Abstract 3022: BAY 1143572, a first-in-class, highly selective, potent and orally available inhibitor of PTEFb/CDK9 currently in Phase I, shows convincing anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Authors: Scholz Arne , Oellerich Thomas , Hussain Akhtar , Lindner Sarah , Luecking Ulrich , Walter Annette O. , Ellinghaus Peter , Valencia Ray , von Nussbaum Franz , Mumberg Dominik , Brands Michael , Ince Stuart , Serve Hubert , Ziegelbauer Karl 
Published: July 2016

PTEFb/CDK9 mediated transcription of short-lived anti-apoptotic survival proteins like Mcl-1 and Myc, plays a critical role in cancer cell growth and survival in various tumor entities including AML. In addition, these survival proteins exhibit important functions in the development of resistance to chemotherapy.

In contrast to pan-CDK inhibitors, to our knowledge PTEFb selective inhibitors have not been explored for clinical utility. We report the preclinical activity of BAY 1143572, a novel selective PTEFb/CDK9 inhibitor (AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr DDT02-02) currently being investigated in Phase I clinical trials in advanced cancer (NCT01938638) and acute leukemia (NCT02345382) in various in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models of AML.

BAY 1143572 inhibited the proliferation of 7 MLL-rearrangements positive and negative AML cell lines with a median IC50 of 385 nM (range 230-1100 nM) and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, BAY 1143572 showed potent in vitro activity in 8 out of 10 non-MLL-rearranged patient derived AML samples incl. NPM1 mutant and Flt3-ITD positive samples derived from intermediate and high risk patients. Moreover, we elucidated the dynamic changes of the cellular proteome/phosphoproteome upon pharmacological and genetic PTEFb inhibition and identified PTEFb interaction partners in various AML in vitro models. These analyses uncover the oncogenic PTEFb-dependent signaling networks and substantiate the molecular rationale for the use of PTEFb inhibitors in this indication.

When applied in vivo, BAY 1143572 exhibited single agent efficacy at tolerated doses in 4 out of 5 AML xenograft tumor models in mice and in 2 out of 2 AML xenograft tumor models in rats upon once daily oral administration. Of note, partial or even complete remissions could be achieved in several models. Furthermore, intermittent dosing schedules with up to 4 days treatment pauses were feasible in terms of efficacy and tolerability.

Using MOLM-13 xenografts in mice and rats to address the in vivo MoA of BAY 1143572, a transient inhibition of RNA polymerase II phosphorylation, MYC mRNA and protein levels, MCL-1 mRNA and protein levels, and an induction of apoptosis was documented.

In conclusion, our data provide the rationale for the initiation of clinical development of BAY 1143572 as a potent and highly selective inhibitor of PTEFb/CDK9 with first-in-class potential for the treatment of AML patients. A phase I clinical trial to determine the safety, tolerability and recommended Phase 2 dose in this indication is ongoing (NCT02345382).

Citation Format: Arne Scholz, Thomas Oellerich, Akhtar Hussain, Sarah Lindner, Ulrich Luecking, Annette O. Walter, Peter Ellinghaus, Ray Valencia, Franz von Nussbaum, Dominik Mumberg, Michael Brands, Stuart Ince, Hubert Serve, Karl Ziegelbauer. BAY 1143572, a first-in-class, highly selective, potent and orally available inhibitor of PTEFb/CDK9 currently in Phase I, shows convincing anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3022.