CEP-7055

CEP-7055 (compound 21) is a novel vascular endothelial growth factor R2 (VEGF-R2) tyrosine kinase inhibitor with potent inhibitory activity. Studies have found that the inhibitor activity can be significantly improved by optimizing the R9 substituent. Compound 21 has potent low nanomolar inhibition of human VEGF-R tyrosine kinase and shows good selectivity against multiple tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. N,N-dimethylglycine ester 40 was prepared to improve its water solubility and oral bioavailability. In animal pharmacokinetic studies, a significant increase in the plasma level of 21 was observed after oral administration of 40. Compound 21 showed significant in vivo antitumor activity in multiple tumor models and has entered phase I clinical trials as a water-soluble N,N-dimethylglycine ester proagent of 40 (CEP-7055).

[1]A New Class of Potent Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Structure-Activity Relationships for a Series of 9-Alkoxymethyl-12-(3-hydroxypropyl)indeno[2,1-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-5-ones and the Identification of CEP-5214 and Its Dimethylglycine Ester Prodrug Clinical Candidate CEP-7055