The clinical candidate, ASTX029, is a novel, dual mechanism ERK1/2 Inhibitor and has potent activity in MAPK-activated cancer cell lines and in vivo tumor models

/in , , , , ,

View Poster:

The clinical candidate, ASTX029, is a novel, dual mechanism ERK1/2 Inhibitor and has potent activity in MAPK-activated cancer cell lines and in vivo tumor models

Summary

  • The MAPK signaling pathway is commonly upregulated in human cancers due to oncogenic mutations of upstream
    components such as BRAF or KRAS.
  • MAPK pathway inhibition has been clinically validated by BRAF and MEK inhibitors.
  • As the final node in the MAPK pathway, ERK is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of MAPK-activated cancers, including those resistant to upstream inhibition.
  • Previously we described the fragment-based discovery of a chemical series targeting ERK[1]. Here we disclose for the first time the structure of the clinical candidate, ASTX029.

References:

  1. Heightman et al., (2018). J Med Chem 61; 4978

2020 AACR: Fragment-based drug discovery to identify small molecule allosteric inhibitors of SHP2

/in , ,

View Poster:

2020 AACR: Fragment-based drug discovery to identify small molecule allosteric inhibitors of SHP2

2020 AACR: ASTX660, a non-peptidomimetic antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, promotes an anti-tumor immune response in pre-clinical models of T-cell lymphoma

/in , , , , ,

View Poster:

ASTX660, a non-peptidomimetic antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, promotes an anti-tumor immune response in pre-clinical models of T-cell lymphoma

Summary

  • ASTX660 is a potent, non-peptidomimetic antagonist of the cellular and X-linked inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAP1/2 and XIAP), which is currently being tested in a first in human phase I-II study in patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas (NCT02503423) where preliminary activity has been described in a group of T-cell lymphomas (1)
  • Herein, together with its well-characterized pro-apoptotic effect (2), we describe a new role for ASTX660 as an immunomodulatory molecule capable of promoting an anti-tumor immune response in pre-clinical models of T-cell lymphoma. These data add to the description of ASTX660’s mode of action and our ongoing understanding of the preliminary clinical efficacy that has been reported.

References:
1. Samaniego F, et al., Hematological Oncology. 2019;37(S2):527.
2.Ward GA et al., Mol Can Ther. 2018;17(7):1381-91

2020 AACR: Different pharmacodynamic profiles of ERK1/2 inhibition can elicit comparable anti-tumor activity

/in , ,

View Poster:

Different pharmacodynamic profiles of ERK1/2 inhibition can elicit comparable anti-tumor activity

Summary

  • The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is frequently dysregulated in cancer, leading to activation of the downstream kinases ERK1/2 (ERK). Phosphorylation of ERK substrates such as p90RSK (RSK) leads to cancer cell proliferation.
  • Clinical efficacy can be limited by toxicity, so it is important to establish an optimal, tolerated dose schedule which maximises efficacy. Preclinical studies investigating the duration of target engagement required for efficacy can inform on dose schedules to be tested in the clinic.
  • A number of compounds under clinical development target ERK activity directly: we have recently described the development of a novel, potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of ERK, the lead compound, using fragment-based drug discovery1.

2019 AD/PD: Discovering small-molecule modulators of autophagy for neurodegeneration

/in , ,

View Poster:

Discovering Small-Molecule Modulators of Autophagy for Neurodegeneration

Summary

  • Autophagy is a major protein degradation pathway with proven roles in protecting neurons against accumulation of aggregation-prone proteins and obsolete mitochondria. Genetics of human-disease and mouse-knockout studies highlight the connection between autophagy dysfunction and neurodegeneration, and therefore finding a way to augment autophagic-flux seems a promising therapeutic strategy (Rubinsztein DC, Bento CF & Deretic V. Journal of Experimental Medicine 2015; Bento CF et al. Annual Review of Biochemistry 2016).
  • Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has the potential to deliver potent, selective and CNS-penetrant small-molecules capable of inducing autophagy in the brain. For that purpose, the use of cell-based assays that accurately monitor the ability of small-molecules to modulate autophagy in a high-throughput- and unbiased-manner is instrumental.

2018 EORTC: A novel ERK1/2 inhibitor has potent activity in NRAS-mutant melanoma cancer models

/in , ,

View Poster:

A novel ERK1/2 inhibitor has potent activity in NRAS-mutant melanoma cancer models

Summary

  • NRAS mutations occuring 15- 20% of melanoma cancer patients. Currently there is no approved molecularly targeted therapy for NRAS mutant melanoma, an indication which is associated with aggressive clinical outcome and a poor prognosis.
  • The NRAS mutation leads to constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway. AsERK1/2(ERK) is the primary downstream effect or of the MAPK pathway, its direct inhibition may provide an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of NRAS-mutant melanoma.
  • As previously described, using fragment-based drug discovery we have identified a novel and selective inhibitor of ERK which inhibits in vitro ERK catalytic activity as well as ERK phosphorylation 1.
  • Here, we demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo activity of a novel, highly potent, selective ERK inhibitor in models of NRAS-mutant melanoma.

2017 EORTC: Characterisation of a novel ERK1/2 inhibitor, which modulates the phosphorylation and catalytic activity of ERK1/2

/in , ,

View Poster:

Characterisation of a novel ERK1/2 inhibitor, which modulates the phosphorylation and catalytic activity of ERK1/2

Summary

  • The MAPK pathway is commonly hyper-activated in human cancers due to the occurrence of oncogenic mutations in RAF and RAS, and multiple studies have demonstrated that MAPK pathway inhibition suppresses the growth of such cancer cells.
  • MAPK inhibition has been clinically validated by BRAF and MEK inhibitors, which are approved for the treatment of BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma and NSCLC. However, response to such agents is often short-lived due to the onset of resistance mechanisms that result in re-activation of ERK1/2 (ERK) signalling1,2.
  • RAF and MEK inhibitors have also been clinically tested in other cancers, including BRAF-mutant colorectal (CRC) and KRAS-mutantNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where they had limited clinical activity3,4.
  • As ERK is the primary downstream effector of the MAPK pathway, it is hypothesized that ERK inhibitors may prove to be less susceptible to oncogenic bypass than RAF and MEK inhibitors and therefore have the potential to overcome the limitations of RAF and MEK inhibitors.
  • Using fragment-based drug discovery we have developed a novel, potent and selective ERK inhibitor, which inhibits in vitro ERK catalytic activity with a low nMIC50 value and has strong anti-proliferative effects in a wide range of MAPK-activated cell lines.
  • In addition to inhibiting ERK catalytic activity, the compound also inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK by MEK and confers a decrease in cellular pERKlevels in both BRAF-mutant and KRAS-mutant cell lines (in vitro and in in vivo pharmacodynamic[PD] studies).
  • Once daily oral dosing of the lead compound (50 mg/kg) conferred significant anti-tumoractivity in a range of in vivo models.
  • These data support the further optimisation of this series of compounds for clinical development.

2020 EHA: Characterization of ASTX660, an antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, in mouse models of T cell lymphoma

/in , , , , ,

View Poster:

Characterization of ASTX660, an antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, in mouse models of T cell lymphoma

Abstract:

Background:  ASTX660 is a potent, non-peptidomimetic antagonist of the cellular and X-linked inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAP1/2 and XIAP), which is currently being tested in a first in human phase I-II study in patients with advanced solid tumor and lymphomas (NCT02503423). IAP antagonists have been reported to exhibit broad immuno-modulatory effects on both the innate and adaptive immune systems .

Aims:  We have investigated the profile of ASTX660 in preclinical T cell lymphoma models and evaluated ASTX660’s ability to enhance immune mediated killing of T cell lymphoma cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods:  ASTX660 was tested in a panel of human and mouse tumor cell lines, assessing apoptosis, necroptosis and immunogenic cell death (ICD). ASTX660 was tested in vitro alone or with recombinant death receptor ligands (TNFa, FASL or TRAIL) and with or without caspase-8/RIPK inhibitors to demonstrate mechanism of action. Target engagement along with induction of apoptosis, necroptosis and ICD markers were analysed by Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Murine tumor models in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice were utilised to evaluate the efficacy of ASTX660 in the presence or absence of an effective immune response. The Nanostring IO360 panel was used to assess immune cell recruitment.

Results:  ASTX660 antagonised IAPs in cell lines, as indicated by a decrease in cIAP1 protein levels and disruption of the XIAP:SMAC protein complex. In murine T cell lymphoma cell lines (BW5147, EL4 and L5178Y), ASTX660 treatment was associated with an increase in apoptosis or necroptosis and ICD biomarkers. In immunocompetent mice, administration of ASTX660 delivered a complete regression of BW5147 tumor growth, which was not seen in mice deficient in T and B cells. These mice remained refractory to subsequent rechallenge after initial complete regression. Biomarker evaluation from this model indicated a potent immunogenic/necroptotic response after ASTX660 dosing and upregulation of immune effector cells.

