Researchers from Zhejiang University and affiliated organizations have reported the discovery of novel orally bioavailable bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9) proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) candidates for the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). Synthesis and optimization led to the discovery of a novel series of BRD9 PROTACs, with compound [I] selected as the lead candidate with the best degradation and proliferation inhibition activities in vitro.

Isozymes that are overexpressed in cancer and key in some metabolic processes are potential therapeutic targets. Previous studies found that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) is required by cancer cells for maintaining high metabolic activity and proliferation in some cancer types, but no small-molecule PCK2 inhibitors currently exist.

Previous studies with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) inhibitors have demonstrated their potential as antitumor agents across several tumor models when administered alone or in combination with standard treatments.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Scenic Biotech BV presented promising preclinical data on SC-2882, a first-in-class specific glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like (QPCTL) inhibitor that induces secondary proteolytic degradation of the monocyte chemo attractants CCL2 and CCL7 and inactivation of the “don’t-eat-me” signal CD47, as a novel therapeutic for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

In a recent publication in Scientific Reports, researchers at City of Hope and collaborators presented a novel CS1 bsAb, called CS1-dbBiTE, conjugating an intact anti-CS1 antibody (elotuzumab) and an anti-human OKT3 antibody at their respective hinge regions using Click chemistry.