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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Structure-Guided Design and Development of Novel Cyclophilin A Inhibitors and Ganoderiol-F Derivatives: An In-Silico Approach
Published on: June 23, 2026
Structure-based design of Aurora A & B inhibitors
Anders Poulsen1, Anthony William, Angeline Lee
1S*BIO Pte Ltd., 1 Science Park Road, #05-09 The Capricorn, Singapore Science Park II, 117 528, Singapore, Singapore. anders_poulsen@sbio.com
Researchers developed novel inhibitors targeting Aurora kinases, crucial for cell division and often overexpressed in cancer. Optimized compounds achieved nanomolar potency, with selective Aurora B inhibitors identified for potential oncology therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Aurora kinases (A and B) are serine/threonine kinases regulating mitosis, including centrosome duplication and chromosome alignment.
- Overexpression of Aurora kinases in tumors makes them attractive targets for cancer therapy.
- Previous screens identified a lead indazole-benzimidazole compound with sub-micromolar activity against Aurora A.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel, potent, and selective inhibitors of Aurora kinases for potential cancer treatment.
- To explore structure-activity relationships and optimize lead compounds through medicinal chemistry approaches.
- To investigate strategies for achieving selectivity between Aurora A and Aurora B kinases.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput screening identified an initial lead compound.
- Structure-guided drug design and chemical synthesis were employed for optimization.
- Molecular docking and analysis of X-ray crystallography data informed inhibitor design.
- Conformational energy calculations were performed to assess binding affinity.
Main Results:
- Chemical modifications led to compounds with single-digit nanomolar potency against Aurora A.
- Selective Aurora B inhibitors were developed by exploiting differences in kinase binding sites.
- Conformational energy penalties correlated well with Aurora A binding affinity.
Conclusions:
- Novel indazole-based compounds demonstrate potent inhibition of Aurora kinases.
- Structure-based design enabled the development of selective Aurora B inhibitors.
- These findings provide a foundation for developing new oncology therapeutics targeting Aurora kinases.
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