TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) is a selective inhibitor of FAK with IC50 value of 5.5 nM [1].

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) also known as PTK2 protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) is a focal adhesion-associated protein kinase and plays an important role in cellular adhesion and spreading processes [1].

TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) is a potent FAK inhibitor and has a different selectivity with the reported FAK inhibitor PF-562271. When tested with glioma cell lines U87, U87/EGFR, U87/EGFRvIII and U251 that expressed different level of FAK, TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) showed effective inhibition on the growth of the 4 cell lines in a dose dependent manner (1 and 10 μmol/L) and U87/EGFR, as well as U87/EGFRvIII, which had higher p-FAK expression than U87 were more sensitive to TAE226 (NVP-TAE226). Then, it was shown that TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) treatment inhibited Glioma cell invasion and induced apoptosis when tested with U251 and LN18 cell lines [1]. In the medullary thyroid tumor cell line MZ-CRC-1, TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) (100 nM and 1000 nM) treatment for 72 h inhibited cell proliferation, prolonged cellular processes and decreased cell invasion ability [2].

In male nude mice model with U87 subcutaneous xenograft, administration of TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) (50 or 75 mg/kg) prolonged the median survival of animals by 7 days with significant difference compared with control group (29 days) [1].

It is also reported that TAE226 (NVP-TAE226) is a potent inhibitor for Pyk2 with IC50 value of 3.5 nM [1].

References: [1].  Liu, T.J., et al., Inhibition of both focal adhesion kinase and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor kinase suppresses glioma proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther, 2007. 6(4): p. 1357-67. [2].   Plaza-Menacho, I., et al., Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) binds RET kinase via its FERM domain, priming a direct and reciprocal RET-FAK transactivation mechanism. J Biol Chem, 2011. 286(19): p. 17292-302.