KPT-9274 in Patients With Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KPT-9274 is a first-in-class orally bioavailable, non-competitive, small molecule, dual modulator of p21 protein (Cdc42/Rac)-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase /PBEF/visfatin (NAMPT). NAMPT is the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolic scavenging pathway that utilizes nicotinamide to replenish nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), an essential metabolic cofactor and second messenger. Recent investigations have shown that in in vitro and in vivo models, NAMPT is uniquely essential for relapsed or refractory AML stem cells. Targeting relapsed AML stem cells, through targeting of NAMPT, may allow for a promising therapeutic opportunity for patients with relapsed or refractory AML.