NVP-HDM201 (HDM201) is a potent and highly specific MDM-2/p53 inhibitor currently under phase I clinical trial.

NVP-HDM201 disrupts both human and murine TP53- MDM2 interactions, with nanomolar cellular IC₅₀ values, blocking TP53 degradation^[1].

NVP-HDM201 is an imidazolopyrrolidinone analogue, showing a very advantageous in vivo profile. NVP-HDM201 has recently entered Phase 1 clinical trials in cancer patients^[2]. Constitutive PB mutagenesis in Arf^−/− mice provides a collection of spontaneous tumors with characterized insertional genetic landscapes. Tumors are allografted in large cohorts of mice to assess the pharmacologic effects of NVP-HDM201. Sixteen out of 21 allograft models are sensitive to NVP-HDM201 but ultimately relapse under treatment. A comparison of tumors with acquired resistance to NVP-HDM201 and untreated tumors identified 87 genes that are differentially and significantly targeted by the PB transposon^[1]. NVP-HDM201 administered either daily at a low dose or once at a high dose revealed a differentiated engagement of the p53 molecular response. In contrast to the daily low dose treatment regimen, the single high dose NVP-HDM201 regimen results in a rapid and dramatic induction of p53-dependent PUMA expression and apoptosis. This is consistent with the finding that a single high dose NVP-HDM201 treatment, administered orally or intravenously, results in a robust and sustained tumor regression. Overall, both daily and once every 3 weeks dosing regimen shows comparable long term efficacy in preclinical studies. The ongoing clinical trial is currently designed to compare both dosing regimens with regard to efficacy and tolerability^[3].

• [1]. Chapeau EA, et al. Resistance mechanisms to TP53-MDM2 inhibition identified by in vivo piggyBac transposon mutagenesis screen in an Arf-/- mouse model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Mar 21;114(12):3151-3156.

  [2]. Furet P, et al. Discovery of a novel class of highly potent inhibitors of the p53-MDM2 interaction by structure-based design starting from a conformational argument. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2016 Oct 1;26(19):4837-41.

  [3]. Stéphane F, et al. Abstract 1224: Insights into the mechanism of action of NVP-HDM201, a differentiated and versatile Next-Generation small-molecule inhibitor of Mdm2, under evaluation in phase I clinical trials. Insights into the mechanism of action of NVP-HDM201, a differentiated and versatile Next-Generation small-molecule inhibitor of Mdm2, under evaluation in phase I clinical trials. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1224.