OTS-167 is a maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) inhibitor which demonstrated antitumor properties in laboratory tests. It is being developed as an anti-cancer drug. The compound has been shown to suppress the growth of breast, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer cells that express high levels of the MELK protein. OTS167 reached phase II clinical trials in patients with AML, ALL, advanced MDSs, advanced MPNs, or advanced CML and phase I in patients with breast cancer.

BMS-754807 is a small-molecule insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist that was being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. BMS-754807 is a potent and reversible inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor/insulin receptor family kinases (Ki, <2 nmol/L). It is currently in phase II development for the treatment of a variety of human cancers. BMS-754807 effectively inhibits the growth of a broad range of human tumor types in vitro, including mesenchymal (Ewing's, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and liposarcoma), epithelial (breast, lung, pancreatic, colon, gastric), and hematopoietic (multiple myeloma and leukemia) tumor cell lines (IC50, 5-365 nmol/L); the compound caused apoptosis in a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, Rh41, as shown by an accumulation of the sub-G1 fraction, as well as by an increase in poly ADP ribose polymerase and Caspase 3 cleavage. BMS-754807 is active in vivo in multiple (epithelial, mesenchymal, and hematopoietic) xenograft tumor models with tumor growth inhibition ranging from 53% to 115% and at a minimum effective dose of as low as 6.25 mg/kg dosed orally daily. Combination studies with BMS-754807 have been done on multiple human tumor cell types and showed in vitro synergies (combination index, <1.0) when combined with cytotoxic, hormonal, and targeted agents. The combination of cetuximab and BMS-754807 in vivo, at multiple dose levels, resulted in improved clinical outcome over single agent treatment. These data show that BMS-754807 is an efficacious, orally active growth factor 1 receptor/insulin receptor family-targeted kinase inhibitor that may act in combination with a wide array of established anticancer agents.

LY2334737 an orally active amide prodrug of gemcitabine, a nucleoside analog chemotherapeutic with a broad spectrum of anti-tumor activity against several human malignancies including pancreatic, ovarian, lung, breast, and bladder. LY2334737 was developed to be absorbed intact and cleaved in vivo, releasing gemcitabine and valproic acid to achieve prolonged systemic exposure, good efficacy with lower toxicity along with added flexibility of administration and greater patient convenience. The hydrolysis and pharmacokinetics of LY2334737 and its downstream metabolites was evaluated in preclinical in vitro and in vivo experiments in mice, rats, and dogs, which demonstrated the prodrug is absorbed largely intact across the intestinal epithelium and delivers LY2334737 to systemic circulation. The hydrolysis of LY2334737 is relatively slow, resulting in sustained release of gemcitabine in vivo. A major enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of LY2334737 is carboxylesterase 2 (CES2). The compound has entered clinical trials and is being evaluated as a potential new anticancer agent.

OTS-167 is a maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) inhibitor which demonstrated antitumor properties in laboratory tests. It is being developed as an anti-cancer drug. The compound has been shown to suppress the growth of breast, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer cells that express high levels of the MELK protein. OTS167 reached phase II clinical trials in patients with AML, ALL, advanced MDSs, advanced MPNs, or advanced CML and phase I in patients with breast cancer.