2. Academic Validation
  3. Oral ENPP1 inhibitor designed using generative AI as next generation STING modulator for solid tumors

Oral ENPP1 inhibitor designed using generative AI as next generation STING modulator for solid tumors

  • Nat Commun. 2025 May 23;16(1):4793. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59874-0.
Congying Pu # 1,  Hui Cui # 1,  Huaxing Yu # 1,  Xin Cheng 1,  Man Zhang 1,  Luoheng Qin 1,  Zhilin Ning 1,  Wen Zhang 1,  Shan Chen 1,  Yuhang Qian 1,  Feng Wang 1,  Ling Wang 1,  Xiaoxia Lin 1,  David Gennert 2,  Frank W Pun 3,  Feng Ren 1 2 4,  Alex Zhavoronkov 5 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, 9F, Chamtime Plaza Block C, Lane 2889, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Insilico Medicine US Inc,1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 126, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • 3 Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd, Unit 310, 3/F, Building 8W, Phase 2, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China.
  • 4 Insilico Medicine AI, 6F International Renewable Agency (IRENA) Building, Masdar City, United Arab Emirates.
  • 5 Insilico Medicine US Inc,1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 126, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA. alex@insilico.com.
  • 6 Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd, Unit 310, 3/F, Building 8W, Phase 2, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China. alex@insilico.com.
  • 7 Insilico Medicine AI, 6F International Renewable Agency (IRENA) Building, Masdar City, United Arab Emirates. alex@insilico.com.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 40410143 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59874-0
Abstract

Despite the STING-type-I interferon pathway playing a key role in effective anti-tumor immunity, the therapeutic benefit of direct STING agonists appears limited. In this study, we use several artificial intelligence techniques and patient-based multi-omics data to show that Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), which hydrolyzes STING-activating cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), is a safer and more effective STING-modulating target than direct STING agonism in multiple solid tumors. We then leverage our generative chemistry artificial intelligence-based drug design platform to facilitate the design of ISM5939, an orally bioavailable ENPP1-selective inhibitor capable of stabilizing extracellular cGAMP and activating bystander antigen-presenting cells without inducing either toxic inflammatory cytokine release or tumor-infiltrating T-cell death. In murine syngeneic models across Cancer types, ISM5939 synergizes with targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and chemotherapy in suppressing tumor growth with good tolerance. Our findings provide evidence supporting ENPP1 as an innate immune checkpoint across solid tumors and reports an AI design-aided ENPP1 inhibitor, ISM5939, as a cutting-edge STING modulator for Cancer therapy, paving a path for immunotherapy advancements.

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