Additionally, CDK7 knockout (KO) and selective inhibitors (YKL-5-124 and samuraciclib) demonstrated potent antitumor activity, effectively suppressing tumor growth in HNSCC patient-derived organoids (PDOs), as well as in both cell line- and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models with minimal toxicity...These findings highlight CDK7 as a promising therapeutic target for HNSCC. Our study provides strong evidence of the robust antitumor activity of CDK7-selective inhibition in disease-relevant preclinical models, strongly supporting its progression to clinical testing.

P1, N=54, Terminated, Eli Lilly and Company | Phase classification: P1a/1b --> P1

The antifungal activity of SY-1365 was also markedly enhanced in combination with membrane-targeting antifungals. Together, our findings highlight CDK7 inhibitors as valuable tools to study CDK7 function in Cn and as potentially promising antifungals in combination with licensed antifungals.

P2, N=60, Completed, Carrick Therapeutics Limited | Active, not recruiting --> Completed | Trial completion date: Dec 2025 --> Aug 2025

We verified the effectiveness of our assay by demonstrating that previously known Myc-downregulating compounds (G9 and SY-1365) were successfully identified from a library of bioactive compounds with established biological function...The self-aggregation of Myc and the dissociation of the Myc/Max dimer by C1 promoted Myc degradation. Using a target-NanoLuc fusion strategy in our novel cell-based high-throughput screening system, we identified a molecular glue-like small molecule degrader of Myc.

Continuous culturing of prostate cancer cells with Samuraciclib, a non-covalent ATP-competitive CDK7i, led to outgrowth of resistant cells...Consistent with this, mutation of the homologous residue in CDK12 (D819N) or CDK4 (D99N) promoted resistance to drugs that inhibit these CDKs. Our findings reveal a general mechanism for acquired resistance with obvious implications for patients treated with CDK inhibitors.

Notably, the novel lead compound 8b exhibited approximately 2.5-fold greater potency than roscovitine. Molecular docking studies further supported the experimental findings and provided structural insights for future optimisation of this promising CDK2 inhibitor scaffold.

Furthermore, dual CDK4/6 and CDK7 inhibition stimulates immune-related signaling and cytokine production in cancer cells, promoting anti-tumor immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. These findings provide mechanistic insights into CDK inhibition and support the therapeutic potential of combining CDK7i with CDK4/6i for breast cancer treatment.

Entity 4 exhibited promising dual inhibition of CDK-2 and CA IX with IC50 at the micromolar level, which exceeded that of Roscovitine by three times and nearly half that of acetazolamide. Additionally, the superior derivative 4 stimulated MCF-7 cycle arrest at S phase through apoptotic induction which is supported by the upregulation of Bax and Caspase-8 and the downregulation of Bcl-2 and Cyclin E. The in silico studies showed acceptable predicted ADME and physicochemical properties together with the strong interaction between the superior compounds and both CDK-2 and CA IX binding sites inspiring such hybrids as potential lead dual inhibitors.

P1/2, N=96, Recruiting, National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Trial completion date: Aug 2029 --> Aug 2032 | Trial primary completion date: Aug 2025 --> Aug 2028

P2, N=60, Active, not recruiting, Carrick Therapeutics Limited | Trial primary completion date: Jun 2025 --> Mar 2025

In silico docking studies revealed a strong and stable interaction with CDK13, with a binding affinity of -8.0 kcal/mol. Compound 4 g demonstrates promising anticancer potential, likely mediated by CDK inhibition with comparatively lower toxicity toward normal cells, however, it requires further toxicological assessment and preclinical studies.