Discovery of LYC-55716: A Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor-γ (RORγ) Agonist for Use in Treating Cancer

J Med Chem. 2021 Sep 23;64(18):13410-13428. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00731. Epub 2021 Sep 9.

Abstract

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ (RORc, RORγ, or NR1F3) is the nuclear receptor master transcription factor that drives the function and development of IL-17-producing T helper cells (Th17), cytotoxic T cells (Tc17), and subsets of innate lymphoid cells. Activation of RORγ+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment is hypothesized to render immune infiltrates more effective at countering tumor growth. To test this hypothesis, a family of benzoxazines was optimized to provide LYC-55716 (37c), a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable small-molecule RORγ agonist. LYC-55716 decreases tumor growth and enhances survival in preclinical tumor models and was nominated as a clinical development candidate for evaluation in patients with solid tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzoxazines / chemical synthesis
  • Benzoxazines / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzoxazines / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / agonists*
  • Propionates / chemical synthesis
  • Propionates / pharmacokinetics
  • Propionates / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzoxazines
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
  • Propionates
  • Rorc protein, mouse
  • Rorc protein, rat
  • cintirorgon