Discovery of BWA-522, a First-in-Class and Orally Bioavailable PROTAC Degrader of the Androgen Receptor Targeting N-Terminal Domain for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

J Med Chem. 2023 Aug 24;66(16):11158-11186. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00585. Epub 2023 Aug 9.

Abstract

We report small molecular PROTAC compounds targeting the androgen receptor N-terminal domain (AR-NTD), which were obtained by tethering AR-NTD antagonists and different classes of E3 ligase ligands through chemical linkers. A representative compound, BWA-522, effectively induces degradation of both AR-FL and AR-V7 and is more potent than the corresponding antagonist against prostate cancer (PC) cells in vitro. We have shown that the degradation of AR-FL and AR-V7 proteins by BWA-522 can suppress the expression of AR downstream proteins and induce PC cell apoptosis. BWA-522 achieves 40.5% oral bioavailability in mice and 69.3% in beagle dogs. In a LNCaP xenograft model study, BWA-522 was also proved to be an efficacious PROTAC degrader, resulting in 76% tumor growth inhibition after oral administration of a dose of 60 mg/kg. This study indicates that BWA-522 is a promising AR-NTD PROTAC for the treatment of AR-FL- and AR-V7-dependent tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / chemistry
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / drug therapy
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera* / chemistry
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera* / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera