PKLR pyruvate kinase L/R
ENSG00000143627 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Pyruvate kinase that catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate with the synthesis of ATP, and which plays a key role in glycolysis (PubMed:11960989). Also produces the side product 2-phospholactate which can inhibit fructose-2,6- bisphosphate production (PubMed:27294321). 2-phospholactate can be dephosphorylated by PGP which prevents the inhibition of fructose-2,6- bisphosphate production and allows glycolysis to occur (PubMed:27294321). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11960989, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27294321}.
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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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
- Approved Drug, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.7093499898910522 (upper bound 0.9297900199890137). 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 31 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against PKLR (mitapivat, etavopivat), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Amy TangChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Andreas GlenthøjCopenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Pierre FENAUXHôpital Saint Louis · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Swee Lay TheinNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Cameron TrenorForma Therapeutics, Inc. · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of mitapivat, etavopivat 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 30 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. 1 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
2 trials of drugs against PKLR were stopped early
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of mitapivat, etavopivat, 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 2 most recent of 2.
- terminated · 2026-09-03 · Forma Therapeutics, Inc. · Etavopivat“Futility assessment concluded low likelihood of the trial showing meaningful patient benefit.”
- withdrawn · 2026-04-03 · Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Mitapivat“Withdrawn prior to study start per sponsor decision. No patients were enrolled.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for PKLR's drugs
For mitapivat, etavopivat: 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 · PKLR 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: yes · EMA/PE/0000232761 (etavopivat, Treatment of beta-thalassaemia intermedia and major | alpha-thalassaemia intermedia and major): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 15 Apr 2025; EMA/PE/0000238074 (Mitapivat, Treatment of thalassaemia): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 27 Nov 2024; EMEA-002924-PIP02-23 (etavopivat, Treatment of sickle cell disease): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 6 May 2024; EMEA-002684-PIP01-19-M01 (Mitapivat, Treatment of pyruvate kinase deficiency): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 31 Jan 2022; +1 moreRule: 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/3/24/2999 positive 13 Dec 2024: Treatment of sickle cell disease; EU/3/23/2889 positive 12 Jan 2024: Treatment of thalassaemia intermedia and major; EU/3/23/2827 positive 13 Oct 2023: Treatment of thalassaemia intermedia and major; EU/3/20/2270 positive 22 Apr 2020: Treatment of pyruvate kinase deficiencyRule: 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: yes · Pyrukynd: authorised since 9 Nov 2022, orphan medicineRule: 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 EPAR Pyrukynd, 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 mitapivat, etavopivatRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 15 interventional studies of mitapivat, etavopivat include patients under 18; 11 are 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, 2026-11-12
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 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MITAPIVAT SULFATE | Small molecule | approval | familial hemolytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary stomatocytosis | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| MITAPIVAT | Small molecule | phase 4 | Hemolytic anemia, pyruvate kinase deficiency of red cells, alpha thalassemia spectrum, beta thalassemia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, Nephropathy, congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type 2 | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| ETAVOPIVAT | Small molecule | phase 3 | sickle cell disease, thalassemia, anemia | Open Targets · ChEMBL |