Novel Amphiphilic PROTAC with Enhanced Pharmacokinetic Properties for ALK Protein Degradation.
Shirui WangZhanzhan FengCan QuSu YuHongjia ZhangRui DengDan LuoChunlan PuYan ZhangRui LiPublished in: Journal of medicinal chemistry (2024)
Advancements in anticancer strategies spotlight proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, yet it is hindered by poor water solubility and bioavailability. This study introduces a novel amphiphilic PROTAC, B1-PEG , synthesized through PEGylation of an optimized PROTAC molecule, B1 , to enhance its properties. B1-PEG is engineered to self-organize into micelles in water and releases its active form in response to the tumor-specific high GSH environment. Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis revealed B1-PEG 's superior bioavailability at 84.8%, outperforming the unmodified PROTAC molecule B1 . When tested in a H3122 xenograft mouse model, B1-PEG significantly regressed tumors, underscoring its potential as a formidable candidate in targeted cancer therapy. Our findings offer a promising direction for overcoming bioavailability limitations in PROTAC drug design.