PDK1
P70S6K
AKT
RSK2
0.0
03
0.0
07
0.0
74
0.1
30
0.1
63
0.1
82
0.1
86
0.1
95
0.2
15
0.2
27
0.2
79
0.3
54
0.4
53
0.4
76
0.6
84
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
EC
50
(uM
)
Inhibition of hematologic tumor cell proliferation (MTS)
SNS-510 (PDK1 inhibitor)
MK-2206 (Akt inhibitor)
GDC-0941 (PI3K inhibitor)
pRSK2 S227
pPDK1 S241
β-actin
[nM]
SNS-510
300 100 30 10
GSK-2334470
300 100 30 10
MK-2206
300 100 30 10
pP70 S6K T229
aB
aC
ABSTRACT
● Background: Phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) dependent kinase 1, PDK1, is a master kinase that activates members
of the AKT, PKC, RSK and SGK families
● PDK1 can interact with its substrates through PI-dependent (PH-mediated) or PI-independent (PIF-mediated)
mechanisms. PIF refers to PDK1 Interacting Fragment also known as Hydrophobic Motif (HF) (Fig 1).
● Results: Here we report characterization of two potent PDK1 kinase inhibitors, SNS-229 and SNS-510 (Fig 2),
that block both PH-mediated (AKT) and PIF-mediated (RSK) substrate phosphorylation and have broad anti-
tumor activity in hematologic cancers
● SNS-229/-510 bind the inactive conformation of PDK1 as determined by X-ray crystallography (Fig 3). The
compounds bind deep in the adaptive pocket, distorting the N-terminal domain and perturbing the PIF-pocket,
thereby inhibiting PIF-mediated substrate binding (Fig 4)
● SNS-510 was evaluated in several hematologic cancer cell lines and showed strong anti-proliferative activity
with EC50s ranging from 3 nM to 900 nM (Fig 5) and produced substantial apoptosis after 24 hours (Fig 6)
● Anti-proliferative activity correlated with pathway modulation as assessed by inhibition of phosphorylation of
PDK1, RSK2, P70S6K, and AKT (Fig 7)
● In mice, SNS-229 and SNS-510 showed good oral bioavailability (%F>40%) with a Tmax of 4 hours and
prolonged exposure (Fig 8)
● Pathway modulation was evaluated in vivo in a MV4-11 xenograft mouse model. Potent, dose-dependent
pathway modulation was observed at 4 and 8 hours after a single oral dose of SNS-229 and SNS-510 (1 to 25
mg/kg; Fig 8)
● SNS-510 was compared to the PDK1 inhibitor GSK-2334470, showing comparable biochemical potency, but
SNS-510 was 10 to 30 fold more potent at inhibiting PDK1, RSK2, P70S6K, and AKT phosphorylation in cells
and 3 to 50 fold more potent in viability assays. In vivo, GSK-2334470 had negligible activity compared to SNS-
229/-510 even at a much higher dose
● In 21-day MV4-11 xenografts, SNS-229/-510 showed dose-related efficacy with >95% tumor growth inhibition
and partial regression (>50% tumor shrinkage) in 70% and 100% of animals at the highest dose (Fig 9)
PDK1 inhibitors SNS-229 and SNS-510 cause pathway modulation, apoptosis and tumor regression in hematologic cancer models
in addition to solid tumors Stig K. Hansen1, Johan Enquist1, Jeff Iwig1, Minke E. Binnerts2, Gene Jamieson2, Judy A. Fox2, Adam R. Craig2; 1Carmot Therapeutics, Inc,. San Francisco, CA. 2Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
