Download MendeleyDiscovery of ASTX029, A Clinical Candidate Which Modulates the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK1/2.
Heightman, T.D., Berdini, V., Bevan, L., Buck, I.M., Carr, M.G., Courtin, A., Coyle, J.E., Day, J.E.H., East, C., Fazal, L., Griffiths-Jones, C.M., Howard, S., Kucia-Tran, J., Martins, V., Muench, S., Munck, J.M., Norton, D., O'Reilly, M., Palmer, N., Pathuri, P., Peakman, T.M., Reader, M., Rees, D.C., Rich, S.J., Shah, A., Wallis, N.G., Walton, H., Wilsher, N.E., Woolford, A.J., Cooke, M., Cousin, D., Onions, S., Shannon, J., Watts, J., Murray, C.W.(2021) J Med Chem 64: 12286-12303
- PubMed: 34387469
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00905
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
7NQQ, 7NQW, 7NR3, 7NR5, 7NR8, 7NR9 - PubMed Abstract:
Aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway frequently drives tumor growth, and the ERK1/2 kinases are positioned at a key node in this pathway, making them important targets for therapeutic intervention. Recently, a number of ERK1/2 inhibitors have been advanced to investigational clinical trials in patients with activating mutations in B-Raf proto-oncogene or Ras. Here, we describe the discovery of the clinical candidate ASTX029 ( 15 ) through structure-guided optimization of our previously published isoindolinone lead ( 7 ). The medicinal chemistry campaign focused on addressing CYP3A4-mediated metabolism and maintaining favorable physicochemical properties. These efforts led to the identification of ASTX029, which showed the desired pharmacological profile combining ERK1/2 inhibition with suppression of phospho-ERK1/2 (pERK) levels, and in addition, it possesses suitable preclinical pharmacokinetic properties predictive of once daily dosing in humans. ASTX029 is currently in a phase I-II clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Organizational Affiliation:
Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge CB4 0QA, U.K.
