Mutant‐Selective Allosteric EGFR Degraders are Effective Against a Broad Range of Drug‐Resistant Mutations

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 59; no. 34; pp. 14481 - 14489
• Main Authors: Jang, Jaebong, To, Ciric, De Clercq, Dries J. H., Park, Eunyoung, Ponthier, Charles M., Shin, Bo Hee, Mushajiang, Mierzhati, Nowak, Radosław P., Fischer, Eric S., Eck, Michael J., Jänne, Pasi A., Gray, Nathanael S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WEINHEIM Wiley 17.08.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: allosteric; Allosteric properties; Allosteric Regulation; ATP; Binding sites; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell proliferation; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; combination treatment; Degradation; degrader; Drug development; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; drug-resistant mutation; EGFR; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal growth factor receptors; ErbB Receptors - antagonists & inhibitors; ErbB Receptors - genetics; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Growth factors; Humans; Inhibitors; Mutants; Mutation; Physical Sciences; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Proteolysis; Science & Technology; allosteric; OSIMERTINIB; combination treatment; GROWTH-FACTOR-RECEPTOR; ACQUIRED-RESISTANCE; EGFR; DISCOVERY; CELL LUNG-CANCER; drug-resistant mutation; POTENT; INHIBITION; PROTEIN-DEGRADATION; FREQUENCY; degrader; AZD9291
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202003500

Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) through an allosteric mechanism provides a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome drug‐resistant EGFR mutations that emerge within the ATP binding site. Here, we develop an allosteric EGFR degrader, DDC‐01‐163, which can selectively inhibit the proliferation of L858R/T790M (L/T) mutant Ba/F3 cells while leaving wildtype EGFR Ba/F3 cells unaffected. DDC‐01‐163 is also effective against osimertinib‐resistant cells with L/T/C797S and L/T/L718Q EGFR mutations. When combined with an ATP‐site EGFR inhibitor, osimertinib, the anti‐proliferative activity of DDC‐01‐163 against L858R/T790M EGFR‐Ba/F3 cells is enhanced. Collectively, DDC‐01‐163 is a promising allosteric EGFR degrader with selective activity against various clinically relevant EGFR mutants as a single agent and when combined with an ATP‐site inhibitor. Our data suggests that targeted protein degradation is a promising drug development approach for mutant EGFR. Mutant‐selective allosteric EGFR degraders (blue) mediate the formation of the cereblon (CRBN)–degrader–EGFR ternary complex, resulting in mutant EGFR, but not WT, degradation. The lead degrader, DDC‐01‐163 is broadly effective against drug‐resistant mutants, and exhibits enhanced potency when combined with an inhibitor, osimertinib. The targeted EGFR degradation represents a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance.