LXR-623

A clinically viable, highly brain-penetrant LXRα-partial/LXRβ-full agonist with binding Ki of 33 nM/248 nM; selectively kills GBM cells in an LXRβ- and cholesterol-dependent fashion, causing tumor regression and prolonged survival in mouse models. Atherosclerosis Phase 1 Discontinued (In Vitro) :LXR-623 potently kills U87EGFRvIII and GBM39 cells in vitro while completely sparing NHAs. LXR-623 also increases ABCA1 protein and decreases LDLR protein levels in all three cell lines. LXR-623 suppresses LDLR expression, increases expression of the ABCA1 efflux transporter, and induces substantial cell death in all of the GBM samples tested. LXR-623 (5 μM) also induces GBM cell death through activation of LXRβ. LXR-623 treatment of human PBMC in vitro significantly increases transcription of ABCA1 and ABCG1. (In Vivo) :LXR-623 (400 mg/kg, p.o.) crosses the blood-brain barrier, induces target gene expression, and achieves therapeutic levels in GBM cells in the brain with minimal activity in the periphery. LXR-623 inhibits tumor growth, promotes tumor cell death, and prolongs the survival of mice bearing intracranial patient-derived GBMs. LXR-623 (1.5, 5 mg/kg/day) significantly reduces progression of atherosclerosis in animals compared with the placebo group. WAY-252623 (15 and 50 mg/kg) results in a significant reduction of atherosclerosis in a dose-dependent manner. WAY-252623 (20, 60, and 120 mg/kg/day, p.o.) displays neutral lipid effects in this CETP-expressing Syrian hamster. Moreover, LXR-623 (50 mg/kg) induces gene expression in rodent peripheral blood cells in rat. LXR-623 (0, 15 and 50 mg/kg) dose-dependently upregulates transcription of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in monkey whole blood cells proportional to dose.