Discovery of ERD-1233 as a Potent and Orally Efficacious Estrogen Receptor PROTAC Degrader for the Treatment of ER+ Human Breast Cancer

Despite the development of highly effective therapies for the treatment of estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive human breast cancer, clinical resistance to current therapies requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Herein, we report the discovery of ERD-1233 as a potent and orally efficacious ERα degrader designed using the PROTAC technology. ERD-1233 was developed based on Lasofoxifene as the ER binding moiety and a novel cereblon ligand through extensive optimization of the linker. ERD-1233 potently and effectively reduces the ERα protein in vitro and achieves excellent oral bioavailability in mice and rats. Oral administration of ERD-1233 effectively reduces ER protein in ER+ tumors and achieves tumor regression in the ER wild-type MCF-7 xenograft tumor model and strong tumor growth inhibition in the ESR1Y537S mutated model in mice. Our data demonstrate that ERD-1233 is a promising ER PROTAC degrader for extensive evaluation as a new therapy for the treatment of ER+ human breast cancer.