Shota Kikuchi, Jason C. Green, Don C. Rogness, Betty Lam, Zachary A. Owyang, Robert D. Malmstrom, Ali Tabatabaei, Aaron N. Snead, Melissa A. Hoffman, Steffen M. Bernard, Paige Ashby, Kelsey N. Lamb, Benjamin D. Horning, Kristen A. Baltgalvis, Kent T. Symons, Thomas A. Glaza, Chu-Chiao Wu, Xiaodan Song, Martha K. Pastuszka, John J. Sigler, Jonathan Pollock, Laurence Burgess, Gabriel M. Simon, Matthew P. Patricelli, and David S. Weinstein
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2025
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c01805
Werner syndrome helicase (WRN) has emerged as a compelling therapeutic target for microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers, owing to its selective dependency on the helicase activity of WRN. Despite the inherent challenges in targeting helicases, our chemoproteomics approach enabled the identification of compounds that covalently engage C727 within an allosteric pocket of WRN, thereby inhibiting its ability to unwind DNA. Through optimization of each molecular component, particularly focusing on the vinyl sulfone warhead and C2 substitution at the pyrimidine core, an optimal balance of intrinsic reactivity, inhibitory potency, and metabolic stability was achieved, culminating in the identification of VVD-214/RO7589831. This process underscored the tunability of the vinyl sulfone warhead and its effectiveness in covalent drug discovery. VVD-214 induced tumor regression in MSI-H colorectal cancer models and is being evaluated as a promising therapeutic candidate for MSI-H cancers.
