Discovery and preclinical evaluations of WX-0593, a novel ALK inhibitor targeting crizotinib-resistant mutations

ALK gene rearrangements are oncogenic drivers in approximately 5% of NSCLC. Crizotinib, a first generation ALK inhibitor, is widely prescribed for ALK-positive NSCLC in clinic. Resistance to crizotinib and other ALK inhibitors has been problematic. Addressing resistance, here we describe discovery and development of a novel, proprietary spirocyclic diamine-substituted aryl phosphine oxide series of inhibitors, which led to the identification of WX-0593 (16a) as a potent ALK inhibitor. WX-0593 inhibited the activity of both wild type and resistant mutants of ALK in vitro, showed strong antitumor activity in a crizotinib-resistant mouse PDX model. WX-0593 is currently under development in phase II/III clinical trials.