Discovery of AK-1690: A Potent and Highly Selective STAT6 PROTAC Degrader

Abstract

STAT6 is an attractive therapeutic target for human cancers and other human diseases. Starting from a STAT6 ligand with K_i = 3.5 μM binding affinity, we obtained AK-068 with K_i = 6 nM to STAT6 and at least >85-fold binding selectivity over STAT5. Using AK-068 and cereblon ligands, we discovered AK-1690 as the first, potent and selective PROTAC STAT6 degrader. AK-1690 effectively induces degradation of STAT6 protein in cells with DC₅₀ values of as low as 1 nM while showing minimal effect on other STAT members up to 10 μM. A single dose of AK-1690 effectively depletes STAT6 in mouse tissues. Determination of the first cocrystal structure of STAT6 in complex with AK-1690 provides a structural basis for their interactions. AK-1690 is a powerful tool with which to investigate the roles of STAT6 in human diseases and biological processes and a promising lead compound for further optimization.