Abstract 4090: Preclinical pharmacokinetics of CASC-578, a novel, selective, potent, and orally bioavailable small molecule checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates cell division in response to genotoxic stress by arresting cell cycle progression in the S & G2 phases. Pharmacological inhibition of Chk1 is proposed to selectively uncouple the completion of DNA replication from G2/M phase transition in tumor cells that have impaired DNA damage response networks, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and cell death. CASC-578 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of Chk1 that is selective, highly potent and orally bioavailable in multiple preclinical species. Methods: The in vitro ADME properties of CASC-578 were evaluated, including in vitro intrinsic microsomal clearance, Caco2 permeability, plasma protein binding and stability, blood to plasma partitioning, cytochrome P450 inhibition and induction, and transporter inhibition. Pharmacokinetic studies of CASC-578 were conducted in mice, rats, and cynomolgus monkeys as either single dose (IV and/or PO) or repeat dose (PO only). Multiple oral dose pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in mice, rats and cynomolgus monkeys for 5-7 days. Results: CASC-578 is highly bound in plasma protein across all species. The apparent permeability is high in Caco2 bi-directional transport study and correlated well with a rapid absorption profile observed in vivo. CASC-578 is not a substrate of P-glycoporotein (efflux =1). There was no direct nor time dependent inhibition on human CYP450 enzymes, and only a slight induction of CYP3A4 was seen at 10 uM drug concentration in a transporter cell-based induction assay. In all animal species, CASC-578 exhibited species-dependent systemic clearance resulting from both phase I and phase II metabolism, and a moderate to high volume of distribution. The elimination kinetics appeared to be monophasic. Oral bioavailability was high in all species studied (>60% F). There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetics of the drug between genders. Maximal plasma concentration and total drug exposure (AUC) appeared to be proportional from repeat dose studies. Overall, CASC-578 has very desirable drug-like properties and ideal pharmacokinetics for an oral once daily drug, and represents a suitable candidate for clinical development as a novel potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of solid and hematological malignancies Citation Format: Dina Leviten, Teresa Sierra, Ashley Dozier, Richard Boyce, Bob Boyle, Scott Peterson, Alex C. Vo. Preclinical pharmacokinetics of CASC-578, a novel, selective, potent, and orally bioavailable small molecule checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4090. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4090