Small molecule DNA-PK inhibitors as potential cancer therapy: a patent review (2010–present)

Introduction: DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a crucial role in the repair of DSBs via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Several DNA-PK inhibitors are being investigated for potential anticancer treatment in clinical trials.Area covered: This review aims to give an overview of patents published since 2010 by analyzing the patent space and structure features of scaffolds used in those patents. It also discusses the recent clinical developments and provides perspectives on future challenges and directions in this field.Expert opinion: As a key component of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, DNA-PK appears to be a viable drug target for anticancer therapy. The clinical investi…