Abstract LB-296: Discovery of ARN-3261 as a potent, selective, orally available SIK2 inhibitor for treating ovarian, endometrial, primary peritoneal, fallopian tube, and triple negative breast cancers
Authors: Hariprasad Vankayalapati, Venkatakrishnareddy Yerramreddy, Jinhua Zhou, Jeffrey A. Handler, Rajendra P. Appalaneni, Ramamohan R. Kancherla, Roy J. Wu, Hiroshi Takemori, Angelique Whitehurst, Amir Anthony Jazaeri, Robert L. Coleman, Zhen Lu, Robert C. Bast
Journal: Cancer Research (2017)

Abstract ARN-3261 is an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of the Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2, 11 nM) and SIK3 (19 nM). Three isoforms of SIK (SIKs) proteins have been reported: SIK1 (SNF1LK), SIK2 (QIK), and SIK3 (QSK). They are the Ser/Thr centrosome kinase family members required for bipolar mitotic spindle formation. The overexpression of SIK2 kinase in 30% of ovarian cancer specimens allows a novel, clinically important new method of treating ovarian cancer by blocking SIK2 kinase activity. In addition to a role in ovarian cancer, SIK2 and SIK3 are prevalent in several other tumor types, including breast, prostate diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and melanoma cancers. Inhibition of SIK2 has been reported to cause centrosome splitting in interphase, while SIK2 depletion blocked centrosome separation in mitosis and sensitized ovarian cancers to paclitaxel in culture and in vivo Xenograft models. Depletion of SIK2 also delayed G1/S transition and reduced AKT phosphorylation. Higher levels of expression of SIK2 have been shown to be highly correlated with poor survival in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancers. Using the homology structure of SIK2, fragment-based lead optimization strategies, and screening and structure-activity relationship efforts, we have discovered ARN-3261, a first-in-class novel, selective inhibitor of SIK2 that could prove useful in treating ovarian, endometrial, primary peritoneal, fallopian tube, and triple negative breast cancers. ARN-3261 specifically inhibited SIK2-expressed SKOv3 cells with an IC50 of 92 nM. ARN3261 was effective against ovarian, breast cancer cell lines alone and in combination with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin. ARN-3261 also inhibited ovarian tumor growth significantly at 70% in SKOv3 human ovarian cancer Xenografts in Ncr nu/nu mice in a dose dependent manner at 20, 40, 60, and 100 mg/kg orally. Moreover, ARN-3261 has exhibited excellent in vivo pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics, and correlative PK/PD and ADME characteristics. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo tumor up-take studies suggest that ARN-3261 blocks centrosome separation by inhibiting SIK2, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of Paclitaxel. Encouraged by these results, we initiated the IND enabling GLP-Toxicology and safety studies to bring ARN-3261 to the clinic for First-In-Human (FIH) Phase 1 trials. The non-clinical pharmacology data along with Phase 1 POC clinical trial plans will be presented. Citation Format: Hariprasad Vankayalapati, Venkatakrishnareddy Yerramreddy, Jinhua Zhou, Jeffrey A. Handler, Rajendra P. Appalaneni, Ramamohan R. Kancherla, Roy J. Wu, Hiroshi Takemori, Angelique Whitehurst, Amir Anthony Jazaeri, Robert L. Coleman, Zhen Lu, Robert C. Bast. Discovery of ARN-3261 as a potent, selective, orally available SIK2 inhibitor for treating ovarian, endometrial, primary peritoneal, fallopian tube, and triple negative breast cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-296. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-296