Compounds in the CX-1300 Series are derived from a natural product (Psorospermin, figure right) that targets duplex DNA. By altering certain conformations in Psorospermin, we have created a series of anticancer compounds with a mechanism of action related to transcriptional activity. Cylene chemists were the first to synthesize these anticancer agents derived from psorospermin.
CX-1338 is the lead molecule in the 1300 series, and its novel mechanism of action involves DNA modification. The CX-1338 mechanism of action is unrelated to Ribosomal RNA Biogenesis. CX-1338 demonstrates efficacy in an animal model of pancreatic cancer, and a series of analogs is under investigation in a range of tumor models in order to select a final preclinical development candidate for the indication of pancreatic and possibly other cancers.
