Ammar, Usama El-Din, Mahmoud Gamal Abdel-Maksoud, Mohammed Ali, Eslam El-Gamal, Mohammed I. Mahmoud, Zeyad Ahn, Sunjoo Nguyen, Nhung Hong Kim, Eunkyoung Jun, Park Su Deug, Kim Young Choi, Hong Seok Lee, Kwan Hyi Choi, Gahyeon Oh, Chang-Hyun 2025-08-20T06:06:16Z 2025-08-20T06:06:16Z 2025-08-20 2025-08 0141-8130 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152981 Despite the approved combination of BRAFV600E and MEK inhibitors to treat drug-resistant melanoma, serious side effects associated with this combination have been reported, particularly referring to MEK inhibitors. In the current study, an isosteric drug design strategy and were applied leading to the discovery of KS16, a highly potent candidate with a developed pharmacokinetic profile. KS16 exhibited superior efficacy in inhibiting drug resistant melanoma cell proliferation as a single agent. KS16 displayed a selective cytotoxic profile against melanoma cell lines over other types of cancer cell lines and inhibited RAF kinases over other protein kinases. It showed potent in vivo activity against melanoma-bearing animal models. In silico molecular docking revealed potential hydrophobic interactions with RAF selective back pocket. KS16 demonstrated improved microsomal stability, half-life, and bioavailability. It exhibited an improved safety profile over normal skin cell lines and hERG protein. Our ultimate future direction is to generate an advanced lead candidate. English Elsevier BV Discovery of potential RAF selective back pocket as a promising biological site for BRAF inhibitors targeting resistant melanoma opens the door for a new generation of kinase inhibitors: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and in silico molecular simulation Article 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145699 1 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v.320 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 320 Y scie scopus 001536851700001 2-s2.0-105010026985 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry, Applied Polymer Science Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry Polymer Science Article SIGNALING PATHWAY DERIVATIVES VITRO MUTATIONS IDENTIFICATION PROLIFERATION ACTIVATION MECHANISM SURVIVAL EFFICACY RAF back pocket Drug design BRAF kinase Resistant melanoma