Preclinical characterization and biopharmaceutical optimization of the autophagy inhibitor UAMC-2526 for oncotherapy.

Three UAntwerp research groups (Medicinal Chemistry, Physiopharmacology, MIPRO) recently joined forces for the discovery and study of autophagy modulators as potential oncology therapeutics. Hitherto, this approach has resulted in a joint patent application and several manuscripts that have either been published or are under preparation. Most attention to date has gone to investigation of UAMC-2526, an Atg4B-targeting autophagy inhibitor that was discovered by the project team. This compound has potent in vivo autophagy blocking properties and significant anti-tumoral potential in an in vivo xenograft mouse model of colorectal cancer. To ensure economical valorization interest for UAMC-2526 and the UAntwerp-patented family of compounds to which it belongs, more basic research is required. The balanced package of medicinal chemistry, in vitro pharmacology and in vivo oncology that is presented here, should provide detailed insight in the potential of UAMC-2526 and its analogues as a potential therapeutic agent. In addition, biopharmaceutically optimized follow-up candidates for UAMC-2526 will be delivered. At the same time, this effort will increase the compounds' attractiveness to external economic valorization partners. Finally, this project will also create critical mass for a preclinical research platform on autophagy research at UAntwerp. This platform will unite chemical and biological capabilities in autophagy research that will be highly instrumental to support research programs, but will also be offered to private partners that require expertise in the domain.

Keywords:AUTOPHAGY, ONCOLOGY

Disciplines:Morphological sciences, Oncology, Biomarker discovery and evaluation, Drug discovery and development, Medicinal products, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, Toxicology and toxinology, Other pharmaceutical sciences