TAK-960 is a novel, investigational, orally bioavailable, potent, and selective PLK1 inhibitor(IC50=1.5 nM) that has shown activity in several tumor cell lines, including those that express multidrug-resistant protein 1 (MDR1). In animal models, oral administration of TAK-960 increased pHH3 in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited the growth of HT-29 colorectal cancer xenografts. Treatment with once daily TAK-960 exhibited significant efficacy against multiple tumor xenografts, including an adriamycin/paclitaxel-resistant xenograft model and a disseminated leukemia model. TAK-960 had been in phase I clinical trials by Takeda for the treatment of solid tumours. It had also been in preclinical trials for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia. However, these studies were discontinued.