Discovery of Novel Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase PROTACs with Enhanced Selectivity and Cellular Efficacy

J Med Chem. 2023 Jun 8;66(11):7454-7474. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00176. Epub 2023 May 17.

Abstract

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a target for treating B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases, and several BTK inhibitors are already approved for use in humans. Heterobivalent BTK protein degraders are also in development, based on the premise that proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) may provide additional therapeutic benefits. However, most BTK PROTACs are based on the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib raising concerns about their selectivity profiles, given the known off-target effects of ibrutinib. Here, we disclose the discovery and in vitro characterization of BTK PROTACs based on the selective BTK inhibitor GDC-0853 and the cereblon recruitment ligand pomalidomide. PTD10 is a highly potent BTK degrader (DC50 0.5 nM) that inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis at lower concentrations than the two parent molecules, as well as three previously reported BTK PROTACs, and had improved selectivity compared to ibrutinib-based BTK PROTACs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • B-Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases*
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera* / chemistry
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera
  • fenebrutinib
  • pomalidomide