References:
1. Michie J. et al., The Immuno-Modulatory Effects of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins Antagonists, Cells, 2020, 9(1), 207.
2. A. Hollebecque et al., AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, 2019.

 

2020 EHA: ASTX295, a novel small molecule MDM2 antagonist, demonstrates potent activity in AML in combination with decitabine

/in , , , , ,

View Poster:
ASTX295, a novel small molecule MDM2 antagonist, demonstrates potent activity in AML in combination with decitabine

Abstract:

Background: The tumour suppressor p53 is activated in response to various stress signals to induce transcriptional changes leading to cellular responses such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Activity of p53 is tightly regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2, which inhibits p53 function by, for example, targeting it for proteasomal degradation. Targeting the MDM2-p53 interaction to restore p53 function, is therefore, a promising strategy for cancer therapy and a number of these compounds are in clinical development including ASTX295 (NCT03975387). ASTX295 is a novel, orally bioavailable MDM2 antagonist developed through structure-based drug design that has demonstrated potent activity in a range of p53 wild-type pre-clinical models.

Aims: We investigated the therapeutic potential of ASTX295 alone and in combination with decitabine, a DNA- hypomethylating agent, in AML.

Methods: Primary blasts were isolated from AML patient samples using a combination of antibodies against CD34, CD33, CD45 and CD117. A panel of AML cell lines and primary AML blasts were treated with decitabine and ASTX295 at a range of concentrations, alone and in combination. After treatment, viability was assessed by Alamar blue assay or induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry using a fluorescent caspase substrate or Annexin V.

Effects of drug combinations were analysed using the Combenefit software based on different mathematical models (Loewe, bliss & HSA). Target engagement was confirmed by western blotting.

Results: When tested in a panel of p53 wild-type AML cell lines, ASTX295 exerted a strong anti-proliferative effect in which GI50 <30 nM was observed in 9 out of 11 cell lines. Additionally, p53 activation by ASTX295 triggered apoptosis in both AML cell lines, and primary AML blasts isolated from patients.

Activity of ASTX295 was further enhanced by combining with decitabine. Treatment of AML cell lines with ASTX295 and decitabine showed an increase in growth inhibitory effect and apoptosis compared to respective single agent treatments. This combinatory effect, as assessed by Combenefit, was also observed in primary AML blasts in which 7 of 12 samples tested demonstrated increased apoptosis at or above 300 nM ASTX295 and 100 nM decitabine. Target engagement of ASTX295 and decitabine was confirmed by upregulation of p53 transcriptional targets and decreased DNMT-1 expression.

Summary/Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the combination of ASTX295 with decitabine exhibits potent activity against p53 wild-type AML cells, and thus merits further investigation.

2018 AACR: Development of a potent class of small molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction

/in , ,

Summary
In response to cellular stress, the p53 tumor suppressor is activated to modulate cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and cell death. The activity of p53 is tightly regulated by MDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets p53 for proteasomal degradation. Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction in tumors carrying wild-type p53 can therefore reactivate p53 and elicit an anti-cancer effect. Small molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 interaction remains a promising strategy for cancer therapy and a number of these compounds are in clinical development.

An isoindolinone series, identified by the Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR), has been used as a starting point for the development of potent MDM2-p53 inhibitors. Structure based drug design was applied during lead optimisation to gain potency whilst also focusing on stabilizing the main metabolically labile position and reducing lipophilicity.  This approach led to potent compounds with EC50 <1 nM against MDM2 in cell-free ELISA assays and EC50 <30 nM for p53 induction in SJSA-1 osteosarcoma cells. Further analyses of the compounds demonstrated an increase in the levels of p53 and p53 transcriptional targets as a result of inhibiting the MDM2-p53 interaction. Using three pairs of isogenic cell lines, the compounds were shown to be specific for cell lines with wild-type p53. Key compounds were also characterized in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in mice bearing the SJSA-1 tumor xenograft where they displayed strong induction of p53, 3 hours post oral administration, together with an increase in the expression of p53 target genes p21 and MDM2. These potent MDM2-p53 inhibitors have also shown significant in vivo efficacy in the SJSA-1 xenograft model at well tolerated oral doses.  Thus, promising lead compounds were identified, meriting further optimization of the series.

View further details
Development of a potent class of small molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction