Barasertib (AZD-1152)

Mechanism of action

From the NCI Drug Dictionary: An orally bioavailable, small-molecule, dihydrogen phosphate prodrug of the pyrazoloquinazoline Aurora kinase inhibitor AZD1152–hydroxyquinazoline pyrazol anilide (AZD1152-HQPA) with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration and rapid conversion from the prodrug form in plasma, barasertib specifically binds to and inhibits Aurora kinase B, which results in the disruption of spindle checkpoint functions and chromosome alignment and, so, the disruption of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Consequently, cell division and cell proliferation are inhibited and apoptosis is induced in Aurora kinase B-overexpressing tumor cells.

Preliminary data

Acute myeloid leukemia

1. Löwenberg B, Muus P, Ossenkoppele G, Rousselot P, Cahn JY, Ifrah N, Martinelli G, Amadori S, Berman E, Sonneveld P, Jongen-Lavrencic M, Rigaudeau S, Stockman P, Goudie A, Faderl S, Jabbour E, Kantarjian H. Phase 1/2 study to assess the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of barasertib (AZD1152) in patients with advanced acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2011 Dec 1;118(23):6030-6. Epub 2011 Oct 5. PubMed
2. SPARK-AML1: Kantarjian HM, Martinelli G, Jabbour EJ, Quintás-Cardama A, Ando K, Bay JO, Wei A, Gröpper S, Papayannidis C, Owen K, Pike L, Schmitt N, Stockman PK, Giagounidis A; SPARK-AML1 Investigators. Stage I of a phase 2 study assessing the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of barasertib (AZD1152) versus low-dose cytosine arabinoside in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer. 2013 Jul 15;119(14):2611-9. Epub 2013 Apr 19. link to original article link to PMC article PubMed

Also known as

• Code name: AZD-1152