FIG 9: TUMOR GROWTH INHIBTION AND PARTIAL REGRESSION IN MV4-11 XENOGRAFTS
FIG 2: SNS-229/-510 ARE POTENT INHIBITORS OF PDK1 FIG 5: SNS-229/-510 INHIBIT HEMATOLOGIC CANCER CELL S RESISTANT TO AKT INHIBITION
FIG 4: SNS-229/-510 PERTURB THE PIF-POCKET AND PIF BINDING
FIG 8: STRONG PATHWAY MODULATION IN MV4-11 XENOGRAFT
CONCLUSIONS
FIG 7: GROWTH INHIBITION BY SNS-510/-229 CORRELATES WITH PATHWAY MODULATION
FIG 1: PDK1 INTERACTS WITH SUBSTRATES THROUGH PH OR PIF MEDIATED MECHANISMS
The PH domains of PDK1 and AKT bind PIP3 and co-localize
PDK1 and AKT at the cell membrane The PDK Interacting Fragment (PIF) or
Hydrophobic Motif (HF) binds to the PDK1 PIF
pocket to stabilize PDK1 substrate interaction
PH
PIP
3
P-S241
PI3K PIP
3
RTK
PH
PH PH
PIP
3
PIP
3
PIF-pocket
P-T308
AKTP-S241
PH
PIP
3
PTEN
PI
PDK1
PH RSK2
P-S227
PIF
PH PH
P-T308
PIF
PDK1
P-S241P-S241
mTOR
AKT
P-S473
PDK1
PIF-pocket
PIF mediated substrate recognition: RSK,
AKT-C-term, SGK, SP706K
PH-domain mediated substrate recognition (PI dependent)
GSK-2334470
2.4 nM1.9 nM
BX795
5.4 nM6.6 nM
SNS-510
3.9 nM3.1 nM
SNS-229
2.9 nM1.9 nM
5 nM AKT, 0.225 nM (de-phos)/0.07 nM (phos) PDK1 full length, 100 nM FITC-crosstide, 2 hr kinase rxn, 30 min assay development
compound
SNS-229
SNS-510
IC50 (nM)
BX795
GSK-2334470
IC50 (nM)
P-S241-PDK1
3.9
2.9
5.4
2.4
3.1
1.9
6.6
1.9
PDK1● The selectivity of SNS-229 and SNS-510 was evaluated
in a panel of 270 different human kinases at 10 mM
(1,000-fold IC50) and showed:
● SNS-229: >90% inhibition for 18 kinases including
PDK1
● SNS-510: >90% inhibition for 20 kinases including
PDK1
● Main off-targets: Abl, Lck, LIMK, Met, TrkA, TrkB
(>95% inhibition at 10 mM)
● SNS-229/-510 inhibit both phos- and un-phos PDK1
and affect less than 8% of kinases at 1,000-fold IC50
for PDK1
● In the active (DFG-in) conformation of PDK1, the aB and
aC helices form a binding pocket (indicated by a black circle
in panel A) for the PDK Interacting Fragment (PIF)
● The conformation of the PIF pocket is preserved in the GSK
and BX-320 structures (yellow and purple, A)
● SNS PDK1 inhibitors push out the aB and aC helices and
thereby perturb the PIF binding pocket (teal, A)
● In a fluorescent PIF-binding assay, BX-795 (a close analog
of BX-320) does not compete with PIF binding (B-C),
consistent with the crystal structure of BX-320
● SNS-991/-229/-510 inhibit PIF binding and block PIF-
dependent substrate binding to PDK1
The binding mode of the SNS-series is exemplified by the crystal structure of PDK1
bound to SNS-991 (A), a close analog of SNS-229/-510. Conformations unique to
SNS-991 are shown in teal. Key features of the structure include:
● SNS-991 binds to the inactive (DFG-out) conformation of PDK1 (A)
● SNS-991 occupies the binding pocket for Phe of the DFG-loop and thus
prevents formation of the active (DFG-in) conformation as seen in the overlay
with the ATP-bound structure (orange, B)
● Binding of SNS-991 changes the conformation of the aB and aC helices
relative to the ATP-bound structure (B)
E)
SNS-991
DFG-loop
A)
aB
aC
SNS-991
Phe of DFG-loop
B)
aB
aCATP
C)
GSK
aB
aC
D)
aB
aCBX-320
● SNS-229/-510 inhibit growth of multiple cancer cell lines at
concentrations ranging from 3 to 500 nM (14 out of 15 cell
lines shown in panel A (MTS proliferation assay)
● SNS-229/-510 are active in cell lines that are resistant to
PI3K inhibition (GDC-0941) or AKT inhibition (MK-2206)
FIG 6: SNS-229/-510 INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN AKT INHIBITOR RESISTANT CELL LINES
pRSK2 S227
GSK SNS-510 MK-2206
[nM]
B)
E)
9%
pPDK1-Ser241, 4 hrs
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
0
25
50
75
100
125G1 Vehicle
G2 SNS-229 1mg/kgG3 SNS-229 5mg/kgG4 SNS-229 25mg/kg
G5 SNS-510 1mg/kgG6 SNS-510 5mg/kgG7 SNS-510 25mg/kg
G8 GDC0941 50mg/kgG9 GSK2234470 50mg/kg
treatment group
% (
treate
d/u
ntr
eate
d)
pRSK2-Ser227, 8 hrs
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
0
25
50
75
100
125G1 Vehicle
G2 SNS-229 1mg/kgG3 SNS-229 5mg/kgG4 SNS-229 25mg/kg
G5 SNS-510 1mg/kgG6 SNS-510 5mg/kgG7 SNS-510 25mg/kg
G8 GDC0941 50mg/kgG9 GSK2234470 50mg/kg
treatment group
% (
treate
d/u
ntr
eate
d)
0.54 17
pPDK1-Ser241, 8 hrs
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
0
25
50
75
100
125G1 Vehicle
G2 SNS-229 1mg/kgG3 SNS-229 5mg/kgG4 SNS-229 25mg/kg
G5 SNS-510 1mg/kgG6 SNS-510 5mg/kgG7 SNS-510 25mg/kg
G8 GDC0941 50mg/kgG9 GSK2234470 50mg/kg
treatment group
% (
treate
d/u
ntr
eate
d)
0.5
310
pAkt-Thr308, 8 hrs
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
0
25
50
75
100
125
150G1 Vehicle
G2 SNS-229 1mg/kgG3 SNS-229 5mg/kgG4 SNS-229 25mg/kg
G5 SNS-510 1mg/kgG6 SNS-510 5mg/kgG7 SNS-510 25mg/kg
G8 GDC0941 50mg/kgG9 GSK2234470 50mg/kg
treatment group
% (
treate
d/u
ntr
eate
d) 0.5
3 10
A) B)
D)C)
0.6
2.520
0.5
2
11
1.40.8
0.4
0.4
0.5
3 10
0.6
2.5
20
0.4 0.40.6
2.5
20
0.4 0.4
• SNS-229/-510 show superior pathway
modulation in vivo and at lower doses
than GSK-2334470 and GDC0941
A) MV4-11 median tumor volume day 1-22 B) Tumor volume distribution day 22
● SNS-229/-510 induce a dose dependent reduction in tumor growth. Median tumor growth for all groups was
delayed compared with that for controls (A), with the two highest dose groups achieving statistical significance
on day 22 (B)
● SNS-229 treatment resulted in 69%, 80% and 96% tumor growth inhibition (TGI) at 5, 11, and 25 mg/kg, with
77%, 92% and 97% TGI observed for SNS-510 at 5, 11, and 25 mg/kg
● Maximum mean weight loss on day 22 was 4%
● Partial tumor regression was observed in 70% of animals treated with SNS-229 at 25 mg/kg, 33% of
animals treated with SNS-510 at 11 mg/kg and 90% of animals treated with SNS-510 at 25 mg/kg
● Comparison with PD study (Fig. 8) suggests that >50% P-PDK1 and >90% P-RSK and P-AKT inhibition may
be required for PRs
Day SNS-229/-510 were dosed orally QD for 21 days at the doses of 5, 11, and 25 mg/kgStatistical Significance for Kruskal Wallis Dunn's test: ns = non-
significant, * = 0.01 < P < 0.05, ** = 0.001 < P < 0.01, *** = P < 0.001 when compared to Group 1.
