OncoSignal
Live from Open Targets Platform, fetched 2026-11-11 20:04 UTC. Every row links to its source record.

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}.

1 of the 6 drugs recorded against GCK is approved

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.

1 small molecule drug at Approved: DORZAGLIATIN5 small molecule drugs at Phase 2: PF-04991532, AZD-1656, LY-2608204, MK-0941, NERIGLIATINSmall molecule 6Approved 1Phase 2 5

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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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.

GCK: inherited and tumour-mutation evidence across 7 cancers

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.

Inherited (germline) variantsMutations in tumours (somatic)
00.250.50.751hepatocellular carcinomahepatocellular carcinomacolorectal carcinomacolorectal carcinomanon-small cell lung carcinomanon-small cell lung carcinomaGCGR-related hyperglucagonemiaGCGR-related hyperglucagonemiapancreatic neoplasmpancreatic neoplasmfamilial pancreatic carcinomafamilial pancreatic carcinomagastric cancergastric cancer

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.

3 of 9 trials of drugs against GCK have sites only in United States

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.

Sites only in this groupSites here and elsewhere
United StatesUnited States: 3 trials with sites only hereUnited States: 0 trials with sites here and elsewhere3ChinaChina: 3 trials with sites only hereChina: 0 trials with sites here and elsewhere3EuropeEurope: 1 trials with sites only hereEurope: 0 trials with sites here and elsewhere1OtherOther: 2 trials with sites only hereOther: 0 trials with sites here and elsewhere2

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 mg
    No reason given
  • terminated · 2015-02-19 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · MK-0941
    No 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.

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.

DrugTypeHighest stageIndicationsSource records
DORZAGLIATINSmall moleculeapprovaldiabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, monogenic diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance, cystic fibrosisOpen Targets · ChEMBL
PF-04991532Small moleculephase 2type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets · ChEMBL
AZD-1656Small moleculephase 2type 2 diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, HypoglycemiaOpen Targets · ChEMBL
LY-2608204Small moleculephase 2type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets · ChEMBL
MK-0941Small moleculephase 2type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets · ChEMBL
NERIGLIATINSmall moleculephase 2type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets · ChEMBL