Target Identification of Marine Natural Product Odoamide:Odoamide Induces Apoptotic Cell Death by Targeting ATPase Na/K Transporting Subunit Alpha 1 (ATP1A1).

Marine natural products show a large variety of unique chemical structures and potent biological activities. Elucidating the target molecule and the mechanism of action is an essential and challenging step in drug development starting with a natural product. Odoamide, a member of aurilide-family isolated from Okinawan marine cyanobacterium, has been known to exhibit highly potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines.

ER-851, a Novel Selective Inhibitor of AXL, Overcomes Resistance to Antimitotic Drugs.

Innate and adaptive resistance to cancer therapies, such as chemotherapies, molecularly targeted therapies, and immune-modulating therapies, is a major issue in clinical practice. Subpopulations of tumor cells expressing the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL become enriched after treatment with antimitotic drugs, causing tumor relapse. Elevated AXL expression is closely associated with drug resistance in clinical samples, suggesting that AXL plays a pivotal role in drug resistance.

Discovery of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel selective Axl inhibitors.

Axl and Mer are members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Previously, we reported that enzyme-mediated inhibition of Mer by an Axl/Mer dual inhibitor led to retinal toxicity in mice, whereas selective Axl inhibition by compound 1 did not. On the other hand, compound 1 showed low membrane permeability.

Discovery of a potent and selective Axl inhibitor in preclinical model.

Axl and Mer are a members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which, when activated, can promote tumor cell survival, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and tumor-host interactions. Chronic inhibition of Mer leads to retinal toxicity in mice. Therefore, successful development of an Axl targeting agent requires ensuring that it is safe for prolonged treatment.