BI-0115 inhibits the C-type lectin family member lectin-like oxidized LDL-receptor-1 (LOX-1) by stabilizing an inactive tetrameric form of the protein. Interestingly, co-crystollography demonstrates that inter-ligand interactions between two BI-0115 molecules contribute to the dimerization of LOX-1 homodimers.

“compound 23” is an oral, selective Factor XIa inhibitor intended as an anticoagulation agent. Since the clinical translatability of FXIa inhibition in preclinical models hasn’t been established, this program was driven by activity in in vitro human plasma coagulation assays. The team was able to turn a 0.6 uM hit originally from a complement [...]

MK-1084 is an oral covalent inhibitor of KRAS(G12C) being developed by Merck (as part of a collaboration with Taiho and Astex), which is currently in a Ph. I trial (NCT05067283) for the treatment of solid tumors either as a monotherapy or in combination with their checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda™). The medicinal chemistry story was recently presented at the ACS Spring 2024 meeting in New Orleans, following a presentation of the Ph. I interim results by Merck at ESMO in Oct. 2023.

The BMS factor XIa inhibitor, milvexian (BMS-986177), is an oral antithrombotic with a Ki of 0.11 nM. A member of this macrocyclic series was previously highlighted as one of 2020’s Molecules of the Year . Poor pharmaceutic properties from previous preclinical molecules such as solubility were addressed resulting in this candidate. Milvexian [...]

LUNA18 is an orally bioavailable, cell-penetrant, macrocyclic peptide pan-RAS inhibitor (Chugai ’21Q3 earnings call) intended for the treatment of KRAS-mutant cancers. It disrupts the protein-protein interaction between KRAS and SOS, preventing RAS activation.