Definition

An orally available hetero-bifunctional molecule and selective estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-targeted protein degrader, using the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, with potential antineoplastic activity. Vepdegestrant is composed of an ER alpha ligand attached to an E3 ligase recognition moiety. Upon oral administration,vepdegestrant targets and binds to the ER ligand binding domain on ER alpha. E3 ligase is recruited to the ER by the E3 ligase recognition moiety and ER alpha is tagged by ubiquitin. This causes ubiquitination and degradation of ER alpha by the proteasome. This decreases ER alpha protein levels, decreases the expression of ER alpha-target genes and halts ER-mediated signaling. This results in an inhibition of proliferation in ER alpha-overexpressing tumor cells. In addition, the degradation of the ER alpha protein releases the ARV-471 and can bind to additional ER alpha target proteins. ER alpha is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and plays a key role in cancer cell proliferation.