Discovery of AS-0141, a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of CDC7 Kinase for the Treatment of Solid Cancers

J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 14;64(19):14153-14164. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01319. Epub 2021 Oct 5.

Abstract

CDC7, a serine-threonine kinase, plays conserved and important roles in regulation of DNA replication and has been recognized as a potential anticancer target. We report here the optimization of a series of furanone analogues starting from compound 1 with a focus on ADME properties suitable for clinical development. By replacing the 2-chlorobenzene moiety in 1 with various aliphatic groups, we identified compound 24 as a potent CDC7 inhibitor with excellent kinase selectivity and favorable oral bioavailability in multiple species. Oral administration of 24 demonstrated robust in vivo antitumor efficacy in a colorectal cancer xenograft model. Compound 24 (AS-0141) is currently in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of solid cancers.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • CDC7 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases