CDK7 cyclin dependent kinase 7
ENSG00000134058 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Serine/threonine kinase involved in cell cycle control and in RNA polymerase II-mediated RNA transcription (PubMed:9852112, PubMed:19136461, PubMed:26257281, PubMed:28768201). As a cyclin- dependent kinase, CDK7 is activated by the binding to cyclin-H/CCNH and the CDK-activating kinase assembly factor MAT1 (PubMed:41100585). Catalytic subunit of the CDK-activating kinase (CAK) complex, a master regulator of CDK activity by catalyzing the activating threonine phosphorylation of CDKs (PubMed:41100585). CAK activates major mediators of cell cycle control, including CDK1, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6, and plays a key role in regulating cell cycle progression (PubMed:41100585). CAK complexed to the core-TFIIH basal transcription factor activates RNA polymerase II by serine phosphorylation of the CTD of POLR2A, allowing its escape from the promoter and elongation of the transcripts (PubMed:9852112). Initiates transcription by RNA polymerase II by mediating phosphorylation of POLR2A at 'Ser-5' of the repetitive C-terminal domain (CTD) when POLR2A is in complex with DNA, promoting dissociation from DNA and initiation (PubMed:19136461, PubMed:26257281, PubMed:28768201). Phosphorylates SPT5/SUPT5H, SF1/NR5A1, POLR2A, p53/TP53, CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6 and CDK11B/CDK11 (PubMed:9372954, PubMed:9840937, PubMed:19136461, PubMed:26257281, PubMed:28768201, PubMed:41100585, PubMed:41100585). Its expression and activity are constant throughout the cell cycle. Upon DNA damage, triggers p53/TP53 activation by phosphorylation, but is inactivated in turn by p53/TP53; this feedback loop may lead to an arrest of the cell cycle and of the transcription, helping in cell recovery, or to apoptosis. Required for DNA-bound peptides-mediated transcription and cellular growth inhibition. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10024882, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11113184, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16327805, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17373709, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17386261, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17901130, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19015234, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19071173, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19136461, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19450536, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19667075, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20360007, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26257281, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28768201, ECO:0000269|PubMed:41100585, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9372954, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9840937, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9852112}.
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
- GO CC high conf
- PROTAC
- Literature, Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.5095999836921692 (upper bound 0.7117300033569336). 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 5 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against CDK7 (alvocidib, roniciclib, AT-7519, seliciclib), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Stephen AnthonySumitomo Pharma America, Inc. · 1 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Gilles RAULTCentre de Pérharidy - Roscoff · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ning-Ai LiuCedars-Sinai Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Shlomo MelmedCedars-Sinai Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Khanh T DoDana-Farber - Harvard Cancer Center LAO · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of alvocidib, roniciclib, AT-7519, seliciclib 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; 4 of 5 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.
24 trials of drugs against CDK7 were stopped early; 12 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of alvocidib, roniciclib, AT-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, AZD-5438, PHA-793887, BMS-387032, RGB-286638, 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 24 most recent of 24.
- terminated · 2026-02-23 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Zotiraciclib (TG02)“Unable to supply investigational agent, Zotiraciclib (TG02).”
- terminated · 2025-12-12 · University Hospital, Brest · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The centers have no longer patients. In September 2018, set up of a competitive international study.”
- terminated · 2023-11-15 · Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. · Alvocidib“Due to slow enrollment, the extensive time projected to conclude the study hypothesis rendered the study no longer reasonably feasible to complete.”
- terminated · 2023-11-09 · Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. · Alvocidib (flavopiridol) and cytarabine (Ara-C), Alvocidib (flavopiridol)“Business decision to terminate the development of alvocidib program on 17 November 2020. Patients permitted on treatment until April 22, 2021. The last end-of-treatment follow-up completed on May 14, 2021.”
- terminated · 2023-11-09 · Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. · Alvocidib Plus Decitabine (during dose escalation only) or Azacitidine“The sponsor decided not to continue the study based on the overall company strategy in AML.”
- terminated · 2021-12-22 · Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · seliciclibNo reason given
- terminated · 2021-11-04 · Shlomo Melmed, MD · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“NIH grant ended.”
- terminated · 2021-04-08 · Bayer · Roniciclib (BAY1000394)No reason given
- withdrawn · 2020-11-12 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Alvocidib Hydrochloride“The original sponsor was acquired by a new company and has elected to end funding for all Investigator Sponsored Trials (ISTs)”
- terminated · 2019-12-12 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Flavopiridol (alvocidib)No reason given
- terminated · 2018-06-25 · Bayer · Roniciclib (BAY1000394)No reason given
- terminated · 2016-10-24 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidib“CTEP Initiated Action.”
- withdrawn · 2016-08-10 · Yonsei University · BAY 1000394 (Roniciclib) in combination with docetaxelNo reason given
- terminated · 2016-08-08 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidib“Administratively Complete”
- withdrawn · 2016-07-01 · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Development of BAY1000394 has been terminated by Bayer.”
- terminated · 2015-11-11 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Alvocidib HydrochlorideNo reason given
- terminated · 2014-02-24 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-12-16 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-07-02 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-06-04 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-02-01 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · alvocidib“Administratively complete.”
- withdrawn · 2012-08-02 · Agennix · RGB-286638“Sponsor decision to not initiate clinical trial at this time”
- withdrawn · 2012-06-26 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · SeliciclibNo reason given
- terminated · 2009-10-16 · Nerviano Medical Sciences · PHA-793887No reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for CDK7's drugs
For alvocidib, roniciclib, AT-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, AZD-5438, PHA-793887, BMS-387032, RGB-286638: 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 · CDK7 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 alvocidib, roniciclib, at-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, azd-5438, pha-793887, bms-387032, rgb-286638Rule: 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/3/15/1437 positive 12 Feb 2015: Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia; EU/3/07/485 positive 23 Oct 2007: Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemiaRule: 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 alvocidib, roniciclib, at-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, azd-5438, pha-793887, bms-387032, rgb-286638Rule: 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 alvocidib, roniciclib, at-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, azd-5438, pha-793887, bms-387032, rgb-286638Rule: 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 · 6 interventional studies of alvocidib, roniciclib, at-7519, seliciclib, zotiraciclib, azd-5438, pha-793887, bms-387032, rgb-286638 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 9 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.