Identification of the Clinical Development Candidate MRTX849, a Covalent KRASG12C Inhibitor for the Treatment of Cancer

J Med Chem. 2020 Jul 9;63(13):6679-6693. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02052. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Abstract

Capping off an era marred by drug development failures and punctuated by waning interest and presumed intractability toward direct targeting of KRAS, new technologies and strategies are aiding in the target's resurgence. As previously reported, the tetrahydropyridopyrimidines were identified as irreversible covalent inhibitors of KRASG12C that bind in the switch-II pocket of KRAS and make a covalent bond to cysteine 12. Using structure-based drug design in conjunction with a focused in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion screening approach, analogues were synthesized to increase the potency and reduce metabolic liabilities of this series. The discovery of the clinical development candidate MRTX849 as a potent, selective covalent inhibitor of KRASG12C is described.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)