PDPK1 3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase 1
ENSG00000140992 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Serine/threonine kinase which acts as a master kinase, phosphorylating and activating a subgroup of the AGC family of protein kinases (PubMed:10226025, PubMed:10480933, PubMed:10995762, PubMed:12167717, PubMed:14585963, PubMed:14604990, PubMed:16207722, PubMed:16251192, PubMed:17327236, PubMed:17371830, PubMed:18835241, PubMed:9094314, PubMed:9368760, PubMed:9445476, PubMed:9445477, PubMed:9707564, PubMed:9768361). Its targets include: protein kinase B (PKB/AKT1, PKB/AKT2, PKB/AKT3), p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RPS6KB1), p90 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RPS6KA1, RPS6KA2 and RPS6KA3), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PRKACA), protein kinase C (PRKCD and PRKCZ), serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK1, SGK2 and SGK3), p21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1), TSSK3, protein kinase PKN (PKN1 and PKN2) (PubMed:10226025, PubMed:10480933, PubMed:10995762, PubMed:12167717, PubMed:14585963, PubMed:14604990, PubMed:16207722, PubMed:16251192, PubMed:17327236, PubMed:17371830, PubMed:18835241, PubMed:9094314, PubMed:9368760, PubMed:9445476, PubMed:9707564, PubMed:9768361). Plays a central role in the transduction of signals from insulin by providing the activating phosphorylation to PKB/AKT1, thus propagating the signal to downstream targets controlling cell proliferation and survival, as well as glucose and amino acid uptake and storage (PubMed:10226025, PubMed:12167717, PubMed:9094314). Negatively regulates the TGF-beta-induced signaling by: modulating the association of SMAD3 and SMAD7 with TGF-beta receptor, phosphorylating SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4 and SMAD7, preventing the nuclear translocation of SMAD3 and SMAD4 and the translocation of SMAD7 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to TGF-beta (PubMed:17327236). Activates PPARG transcriptional activity and promotes adipocyte differentiation (By similarity). Activates the NF-kappa-B pathway via phosphorylation of IKKB (PubMed:16207722). The tyrosine phosphorylated form is crucial for the regulation of focal adhesions by angiotensin II (PubMed:14585963). Controls proliferation, survival, and growth of developing pancreatic cells (By similarity). Participates in the regulation of Ca(2+) entry and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels of mast cells (By similarity). Essential for the motility of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and is involved in the regulation of their chemotaxis (PubMed:17371830). Plays a critical role in cardiac homeostasis by serving as a dual effector for cell survival and beta-adrenergic response (By similarity). Plays an important role during thymocyte development by regulating the expression of key nutrient receptors on the surface of pre-T cells and mediating Notch-induced cell growth and proliferative responses (By similarity). Provides negative feedback inhibition to toll-like receptor-mediated NF-kappa-B activation in macrophages (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9Z2A0, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10226025, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10480933, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10995762, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12167717, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14585963, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14604990, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16207722, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16251192, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17327236, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17371830, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18835241, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9094314, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9368760, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9445476, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9445477, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9707564, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9768361}.
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, UniProt loc med conf
- PROTAC
- UniProt Ubiquitination, Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.17589999735355377 (upper bound 0.33037999272346497). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
No named investigators on registry trials of PDPK1's approved or late-stage drugs in the last three years.
3 trials of drugs against PDPK1 were stopped early; 1 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of UCN-01, AR-12, 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 3 most recent of 3.
- terminated · 2017-05-15 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine)“IND was withdrawn by CTEP due to low accrual and cost of maintaining the IND.”
- terminated · 2015-03-02 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Early termination for discouraging results”
- terminated · 2013-07-09 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for PDPK1's drugs
For UCN-01, AR-12: 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 · PDPK1 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 ucn-01, ar-12Rule: 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 ucn-01, ar-12Rule: 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 ucn-01, ar-12Rule: 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 ucn-01, ar-12Rule: 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 · 3 interventional studies of ucn-01, ar-12 include patients under 18; 0 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, 2026-11-11
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 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCN-01 | Small molecule | phase 2 | non-small cell lung carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, kidney cancer, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, melanoma, fallopian tube cancer, malignant epithelial tumor of ovary, ovarian carcinoma, +15 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| AR-12 | Small molecule | phase 1 | lymphoma | Open Targets · ChEMBL |