SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with multiple myeloma: survey in 23 centers across Europe and USA

Introduction: Despite several studies, the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on patients with multiple myeloma remains uncertain. Material(s) and Method(s): We performed a survey that covered the period of the first and second waves of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in 23 centers inseven countries. Out of 352 patients with myeloma and SARS-CoV-2, 23% died. Results/Conclusions: Logistic regression showed a lower risk of death among patients treated with proteasome inhibitor and a higher risk of death for those who had a severe or a very severe course of disease.Copyright © 2023 Sciendo. All rights reserved.

Selinexor and COVID-19: The Neglected Warden.

A novel severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been confirmed as the cause of the global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Different repurposed drugs have been trialed and used in the management of COVID-19. One of these agents was the anti-cancer Selinexor (SXR). SXR is an anti-cancer drug that acts by inhibition of nuclear exportin-1 (XPO1), which inhibits transport of nuclear proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, leading to the induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. XPO1 inhibitors had antiviral effects, mainly against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus. SXR inhibits transport of SARS-CoV-2 nuclear proteins to the cytoplasm with further inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 proliferation. SXR has the ability to prevent the development of a cytokine storm in COVID-19 by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines with the augmentation release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked with activation of XPO1, leading to the triggering of inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress. Inhibition of XPO1 by Selinexor (SXR), a selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), can reduce the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 and associated inflammatory disorders. Preclinical and clinical studies are warranted in this regard.

Molecular Docking Studies for Protein-Targeted Drug Development in SARS-CoV-2

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic and emergency. Currently, there is no therapeutic agent that has been proven effective against the virus. Objective: We investigated and screened for 401 antiviral compounds that could inhibit one or more of the three protein targets in SARS-CoV-2 chymotrypsin-like (3CL) protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and spike glycoprotein) using the in-silico approach. Methods: Lipinski’s rule of five was used as an initial screening for relevant compounds. Ligand preparation was conducted using JChem software and Schrödinger’s LigPrep module, while protein elucidation was conducted using AutoDockTools-1.5.6. Molecular docking was analyzed using Au-toDockVina. Results: Five antiviral compounds were obtained from each SARS-CoV-2 protein with ideal and potential binding energy as a candidate for target protein inhibition on SARS-CoV-2, TAK-981;lopinavir, mefloquine, and sitagliptin were potent inhibitors of 3CL protease;imatinib, relacatib, AZD7986, imatinib, and TAK-981 proteins showed potential as inhibitors of RdRp tetrandrine, and, selinexor, imatinib, lopinavir, and ciclesonide, showed potential as inhibitors of glycoprotein AZD7986. These compounds have better binding energy than the three comparator drugs, remdesivir, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine. Conclusion: We obtained several antiviral compounds with reliable binding energies to the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and potentially better efficacy than the three comparator drugs. Furthermore, this research will help accelerate the development of Covid-19 drugs.

Selinexor in Combination with R-GDP for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma: Results of the Selinda Phase Ib Lysa Study

