Small-molecule pan-IAP antagonists: a patent review

Importance of the field: The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are critical regulators of cancer cell survival that have become important targets for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies. One strategy for targeting IAP proteins involves agents that mimic the amino terminus of the endogenous IAP protein antagonist second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac)/direct IAP-binding protein with low pI (DIABLO) and thus block critical IAP protein interactions.