GCK glucokinase
ENSG00000106633 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Catalyzes the phosphorylation of hexose, such as D-glucose, D-fructose and D-mannose, to hexose 6-phosphate (D-glucose 6-phosphate, D-fructose 6-phosphate and D-mannose 6-phosphate, respectively) (PubMed:11916951, PubMed:15277402, PubMed:17082186, PubMed:18322640, PubMed:19146401, PubMed:25015100, PubMed:7742312, PubMed:8325892). Compared to other hexokinases, has a weak affinity for D-glucose, and is effective only when glucose is abundant (By similarity). Mainly expressed in pancreatic beta cells and the liver and constitutes a rate-limiting step in glucose metabolism in these tissues (PubMed:11916951, PubMed:15277402, PubMed:18322640, PubMed:25015100, PubMed:8325892). Since insulin secretion parallels glucose metabolism and the low glucose affinity of GCK ensures that it can change its enzymatic activity within the physiological range of glucose concentrations, GCK acts as a glucose sensor in the pancreatic beta cell (By similarity). In pancreas, plays an important role in modulating insulin secretion (By similarity). In liver, helps to facilitate the uptake and conversion of glucose by acting as an insulin-sensitive determinant of hepatic glucose usage (By similarity). Required to provide D-glucose 6-phosphate for the synthesis of glycogen (PubMed:8878425). Mediates the initial step of glycolysis by catalyzing phosphorylation of D-glucose to D-glucose 6-phosphate (PubMed:7742312). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P17712, ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P52792, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11916951, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15277402, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17082186, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18322640, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19146401, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25015100, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7742312, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8325892, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8878425}.
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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.5933300256729126 (upper bound 0.8047599792480469). 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 9 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against GCK (dorzagliatin, PF-04991532, AZD-1656, LY-2608204, MK-0941, nerigliatin), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Kieran McCaffertyBarts Health NHS Trust; Queen Mary University London · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Gregory J TraceyFrontage Clinical Services, Inc. · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Michael R RickelsUniversity of Pennsylvania · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Yanbing LiFirst Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of dorzagliatin, PF-04991532, AZD-1656, LY-2608204, MK-0941, nerigliatin 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; 9 of 9 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.
4 trials of drugs against GCK were stopped early; 2 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of dorzagliatin, PF-04991532, AZD-1656, LY-2608204, MK-0941, nerigliatin, 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 4 most recent of 4.
- withdrawn · 2026-10-16 · Sun Yat-sen University · Dorzagliatin“The study was withdrawn because the protocol was revised and would be replaced by an updated study design, prior to participant enrollment.”
- terminated · 2015-02-26 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · MK-0941 20 mg, MK-0941 5 mgNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-02-19 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · MK-0941No reason given
- withdrawn · 2011-08-25 · Eli Lilly and Company · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Trial terminated no patients were screened or enrolled”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for GCK's drugs
For dorzagliatin, PF-04991532, AZD-1656, LY-2608204, MK-0941, nerigliatin: 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: no · GCK is not on the listRule: 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 dorzagliatin, pf-04991532, azd-1656, ly-2608204, mk-0941, nerigliatinRule: 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: no · No EU orphan designation names dorzagliatin, pf-04991532, azd-1656, ly-2608204, mk-0941, nerigliatinRule: 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 dorzagliatin, pf-04991532, azd-1656, ly-2608204, mk-0941, nerigliatinRule: 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 dorzagliatin, pf-04991532, azd-1656, ly-2608204, mk-0941, nerigliatinRule: 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: no · No interventional study of dorzagliatin, pf-04991532, azd-1656, ly-2608204, mk-0941, nerigliatin includes patients under 18Rule: 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 6 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.
| Drug | Type | Highest stage | Indications | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DORZAGLIATIN | Small molecule | approval | diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, monogenic diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance, cystic fibrosis | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| PF-04991532 | Small molecule | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| AZD-1656 | Small molecule | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Hypoglycemia | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| LY-2608204 | Small molecule | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| MK-0941 | Small molecule | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| NERIGLIATIN | Small molecule | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus | Open Targets · ChEMBL |