Download MendeleyDiscovery and Optimization of a Potent, Efficacious, and Brain-Penetrant Inhibitor of KRAS G12C.
Landry, M.L., Malhotra, S., Beresini, M., Chan, C., Chan, E., de la Cruz, C.C., Endres, N.F., Evangelista, M., Gustafson, A., Hu, D., Hunsaker, T., Hsu, P., Izrayelit, Y., La, H., Saenz-Lopez Larrocha, P., Lian, Q., Merchant, M., Mao, J., Mroue, R., Oh, A., Plise, E., Shao, C., Siu, M., Tran, J.C., Wang, Y., Wang, W., Wei, B., Wong, S., Yen, C.W., Zhou, Y., Purkey, H.E., Heffron, T.P., Salphati, L.(2026) J Med Chem 69: 5241-5258
- PubMed: 41769711 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c02279
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9PIZ - PubMed Abstract:
Mutant KRAS is highly prevalent in human cancer and has been actively pursued as a target for drug discovery. Much progress has been made in drugging KRAS G12C, owing to the ability of inhibitors to covalently target its oncogenic cysteine mutation at codon 12. A number of KRAS G12C inhibitors have advanced to clinical development and are being investigated for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. Notably, many patients with KRAS G12C-positive non-small cell lung cancer develop brain metastases. Herein, we report the discovery and development of a brain-penetrant inhibitor of KRAS G12C using divarasib as a starting point. Optimization efforts focused on reducing molecular weight and topological polar surface area as well as shielding of hydrogen bond donors. In this manner, active transport by both P-gp and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) was attenuated, and high exposure in rodent brain tissue was achieved.
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States.
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