AbbVie Symposium

     Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is an essential enzyme involved in the repair of DNA damage caused by chemotherapeutic agents, contributing to the resistance that often develops after cancer therapy.  In vivo inhibition of PARP can block this repair process and thus potentially increase the therapeutic benefit of cancer therapies.  SAR studies on a benzimidazole carboxamide scaffold resulted in the identification of a clinical candidate, veliparib.  Veliparib demonstrated significant oral efficacy in a number of preclinical tumor models and is currently being evaluated in several human phase 3 clinical trials.