Abstract 2570: Discovery of potent, selective, and orally available WEE1 inhibitors that demonstrate increased DNA damage and mitosis in tumor cells leading to tumor regression in vivo
Authors: Sun Shaoxian , Silvergleid Sarah , Gerasyuto Aleksey I. , Wang Jiashi , Pelletier Robert D. , Placzek Andrew , Knight Jennifer L. , Clark Anthony , Wright Hamish , Yin Wu , Elk Jackson Chief , Bell Jeff , Bos Pieter H. , Boyles Nicholas A. , Therrien Eric , Jensen Kristian , Akinsanya Karen 
Published: June 2022

WEE1 inhibits the activation of both CDK1 and CDK2 through phosphorylation of Tyr15, allowing DNA damage repair before entering mitosis, thereby regulating the cell cycle in S and G2/M phases. Inhibition of WEE1 could result in premature progression through the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint with unresolved DNA damage, leading to mitotic catastrophe and cell death. Small molecule WEE1 inhibitors, such as AZD1775 and Zn-C3, are currently being evaluated in the clinic and have demonstrated promising efficacy in solid tumors including ovarian, colon, and uterine carcinoma.

By applying Schrödinger’s computational platform including Free Energy Perturbation (FEP) and Protein FEP, we have identified novel, potent, and highly selective WEE1 inhibitors with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range in a biochemical kinase activity assay and cellular target engagement (CDK1 pTyr15) IC50s of 100 - 300 nM in A427 and OVCAR3 cell lines. The compounds also show potent anti-proliferative activity in over 20 breast and ovarian tumor cell lines, including cell lines insensitive to PARP inhibitors. The compounds demonstrate superior kinase selectivity compared to AZD1775 and Zn-C3 in a broad kinase panel with &gt;450 kinases (ScanMAX). In addition, the compounds show desirable ADME properties and PK profiles in preclinical species. Based on in vitro CYP3A4 TDI assay performance (kinact/KI), we have reduced the potential for drug-drug interaction liabilities compared to AZD1775. In the A427 xenograft model, our WEE1 inhibitors demonstrate dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition and tumor regression at high doses. Anti-tumor activity is also demonstrated in additional tumor models, including OVCAR3 and HCC1806 xenograft models. The established PK-PD relationship shows sustained target engagement (pCDK1), increased DNA damage (gH2AX) and mitosis (pHH3). We demonstrate that hematological adverse effects can be mitigated by dosing holidays in xenograft tumor models while maintaining anti-tumor activity. Notably, our compound shows more sustained anti-tumor activity with dosing holidays compared to AZD1775, which we believe is attributable to the prolonged and higher exposure in tumor and plasma with our compound. In the A427 non small-cell lung cancer xenograft model, following 3 dosing holiday cycles at high doses, tumor eradication was maintained after treatment was stopped. In summary, we have identified novel, potent and exquisitely selective WEE1 kinase inhibitors that demonstrate robust anti-tumor activity and sustained target engagement in tumor models. The compound’s anti-tumor effects are maintained with dosing holidays while allowing full recovery of mechanism-based hematological effects.

Citation Format: Shaoxian Sun, Sarah Silvergleid, Aleksey I. Gerasyuto, Jiashi Wang, Robert D. Pelletier, Andrew Placzek, Jennifer L. Knight, Anthony Clark, Hamish Wright, Wu Yin, Jackson Chief Elk, Jeff Bell, Pieter H. Bos, Nicholas A. Boyles, Eric Therrien, Kristian Jensen, Karen Akinsanya. Discovery of potent, selective, and orally available WEE1 inhibitors that demonstrate increased DNA damage and mitosis in tumor cells leading to tumor regression in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2570.