Fred Hutch study dramatically expands therapeutic range of approved kinase drugs
Fred Hutch Cancer Center researchers published a large-scale study showing that many FDA-approved kinase inhibitors can effectively target additional cancer-driving mutations beyond their original intended use.
The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, analyzed 92 clinical kinase drugs across 758 kinases, including 349 mutant variants and gene fusions linked to multiple cancer types. Researchers expanded the number of kinases that can potentially be inhibited by FDA-approved drugs from 89 to 235 and found that at least one drug strongly blocked 94% of kinase mutations and 97% of gene fusions studied. “The goal of precision oncology is simple: match the mutation to the right drug,” said Taran Gujral, PhD, whose team also launched the public KIRhub platform to help researchers and clinicians identify new therapeutic opportunities.
The findings underscore Seattle’s leadership in precision oncology and translational research by accelerating new uses for existing therapies across cancer and non-cancer diseases.