INV-25

INV-25 is a novel, orally administered small molecule that acts as an agonist of the nuclear hormone receptor Liver X Receptor (LXR). LXR plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism, lipogenesis, glucose homeostasis, inflammation, and innate immunity. INV-25 was developed using structure-based drug design to selectively target LXR isoforms—LXR-beta (LXR-β), LXR-alpha (LXR-α), and pan-LXR-alpha/beta (LXR-α/β). The primary therapeutic focus for INV-25 is cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Mechanistically, activation of LXR by INV-25 induces the tumor suppressor Apolipoprotein E (APOE) protein, which depletes immune-suppressive myeloid cells and inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Additionally, it exerts direct anti-tumor effects by promoting reverse cholesterol transport and upregulating cholesterol transporters to starve tumor cells of cholesterol essential for growth[5].