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Review
. 2015 Aug 10:9:4479-99.
doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S86621. eCollection 2015.

Clinical development of galunisertib (LY2157299 monohydrate), a small molecule inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway

Stephan Herbertz  1 , J Scott Sawyer  2 , Anja J Stauber  2 , Ivelina Gueorguieva  3 , Kyla E Driscoll  4 , Shawn T Estrem  2 , Ann L Cleverly  3 , Durisala Desaiah  2 , Susan C Guba  2 , Karim A Benhadji  2 , Christopher A Slapak  2 , Michael M Lahn  2
Affiliations
Review

Clinical development of galunisertib (LY2157299 monohydrate), a small molecule inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway

Stephan Herbertz et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. .

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling regulates a wide range of biological processes. TGF-β plays an important role in tumorigenesis and contributes to the hallmarks of cancer, including tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and escape of immune surveillance. There are several pharmacological approaches to block TGF-β signaling, such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides, and small molecule inhibitors. Galunisertib (LY2157299 monohydrate) is an oral small molecule inhibitor of the TGF-β receptor I kinase that specifically downregulates the phosphorylation of SMAD2, abrogating activation of the canonical pathway. Furthermore, galunisertib has antitumor activity in tumor-bearing animal models such as breast, colon, lung cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Continuous long-term exposure to galunisertib caused cardiac toxicities in animals requiring adoption of a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic-based dosing strategy to allow further development. The use of such a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model defined a therapeutic window with an appropriate safety profile that enabled the clinical investigation of galunisertib. These efforts resulted in an intermittent dosing regimen (14 days on/14 days off, on a 28-day cycle) of galunisertib for all ongoing trials. Galunisertib is being investigated either as monotherapy or in combination with standard antitumor regimens (including nivolumab) in patients with cancer with high unmet medical needs such as glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present review summarizes the past and current experiences with different pharmacological treatments that enabled galunisertib to be investigated in patients.

Keywords: ALK5; LY2157299; TGF-β; TGF-βRI kinase inhibitor; cancer; clinical trials; galunisertib.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
TGF-β signaling and hallmarks of cancer. Note: TGF-β signaling plays an important role in inducing angiogenesis, inflammation, invasion/metastasis, and immune escape. Abbreviation: TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta.
Figure 2
Figure 2
TGF-βRI (ALK5) and TGF-βRII canonical activation. Note: Galunisertib blocks the kinase of the ALK5 pathway reducing the pSMAD2 activation in cells. Abbreviations: ALK5, activin receptor-like kinase 5; pSMAD2, phosphorylation of SMAD2; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Preparing for the first-in-human dose (FHD) study. Note: Standard Good-Laboratory Practice (GLP) animal toxicology studies were performed as well as a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model established prior to the FHD study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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