OT134

OT134 is a small molecule drug candidate developed by OncoTherapy Science, primarily investigated for its potential in oncology. It functions as a potent and selective inhibitor of the maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), a protein kinase that is frequently overexpressed in various types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, and is associated with poor prognosis and the maintenance of cancer stem cells. By inhibiting MELK, OT134 aims to disrupt the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, and inhibit the self-renewal capacity of cancer stem cells, thereby providing a targeted therapeutic approach for aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancies. Although it has shown promising preclinical activity, its clinical development status remains in the early stages or has been subject to strategic shifts by the developer.