ATC Group: L01XJ Hedgehog pathway inhibitors

Glasdegib is an inhibitor of the Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction pathway that binds to Smoothened (SMO), a transmembrane protein, leading to decreased Glioma-Associated Oncogene (GLI) transcription factor activity and downstream pathway signalling. Hh pathway signalling is required for maintaining a leukaemic stem cell (LSC) population thus, glasdegib binding to and inhibiting SMO reduces GLI1 levels in AML cells and the leukaemic initiating potential of AML cells.

Sonidegib is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the Hh signalling pathway. It binds to Smoothened (Smo), a G protein-coupled receptor-like molecule that positively regulates the Hh pathway. Aberrant Hh signalling has been linked to the pathogenesis of several types of cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Sonidegib binding to Smo will inhibit Hh signalling and consequently block signal transduction.

Vismodegib is an orally available small-molecule inhibitor of the Hedgehog pathway. Hedgehog pathway signalling through the Smoothened transmembrane protein (SMO) leads to the activation and nuclear localisation of Glioma-Associated Oncogene (GLI) transcription factors and induction of Hedgehog target genes. Vismodegib binds to and inhibits the SMO protein thereby blocking Hedgehog signal transduction.