Dual IKZF2 and CK1α degrader targets acute myeloid leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy for which several epigenetic regulators have been identified as therapeutic targets. Here we report the development of cereblon-dependent degraders of IKZF2 and casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α) termed DEG-35 and DEG-77. We utilized a structure-guided approach to develop DEG-35 as a nanomolar degrader of IKZF2, a hematopoietic specific transcription factor that contributes to myeloid leukemogenesis. DEG-35 possesses additional substrate specificity for the therapeutically relevant target CK1α which was identified through unbiased proteomics and a PRISM screen assay. Degradation of IKZF2 and CK1α blocks cell growth and induces myeloid differentiation in AML cell lines through CK1α–p53- and IKZF2-dependent pathways. Target degradation by DEG-35 or the analog DEG-77 delays leukemia progression in murine and human AML mice models. Overall, we provide a strategy for multi-targeted degradation of IKZF2/CK1α to enhance efficacy against AML that may be expanded to additional targets and indications.