Pralsetinib: chemical and therapeutic development with FDA authorization for the management of RET fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancers

Pralsetinib (PRL) is a selective Rearranged during Transfection (RET) inhibitor, developed by Blueprint Medicines Corporation for the treatment of RET fusion non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). RET is a known proto-oncogene found in NSCLC, PTC, and MTC. PRL was recently granted accelerated USFDA approval with the brand name GAVRETO (TM) on 4 September 2020 to treat metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC and was updated on 1 December 2020 with the addition of advanced and metastatic RET-altered MTC and PTC in the USA. On 19 November 2021, the European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization to PRL for use as a single agent in adult patients with RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC. They were not previously treated with an RET inhibitor. This review article summarizes the milestones in the development of PRL, chemistry, chemical (synthesis) research and development, characterization and identification of PRL-resistant RET mutants, the structural basis of resistance to PRL, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic, adverse effects, and regulatory status, including ongoing clinical trial of PRL and other potential drug candidates, leading to this first approval of PRL for the treatment of various solid tumors (RET fusion NSCLC, MTC, and PTC).

Automated summary

Pralsetinib (PRL) is a novel RET inhibitor used for treatment of specific types of cancers, which has been approved in the United States and Europe. This review article summarizes key information on the development, chemistry, mechanism, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of PRL.