ring of ibrutinib was replaced by a bioisosteric motif showed strong enzyme inhibition activity. Further SAR of terminal aryl ring and Michael acceptor in terms of enzymatic activity, DMPK, hERG activity, and solubility was conducted. As a result, WX486 was identified as a potent (IC50=2.1 nM), selective (200~5000-fold over other 24 kinases), orally bioavailable (F=26.2%, 42.7%, 40.8% for mice, rats, and dogs, respectively), and soluble (solubility=266.40, 214.47, 209.01 μM at pH 2.5, 6.5, 7.4 respectively) preclinical candidate.