A patent review of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitors (2018-2022)

Small-molecule CDK7 inhibitors represent attractive pharmacological modalities for the treatment of various cancer types. Highly potent and selective inhibitors have been discovered and many of them show promising results in several preclinical cancer models. Developed compounds act on the kinase by various mechanisms, including traditional ATP competition, irreversible binding to tractable cysteine 312 outside the active site of CDK7, and induced protein degradation by proteolysis targeting chimeras. Ongoing preclinical research and clinical trials should reveal which strategy will provide the highest benefits.