TGI > 60% indicates potential therapeutic activity. PR: tumor volume less than 50% of its day 1 volume for three consecutive measurements
PH
P-S241
PIFtide
+ inhibitor+
PH
P-S241
PIFtide
+ inhibitor
PH
P-S241
PIFtide
Measure bound/un-bound PIF-tide in FP-assay
B) PIF-tide binding assay:
A)
B) EC50s in MTS proliferation assay
● SNS-510 is active in AKT inhibitor (MK-2206) resistant cell lines (MV4-11 above and panel G) pointing to RSK
and or P70S6K as important for cell growth
● In AKT inhibitor (MK-2206) sensitive cell lines (H), SNS-510 show more robust growth inhibition probably by
inhibition of RSK and P70S6K that are largely unaffected by MK-2206
● SNS-510 is more potent in all assays and cell lines compared to GSK-2334470
● Together, these data show that SNS-510 is more potent than GSK-2334470, is active in AKT inhibitor
resistant cell lines and outperforms MK-2206 in AKT dependent cell lines
B-F): MV4-11 Cells treated for 24 hrs with compound. Western blot analysis and quantification by LICOR
A-D): MV4-11 tumor bearing mice received a single dose of compound and tumors were
harvested at 4 or 8 hrs. Tumors were homogenized and analyzed by Western blot and
LC-MS/MS for compound concentration, shown above each bar graph (mM)
● SNS-229/-510 show dose and time dependent inhibition of P-PDK1 (A-B) and strong suppression of RSK2
and AKT phosphorylation with up to 80-90% inhibition 8 hrs post dose (C-D)
● GSK-2334470 and GDC0941dosed at 50 mg/kg show moderate PDK1 and RSK2 inhibition and no AKT
inhibition (B-D)
● The structures of PDK1 with GSK-2334470 (yellow, C) and BX-320 (purple, D) closely
resemble the ATP-bound structure and do not show perturbation of aB and aC helices
● Top view of the N-terminal kinase domain with overlay of the three inhibitors (E): SNS-991
occupies the ATP pocket and reaches into the core of PDK1, whereas BX-320 and GSK-
2334470 occupy the ATP pocket and bind along the surface of the protein
● SNS-229/-510 induces apoptosis in MV4-11 cells (annexin positive), whereas treatment with GSK-2334470
does not produce significant apoptosis beyond vehicle (A)
● SNS-229/-510 also produce robust apoptosis in C1498 cells, but no effect of GSK-2334470 was observed even
after 72 hrs (B)
● Thus, SNS-229/-510 inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in Akt inhibitor resistant cells (Fig. 5B)
A)
A-B): Apoptosis assay: 24 hrs compound treatment. Annexin V labeling analyzed by FACS
B)
● Inhibition of PDK1 auto- and substrate-phosphorylation (A) was examined in several cell lines
● SNS-510 inhibits PDK1, RSK2 and pP70S6K phosphorylation in MV4-11 cells (B, D-F)
with 10-fold better potency than GSK-2334470
● No pAKT T308 signal (not shown) and no significant pathway modulation is observed with
MK2206, indicating that Akt is not activated in MV4-11 cells
● Inhibition of PDK1 auto-phosphorylation by SNS-510 increases over time (4 to 24 hrs) while
RSK2 inhibition is rapid (C)
● GSK-2334470 mediated inhibition of PDK1 auto-phosphorylation is only partial and reaches a
plateau after 8 hours (C)
pPDK1 S241
GSK SNS-510 MK-2206
[nM]
C)
G-H): 72 hrs MTS data. Western blot analysis (24 hrs) and quantification by LICOR. Color coding was performed within
cell lines and separately for MTS and Western data.
H)
• PK analysis in CD/1 mice (E) shows that
SNS-229/-510 have good pharmacokinetic
properties, with t1/2 of 4-5 hours, Tmax at 4-6
hours and oral bioavailability >90%.
E)
● SNS-229/-510 are 5-10 fold more potent
than the PDK1 inhibitor GSK2334470 (6
out of 7 cell lines, panel B)
● SNS-229/-510 show low nM potency in
three cells lines that are resistant to
AKT inhibitor MK-2206
A)
pP70 S6K T229
GSK SNS-510 MK-2206
[nM]
F) D)
Cell line, conc. Assay SNS-510 GSK-2334470 MK-2206
U2932 MTS 34% 6% 18%
DLBCL pPDK1 64% 64% 3%
300 nM pRSK 95% 88% 0%
pP70S6K 90% 73% 36%
pAKT 89% 57% 93%
A20 MTS 83% 27% 74%
BCL pPDK1 68% 44% 7%
300 nM pRSK 96% 67% 31%
pP70S6K 67% 50% 32%
pAKT 84% 24% 87%
Cell line, conc. Assay SNS-510 GSK-2334470 MK-2206
RPMI-8226 MTS 54% 28% 5%
MM pPDK1 78% 49% 30%
300 nM pRSK 91% 70% 3.5%
pP70S6K 95% 69% 0%
pAKT No signal No signal No signal
C1498 MTS 93% 37% 33%
AML pPDK1 71% 64% 0%
300 nM pRSK 94% 71% 0%
pP70S6K 89% 49% 30%
pAKT No signal No signal No signal
G) Cell line/ mM cmpd SNS-229 SNS-510 MK-2206
GSK-2334470
Molm-13 0.006 0.003 1.369 0.360
MV4-11 0.005 0.003 1.500 0.083
U-2932 1.603 0.559 5.076 3.422RPMI-8226 0.174 0.163 0.906 1.513
Jeko 0.286 0.279 0.980 2.250
A20 0.156 0.114 0.138 0.49
C1498 0.053 0.045 1.190 0.503
FIG 3: SNS -229/-510 BIND THE INACTIVE (DFG-OUT) CONFORMATION OF PDK1
● Here we report novel PDK1 inhibitors with a PK/PD relationship that correlates with profound tumor growth
inhibition in hematologic cancers. In particular, the compounds show
● Low single digit nM potency in kinase assay with good selectivity
● Binding to inactive PDK1 conformation and perturbation of PIF-substrate binding pocket
● Ability to drive PDK1 into un-phosphorylated, inactive state
● Growth inhibition in many cell lines at low-mid nM concentrations
● Induction of apoptosis at nM concentrations
● PDK1/RSK2/P70S6K/AKT pathway modulation correlating with growth inhibition and apoptosis
● Active in cells with no AKT activation and in cells that are resistant to AKT inhibitors
● Orally bioavailability with long half-life (potential for QD dosing)
● Strong pathway modulation in vivo after single oral dose
● Greater than 95% TGI and partial regression (>50% tumor shrinkage) when dosed PO QD with no
significant weight loss or adverse clinical observations
● In summary, targeting the inactive conformation of PDK1 and inhibiting PIF-mediated
substrate binding has broad potential for the treatment of cancer
0102030405060708090
100
% o
f v
eh
icle
SNS-510, 30 nM
GSK2334470, 30 nM
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
DMSO BX-795 SNS-991 SNS-229 SNS-510
% P
IFti
de
bin
din
g
20 nM PDK1, 5 nM FITC-PIFtide, 250 nM compound, 1 hr incubation
Multiple of IC50: NA >40x >40x >40x >40x
aB
aC
PIF binding
SNS-991
BX320
A)A)
C)
1
10
100
1000
10000
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Co
ncen
trati
on
(n
g/m
L)
Time (hr)
PO Average
0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
v e h ic le
d o x o ru b ic in
S N S -2 2 9
S N S -5 1 0
G S K -2 3 3 4 4 7 0
[D ru g ], n M
% a
nn
ex
inV
po
sit
ive
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
vehicle 30 nMDoxorubicin
1000 nMGSK-2334470
1000 nMSNS-229
% a
nn
exin
V p
osit
ive c
ells
24 hours
72 hours