AURKA aurora kinase A
ENSG00000087586 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Mitotic serine/threonine kinase that contributes to the regulation of cell cycle progression (PubMed:11039908, PubMed:12390251, PubMed:17125279, PubMed:17360485, PubMed:18615013, PubMed:26246606). Associates with the centrosome and the spindle microtubules during mitosis and plays a critical role in various mitotic events including the establishment of mitotic spindle, centrosome duplication, centrosome separation as well as maturation, chromosomal alignment, spindle assembly checkpoint, and cytokinesis (PubMed:14523000, PubMed:26246606). Required for normal spindle positioning during mitosis and for the localization of NUMA1 and DCTN1 to the cell cortex during metaphase (PubMed:27335426). Required for initial activation of CDK1 at centrosomes (PubMed:13678582, PubMed:15128871). Phosphorylates numerous target proteins, including ARHGEF2, BORA, BRCA1, CDC25B, DLGP5, HDAC6, KIF2A, LATS2, NDEL1, PARD3, PPP1R2, PLK1, RASSF1, TACC3, p53/TP53 and TPX2 (PubMed:11551964, PubMed:14702041, PubMed:15128871, PubMed:15147269, PubMed:15987997, PubMed:17604723, PubMed:18056443, PubMed:18615013). Phosphorylates MCRS1 which is required for MCRS1- mediated kinetochore fiber assembly and mitotic progression (PubMed:27192185). Regulates KIF2A tubulin depolymerase activity (PubMed:19351716). Important for microtubule formation and/or stabilization (PubMed:18056443). Required for normal axon formation (PubMed:19812038). Plays a role in microtubule remodeling during neurite extension (PubMed:19668197). Also acts as a key regulatory component of the p53/TP53 pathway, and particularly the checkpoint- response pathways critical for oncogenic transformation of cells, by phosphorylating and destabilizing p53/TP53 (PubMed:14702041). Phosphorylates its own inhibitors, the protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) isoforms, to inhibit their activity (PubMed:11551964). Inhibits cilia outgrowth (By similarity). Required for cilia disassembly via phosphorylation of HDAC6 and subsequent deacetylation of alpha-tubulin (PubMed:17604723, PubMed:20643351). Regulates protein levels of the anti-apoptosis protein BIRC5 by suppressing the expression of the SCF(FBXL7) E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase substrate adapter FBXL7 through the phosphorylation of the transcription factor FOXP1 (PubMed:28218735). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:A0A8I3S724, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11039908, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11551964, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12390251, ECO:0000269|PubMed:13678582, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14523000, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14702041, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15128871, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15147269, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15987997, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17125279, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17360485, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17604723, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18056443, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18615013, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19351716, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19668197, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19812038, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20643351, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26246606, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27192185, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27335426, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28218735}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Advanced Clinical, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc med conf, GO CC med conf
- PROTAC
- Literature, UniProt Ubiquitination, Database Ubiquitination, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.29374998807907104 (upper bound 0.4759399890899658). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 15 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against AURKA (alisertib, AT-9283, ENMD-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, ENMD-981693), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Chief Reg AffairsPuma Biotechnology, Inc. · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Amar GajjarSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Chief Scientific OfficerPuma Biotechnology, Inc. · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Faye M JohnsonM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ghassan Abou-AlfaMSKCC · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jianqing LinThomas Jefferson University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Joyce A. O'ShaughnessyUS Oncology Research, McKesson Specialty Health · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Kari WisinskiUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ken RenCASI pharmaceuticals, Inc. · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Tufia C. HaddadMayo Clinic · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Catherine S DiefenbachMontefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Wenyin ShiThomas Jefferson University · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Yasir Y ElaminM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of alisertib, AT-9283, ENMD-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, ENMD-981693 updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 13 of 15 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
21 trials of drugs against AURKA were stopped early; 11 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of alisertib, AT-9283, ENMD-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, ENMD-981693, TAS-119, SNS-314, MLN-8054, PF-03814735, MK-5108, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 21 most recent of 21.
- terminated · 2024-09-05 · Taiho Oncology, Inc. · TAS-119No reason given
- terminated · 2024-09-04 · Taiho Oncology, Inc. · TAS-119No reason given
- terminated · 2024-08-02 · Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Recommended Phase II dose determined”
- terminated · 2023-07-17 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Ilorasertib“Study terminated due to company's decision to discontinue drug development”
- terminated · 2019-09-20 · Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Alisertib“Business Decision; No Safety Or Efficacy Concerns.”
- terminated · 2019-06-26 · Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Alisertib“Sponsor's decision”
- withdrawn · 2018-07-27 · Eric Bernicker, MD · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“lack of funding”
- terminated · 2018-06-06 · Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · alisertib“Slow patient enrollment and study discontinued after 14 patients enrolled”
- terminated · 2018-05-17 · Fox Chase Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Phase I portion completed. Phase II will open pending amendment approval.”
- terminated · 2017-11-20 · UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center · Alisertib“Lack of funding”
- withdrawn · 2017-03-27 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · AlisertibNo reason given
- terminated · 2016-05-30 · Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“low accrual”
- terminated · 2015-08-26 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-07-27 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-06-17 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-01-30 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-01-26 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2014-05-28 · Nerviano Medical Sciences · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Low recruitment rate”
- withdrawn · 2013-11-01 · Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · TAK-733 and alisertibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-09-23 · Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2008-04-01 · Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for AURKA's drugs
For alisertib, AT-9283, ENMD-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, ENMD-981693, TAS-119, SNS-314, MLN-8054, PF-03814735, MK-5108: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: yes · AURKA is on the list. Membership alone neither requires nor waives a pediatric study.Rule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: no · No EMA paediatric investigation plan decision names alisertib, at-9283, enmd-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, enmd-981693, tas-119, sns-314, mln-8054, pf-03814735, mk-5108Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/12/1074 withdrawn 6 Dec 2012: Treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (nodal, other extranodal and leukaemic/disseminated); EU/3/12/1064 withdrawn 8 Nov 2012: Treatment of ovarian cancerRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of alisertib, at-9283, enmd-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, enmd-981693, tas-119, sns-314, mln-8054, pf-03814735, mk-5108Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of alisertib, at-9283, enmd-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, enmd-981693, tas-119, sns-314, mln-8054, pf-03814735, mk-5108Rule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-11
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 7 interventional studies of alisertib, at-9283, enmd-2076, danusertib, tozasertib, ilorasertib, enmd-981693, tas-119, sns-314, mln-8054, pf-03814735, mk-5108 include patients under 18; 1 is recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-11
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 19 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.