Background: Salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard treatment of young patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A complete remission before ASCT is the most important prognosis factor for a better outcome. Selinexor is a first-in-class, oral selective inhibitor of nuclear export compound, an exportin 1 [XPO1] inhibitor, which, through XPO1 blockade, causes nuclear accumulation and activation of tumor suppressor proteins, reduction in oncoproteins and cancer cell apoptosis. Selinexor has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of R/R DLBCL, de novo or transformed from follicular lymphoma (FL) pts after ≥2 therapies. The phase Ib SELINDA (EUDRACT 2015-005612-15) study assessed safety and efficacy of selinexor, in combination with R-GDP for pts with R/R B-cell lymphoma. Patients & methods: Eligible pts < 70 years with R/R B-cell lymphoma after first or second treatment failure received every 21 days (d) 3 cycles of rituximab 375 mg/m² on d1, dexamethasone 40 mg on d1 to 4, cisplatin 75 mg/m² d1 and gemcitabine 1 gr/m² on d1 and 8 (R-GDP) in combination with escalating doses of selinexor. The starting dose (dose level 1, DL1) 40 mg was given on days 1, 3, 8, 10 (Cohort A), and from December 2017 on days 1, 8 and 15 (Cohort B). The dose-variation scheme followed a traditional “3+3” design (DL1: 40 mg;DL2: 60 mg). The primary endpoint of SELINDA was the determination of the recommended phase 2 dose of selinexor in combination with R-GDP. Secondary and exploratory endpoints were safety, efficacy, and feasibility of ASCT after selinexor-R-GDP. Results: The R2PD for selinexor in combination with R-GDP was established as 40 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 (Maerevoet, IMCL 2021#176). Between January 2017 and January 2021, 32 pts received selinexor-R-GDP. We focused on the 18 pts who received the R2PD: 15 had DLBCL, 2 FL, 1 marginal zone lymphoma. In this cohort, median age was 61 years (range 44-69);14 pts (78%) has stage III/IV. Thirteen pts received 1 previous line before inclusion, 5 pts received 2 previous lines. At inclusion, 6 pts had refractory disease and 12 relapsed. Four pts prematurely discontinued treatment: 2 for thrombocytopenia, 1 for COVID, 1 for progression. Major adverse events (AEs) in >10% of pts were reversible neutropenia (50%), thrombocytopenia (39%), and nausea (22%). No AEs leading to death were observed. Seven pts (39%) achieved a complete metabolic response (CMR), 5 pts (28%) partial metabolic response (PMR). Overall response rate (CMR+PMR) assessed at the end of treatment according to Lugano classification was 67% (12 of 18). Nine of the 15 pts (60 %) with DLBCL had metabolic response (CMR:4, PMR:5). Per protocol, peripheral stem cell collection and ASCT were optional, 4 pts of this RP2D cohort proceeded to high dose therapy (BEAM) and ASCT. Conclusion: This study established the safety profile of weekly 40mg of Selinexor in combination with R-GDP for R/R B cell lymphoma with an ORR of 67%. Reversible AEs are expected for platinum-based regimen. An ongoing randomized phase 2 study comparing R-GDP and R-GDP plus selinexor in pts with R/R DLBCL will now establish the safety and efficacy of the combination. Disclosures: Casasnovas: Janssen: Consultancy;BMS: Consultancy;Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding;TAKEDA: Consultancy, Research Funding;ROCHE: Consultancy, Research Funding;Amgen: Consultancy. Morschhauser: Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;AstraZenenca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen: Honoraria;Genen ech, Inc.: Consultancy;Chugai: Honoraria;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Servier: Consultancy;Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Thieblemont: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding;Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Kyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses;Hospira: Research Funding;Bayer: Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Feugier: Amgen: Honoraria;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Astrazeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Selinexor, a novel selective inhibitor of nuclear export, reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection and protects the respiratory system in vivo.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the recent global pandemic. The nuclear export protein (XPO1) has a direct role in the export of SARS-CoV proteins including ORF3b, ORF9b, and nucleocapsid. Inhibition of XPO1 induces anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant pathways. Selinexor is an FDA-approved XPO1 inhibitor. Through bioinformatics analysis, we predicted nuclear export sequences in the ACE-2 protein and confirmed by in vitro testing that inhibition of XPO1 with selinexor induces nuclear localization of ACE-2. Administration of selinexor inhibited viral infection prophylactically as well as therapeutically in vitro. In a ferret model of COVID-19, selinexor treatment reduced viral load in the lungs and protected against tissue damage in the nasal turbinates and lungs in vivo. Our studies demonstrated that selinexor downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and GMCSF, commonly associated with the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 patients. Our findings indicate that nuclear export is critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection and for COVID-19 pathology and suggest that inhibition of XPO1 by selinexor could be a viable anti-viral treatment option.

Small Molecule Inhibitors of CRM1.

The transport through the nuclear pore complex is used by cancer cells to evade tumor-suppressive mechanisms. Several tumor-suppressors have been shown to be excluded from the cell nucleus in cancer cells by the nuclear export receptor CRM1 and abnormal expression of CRM1 is oncogenic. Inhibition of CRM1 has long been postulated as potential approach for the treatment of cancer and to overcome therapy resistance. Furthermore, the nuclear export of viral components mediated by the CRM1 is crucial in various stages of the viral lifecycle and assembly of many viruses from diverse families, including coronavirus. However, the first nuclear export inhibitors failed or never entered into clinical trials. More recently CRM1 reemerged as a cancer target and a successful proof of concept was achieved with the clinical approval of Selinexor. The chemical complexity of natural products is a promising perspective for the discovery of new nuclear export inhibitors with a favorable toxicity profile. Several screening campaigns have been performed and several natural product-based nuclear export inhibitors have been identified. With this review we give an overview over the role of CRM1-mediated nuclear export in cancer and the effort made to identify and develop nuclear export inhibitors in particular from natural sources.