UNC1062

UNC1062 is a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of the Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK). Developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it was designed to investigate the role of MERTK in oncogenesis and as a potential therapeutic lead. MERTK is a member of the TAM (Tyro3, Axl, Mer) receptor tyrosine kinase family and is often overexpressed in various malignancies, including melanoma, where it promotes cell survival, invasion, and chemoresistance. UNC1062 inhibits MERTK phosphorylation, thereby disrupting downstream signaling through the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, and Jak/STAT pathways. In preclinical melanoma models, treatment with UNC1062 has been shown to induce apoptosis, reduce colony formation, and inhibit cell invasion, particularly when used in combination with BRAF inhibitors.