Src sightings

Though it is the oldest known and one of the most studied proto-oncogenes, Src has wallowed in relative obscurity as a drug target compared to the developmental successes had by other kinase inhibitors. However, at least two Src inhibitors have now made it into the clinic, and the last few weeks have witnessed both an advance and a setback for the class.

Last month, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. showed that its Src inhibitor might be active in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients who are resistant to Glivec imatinib from Novartis AG (NVS; SWX:NOVN, Basel, Switzerland). Earlier this month, however, Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. took a step back, deciding its lead Src inhibitor did not have the properties required for clinical development...